fear Tag

By Ignacio Serrano del Pozo • I begin this column by recognizing that it has not been easy for me to join the crowning current that has seemed to mobilize the Schoenstatt Family in Chile for some years.  There are many reasons, but I could summarize them in three.— First of all, It seemed to me that the concern to return the crown stolen from the Shrine of Bellavista on January 18th, in the midst of Pope Francis’ visit to the country, was – to say it in plain languageRead More
18 OCTOBER IN SCHOENSTATT, Maria Fischer • “What does it mean for an Argentinian who visits Schoenstatt for 18 October when the Mass and sermon centre on the German Movement’s motto for the year?” Daniel Martino, a member of the Family Federation, reflected for a moment, smiled and answered: “That’s just what I expected. The ‘Germanness’ of Schoenstatt! Nevertheless we had headphones and translation. And the sermon was powerful. It called for such radical openness that it was immaterial that it reflected on the German motto for the year. ItRead More
Maria Fischer • A black title page with a photo of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, illuminated in the national colours of Germany at the centre: this is how the “Berliner Morgenpost”, Berlin`s biggest and most reputable newspaper,  appeared on December 21, two days after the terrorist attack in Berlin.  Under the picture, in large white letters are the words: Do not be afraid! Gospel according to Luke Chapter 2 Verse 10   When a truck ploughed into the middle of pre-Christmas activity and atmosphere, killing 12 people and leavingRead More
Sarah-Leah Pimentel, Cape Town, South Africa • Over the last few weeks, I have spent my weekly Adoration hour meditating on a series of Fr. Kentenich’s sermons given in 1962 to the German immigrant community in Milwaukee (Exchange of Hearts, translated by Fr. Jonathan Niehaus). In the series, our founder speaks about an “exchange of hearts” to describe the Covenant of Love, where we exchange our weak hearts with Mary’s strong heart.  He says that this is the antidote for the “disease” of our times, where we have forgotten howRead More
TOGETHER FOR EUROPE – press release June 30, 2016 • Christian communities and Movements can bring together a Europe that is increasingly polarised. This was the message of Evangelical-Lutheran Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm during the first morning of the Congress of Collaborators in the Ecumenical network “Together for Europe” in Munich.  Seventeen hundred participants from two hundred Christian communities and Movements from forty countries are meeting until tomorrow (Friday) in Circus Krone. “Unless we clarify the urgent questions of Europe, they will overrun us”, Gerhard Pross of the international Steering CommitteeRead More
Communities that are fearful and without joy are sick, they are not Christian communities. That was the message of Pope Francis at his morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta. “Fear” and “joy” – those are the two words of the liturgy of the day. Fear, the Pope said, “is an attitude that harms us. It weakens us, it diminishes us. It even paralyzes us.” A person who is afraid “does nothing, doesn’t know what to do.” He is focused on himself, so that nothing bad will happen.” Fear “bringsRead More