Schönstatt - Begegnungen

Globalization of Grace

More than 40 pilgrims from Croacia finishing their stay in Schoenstatt with the Covenant Renewal on April 18, together with the whole Family in Schoenstatt – and beyond

Original Shrine on Covenant Day, April 18: all day pilgrims came to pray and remember thosw qho could not come.
Urheiligtum am Bündnnistag, 18. April: den ganzen Tag über kamen Pilger, auch um die zu vertreten, die selbst nicht kommen können.
Foto: POS Fischer © 2002
Linz, Upper Austria; Covenant celebration by the wayside Shrine in Leonding.
Linz, Oberösterreich: Bündnisfeier beim Bildstöckchen in Leonding
The Shrine altar for a future Shrine in Upper Austria will probably find a temporary place in this Chapel.
Der Heiligtumsaltar für ein zukünftiges Heiligtum in Oberösterreich wird in dieser Kapelle wohl einen vorläufigen Platz finden
Panorama of Linz, seen from the chapel.
Aussicht auf Linz, von der Kapelle aus
Fotos: Haslinger
Comodoro Rivadavia, the most Southern Shrine of the world and obviously the one closest to the Atlantic Ocean: Shrine of peace among the peoples
Comodoro Rivadavia, das südlichste Heiligtum der Welt und wohl auch das dem Atlantik am nächsten gebaute, erbaut als Heiligtum des Friedens unter den Völkern
View from the Shrine to the Atlantic Ocean. On Saturday, April 27, men from Chile and Argentina will join here to pray for peace.
Blick vom Heiligtum auf den Atlantik. Am 27. April beten hier Männer aus Chile und Argentinien gemeinsam für den Frieden
Fotos: Badano, Archivos CR Argentina
Covenant celebration in Schoenstatt: the pilgrims from Croatia joined in.
Bündnisfeier in Schönstatt zusammen mit den Pilgern aus Kroatien
Students of the Schoenstatt Fathers provided the songs and music - with much spirit.
Studenten der Schönstattpatres gestalteten die Bündnisfeier musikalisch - mit Rhythmus und Schwung
International perspective during the Covenant celebratoin: Rosa Emilia (Ecuador), Sr. Gabriella, Puerto Rico; Macarena (Chile), Ester (Chile), Maria Elena (Ecuador), Sr. Maria Emilia (Ecuador), Cousett (Texas) (from r to l)
Internationale Bank bei der Bündnisfeier: Rosa Emilia (Ecuador), Sr. Gabriella, Puerto Rico; Macarena (Chile), Ester (Chile), Maria Elena (Ecuador), Sr. Maria Emilia (Ecuador), Cousett (Texas) (v.r.n.l.)
The pilgrims from Croatia singing by the Covenant fire. In the middle: Father Grill
Die Pilger aus Kroatien beim Singen am Bündnisfeuer; in der Mitte Pater Grill
Chilean Encounter: Ester, Pilar and Luis Jensen
Chilenische Begegnung: Ester, Pilar und Luis Jensen
Spanish-Bavarian song... Sr. Cecilia and mothers from Bavaria singing in Spanish (or so)
Spanisch-bayrischer Auftritt: Sr. Cecilia und Mütter aus Bayern singen spanisch (oder so ähnlich)
Mothers from Bavaria, listening to the songs sung by the Croatians
Mütter aus Bayern, ganz Ohr für die Lieder der Kroaten
Fotos: POS Fischer © 2002
 
Foto: POS Fischer © 2002

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. "Like on each Covenant Day the greetings from the Original Shrine have made us feel that we are close and really, we are close through the globalization of grace", commented Norma Barbieri from Buenos Aires, some days after April 18th. This Covenant Day was the last day for a group of approximately 40 pilgrims from Southern Croatia, who came by bus (traveling 2 days) to give thanks for the graces received through the Pilgrim Mother by visiting the place where she, on October 18, sealed the Covenant of Love with Father Kentenich and the founding generation, transforming the old St. Michael's Chapel into her place of grace, Schoenstatt's "Original Shrine", the place so precious to thousands and thousands all over the world who never in their life touched this Shrine physically.

The pilgrims from the Dubronvik area, in Southern Croacia, spent two days in bus traveling from their home to Schoenstatt, thanking with this pilgrimage for the graces received from the Pilgrim Mother's visits to their houses in post-war Croacia. The majority of them are missionaries of the Pilgrim Mother or are visited by her. Father Cristoph Horn accompanied them; in May he will again visit Croacia where the Pilgrim Mother continues to conquer hearts and new lands.

Many people on this rainy and cold day visited the Original Shrine, among them a busload of Filipino Pilgrims.

At 7:30 PM, like on each 18th, the local Schoenstatt family, the participants of retreats, pilgrims and Schoenstatt members from all continents who are spending time at the place of origin joined in the Covenant Renewal in the Adoration Church: Schoenstatt mothers from the dioceses of Augsburg and Munich, retired Professional Women from the diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, the Croatian pilgrimage, couples and young people from Chile, Ecuador, Texas, Paraguay, India, Romania, Italy…

You Mother – Give us your Light!

The Schoenstatt Father's students provided songs and music – some of the songs, like "Shine, Jesus, Shine", "Who is this Gracious Lady", made the church (or better, the young participants) swing with joy! Father Grill at the beginning greeted all, while the Croatian priest who accompanied the group translated.

At the beginning, the Covenant Light was lit, while all greeted the Mother Thrice Admirable: You our mother, who never forgets us – give us your light; You our Mother, who guides and educates us – give us your light; You our Victress who opens the hearts – give us your light. Smaller lights were lit as the celebration continued, remembering in a special way

  • all those who on this day and at any time bring people to the Shrine
  • all those who bring the Pilgrim Mother to families, children, sick people, lonely people, to schools, kindergartens, jails…
  • all those who, inspired by the Covenant, try to make a difference for AIDS orphans, street children, or for those living in poverty, need, or injustice just at our doorsteps
  • all those who, motivated by the Covenant, try to transform their families, their parishes, their workplaces, their cities and states into a place where truth, love, and justice reign.
  • all those, who, motivated by the Covenant, offer their pain, limitations, and broken pieces for the Capital of Grace
  • for all those who believe that our MTA can work miracles

Mutual Attachments that Create a Real Global Family and a Global Home

The Our Father was prayed in German, the Hail Mary in Croatian.

In his sermon, Father Grill highlighted that the globalization – discussed by all – already begun in Jesus Christ. He is the origin of all globalization – being among us, having united us in the baptism, having given us Mary as Mother of Unity. It is a globalization of grace and of mutual attachments that create a real global family and a global home. In Dachau, Father Kentenich created prayers of globalization – we call them 'Heavenwards', prayers that are a deep expression of the unity in Jesus and Mary that unites as family, no matter how different or geographically distant we may be.

The Original Shrine, he said, is the Center of this "Globalization of grace", the 160 Daughter Shrines and countless home shrines being the global extension of the Original Shrine.

Discovering the Best of our Family

"I enjoyed the 'globalization of grace', demonstrating that the things, like Internet, can be excellent when we use them as instruments of the Lord in this large virtual Shrine," wrote Diana Zunini from the diocese of Bahía Blanca, Argentina."We could not do the planned jubilee pilgrimage to Paso Mayor, as after a week of torrential rain the routes were impassable. This is the reason why the planned celebration of the 50th anniversary of our Chapel had to be postponed to May 12. Interesting that the readings of this Sunday were just about the route, the way – an impulse to meditate what God wanted to tell us with this difficulty."

The 18th of April was a day of great longing and joy for the Schoenstatt family in Upper Austria. Their meeting began by the wayside shrine in Leonding near Linz from where all then drove to the ST. Barbara Chapel at the Feinsberg by Linz "where, as things are developing now, the place for our shrine altar might be," shared Inge Haslinger. "The covenant day became a special touch today. She wants to come and she will come!"

"We celebrated the Covenant Mass with the friends in Belgrano in the Shrine of Echeverría," wrote Norma Barbieri. "Father Guillermo Carmona celebrated the Holy Mass. The homily was great: As the message and inspiration for the time to come we take home to discover the best our our soul, the best of our family, the best of our branch, the best of our diocesan family, to work this out and put it into the service of the others."

Praying for Peace in Bethlehem, the Holy Land and the Entire World

In this "globalization of grace" and mutual responsibility, he encouraged all to specially pray for the Schoenstatt members, all Christians and all people in Palestine, for an end of hatred and terror. A Rosary Sister, in charge of a Schoenstatt Mothers' group in the area now occupied by Israeli troops, two days ago called him: "The airplanes with the bombs are flying again. Please, pray for us! We trust your prayers, Schoenstatt!"

In different places of the world, Schoenstatt groups started to pray for a relieve in the besieged Nativity Church in Bethlehem, for the Schoenstatt family there and all people of good will, for peace in the Holy Land, and in the entire world. – In different places of the world, Schoenstatt groups started to pray for a relieve in the besieged Nativity Church in Bethlehem, for the Schoenstatt family there and all people of good will, for peace in the Holy Land, and in the entire world. From the most Southern Shrine of the world, in Comodoro Rivadavia, Patagonia, Argentina, Roberto Horat wrote: "On come Saturday, April 27, in the 'Shrine of the Sea and the Peace", dedicated on October 30, 1993 as guarantee for the peace between the peoples and as guarantee for the peace between Chile and Argentina, and Argentina and Great Britain, a group of men coming on pilgrimage from Chile will meet with men of the Schoenstatt family of Comodoro Rivadavia to strengthen the attachments of unity and fraternity between Argentines and Chileans. The event is taking place within the life stream of the "Dawn breakers", and is the first bigger encounter of the Chilean and Argentine families in the Shrine that is Guarantee of Peace among these Peoples. The pilgrimage of the Chileans is enormously significant. Sure, neither newspapers nor TV will cover the event. We take this meeting in the shadow of the Shrine hoping that our fraternity and our prayers create a stream that passes peace on to the whole world and may result, on this day, in a note saying that "something changed" regarding the situation in the besieged Nativity Church in Bethlehem."

 

Your Covenant - Open to All

"Dear Blessed Mother, your shrine radiates in our times! Where all talk about the globalization of economy, the globalization of grace had just begun: your shrine holds all people, all countries, and all cultures," read the liturgy of the Covenant renewal in Schoenstatt. "Your Covenant of Love is open for all; your Covenant of Love is wide, international and colorful! Thank you for this Covenant, our Life!"

All were then invited to make the joys, disappointments, broken pieces, gifts … of the past month a gift for the Blessed Mother, a contribution to the Capital of Grace. Then, we all renewed our Covenant of Love, consciously united with our Father, and with the millions of people who today renewed or will renew the covenant of love, who meet by Shrines and wayside shrines, who receive and bring the Pilgrim Mother: My Queen, my mother…

After the closing song – Nothing without you, nothing without us – and Protect us with your mantle, all processed to the covenant fire, where the slips of paper with the contributions to the Capital of grace were burnt. Rosa Emilia from Ecuador was asked to throw the papers into the fire: "I really love the Covenant Day, and had asked the Mother to spoil me today on my last Covenant Day in Schoenstatt, and this was one of the many gifts I got from her!"

Afterward, a real song competition started: the Croatians sang their soulful Marian songs, Mothers from Bavaria sang a typical Bavarian song, the Fathers' students sang German and Spanish songs, and finally Sr. Cecilia from the Dominican Republic and the mothers from Bavaria gave a special presentation of a Bavarian Spanish song!! A good laugh guaranteed.

But the Croatians closed the Covenant Day singing one Marian song after the other for their thanks and farewell to the Blessed Mother, Father Kentenich and their "Schoenstatt land" bearing so many beautiful memories from the days spent there. The love and joy as well as the longing resounded in the songs sung with all heart and soul!

English edition: Cousett Ruelas, Austin, Texas, USA



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