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Schoenstatt
Pilgrims of the Methodist Church in Rustington, Enland, with Father
Franz Brügger (3rd from l.), and Sr. Miriam, English
Office
Schönstattpilger der methodistischen Kirche von Rustington,
England, mit Pater Franz Brügger (3. V.l.) und Schwester Miriam,
English Office |
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Covenant Celebration
in the Original Shrine: Fr. Franz Brügger (l), Revd. John Beebe
Bündnisfeier im Urheiligtum: Pater Franz Brügger
(l),. Revd. John Beebe |
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Sealing the
Covenant of Love: Pat Murphy
Liebesbündnis von Pat Murphy |
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Covenant renewal
after almost 20 years: John and Jan Beebe
Bündniserneuerung nach fast 20 Jahren: John und Jan Beebe |
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Fr. Franz
Brügger (l), Pat Murphy, Revd. John Beebe
Pater Franz Brügger (l),. Pat Murphy Revd. John Beebe |
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Visit to PressOffice
Schoenstatt on Sunday, May 12, 2002. John and Jan Beebe are correspondents
for schoenstatt.de
Besuch im Press Office am Sonntag, 12. Mai 2002. John und
Jan Beebe arbeiten für schoenstatt.de |
Fotos: POS,
Fischer © 2002 |
SCHOENSTATT, mkf. On Monday, May 14, 2002, at 10:00 AM, Pat Murphy
sealed her Covenant of Love at the place she had deliberately chosen for
this occasion: in the Original Shrine in Schoenstatt; she did so in the
presence of her husband and two couples from her home town, Rustington
in Southern England, Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary from USA, and Germany,
and a Father Franz Bruegger who in April 1983 prepared John and Jan Beebe
to make the Covenant of Love, the couple who introduced Pat to Schoenstatt,
and now renewed their Covenant. They as well as Pat belong the Methodist
Church.
Over the years since they got to know Schoenstatt and found their spiritual
home there, John Beebe – a now retired Methodist minister – and his wife
Jan kept bringing individuals and small groups from their Methodist church
to Schoenstatt. On Tuesday, May 7, 2002, they arrived to House Sonnenau
with two couples that over the past months had gotten so much interest
in Schoenstatt that they wanted to get to know the place. "Schoenstatt
people are firm in their faith because they have found a real home in
Our Lady, in the Shrine, in the sure guidance of Father Kentenich," John
Beebe had told them, "There is nothing exclusive about this, either, for
anyone who wants to make their Covenant of Love in Schoenstatt, it they
are sincere in their love for God." It's the idea of the 'Shrine without
walls', the Open Shrine. – "I want to make the Covenant of Love," was
some months ago Pat Murphy's response. Pat, who is suffering from myopathy,
felt personally called by Mary for the Covenant of Love.
"I Enjoy the Freedom of Knowing my Heavenly Father"
On this morning in the Original Shrine Pat spoke her personal dedication
prayer and the prayer, that millions of persons from all walks of life
pray, "My Queen, my mother", a personal love story came to its focal point.
"When I first saw a picture of the Schoenstatt Unity Cross, it touched
me very deeply, and moved me to tears," Pat shared, "I was touched by
the very deep love of a mother for her son and his love for her. Soon
I was praying to mother Mary for help and comfort, specially in the times
of pain caused by the disease, longing to know deep down a mother's love
and care. Through a very deep experience of her closeness, she gave me
the wonderful love and care of a mother I had never felt before. Oh what
a joy! In February, I had been reading and praying from Sister Emilie
Engel's book and was really moved by her wonderful childlike faith in
the Heavenly Father. I so wanted to trust in my Heavenly Father like she
had, but I was shocked to discover that I could not trust in him like
she did, because I did not know him in reality, only by my faith in him.
I prayed and asked Mother Mary to lead me to the Heavenly Father so that
I might know him and experience him as my Heavenly Father. During the
week, I was very conscious of being drawn nearer to him. It felt him speaking
to me: 'I am with you always, I will not hurt you, and I will never let
you fall.' With Mary standing behind me, I found myself walking, slowly
at first, and then running straight into his wonderful outstretched arms.
It was at that moment that I knew and experienced the wonderful love,
care and protection of my Heavenly Father. With Mother Mary's help I had
been led to the Heavenly Father and have been set free from the painful
past to know and enjoy the freedom of knowing my heavenly Father!"
"Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you…"
The readings, psalms, and songs of the covenant service in the Original
Shrine resounded the joy and gratitude that by the end of a week's stay
in Schoenstatt was shared by the other participants in their way. "It
was a real pilgrimage for us and we were very moved by all we accomplished. It
was a real privilege for us to be invited to join John and Jan Beebe on
this visit and we hope we may be able to return one day," wrote Yvonne
and John Whitehead immediately after returning from Schoenstatt.
"Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord", "Praise, my soul, the
King of heaven" were the opening songs; Father Brügger welcomed the
little group and told the chance visitors of the Shrine present that this
were to be a decisive moment and that all were grateful for some representatives
of the international Schoenstatt family being present. Through their Covenant
of Love as a personal covenant, the Methodist Christians who would today
make or renew their Covenant, belong to the Mother Thrice Admirable and
her Shrine; through their covenant as a participative covenant, they belong
to the Schoenstatt family, ready to play their part. In his sermon, John
Beebe spoke about the God of the Covenant in the Old and New Testament.
The Covenant to be made today would be an extension of the New Covenant
in Jesus, made with the help of his and our mother.
The song sung before the Covenant, "Gently and softly you called me by
name", expressed the longing of all. The signs of the Covenant – a ring
and the unity cross, along with the traditional medal of the MTA – were
blessed (an expressed wish!) and given to Pat Murphy. At the end of the
service, the song made by a member of the English Schoenstatt family,
"Do not be afraid", summed up the joys, longings, and emotions of this
moment of the "Open Shrine".
Open Shrine: Two days before, on May 11, two protestant Christians from
Germany, a father and his daughter (together with the mother of this family,
a Catholic from Korea), had made their covenant of love in the Shrine
of the Families, where John and Jan had made it almost 20 years before.
Highlights of a Schoenstatt Visit
The deacons' ordination on the Feast of Ascension had been one of the
highlights of the small group's Schoenstatt visit. While Pat spontaneously
felt at home in the Original Shrine, Yvonne, a lay preacher, was fascinated
with "the tangible presence of Father Kentenich in the Founder Chapel".
A visit to Metternich was one of the outstanding experiences as well as
the tour of the Father Kentenich House and the visit of several Shrines
in Schoenstatt. A boat trip, shopping in Vallendar, and in the gift shops
in Schoenstatt, and a lot of fun and laughter (the photo session in Press
Office Schoenstatt, for example!) contributed to the harmonious and relaxed
stay. House Sonnenau with the many international guests made for the feeling
of belonging. One mealtime spent with a Germans, Chileans, Mexicans, and
Americans ended up with the spontaneous invitation to a pilot from Texas
to visit the families on his next flights to London! John Beebe: "We'll
try to be back very soon!"
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