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| Preparation
for the crowning at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Preparación para la coronación de la Mater en el Santuario Nacional de la Inmaculada Vorbereitung für die Krönung der Gottesmutter im Nationalen Heiligtum der Immakulata |
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| Bishop Olivier,
Auxiliary Bishop of Washington, DC, crowns Our Mother Thrice Admirable,
Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt. Our Deacon Alfredo Soto helps him. El Obispo Olivier, obispo auxiliar de Washington, DC, corona a la Madre Tres Veces Admirable Reina y Victoriosa de Schoenstatt. Nuestro diácono Alfredo Soto le ayuda. Weihbischof Olivier von Washington DC krönt die Dreimal Wunderbare Mutter, Königin und Siegerin von Schönstatt, unterstützt von Diakon Alfredo Soto |
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| Ceremony in
Clifton, Virginia. At St. Andrew the Apostle, Elfi Stitz crowns Our
Mother Thrice Admirable Ceremonia en Clifton, Virginia. En St. Andrew the Apostle Elfi Stitz corona a nuestra Madre Tres Veces Admirable Feier in Clifton, Virginia. In der Pfarrei St. Andrew the Apostle krönt Elfi Stitz die Dreimal Wunderbare Mutter |
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| In Clifton,
Virginia: Elfi Stitz and Fr. Gerold Langsch, Superior of the Schoenstatt
Fathers in the USA, before the Blessed Mother and Jesus. En Clifton, Virginia: Elfi Stitz y el P. Gerold Langsch, Superior de los Padres de Schoenstatt en los Estados Unidos, frente a la Mater coronada. In Clifton, Virginia: Elfi Stitz und P.Gerold Langsch, Oberer der Schönstattpatres in den Vereinigten Staaten, vor der gekrönten Königin |
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| On Sunday
8 September, in Fairfax, Virginia, at Joan and Paul Rinderle’s. Children
ready to bring Our Blessed Mother a rose for each state of the USA. El domingo 8 de septiembre, en Fairfax, Virginia, en la casa de Joan y Paul Rinderle. Los niños preparados para llevarle a la Mater una flor por cada estado en Estados Unidos. Sonntag, 8. September in Fairfax, Virginia, bei Joan und Paul Rinderle. Kinder bringen der Gottesmutter eine Rose für jeden Staat der USA |
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| Bishop Olivier
signs the crowned picture. This picture is the only object that they
have for the future Schoenstatt shrine in Washington, DC El Obispo Olivier firma el cuadro coronado. Este es el único objeto que la Familia de Schoenstatt tiene para su futuro santuario en Washington, DC Bischof Olivier unterschreibt auf der Rückseite des Bildes. Dieses Bild ist der Anfang des zukünftigen Schönstatt-Heiligtums im Raum Washington |
| Fotos: Soros © 2002 |
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| National Shrine,
Washington Santuario Nacional, Washington Nationales Marienheiligtum, Washington |
| Foto: Archiv © 2002 |
USA, Elfriede Stitz. "We are convinced that the Mother Thrice Admirable wants to be crowned Queen of our nation, of our president and leaders, and of our families and friends…": this conviction, first expressed in a meeting of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign in Texas, created a current towards what on this first anniversary of September 11 became a nationwide crowning of the Blessed Mother, with international media coverage. In the Washington CD area, the coordinators of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign experienced a highlight with the Holy Mass and Crowning taking place in the Crypt Church of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC, presided by Auxiliary Bishop Olivier.
It was a longing that reached farther than to a commemoration of a day that had changed the world: that the Blessed Mother intercede by God the Father for true and lasting peace in the United States and in the whole world, fruit of justice, and love for all, specially for the most needy ones: "Mother, transform the hard hearts into warm ones, sensitive ones, who feel the suffering of the others, and who are ready to invest themselves up to giving their lives for the others as Jesus did..."
Fairfax, Virginia, September 8: USA, dedicated to the Blessed Mother
On Sunday, September 8, the MTA was crowned at the wayside shrine of Joan and Paul Rinderle in Fairfax, VA as "Queen of the United States of America" to end terrorist attacks.
Present were between 50-60 people, about 30 children. Father Jerry A. Wooton of the Diocese of Arlington was the presiding priest of the ceremony. Enrique Soros brought a group of Schoenstatt coordinators from Washington, D.C. and Maryland. There were members of several parishes in Northern Virginia, D.C. and Maryland. Members of the Leaders' group in the Washington, D.C. Region, Maryland and Virginia were present: Maria Sazonov with her husband Michael, Carlos and Estela Hillman, the hosts Joan and Paul Rinderle and Elfi Stitz, and Sr. Marie Day from Waukesha, WI. Sr. Marie gave a moving talk on the significance of crowning in the history of Schoenstatt. With her examples of the positive way in which our Mother Thrice Admirable responds to a crowning, Sr. Marie set the hearts on fire. We are determined to strive intensely for a Shrine in the Washington, D.C. Region, including Maryland and Virginia.
The celebration was opened with a song, followed by an opening prayer, including words from Father Kentenich: "When we dedicate ourselves, our loved ones, and our whole country each day to the Blessed Mother, when day after day in this manner we renew our covenant of love, then we and our country have a right to be and to stand under Mary's mantle. Then, too, we may hope that our homeland will be spared from disaster." But if in God's designs our homeland will not be spared from disaster, "then we can be certain that our Blessed Mother will still prove herself as the great educator of our people because through the storms of the times, she will imprint the likeness of our crucified Lord upon our souls; she will be the Victress over Satan and death!"
Fifty Roses for the fifty states of the USA
America was dedicated to the Blessed Mother several times in history: When Columbus discovered America, his flagship "Santa Maria" was marked with a Marian seal. In 1847 the bishops of America placed all those entrusted to their care throughout the United States under the special patronage of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. In 1976, during the bicentennial celebrations, the bishops solemnly renewed this dedication and encouraged all to pray to our Lady, the Patroness of America. In 1977 the American Schoenstatt Family dedicated the United States to our Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt at the International Center in Waukesha, WI. In the Great Jubilee Year 2000 our MTA was crowned as Queen of the United States of America.
The ceremony continued with the recitation of the glorious mysteries of the rosary, followed by the blessing of the crown and the crowning. The Schoenstatt consecration "My Queen, my Mother..." was offered. While reciting the Litany of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign for the United States, children brought roses to the Blessed Mother and little plaques with the names of all the states of the United States of America were placed into the ground. The children delighted those present with the song: "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands".
Monday, September 9: Consecrating the United States to Mary in her National Shrine
On Monday, September 9th two Schoenstatt events took place: At 3:00 p.m. Holy Mass and Crowning of the image of the Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt as Queen of the United States of America in petition for:
Peace and an End to Terrorism, End to Abortion, Moral Renewal of the United States and the World
The Mass was celebrated in the Crypt Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.. The celebrant was The Most Reverend Leonard J. Olivier, S.V.D., D.D., V.G., Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington. Concelebrants were Father Gerold M. Langsch, Superior Delegate of the Schoenstatt Fathers in the United States, Father Jerry A. Wooton, Parochial Vicar of the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, Deacon Mr. Alfredo Soto of the Archdiocese of Washington.
The Mass was well attended by the Schoenstatt Family in the Washington, D.C. Region, including Maryland and Virginia, and by members of area churches. Father Langsch gave an excellent homily on the Queenship of Mary as seen in the teaching of the Church, in Sacred Scripture and in Church Tradition, an account of the significance of the crowning of the Blessed Mother in the history of Schoenstatt. Finally, Father Langsch led us to understand the reasons for our crowning of our MTA for these specific reasons on the anniversary of the 9/11 events.
Bishop Olivier then crowned the image of our MTA. The congregation prayed together the crowning prayer: Dear Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt, We, your children, come before you... consecrating the United States to her, asking her protection and guidance. It was a solemn occasion. The octagonal MTA picture that received the crown is the very one that will be in the future Schoenstatt Shrine of the Washington, D.C. Region. The crown was made by the Brothers of Mary of the Goldsmiths' Shop in Vallendar.
As far as I know, Schoenstatt was the only Movement which crowned Our Lady on this occasion, the only one that crowned in the National Shrine.
Clifton, Virginia: Crowning in the parish and with the parish
At 7:00 p.m. on the same day, September 9th, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at the St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Clifton, Virginia there was a Holy Hour with Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Reflections by Father Langsch, crowning of an MTA picture which will later be offered to the John Paul II Cultural Institute in Washington, D.C., recitation of the rosary and Benediction. Parishioners of St. Andrew's attended as well as a number of the Schoenstatt Family who attended the Mass at the Basilica in Washington in the afternoon.
Father Langsch offered reflections on the importance of crowning the Blessed Mother, on the history of crowning in Schoenstatt. Elfi Stitz privileged to be invited to crown our MTA.
Comments of parishioners after the crownings and phone calls on the next day gave testimony to the grace-filled time these events were.