"En los misteriosm del rosario vemos todo lo que acontece en nuestra existencia:dolores, gozos y esperanzas de gloria, pero puestos bajo una luz superior." (J.K.) "The rosary is like a mirror of our entire life; all that happens in our life we see here, but in the light from above." (J.K.) "Der Rosenkranz ist eigentlich das Spiegelbild unseres ganzen Lebens. Alles, was in unserem Leben vorkommt, sehen wir hier in einem höheren Licht."(J.K.) Foto: David Fischer, Schweiz © 2003
22 de enero de 2003: rosario por la paz en el Santuario Original, P.Matthias Rummel. January 22, 2003: Rosary for peace in the Original Shrine, Fr. Matthias Rummel SAC 22. Januar 2003, Rosenkranz für den Frieden im Urheiligtum, P. Mathias Rummel SAC
22 de enero de 2003, rosario por la paz - ni un lugar libre en el Santuario Original January 22, 2003, rosary for peace - not one free spot in the Original Shrine 22. Januar 2003, Rosenkranz für den Frieden - kein freier Zentimeter mehr Urheiligtum
Fotos: POS Fischer © 2003

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. Despite of a heavy downpour starting just 15 minutes before the "Rosary for Peace" was to begin, approximately 120 – 130 persons, crammed in the Original Shrine or fighting the rain outside, joined the Holy Father's urgent call to pray the rosary for world peace, especially in view of the threat of war against Iraq. From now on, until Lent, each Wednesday night all are invited to the Original Shrine to "entrust to the power of this prayer – as I mentioned at the beginning – the cause of peace in the world" (Pope John Paul II, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 39).

It does not need extensive polls to know that the possible war against Iraq is the top item of the agenda in these weeks. "People are concerned, people are afraid," a nurse said. "When I go shopping and overhear what people talk about, it is neither gas prices nor weather nor fashion, they talk about their fear of war, about the families of the soldiers and the families in Iraq, and they are in fears!" -" The Rosary has many times been proposed by my predecessors and myself as a prayer for peace," the Holy Father wrote in the Apostolic Letter with that he proclaimed the Year of the Rosary. "At the start of a millennium which began with the terrifying attacks of 11 September 2001, a millennium which witnesses every day innumerous parts of the world fresh scenes of bloodshed and violence, to rediscover the Rosary means to immerse oneself in contemplation of the mystery of Christ who "is our peace", since he made "the two of us one, and broke down the dividing wall of hostility" (Eph 2:14). (RVM, 6).

"It does not need to be so lavish with new thoughts, and methods…"

"It does not need to be so lavish with new thoughts, and new methods," Liesel Houx, Women's Federation and one of the initiators of the Rosary for Peace, said at the end. People simply want to pray, and they want to pray in a simple way. Father Rummel opened the prayer time with a few introducing words and then invited all to join in the prayer of the sorrowful rosary. Interrupted only by the verses of a traditional German rosary song, the rosary was said by couples, Schoenstatt Sisters, Brothers, Ladies of Schoenstatt, young people…"It flashed through my mind: What a joy the Blessed Mother must feel, that she is offered a rosary, prayed in community, here in the Original Shrine crammed with people!"

At the end, all prayed the Ecumenical Peace Prayer issued by the Lutheran and Catholic Missionary Works, entrusting the peace in the land where Abraham heard God's call, today Iraq, to the Triune God.

To win the battle for peace

"We learned through internet about your initiative with the rosary, and we want to thank you!", Alexa Clemens, Professional Women's Branch, wrote to the Federation of Women on January 21. "Specially now many people again feel an urge to pray. Churches are filling. People are searching for consolation and help. Which prayer could give more consolation and inner peace than the rosary? We gladly join in this prayer and will send you, your community, and all those who gather to pray the rosary our prayers, our capital of grace, and our solidarity." – "We gladly join, from here, in the prayer of the rosary in Schoenstatt," Elena and Trinidad Sajuan wrote from Pozuelo, Spain. "We'll pray the rosary for peace on January 23, in our Shrine, and we do so each day in our home shrine. We felt the urge to do so since the dedication of the Shrine in Serrano, Madrid, and we offer our daily rosary as our capital of grace for the end of terrorism and wars, following thus also the urgent call of our Cardinal Archbishop Rouco."

The next Rosary for Peace in the Original Shrine will be on January 29, again at 7:30 PM.

"The Rosary allows us to hope that, even today, the difficult "battle" for peace can be won. Far from offering an escape from the problems of the world, the Rosary obliges us to see them with responsible and generous eyes, and obtains for us the strength to face them with the certainty of God's help and the firm intention of bearing witness in every situation to "love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony" (Col 3:14). (RVM, 40).