A Rose for the Missionaries in Goya, a rose for Schoenstatt in Zimbabwe..."Covenant Day in Schoenstatt con "Open" Covenant Mass in the Original Shrine |
SCHOENSTATT, mkf. "A rose for Ines, Leticia, Loli, Fernando, for all the missionaries in Goya, a rose for Marlene and Cecil and Sheila and Schoenstatt in Zimbabwe, a rose for Father Fred Kistler and for the future Shrine in Nigeria, a rose for world peace, a rose in gratitude for John Pozzobon and the Rosary Campaign…" On each 18th of the month, Schoenstatt's Covenant Day, Schoenstatt members and friends from all parts of the globe spiritually unite in the renewal of the Covenant of Love. Today, in the morning of this Covenant Day in February, a group of approximately 25 professional women from Germany celebrated a Covenant Mass in the Original Shrine; the International Auxiliary that they carried to the Original Shrine on this sunny, chilly cold winter morning, represented all those who dedicate their life to carry the Blessed Mother and the graces from the Original Shrine to the ends of the world. When the group found out that the first day of their retreat in Schoenstatt would fall on the 18th, they did not need any further consideration to make up their decision: "We will celebrate a Covenant Mass in the Original Shrine, and we will do so in the intention of the "Open Shrine"," Gabriele Sudermann shared. "That means, we will not only renew our Covenant of Love, but represent all those who offer their capital of grace that the stream of grace from the Original Shrine can flow to the ends of the earth. "It is a honor and obligation for us, who can be in the Original Shrine almost as often as we like to, to represent those who maybe will never be able to physically come here," Alexa Clemens said. "We feel called to be and promote Schoenstatt as the 'Open Shrine', so today during our Covenant Mass here all should be welcome and present. This is also why it was totally clear to us to carry the Auxiliar to the Original Shrine – like bringing with her the capital of grace, the love and mission zeal of thousands and thousands who far from here work to bring the Blessed Mother to all so that she can work miracles. Since we heard about John Pozzobon's Campaign for the first time, through Mr. Arendes, we feel a strong gratitude for this simple person who through his commitment turned Schoenstatt into an Open Shrine, reaching out to all." This wellspring of grace that flows to places beyond one's imagination"I can't tell you how we feel delighted when you told us that we would be represented in the Mass in the Shrine of the 18th, what a joy!!!, in reality the wellspring of grace in this place of our Father and our dear Mater is so tremendously great, and it flows to places beyond one's imagination," wrote Ines Petiti, responsible for the Campaign in Goya, when she heard about her and all the missionaries in Goya being represented today in the Original Shrine in such a tangible way. "How beautiful that we will be there on an 18th, with you and your prayers, it is really, really beautiful." During the renewal of the Covenant of Love, Each of the participants offered two roses – one for herself and her renewed commitment in the Covenant of Love, one for a person, a community, a city or a country that she wanted to specially bring "home" to the source of grace, the Original Shrine: the Schoenstatt Fathers, students and novices in Nigeria and the construction of the Shrine there, the Schoenstatt family in Zimbabwe suffering from the country's crisis, the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign in Croatia, Argentina, Senegal, the Schoenstatt family in Bolivia, and Columbia, the Schoenstatt Boys' Youth in Switzerland who conquer the Shrine in Valais praying the rosary, the province chapter of the Schoenstatt Fathers taking place at Mount Sion these days…The Holy Father, world peace, the struggle to find peaceful solution with the Iraq disarmament, work place situations, and the pains, struggles and joys of all those entrusted to the women, of all those ever prayed for in the rosary, all those who asked for special prayers for loved ones in the Original Shrine, were also included. The sheets of papers were placed in the jar in the Original Shrine – symbolically bringing the capital of grace of all these people to the place of origin, enriching the streams of love and grace that are flowing from there and returning to their source. On come Saturday, February 22, the Professional Women will offer an "Illumined Rosary" – open for all of course, but specially open for all who want to send their petitions and contributions via Internet. "We are so grateful to the Campaign in Argentina for sharing this way of praying the rosary, on schoenstatt.de, where we discovered it about two years ago. It is a special experience to be linked to such a strong stream of prayer!" Tonight the entire local Schoenstatt family will gather in the Adoration Church for the Covenant Renewal, uniting with all those who at any place of the world today renew and live their Covenant of Love. |
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