EUROPE, Dr. Hubertus Brantzen. While the European Union is struggling with the decision of their future Constitution and the issue of whether or not mention to the Christian cultural heritage, and adding or not the invocation of God in the preface, the Schoenstatt Family Movement in Europe is preparing a Marriage and Family Congress that aims at strengthening Christian families to live and pass on Christian values in a pluralistic environment.

When at its beginning the founding fathers and founding mothers were giving serious thought to a suitable design of a flag for the European Union three Catholic politicians made a suggestion. They thought of referring to the woman in Revelation with the twelve stars round her head. So they adopted the twelve stars and choose the blue color which stands for Our Lady. Without saying anything about the biblical background they brought forward their idea which was then accepted. Even later when there were more than twelve states in the EU no more stars were added. The twelve stars were considered to be a symbol of unity. That is why we have Marian flags all over Europe. But only few people know about their symbolic background.

God in the European Constitution

The following process is symptomatic for what was given rise to by the Convent when trying to put up a European Constitution. Europe has begun to suppress its Christian roots. With an almost self-denying consequence the majority of the legislative politicians refuse to mention any relationship with God in the constitution. Not even the word "Christian" is desirable. In the end the constitution will talk of a "religious heritage" in general.

The break with traditional values which began in the middle of the sixties has been taking its rapid course. Like a young person in puberty – a metaphor Father Kentenich used for modern society – the new Europe is on its way to build up a new identity without God, mainly without our Christian God. Old ties and values are under close scrutiny or they are cut out altogether.

'The mission of western civilization in the history of salvation'

One of the three major ideals of the Schoenstatt Movement seems to be an anachronism. Father Kentenich called one of the aims of his movement the "saving of the mission of the Occident with regard to the history of salvation". He wanted to say that the tie between God and the world, between human and divine nature, between human effort and God’s grace, is the great idea of western civilization, which has to be passed on to our children and grandchildren.

Modern European people hiss the blue flag with the twelve stars, but they have forgotten its original meaning. It is up to us to remind people, to make them aware.

Some good arguments

It is not only a religious aim for Christians to refer to the relationship between man and God in the European Constitution – finally it should be a concern of all religions. This concern is backed by thought and experience. If our human relations are not absolutely determined by our relationship with God, human values and human rights will be at stake in the end. Father Kentenich said: `Humanity without God will quickly turn into brutality and beastliness. The totalitarian systems of the previous century made us feel and experience that any humanity without God can be defined at will.

Within a pluralistic system

This is the reason why in their meetings the bishops from different countries speak out against any humanity without God, why they try to convince the politicians of the necessity to refer to the relationship with God in the European Constitution by talking to them incessantly. But they do not seem to be successful. Christianity is subject to the competition between different values like any other power in our pluralistic society. There are no longer any powerful positions to exercise a decisive influence. For a situation like this the Schoenstatt Movement is just ideal. Here people are trained and they can mature so that they are able to fight for the prevailing values. Our European society, however, is no longer able to establish and pass on any values and moral standards. Only a powerful way of life will win. Only an attractive and convincing way of life will be interesting for people. Moaning and wailing are useless; we have to tackle the problem.

A European Marriage and Family Congress

At the moment a European Marriage and Family Congress, which will take place in Schoenstatt from April 28^th – May 2^nd, 2004, is being prepared. It will deal with the question if it is possible for families as the first institution of educating and socializing to protect Christian values - particularly the relationship with God - or even to introduce them anew. It is important that people from below, regular people take the initiative. Married couples and families are to be enabled to do this essential work in their own marriage and family life, in groups, in their parishes, in public and in political life.

English edition: Andrea Stephens, USA