Belmonte: Thirty days to go!

Pilgrims from Texas on the land where our Father was…and where soon there will be a shrine which he gives to the Church

Casi listo para recibir los más de 2000 peregrinos del mundo... el 8 de septiembre Almost ready to receive the over 2,000 pilgrims from all over the world, on September 8 Fast fertig, um die über 2000 Pilger aus aller Welt aufzunehmen... Am 8. September ist es so weit!
Los peregrinos de Texas fueron casi los primeros a ver el Santuario sin andamios The pilgrims from Texas were the first ones to see the Shrine without scaffolding Die Pilger aus Texas waren die ersten, die das Heiligtum ohne Gerüste sahen
Sacristía Sacristy Sakristei
Santuario y sacristía, 6 de agosto Shrine and sacristy, August 6 Heiligtum und Sakristei am 6. August
Todavía queda mucho trabajo en el interior Much work still to be done in the interior Im Innern muss noch viel gemacht werden
También en la esplanada Also in the place before the Shrine Auch noch am Vorplatz
Faltan sólo 30 días! In 30 days... Nur noch dreißig Tage!! Fotos: Tedeschi/Poersch © 2004

Rome, Fr. Alberto E. Eronti. To be at the blessing of a Shrine is a gift, it is an hour of grace. To be at the blessing of a Shrine that belongs "to everyone", and is a gift from the whole Family, is even more so of a gift. But to be on the land of a Shrine under construction, of this Shrine under construction, is something special…This was the experience of the 35 pilgrims from Texas USA who along with Fr. Alberto Eronti as a guide, walked the land which Fr. Kentenich walked in Belmonte, and now only 30 days away from the blessing of the Shrine "Matri Ecclesiae".

Fr. Alberto Eronti relates the following: Last Wednesday I had the opportunity to accompany to Belmonte a group of the Schoenstatt Family from Texas USA. We met at the appointed hour next to the Paul VI Auditorium at the Vatican. During the trip I told them the story of the land which waited for years for the gift that the Family would make to our Father and Founder. Time did not pass in vain. The Treasury of Grace was filled with many signs of unselfish surrender on behalf of many members of the International Family and most in particular by our brothers, the Diocesan Priests of the Institute. A new Shrine is always a gift from God and a human contribution. It is a reality which does not cease to move us. It is about the mystery of the Covenant of Love! The expectation of the group was great and their desire "to walk" on the land where the Father of the Family had walked was even greater.

Symbols and letters as a sign of participation

We arrived at the square of the Castello di Portareccia which is highlighted by the Castle and the parish. Upon exiting the bus we made our way to the porch of the Church so that the group could listen to a short history about the place. While we took advantage of the porch’s shade, since the heat was intense, I told them about the land, the castle, the parish and inserted anecdotes here and there. Then we approached the entrance gate. Upon taking a few steps on the land of Belmonte, we saw the bell tower and the roof of the Shrine. The absence of scaffolds and the recently finished paint job outlined on the blue sky and the green vegetation the structure of the Shrine. We got nearer on the still dusty road to see the complete, clear, and radiant construction of the Shrine. We sheltered ourselves in its shadow. Fr. Héctor Vega entered the Shrine (although the steps were missing) and countless numbers of symbols and letters which the pilgrims brought along reached him. For more than 30 minutes the group prayed with much concentration a prepared devotion. Prayers and hymns alternated while they offered to the Mother Thrice Admirable the desires and intentions of their pilgrimage. Among the symbols of note was a crown with a small shrine which adorned its center.

Father was here

Then we walked down to the Wayside Shrine which is on the lower part of the property, the place which Father Kentenich visited three times. There we renewed the Covenant of Love while we were moved by the thought:"Father was here at this place". Then we went up to the parish church where we were able to celebrate Holy Mass. The availability of the Pastor, Fr. Federico, is marvelous. After the Eucharist we went to the restaurant "Il Maghetto" where two large tables for 20 persons each awaited us. Supper was a time of rest, exchange, and joy. Upon returning to Rome we felt we left something of ourselves there…, in Belmonte, but we also left with something: a hope which becomes a reality and which depends on all of the members of the family wherever we may be.

Only thirty days are left…

Only thirty days to go. How will we find "that land so warm and dear which Eternal Love has built itself"? We will soon know. What I can say is that the Shrine is beautiful, each day more ready to house the Queen which wants to be "Matri Ecclesiae".

Translation: Carlos Cantu, LaFeria, Texas, USA