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8 de diciembre: Jovenes de Brasil, México, Alemania, Hungria, y Estados Unidos em el Santuário Original, presentando a la Mater la novena en preparación de la Jornada Mundial de la Juventud December 8: youth from Brazil, México, Germany, Hungary, and USA in the Original Shrine, presenting to the Blessed Mother the novena in preparation of World Youth Day 2005 8. Dezember: Jugendliche aus Brasilien, Mexiko, Deutschland, Ungarn und USA bringen die Novene zur Vorbereitung des Weltjugendtags ins Urheiligtum |
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Iglesia de Peregrinos: Misa festiva en honor de la Inmaculada; el celebrante principal es el Padre Heinrich Walter Pilgrims’ Church, festive Mass in honor of the Immaculate; Father Heinrich Walter was the main celebrant Pilgerkirche: Festgottesdienst zu Ehren der Immakulata. Hauptzelebrant ist Pater Heinrich Walter |
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Estrellas, velas y un ambiente navideño ... Stars, candles, and Christmas flair... Sterne, Kerzen, weihnachtliches Ambiente… |
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Se rezó el primer parte de la Novena The first part of the novena is prayed In mehreren Sprachen wurde der erste Teil der Novene gebetet |
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Harpa Harp music Harfenklänge |
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Jovenes de la diocesis de Fulda regalaron „galetillas de estrella“ Youth from the diocese of Fulda offered star cookies Jugendliche aus der Diözese Fulda verschenkten Sternkekse |
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Michaela y Daniela llevan la novena y la vela de la Jornada Mundial de la Juventud al Santuario Original Michaela ans Daniela carrying the novena and the World Youth Day Light to the Original Shrine Michaela und Daniela bringen die Novene und das Weltjugendtagslicht ins Urheiligtum |
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La novena en el altar del Santuario Original The novena at the altar of the Original Shrine Die Novene auf dem Altar des Urheiligtums Fotos: POS Fischer ©2004 |
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SCHOENSTATT, mkf. December 8th, During a Mass held in Schoenstatt on the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the Schoenstatt Movement began a world wide novena in preparation for the Cologne World Youth Day in August 2005. The prayer: "My Queen, my mother . . . "serves as a basis for the Novena. It was a moving moment, as young people from Brazil, Mexico, Hungary, Chile, the USA and Germany, entered the Original Shrine carrying Schoenstatt flags. A recent German translation of the Novena booklet was laid on the altar of the Original Shrine. The invitation for this Novena has found strong, worldwide significance in the media. During the afternoon broadcasting the Vatican Radio gave a report about the Novena and it was also mentioned in several editions of Zenit News Agency.
The suggestion for this Novena came from the Argentine Schoenstatt youth, who longingly wait for the Spanish translation; with the cooperation of volunteers from Brazil, the USA, Mexico, Chile and Germany this has become a reality. It will be translated into many different languages, to serve young people as well as adults from the Schoenstatt Movement, to prepare for the World Youth Day in 2005.
Each month the concerns of a different part of the world will be chosen as a topic for peace, unity, and social justice... Auxiliary Bishop Jörg Michael Peters writes in the introduction: `Unser Weg bewegt - Our way moves to Christ`. It is not the first time that this statement "Way that moves to Christ" has inspired people to become enthusiastic for the World Youth Day in Cologne. In particular the encounter with the WYD cross as it went on a pilgrimage throughout the German Dioceses and its arrival in Schoenstatt on October 2004, make it very plain for all: This "way that moves to Christ" inspires us to discover someone in ourselves - and that someone is Jesus Christ."
Harps, trumpets and harp music sound for Mary
Soft, warm light embraced the people who came to the Pilgrim Church in Schoenstatt, on the eve of December 8th, to celebrate a Mass in honor of our Immaculate Mother. The celebration united the Universal Church with the worldwide Schoenstatt family and this was linked with the anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of the Shrine in Belmonte. On the same day, the 150th jubilee of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, Pope John Paul II consecrated the world once again to Mary and called on the help of the Mother of God, for the protection of human life and for the peace in the world. "Help us to establish a world in which the life of every person is always valued and defended", the Holy Father asked before the statue of the Immaculate Conception in the Piazza di Spagna in Rome. Following the words of the Holy Father the statue of the Virgin was decorated with 150 roses from the Vatican gardens. Afterwards there was a reading from Ephesians and from "Ineffabilis Deus", the dogmatic bull of Pius IX.
There were no roses from the Vatican gardens, in the wintry-cold Schoenstatt, instead, stars, lights, trumpets, harps, transverse flutes, guitars and harpsichord played for Mary. "It was a very beautiful Mass", as Sandra from Mexico, said, "so warm and tender, this could be felt, even if you could not understand a lot." With the numerous priests and students of the Schoenstatt Fathers, young people also took part in the Holy Mass as a prelude for the World Youth Day Novena. " The word tribute is not found in my vocabulary, but because of love to you, Mother of God, I want to offer one "; a young woman opened her introduction, while young people from different countries carried candles up to the picture of the MTA. The choir of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, Women’s Federation and Institute of Our Lady of Schoenstatt, provided music for the Mass. The special highlights were a harpsichord-solo, a trumpet duet and the tranquility of the harp after communion.
On the basis of the soul lies the memory of the Immaculate
Father Heinrich Walter, Chairman of the General Presidium of the international Schoenstatt Movement, in the sermon described the Immaculate Mother as full of grace, full of life, full of love and consequently made the "often misunderstood dogma", clearer and more applicable to life.
Father Walter said that Mary was full of grace from the very beginning. The intuitive knowledge of the pure creation lays in the soul of every person; this can be appreciated in a winter scene, in a new dress or in a meadow moistened with dew... An atmosphere of simplicity exists where only good thoughts come. Mary was able to preserve the grace of purity; we ask to be given the grace of always being able to start anew. The Immaculate Mother’s atmosphere is where simplicity and beauty grow, and where uncertain and negative attitudes cannot prosper.
Our Immaculate Mother is full of life, which makes this feast a call to fight for the dignity of each person, a fight for the fullness of human life in a world that makes us live in so many separated "worlds". He highlighted the example of a 20-year-old boy’s funeral Mass, showing in how many "worlds" this young man had lived and how hard it was for him to connect these worlds. We can also experience a strong longing for the "fullness of life".
Our Immaculate Mother is full of love, which urges us to give our best. Close to her, we are drawn into an atmosphere where it is easy to decide for God’s wishes … from within, out of love. This feast is an invitation to give ourselves anew to our mother and to grow closer to her.
For the youth of the world
Some extracts from the document of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception were read after the sermon. The young people prepared the intercessions and also read texts from the Novena in English, Spanish, Portuguese and German – a warm petition for the youth of the whole world who are preparing for the World Youth Day, and a deeper encounter with Christ.
Wilfried Röhrig's song for the World Youth Day: " Convenite homines, come together, all people of the world ... " had already been sung during the Mass and was repeated again during the simple candlelight procession, by the pilgrims, as they made their way to the Original Shrine, a place of grace. The Novena offered to the Mother of God in the Original Shrine was accompanied by the sound of their prayers which characterizes the Schoenstatt youth and all that motivates them for the World Youth Day: " My Queen, my mother, I give myself to you ... "
The texts can be ordered from the Schönstatt project office World Youth Day, Berg Schönstatt 7, 56179 Vallendar or be recalled directly under www.wjt.schoenstatt.de.
Translation: Kelsie /Pat McEvoy, Liverpool, England
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