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Desde el 8 de septiembre de 2004, la Virgen se ha instalado más plenamente en el corazón de la Iglesia, en Belmonte. Since September 8, 2004, the Blessed Mother has installed herself more fully in the heart of the Church, in Belmonte Seit dem 8. Setptember hat sich die Gottesmutter von Schönstatt noch deutlicher im Herzen der Kirche niedergelassen. Foto: POS Fischer © 2005 |
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Encuentro de misioneras de la Campańa del Rosario en el Santuario en Rawson, Chubut, Argentina Encounter of missionaries of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign in Rawson, Chubut, Argentina Treffen von Missionaren der Kampagne der Pilgernden Gottesmutter in Rawson, Chubut, Argentinien |
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Procesión con Auxiliares y Peregrinas, Nuevo Schoenstatt, Argentina Procession with Auxiliaries and Pilgrim MTA’s, Nuevo Schoenstatt, Argentina Prozession mit Auxiliares und Pilgermüttern, Nuevo Schoenstatt, Argentinien Foto: Crivelli © 2005 |
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Misionero ciego con la Peregrina de ciegos Blind Missionary with the Pilgrim MTA of the Blind Persons Blinder Missionar mit der Pilgernden Gottesmutter der Blinden |
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Ermita en Corronel Dorrego con Peregrinas Wayside shrine in Corronel Dorrego with Pilgrim MTA’s Bildstock in Corronle Dorrego mit Bildern der Pilgernden Gottesmutter Fotos: de Vecchi © 2005 |
ROME, Father Alberto Eronti. Last week I visited the International Secretariat of the Charasmatic Renewal, with headquarters in Rome. I have been there several times and it has always been a great enrichment for me to be able to share with these brothers "things of the Spirit". They mentioned some news that two days later was published by the "Zenit" Agency, about the "V" International Retreat for priests in Monterrey (Mexico). I was impacted by the theme of the retreat: "Mary,...your priests want to see Jesus". Two members of the Renewal, whom I did not know, participated in the conversation and they asked me about Schoentatt, its spirituality and its contribution to the Church. The exchange was very spontaneous, cordial and full of interest. The testimony they gave of the love of Mary, as the woman filled by the Spirit, gave me great joy. It felt as if she was in our midst and that her love united us, as in the first Pentecost of the Church.
On my way home I was reviewing the experience and the conversation we had, I noticed that something was "working" in my interior. It was a subject, that for some months had given me something to think about, the person of Mary, as she was understood, lived, and proclaimed by Father Kentenich. It is about an image of Mary free of limitations and presented in all the greatness of her being and her mission. When they asked me about "Schoenstatt"s contribution to the world of today", I have the impression that something is missing, that we need to develop or form a more adequate way to present the fullness that is Mary, We have developed "within" the Family a varied and fruitful personal, familial, communitarian spirituality. What is lacking? Apparently, from what I experience in my encounters with different Movements, religious communities, members of the hierachy, and dedicated laity, it is the joyful proclamation, passionate and elaborate image of Mary that the Father of the Family "kept", "pondered", "elaborated", in his heart, and then left it as a testament and mission to us, his children.
"My mission was and is to proclaim to the world the mystery of Mary"
Father himself reminds us when he said: What was the mission that was entrusted to me 73 years ago"? Glancing towards St. Paul, I can affirm that my mission was and is to proclaim to the world the mystery of Mary" (Milwaukee, 16' XI/ 58). Looking at Europe and the Americas with prophetic eyes he would say: I begin with the supposition, in the first place, that it is true that the West, in its root, is not as Christian as we think; and, in the second place, that the West -thinks about the various western peoples -, in the measure that it was authentically rooted in Christianity, it has been weakening in this rootedness through the present time. Who among has doubts to this respect" Who"? (Milwaukee, 31/ V/ 63). And Father asks: "What does this mean? (...)In reality, and with this I will tell you one of my favorite personal ideas. You will see: the history of salvation is reiterated. The history of salvation began with the birth of Christ and Mary's yes. If the world of today wants to find a new way towards Christ, Mary should once again give birth to Christ. Also, here I am presupposing that you accept this in your interior. But, when you reflect or speak about it, you should a foundation for it all and study it anew, since, on the contrary, you will never understand all the depth of Schoenstatt with its Covenant of Love. The Blessed Mother wants to create from here a totally new world: Christ must be born anew! (Milwaukee, 31/ V/ 63)
The Rosary Campaign, is truly a visitation
I have the impression that pastorally, "outwardly", what clearly stands out and is seen by many is the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign. Some tell me that "it is something very simple, very devotional". Yes, I say, it is simple, it is devotional and it is much more. It is a Visitation! When Mary "visits" she brings joy, evokes prayer, and she transforms. It is Mary of Nazareth through the roads of the world, through the homes of men, carrying in her arms, He, who she has in her heart, Jesus Christ, to offer him as the Way, the Truth and the Life!
This shows me, at least in the circles in which I move, that the image of Mary, such as Father Kentenich contemplated and proclaimed, has not yet come, or she has not come with the clarity that would convert her in what the Founder hoped. I believe that we should examine this in the light of the mission of Mary, which is Father's and ours .What more can we do? My task is to announce the Blessed Mother, show her in the present time as the Collaborator of the Lord in all his work of redemption, as the Co-redemptrix and Mediator of graces: the Blessed Mother in her deep union with the Lord, in bi-unity with him, with the specific mission that she has for the contemporary age in and through her Schoenstatt Shrine. (Milwaukee, 16/ XI/ 58).
My dear Schoenstatt Family! I can surely say, that all of you are included in this, my mission. This mission is not only on my shoulders, but also on the shoulders of all Schoenstatt children." Our Father concludes saying: "It is consoling that this mission not only rest on my shoulders, but that all of you want to help me realize this gigantic task! (31/ V/ 63)
From Belmonte...
I believe that, at the beginning of this new millennium and on the way toward the first century of Schoenstatt, we should look forward, towards the new Schoenstatt century. Since September 8, 2004, the Blessed Mother has installed herself more fully in the heart of the Church, in Belmonte. She is the one who "accelerates" the times of her mission, which means she also "accelerates" us. It seems that this acceleration should be, among other things, in the proclamation. In the proclamation of the mission of Mary for the church and the present day. Which would constitute the complement to the "visitation" that she realizes through the campaign.
"What is it that she wants?" Father asks and responds: "She sees her task as giving birth to Christ again(...)how? She wants to give birth to him again in us, that is to say, in the members of the Church; and in the way that the new Christians and the new Christian community of tomorrow and of the future should present themselves. She has the task of glorifying herself in the newest Church in the stream of the newest times, giving the graces of transformation everywhere that men give themselves to her with trust. She wants to create this new man, capable of dominating the new time.." (2/ X/ 66)
Translation: Celina M. Garza, Harlingen, Texas, USA