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Curso “Corazón del Amor Infinito” de la Federación de Madres, Sudafrica Mothers’ Union Heart of Infinite Love Course in Southern Africa Erster Kurs des Mütterbundes in Südafrika: Herz der unendlichen Liebe |
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Firma en el libro de Alianza, con el Padre David Musgrave Signing the Covenant book with Fr. David Musgrave Unterschrift im Bündnisbuch, mit P. David Musgrave |
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Alegría después de la consagración Ringing the Shrine bell with joy and thanksgiving, having made our final inscripto consecration. Nach der Inscriptioweihe wird übermütig geläutet |
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Miembros del tercer curso preparando el te Members of the 3rd Mothers’ Union Course helping with teas. Mütter des dritten Bundeskurses helfen bei Tee und Kuchen |
SOUTH AFRICA, Marlene Peters. Ten years ago, fourteen mothers in Southern Africa, two from Zimbabwe and twelve from South Africa, were called together to form a mothers’ union course, the first in Africa, with the God-given ideal to be ‘Heart of Infinite Love.’ Now, in May 2005, after intense preparation of masses, benediction, readings, hymns, prayers etc. etc. the time arrived for their final consecration.
The celebration began with a gathering on Sunday 1 May, of family members and friends invited for a special benediction service which Schoenstatt father David Musgrave called, ‘the kitchen tea’ – a traditional tea party given for the bride before the wedding. It was a very joy-filled event which included a party afterwards graced by a beautiful cake decorated with large picture of Fr. Kentenich holding a rose.
On Monday 2 May, in a private service, during mass, the mothers made their final incorporation into the Apostolic Community of Mothers’ Union. Sister Marian Dunn, who has been instrumental in the formation of Mothers’ Union communities in Southern Africa, spiritual director, educator (under our MTA’s guidance), and dear friend, accepted their request for incorporation.
A red rose in the Garden of Mary
The main and most important celebration, the Final Inscriptio Consecration, - took place in the Bedfordview shrine, Johannesburg on Tuesday 3 May. It was a blessed culmination of years spent striving and being formed and educated and moulded by Our Mother Thrice Admirable through heroic childlike trust in Divine providence, into a course ready to serve God as ‘heart of infinite love’ in Africa. They see it as one of their missions to be instruments of Mary in drawing other mothers into union. The inspiration to make inscriptio came especially from our father and founder, his 20 January decision, and prayers from Heavenwards.
Having made their consecration the mothers gathered outside the shrine where they were ‘planted’ in the Garden of Mary as a beautiful deep red rose, symbolizing love, certain that Father Kentenich, the gardener, was smiling down on them. The physical rose stands planted in a pot just outside the shrine.
Fr. David remarked, later, "You must expect extraordinary times now that you have made your consecration. God is going to use you in ways you will be amazed at."