18 de agosto de 2005: Alianza de Amor en el Santuario Original August 18, 2005: Covenant of Love in the Original Shrine 18. August 2005: Liebesbündnis im Urheiligtum
Mariano y Andrea viajaron de Colonia para sellar su alianza en el Santuario Original Mariano and Andrea came from Cologne to seal their Covenant of Love in the Original Shrine Mariano und Andrea kamen von Köln, um im Urheiligtum ihr Liebesbündnis zu schließen
Que pivilegio estar en ese lugar de gracias! What a gift to be at this place of grace! Was für ein Geschenk, hier zu sein!
Oración del grupo del Neocatecumenes de España Prayer of a group of Neocatechumenal Way, Spain Gebet einer Gruppe des Neokatechumenats aus Spanien
Se quedaron un largo tiempo en adoración They stayed a long time in adoration Sie hielten lange Zeit Anbetung
Un recuerdo de Schoenstatt para todos A souvenir from Schoenstatt for each one Ein Andenken an Schönstatt für jeden
Cantando y bailando en honor de la Virgen Singing and dancing for the Blessed Mother Singen und tanzen für die Gottesmutter Fotos: POS Fischer © 2005

WYD-SCHOENSTATT, mfk. Are we returning to previous times, can we or do we want to return to previous times?, asked Father Marcelo Aravena, as he bid farewell to a group of youth from Neocatecumendado, in the Original Shrine. It was like a dream: someday we will move mountains, someday pilgrims from every corner of the world will arrive to pray in the Shrine…and now, as never before, it became a reality on this 18^th of August. They arrived at the Original Shrine with or without previous notice, they arrived on time or not on time, they arrived individually or in groups that ranged from 50 to 700 persons, and "all who have come to pray should experience the glories of Mary and avow: It is good to be here!" "It is so good to be here! They are youth and members of the army from Argentina, more than 700 members of the Movement "Lumen Dei", more than 500 youth from the Diocese of Getafe, some 50 pilgrims from Neocatecumendad, Spain.

Each morning at 8:00 a.m. a great number of Schoenstatt youth from Chile and Brazil that are staying in "House Regina", go to the station in Vallendar to take the train to Cologne. The morning of the 18^th, they met two young pilgrims from WYD, with their backpacks, going toward the Original Shrine. Where were they going? Mariano Cabral and Andrea Prestia had escaped early that morning from Cologne to travel to Schoenstatt to seal their Covenant of Love. They brought a Pilgrim MTA of Serenity and Confidencet with them for a missionary from Germany. "We had to take it out of our backpacks at the airport because they thought it was a bomb. Once it was "freed" from its wrapping, the Pilgrim MTA began to visit the other members of our group", commented Mariano, who was happy he could return to his group with a Pilgrim MTA that stayed in Schoenstatt and that should return to Argentina. Mariano says: to arrive at the Original Shrine and to seal the Covenant of Love along with seeing the Pope, was t the milestone and goal of our trip. Mariano has taken the Pilgrim MTA on pilgrimage for three years, and "this has filled my life with joy." He participated with Andrea in a Covenant group and now they are both in Schoenstatt…When they found out that there would be a Holy Mass in the Shrine at 10:30 a.m. they leave without thinking about it…The Mass is in German, they do not understand anything, but it is a grace: "To celebrate Holy Mass in the Original Shrine." Our friends in Argentina are going to die of envy!"

The Original Shrine was full of pilgrims from several countries when they sealed their Covenant of Love, after the Covenant Mass. Father Franz Widmaier was in charge of celebrating their Covenant of Love, some Sisters of Mary from Argentina, and Rose Mary Wieland, from Chile, who lives in Germany, sang, and there was even a guitar! Everything was simple, moving

And "So beautiful you had to cry" said Andrea afterwards. They have an hour to go through Schoenstatt, especially to visit Father’s tomb.and to bid farewell to the place of their dreams, where they sealed their Covenant of Love on an 18^th like none other.

We are seeking the place of grace

In the Father Kentenich House, on Mount Schoenstatt, the Holy Father’s arrival in Cologne is transmitted live. That afternoon some priests and seminarians from Puerto Rico from the "Lumen Dei" Movement arrived, they were dead tired since they had not found a place to sleep for two days…now they were happy to have arrived in Schoenstatt. They were expected at 10:00 p.m., but some persons welcomed them, they offered them a place to bathe and something to eat, and an automobile for them and their luggage. During the afternoon, another group from this Movement celebrated Holy Mass in the Original Shrine; the celebrant was from Peru. It was probably the first time the Blessed Mother heard prayers in Quechua in the Original Shrine. That afternoon a group of some 50 pilgrims from Neocatecumenado, Spain bid farewell from the Original Shrine with vespers, and with songs and dances in honor of the Blessed Mother. Sister Rosa Maria Lamberti, from Argentina, leader of the non- Schoenstatt pilgrimages, gave each one a card of remembrance of their visit with the picture of the Original Shrine and the phrase: "I prayed for you in this Shrine". It is a spectacular panorama: 50 youth, the sound of guitars, castanets, and bongos, singing one Marian song after another, dancing in front of the Original Shrine. What an 18^th!And it is not over yet…the biggest surprise for the MTA was reserved for that night!

Schoenstatt Photos