Joseph Engling: "volo fiere sanctus magnus" – "I want to be a great saint"

To give my life as Joseph Engling did in the war – A testimony, a gift to Joseph Engling and the Schoenstatt Family for the 40^th anniversary of the Shrine of Cambrai

Dar mi vida por Schoenstatt como él Living my life for Schoenstatt like him Mein Leben für Schönstatt – wie er Fotos: POS Fischer © 2005

TESTIMONY. My name is Ignacio Siri from Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. I am 21 years old and the leader of the Boys’ Youth in Mar del Plata. It was suggested that I write about Joseph and at that moment I did not know how to say yes because of fear or because I did not know what to write. After thinking about it more calmly, I thought: "there are several things I could write about him." This 20 year old young man almost 90 years ago offered his life for God, Mary, Schoenstatt, and his country. This young man had a great ideal, "to be everything for everyone and to belong totally to Mary." I want to pause a moment on what this ideal means to me.

Joseph, I believe, is a leader for us today because we could analyze on his entire life…..since childhood – he was a person who had difficulties pronouncing certain letters…..he was a hunched due to polio – until his death he was Mary’s simple instrument for the kingdom of God and at the service of all men. This young man came with a mission and it is now up to us to fulfill or not to fulfill that mission; this is our mission, to strive for great ideals as he had, to strive against corruption, society, mistreatment, hypocrisy, the lack of honesty, peace, etc.

We should want to be Great Saints

The youths which were gathered together a week ago in Cologne would have to strive for this in each of their countries. They would have to strive for the great Christian values, for Jesus, for Mary and Christ. We should want to be Great Saints. But the saints were not those who prayed for 24 hours on the 23^rd, but those who gave a heroic love and passed each trial of fire in the small things of daily life. We can be saints if we strive for great ideals and pray for them, but always, the great comes from the small. First we must be small before God and then we will be great! Joseph, for Ignacio Siri, is a brother Saint. He is an example I want to imitate, I want to live his style of life. It is very difficult, yes, but not impossible.

How can I give my life as Joseph did in the war

How can I give my life as Joseph did in the war? Truthfully, it is a very difficult question to answer, but I will try.

First step: a total surrender for the mission and for the Blessed Mother; I am a postulant to enter the Novitiate of the Schoenstatt Fathers.

Second step: to show Joseph’s unconditional love for Mary even in the most difficult situations of his life; it is shown in a group for life, in a talk and in daily life.

The third step is for me to become like him in the smallest things of my life since for me he is a saint. I cannot pretend to be, but to try.

Lastly, I want to tell you not to fear getting enthused about risking yourselves for what God wants from you. For sure, when you take that step, be certain that God is behind it. Never lose the way or the aim and when you do lose it, know that the North Star is Heaven.

Much love from Mar del Plata, Ayouth who wants to take the risk.

Thank you, Joseph, thank you, Schoenstatt, thank you, Blessed Mother

Translation: Carlos Cantu, La Feria, TX, USA