Nazareth in my daily life

Encounters in the Original Shrine at the beginning of October

Acción de gracias por la cosecha del año

Thanksgiving for the harvest

Erntedank in der Pilgerkirche

Peregrinos de Bamberg en el Santuario Original Pilgrims from Bamberg at the Original Shrine Pilger aus Bamberg im Urheiligtum
Procesión Procession Prozession
Coro Choir Jugendchor Fotos: Brück © 2005
Una joven de Francia quiso pasar unos días en Schoenstatt A young woman from France wanted to spend some time in Schoenstatt Eine junge Französin verbringt einige Zeit in Schönstatt
Un Rosario de Chiapas – en la fiesta de la Reina del Rosario, rezando por las victimas del huracán en Chiapas, Guatemala, El Salvador A rosary from Chiapas – on the feast of the Queen of the Rosary, prayers go out to the victims of hurricane Stan in Chiapas, Guatemala, El Salvador Ein Rosenkranz aus Chiapas – am Fest der Rosenkranz-Königin beten wir für die Opfer des Hurrikans in Chiapas, Guatemala und El Salvador Fotos: POS Fischer © 2005

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. My daily life is my Nazareth. Here God hopes that my response will be like Mary’s. This is an idea that the Auxiliary Bishop of Bamberg, Monsignor Werner Radspieler, presented to the pilgrims from his diocese that he had accompanied. When you look at the MTA picture it is noticeable that the Blessed Mother is not holding her Son, said the Bishop. The Mother and the Child are not looking at each other. She wants to give her Son to Me, she wants to give him to us, to all of humanity.

It was the first time that Monsignor Radspieler had come to Schoenstatt. He came with the pilgrims from his diocese: Bamberg. He was not the only one that was surprised during the guided tour through the valley and Mount Schoenstatt, many of those who had come for the first time said: "Schoenstatt is as large as Lourdes. I had not imagined it like this!" One of the men who came for the first time, commented the following after hearing about Father Kentenich’s death: "Father Kentenich’s death in the Adoration Church is like a confirmation of all the work of his life.

During the first weekend of October some 350 pilgrims from Bamberg arrived in Schoenstatt, another 50 from Bocholt, and there were other pilgrims from the surrounding areas. This has been the largest pilgrimage from Bamberg.

Father Emge, Diocesan Director of the Movement, was very happy about the large number of pilgrims. It is a sign of the renewal of life in his diocese, especially since there is a Schoenstatt Shrine in that diocese.

The pilgrimage closed with Holy Mass which was a Eucharist of Thanksgiving for the harvest. "The fruits of the earth and the work of men" could be seen in front of the altar of the Pilgrim’s Church.

What remains after a brief visit to Schoenstatt

During the same weekend, which was prolonged because of the holiday on October 3rd (National Day of Germany, anniversary of the re-unification), the Schoenstatt Girls’ Youth had its journey for leaders. During those days they worked on the events of World Youth Day and the Youth Festival to determine what motivates them "after" these events. The motto was: "Viva Schoenstat. May love move us".

The story behind the phrase Love Mobilizes us: is the visit of a young French girl who arrived in Schoenstatt before World Youth Day with a group of youth from her country. She was only here for a few hours and in the midst of a torrential rain, but "this was my deepest experience".

"Until now I did not have any relationship with Mary, but the Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt in her Shrine touched something in me. I feel very attracted by Her". At the beginning of October, she wanted to spend some time in Schoenstatt to enter more deeply into the Schoenstatt world before entering the Carmelites of Lisieux.

Thursday night a group of pilgrims from Brazil arrived: couples, missionaries of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign, friends of the Schoenstatt Movement. Friday they traveled through the place and in the afternoon they celebrated Holy Mass in the Adoration Church.

During the following days their program will include visits to Metternich and Gymnich, a boat ride on the Rhine to Boppard and Marksburg, shopping and trips to Vallendar, Koblenz, Bonn and Cologne, and of course visits to the most important places in Schoenstatt, that are related to prayer and the Eucharist.

Prayers for the victims of the hurricanes in Central America and the United States

During this month of the Rosary, in many Schoenstatt places the Rosary will be prayed daily especially for the victims of the hurricanes in Central America and the United States. Hundreds of persons have lost their lives and many were left homeless. The Blessed Mother is also active there and she attaches the people with the Original Shrine and with the prayers of those who will say from there: "Place them under your protection…"