Everything began at this baptismal font

Msgr. Dr. Peter Wolf’s homily on the 120^th anniversary of the birth and baptism of Father Joseph Kentenich – St. Kunnibert, Gymnich, November 20, 2005

Dear St. Kunnibert parishioners,
Dear Gymnich neighbors,
Dear Schoenstatt Family of Cologne,
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

It is because of your initiative that we are gathered here today to remember the birth and the baptism of a man from this city and a member of this parish. Here, in Gymnich, can be found the birth home and the baptismal font of a man who has become known far beyond the limits of this community: he is Father Joseph Kentenich, the Founder of the International Schoenstatt Work. With our common pilgrimage from the simple birth home to this Church which is visible from afar, we wanted to make the same trip which was made 120 years ago by his Godmother, Ana María Blatzheim, and perhaps also the young mother with her newborn child. The pastor at that time, Fr. Johann Josef von der Burg, baptized the child with the names Peter Joseph and recorded his baptism in the parish registry. This is the reason which gathers us here: to give thanks in this Mass for the graces which came forth from this baptism.

I. In the life of a Christian, everything begins with baptism

With the baptism celebrated 120 years ago in this parish, the young Joseph Kentenich began his life as a Christian. Just as the first Christians considered it, we can discover in this event something almost like a second birth. Baptism gives to the small child – brought to the Church by his Godmother – eternal life, a future beyond death. The sacrament of baptism offers him incorporation in Jesus Christ, the bearer of a new and eternal life. From baptism, the small Peter Joseph belongs to Jesus Christ and participates in the relationship of Jesus with the Father. Baptism is the beginning of a new and enduring relationship. The baptized is a brother of Jesus Christ, son of the Eternal Father and temple of the Holy Spirit. In the primitive Church it was a great joy to pray for the first time the Our Father after the baptism. It was done secretly and it was taught to the catechumen just before being baptized.

In the Greek Roman world of that time, Christians understood baptism as a sign of belonging definitely to Jesus. In their cities, they frequently observed the signs with which at that time a slave was transferred to his owner. They compared baptism with that custom: they were transferred to their Lord, Jesus Christ, and they were bound to Him. It was a great honor to belong to this king and lord and to be at his service. It is the same true King and Lord which we celebrate today in the feast of Christ the King.

With baptism, the Christian is introduced into the web of attachments of the Church. From the moment of baptism, he/she belongs to the parish family and is received into the fraternity of the parish community and of the entire Church. The early Christians from early times called each other brothers. That is how it also began for the young Peter Joseph…..his development in the great web of attachments of the Church beginning with his parish and continuing with the universal Church in which he would feel at home as we will see later. Each person baptized is interwoven in the great web of attachments of the angels and saints who from that moment are his protectors, his brothers. From our baptism we can trust that Mary is the mother of those who belong to Jesus and of those whom He entrusted to Mary on the cross. We can discover all of these attachments in the life of Joseph Kentenich. From the day of his baptism they were given to him so that he could share with many. They were valuable gifts for him in his life and he filled them with life.

II. Father Kentenich felt it was his mission that many Christians would live a life consistent to the baptismal covenant.

The foundation of baptism would determine his whole life and those graces would shine with a very special fire. You know the important stages of his hurried life which starting from Gymnich took him to Oberhausen, Ehrenbreitstein, Limburg and Schoenstatt…..and later to Dachau and to the whole world. After his ordination to the priesthood in the Palottine Mission House of Limburg and after working as a teacher, youths were entrusted to him in Schoenstatt so that he could be their adviser and spiritual director. With them he developed the plan: "Under the protection of Mary, we want to learn to educate ourselves into firm, free, priestly characters."

He wanted to conquer them for a conscious and committed life with faith and with the attachments of baptism. On the one hand he grasped the irresistible desire of the youths for self-discovery and to do something great. At the same time he was able to achieve a profound conquest on the level of faith, with Christ and with His mother. The vital relationship with Mary becomes more and more for him the key to fill with life all of the attachments which are given to us in baptism: with the Father, with the Son and with the Holy Spirit, with the entire Church and with all of heaven. It is an experience which deepens in his pastoral work and which radiates throughout his life as spiritual director of souls and as founder.

The Covenant of Love is the great expression of his life; it is his vital experience. Along with Father Kentenich, a religious Movement comes forth which attaches itself deeply, through a covenant of love, to the members among themselves and with the mother of Jesus. From here arises a covenant of love lived with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and with all of heaven. It means to be Christian with Mary, following the invitation of Father Kentenich. In this way, he recreates life which blossoms from baptism in the hearts of countless women and men throughout the entire world.

From him, an international Movement with many vocations came forth. There is laity…..men and women, adolescents and youths whom he motivated to live the baptismal covenant and an apostolic commitment in their parishes and in their place of work. Hundreds of priests and thousands of Sisters have joined him. They live inspired by him and work in the Church on all five continents. He is a founder who gave to the Church 25 living communities and a Movement extended throughout the world to which more than two million persons belong. A few months ago, not far from here in Marienfeld, we were able to see just how many are one million persons.

III. Throughout the world there are men and women who are grateful for this life and for what was offered through it.

A month ago I visited the Movement in Mexico. For a week they celebrated – only as they know how to – 25 years of the Movement and of the first Schoenstatt Shrine in their country. On the way to the Shrine, amid many cactus plants, there is a life-size statue of Father Kentenich. It is a bronze statue made by a Mexican artist. It is not the figure of a saint on a pedestal with a halo. It is the figure of a man to whom one is grateful and wants to remember. It is a priest, a Father, whose figure is found on the way to the Shrine. They go to him naturally and the children take his hand. A woman leaves a rose in his hand. A priest who has lost his father three months prior embraces him. "They called him Father," is the title of a biography of Father Kentenich written by a Brazilian. The one who many years ago was not accepted by his father is now Father to hundreds and thousands of persons throughout the world.

In many countries of Latin America and Africa, on all continents, this man from Gymnich is known, this Christian and priest who was baptized here in this parish. This baptismal font marks the beginning of his journey, of a life full of blessings for the Church. It reminds us of the undeserved grace which God gives at the beginning of a life and reminds us of the miracles which God can work through it. There are many throughout the world who are convinced that from this baptismal font in Gymnich a great man has come forth, a committed Christian; yes, even a saint. When the Church takes ownership of this experience, when it assumes this reality, innumerable shall be those who will praise God at this font for the baptism of Father Kentenich. Many will come here and will renew there baptism at this place. During WYD which took place a few weeks ago, many youths looked for and took advantage of this possibility. The Church needs many who remain faithful to Jesus, to Sundays and to weekdays, in the Churches and in the center of the world.

Translation: Carlos Cantú Family Federation La Feria, Texas USA