We want to be stars

Christmas in Schoenstatt

Misa de los Niños en la Iglesia de Peregrinos Christmas Mass of the Children in the Pilgrims’s Church Kinder-Christmette in der Pilgerkirche Foto: Brück © 2005
Tumba del Padre, con las estrellas Founder Chapel, with stars Gründerkapelle im Weihnachtsglanz
Misa de Gallo en la Iglesia de la Adoración Christmas Mass in the Adoration Church Christmette in der Anbetungskirche
Noche de paz... Silent Night, Holy Night... Stille Nacht… Fotos: POS Fischer © 2005

SCHOENSTATT, MKF. "The couples group, Admirable Mother of Divine Grace, from the city of Torreon in Coahuila, Mexico, offers itself as stars for the manger of that tiny divine being, asking him to receive us and to be born in each of us. With love we ask this and we offer ourselves, Santos Ramirez Family", reads one of more than 600 e-mails that arrived before and during Christmas. "I am so moved to know that we are on the altar of the Original Shrine", comments Ines Petiti, from Goya, Argentina, when she saw the photos sent on the 24^th of December where she clearly sees a package of e-mails printed on paper stars. "The morning of the 24^th I went to Holy Mass in my parish", writes a Sister. "A missionary approached me and said, ‘I have already sent many stars’. She is the owner of one of the newspapers in our city. Thanks for the stars! They are a success."

"Stars" not only arrived from the Schoenstatt Family from Canada, United States, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Mexico, El Salvador, Panama, Puerto Rico, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, but also from persons who found out about them through friends or on the internet. They found out that somewhere in Germany there is a Shrine of the Blessed Mother where the graces of Christmas Eve are shed over all those who come close to receive them with an open heart…

"When and where is the international Christmas Eve Mass of the Schoenstatt Family?" asked Cecilia and Sebastian Barrientos from Chile when they arrived at Schoenstatt. They found out that in addition to the Masses that are celebrated within the different communities in Schoenstatt, a Midnight Mass is celebrated in the Adoration Church, which is "for everyone". During the last decades, the Christmas Eve Mass was discontinued and now the Christmas Mass is celebrated earlier, usually it is celebrated on the afternoon of the 24^th. For that reason, many are attracted to the Midnight Mass.

Christ is born for everyone

A "specialty" of the German speaking countries is the "Christmas Mass for Children" which is celebrated on the 24^th of December at 4:00 p.m. This has taken place in the Pilgrim’s Church since 2004. This year more than 550 persons attended, among them 100 children, who along with the priests carried the image of the Child Jesus to the church and the manger. Prayers were said for those who are in need or those who are suffering from some illness, and at the end, while everyone sang verses of "Silent Night", the older children lighted sparklers. "Christ is born for everyone, for men throughout the earth", Father Franz Widmaier stressed in his homily. Later he gave his Christmas greeting in several languages. Another international touch was heard in the music of the Mass, under the direction of a Chilean-German family. At the end of the celebration all the participants received sparklers as a gift to celebrate a Merry Christmas.

Only one petition at the last minute

The doors of the Adoration Church opened at 10:45 p.m. Everything inside was Christmas: trees, the manger, lilies, and hundreds of stars. In attendance were Schoenstatt Sisters, youth from different countries, participants of the International Chapter of Women’s Federation, and many other pilgrims who wanted to celebrate Christmas Eve in Schoenstatt. There were people from Vallendar and other neighboring towns, students from Chile who are studying in Europe. But the biggest "wave" of people arrived at 11:00 p.m. - that is the time that the "stars" were taken to Father Kentenich’s tomb. E-mails continued to arrive until the last moment with one petition: we want to be stars in the manger of Schoenstatt! These were "stars" that spoke of faith, trust, and of commitment. "I send my star, as I enter the novitiate of the Schoenstatt Fathers", says one e-mail. Others speak of miracles they have experienced or they ask for a miracle.

At 11:45 p.m., the Mass began. The highlight, as usual, came after the Gospel. At that moment the priests went to the manger to adore the Christ Child and to the sound of "Silent Night", and they offered all humanity to him.

This year the Midnight Mass was "extended" to all of the Schoenstatt Family and not only through the stars. This marks the first year that it was possible to see and hear (via the internet) most of this Mass on December 25th, thanks to the efforts of Angie Santos, from Ecuador. That night the blog was visited by people from Norway, El Salvador, Thailand, and even countries where it is risky to be Christian. They listened and saw the Midnight Mass in Schoenstatt. Yes, your Shrine, is a Bethlehem for everyone.

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