Full of grace. Living stones for a renewed Church.

Belmonte, Rome: Building by the Matri Ecclesiae Shrine was named Covenant House

Belmonte, 8 de diciembre de 2005: „piedras vivas“ Belmonte, December 8, 2005: “living stones” Belmonte, 8. Dezember 2005: “lebendige Steine”
Celebración con Mons. Gino Reali, obispo de la diocesis del Santuario Matri Ecclesiae Celebration with Bishop Gino Reali Feier mit Ortsbischof Gino Reali
La “Casa de la Alianza” The “Covenant House” Das “Haus des Bundes”
Simbolos Symbole Viele Symbole vor dem Heiligtum
Las piedras con los nombres – todavía hay lugar The stones with the names – there is room enough Die Steine mit den Namen – es ist noch Platz Fotos: Gerber/Bühler © 2005
Fotos: © 2005

ROME. Father Michael Gerber. The afternoon of December 8, 2005: the esplanade of the Matri Ecclesiae Shrine began to fill slowly. Some Spanish youth were still carrying chairs and benches, the youth choir from Santa Gemma was making last minute arrangements and the numerous pilgrims were busily writing their names on one of the white stones that would later be placed in the foundation of Father’s future statue. All those who wrote and will write their names on one of these stones, want to commit themselves to be "living stones" for the Church of the future, just as it was described by the Council and by Father’s prophetic vision. Many of these stones were gathered that afternoon.

A total of 230 pilgrims from Germany, the Schoenstatt Family from Rome and the faithful from the Parish of Santa Gemma gathered on this feast day. Furthermore, stones arrived from those who united themselves spiritually to this celebration: 169 messages were received be email. They are an impressive testimony of the people who want to build the Church from their homes, according the vision of our Founder. For each email a stone was placed in front of the picture of our Father. During the ceremony these stones along with all the printed messages were placed in the foundation of the future statue of Father Kentenich.

We continue building where he started

At the beginning of the celebration, Monsignor Sanna greeted the Bishop from this area, Monsignor Gino Reali, the pastor, Father Federico and Monsignor Dr. Peter Wolf – General Rector of the Institute of Schoenstatt Diocesan Priests, who are responsible for this Shrine – along with the many pilgrims. The speakers recalled the importance of this time, of the events that occurred exactly 40 years ago and our commitment today of serving the Church. A large procession went to the foundation of the building of the Covenant House. On this site, that is in the center of a future square, a fountain will be built later, where a statue of our Father will be placed. "We continue building where he began; even today he is building with us". The foundation was filled with many large and small stones, but there is still enough space so the groups of pilgrims from the whole world can place their stones.

Our activity and the grace that comes from above

This foundation began in a special manner calling our attention to the relationship of the Blessed Mother and the renewal of the Church. The following morning the foundation experienced a transformation for a short period of time, which manifested a conscious symbolic meaning: because of the heavy rain and because the drainage system is still not in place, the hole of the foundation was filled with water that made it impossible to see the stones. If we interpret the rain as a symbol of the divine blessings, then this event tells us that the work of "Renewing the Church" does not begin with our activity. It begins when we, as Mary, abandon ourselves totally to divine grace, which absorbs us in a certain way. In that way we will be the stones, with which God can build something unexpectedly great.

"I am totally surrounded by Schoenstatt"

The morning of Wednesday, December the 7^th, the group of German pilgrims participated in the general audience in St. Peter’s Square. Monsignor Ignacio Sanna had obtained tickets to enter the "Sagrato" of the façade of the basilica of St. Peter’s, which was very close to the Pope. The pilgrims were very happy to be in this outstanding place and for the greeting of the Holy Father. Afterwards many had the opportunity to shake the Pope’s hand. Monsignor Dr. Peter Wolf presented his book about Mary and extending greetings to him. With visible joy and gratitude the Holy Father responded: "I am totally surrounded by Schoenstatt!"

Loppiano, international center of the Focolar Movement

"On Friday we began the return trip. We loaded our bus in the midst of a torrential rain and we headed towards Loppiano, the international center of the Focolar Movement. We continued through Florence toward Germany. We arrived late to Loppiano. A Swiss youth, Rafael, was in charge of our guided tour, to the joy of the pilgrims. We were astonished by the "city on the mountain", which has many individual buildings around a new and an old church. There are houses for the many families who live there and "schools" for the different groups the majority of which live in community during ten months and who want to be trained in the spirituality of the Focalars. There is a school for priests, another one for religious, others for the Focolar men and a separate one for women and there is one for the youth. There are also different workshops and houses for the Gen Verde and Gen Rojo bands.

Many of the pilgrims were impressed by the new church, dedicated to Mary as the "Theotokos" (Mother of God). The church was built by artists of the Movement, in total accord with their spirituality. The roof, of green copper, is like a great mantle of Mary over the central nave. The tabernacle is a very large host that is behind the altar, between the nave and the tower. In this way the axiom "Christ in the Center" is made very clear, which is so strong in the Focolar spirituality. At the same time the interior of the tabernacle is lined with blue glass, which makes Mary present. Christ lives in its interior and irradiates a light like a sun. Our Swiss guide, Rafael, told us that they wanted to build this church 40 years ago but it was just built a year ago. But this has been a good experience, because everything had to take life in them first, until they could transform it into this work. Many of us saw a strong parallel with our experiences in Belmonte."

Text of the celebration (Translation: Simon Donnelly)

Photos

Translation: Celina M Garza, Harlingen /TX, USA