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 published: 2006-01-13

"Daring to risk for supreme love"

Monsignor Adolf Bolte, Bishop of Fulda, "quite a pastor of souls!"

Mons. Adolf Bolte (centro), con el Padre José Kentenich y el P Alex Menningen

Bishop Adolf Bolte (center), with Father Joseph Kentenich, and Fr. Alex Menningen

Bischof Adolf Bolte (mitte) mit Pater Kentenich und Pater Alex Menningen

 

Los primeros obispos schoenstattianos: Mons. Wendel, Mons. Bolte

The first Schoenstatt bishops: Bishop Wendel, Bishop Bolte

Die ersten beiden Schönstatt-Bischöfe: Bischof Wendel, Bischof Bolte

 
 

El Padre y su hijo fiel

The Father and his faithful son

Ihm folgen, ihm die Treue halten, hinter im stehen

 
 

Mons. Bolte con el Padre Bodo Erhard

Bishop Bolte with Father Bodo Erhard

Bischof Bolte mit Pater Bodo Erhard

 
 

Semana de Octubre de 1964

October Week 1964

Oktoberwoche 1964

 

En Roma, con Mons. Plaza y Mons. Tenhumberg

In Rome, with Bishop Plaza and Bishop Tenhumberg

In Rom mit Bischof Plaza und Bischof Tenhumberg

 

Roma, cumpleños del Padre Kentenich

Rome, Father Kentenich’s birthday

In Rom bei der Feier des 80. Geburtstags von Pater Kentenich

Fotos: Jäger/Archiv © 2006

 

GERMANY, MKF. "It has now been forty years since I saw him for the first time (Father Kentenich). At that time, he was studying theology in Paderborn, and those of us who knew him in those first years recall how that unrivaled personality worked in us. How he knew how to show the young students of theology his personal ideal, he could make the traits of their temperament clear and he used self-knowledge to reach his objective." This is how he describes Father Kentenich. The affection that he felt for him, which is obvious in this testimony, worked effectively in the life of Monsignor Adolf Blote. "Quite a pastor of souls, "a good shepherd and paternal friend", the Bishop of Fulda who died in 1974 was quite a Schoenstatter, too. He was marked by the charisma of Father Kentenich, committed to his person and his work even in the most difficult eras for the Schoenstatt Movement. The biography by the name, "Mons. Adolf Bolte (1910-1974), Bishop of Fulda in an era of radical changes," describes in detail the figure of one of the first Schoenstatt bishops.

Gabriele Maria Mierswa (Sister Mariele), Schoenstatt Sister of Mary, worked on this biography within the framework of working on her thesis in the School of Theology in Fulda. Bishop Bolte learned about Schoenstatt in 1923, just nine years after its founding. He entered the Movement as a priest at that time. He was the one who announced the autonomy of Schoenstatt from the Society of the Pallottines during the Schoenstatt Journey of 1964 and it was he, who a year later, as a participant of the Council, accompanied Father Kentenich during the difficult weeks that Father spent in Rome before his return to Schoenstatt on Christmas Eve of 1965. In those times, Father Kentenich called him "Pater Amabile" (The Kind Father). On the occasion of an investiture, he invited the novices of the Institute of the Sisters of Mary "To dare to risk for Supreme Love". He also demonstrated this daring to risk for supreme love, especially when it was not easy to belong to Schoenstatt and to go back Schoenstatt as a member of the German Episcopate.

"…although for that reason You will not receive many honors at this moment"

Monsignor Bolte’s interest and preoccupation, reasoned the author, was focused on his Schoenstatt priestly community. He belonged to the Institute of the Schoenstatt Diocesan Priests since 1946 in the Diocese of Fulda. Later, he was also responsible for all of the Schoenstatt Family, particularly in the era when the Schoenstatt work underwent testing by representatives of the Church. "For me it is a great satisfaction that in spite of it all You maintained a constantly loyal to the idea and to the work although at that moment you did not receive many honors", Father Kentenich wrote him in 1952. In the biography, which is a fascinating read, the role that Monsignor Bolte played in those years is explained very well. Without being able to do much exteriorly, he followed the way of Father Kentenich interiorly, daring to risk all for supreme love.

"…may the first Schoenstatt Bishops at some time receive an outstanding place in the history of Schoenstatt and of the Church."

When the author describes the events of the 17th and 18th of October of 1964, some of the drama of that era is explained.

"During the earlier encounter of the Schoenstatt Movement during the 1964 "Journey of Catholics" which took place in Stuttgart, Monsignor Bolte still could not suggest in his words of welcome any change in the situation of Schoenstatt. Therefore, it was a great joy for him to announce the news about the autonomy of the Schoenstatt Work later on during jubilee celebration on the 17th and 18th of October of 1964. He came expressly from the Council in Rome, accompanied by Monsignor Antonio Plaza, (Archbishop of La Plata, Argentina) the evening of October 16th. On the 17th he communicated the news to the 700 delegates who were participating in October Week and he introduced the recently named Apostolic Administrator, Monsignor Wilhelm Wissing. During the celebrations of the actual Jubilee day, October 18th, 1964, Monsignor Bolte announced the news during his homily at the main event. This was witnessed by close to 7,000 Schoenstatters from all parts of Germany. He also read the telegram with a greeting from the Holy Father Paul VI and one from Cardinal Ildebrando Antoniutti, Prefect of the Roman Curia who was in charge of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and of the Societies of Apostolic Life. At the end of the Journey, in the midst of an immense joy, Monsignor Bolte turned the first shovel of dirt at the groundbreaking of the Adoration Church on Mount Schoenstatt, and he also blessed the cornerstone."

"Of all the congratulations that I have received at my Episcopal consecration none have given me as much joy as yours", wrote Monsignor Bolte to Father Kentenich in 1945. Monsignor Bolte and later Cardinal Wendel were the first Schoenstatt bishops. Father Kentenich had written Monsignor Adolf Bolte on the day of his Episcopal consecration:

The object of our daily prayers and sacrifices offered in the Shrine is that the first two Schoenstatt bishops will someday receive an outstanding place in the history of Schoenstatt and of the Church…May the Mother Thrice Admirable Queen of Schoenstatt bless all our desires, hopes and expectations…"

It is beautiful to now read, in this biography, how this prayer was answered.

Gabriel Maria Mierswa: Adolf Bolter (1901-1974). Bishop of Fulda in an ear of radical changes. Editorial Parzeller, Fulda, 2005, 303 pages with illustrations. Series: Sources and treatise for the history of the abbey and of the Diocese of Fulda, XXIX

Translation: Celina M Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA – Christi Jentz, Milwaukee, USA


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