Let us live our relationships as they deserve

The Rosary was prayed in Schoenstatt for the success of the Journey of the German Catholics in Saarbrucken

Iglesia de Peregrinos: Comienzo de la celebración Pilgrims’ Church, beginning of the celebration Pilgerkirche, am Beginn der Feier
Una hora de oración A time of prayer Eine Stunde des Gebets
Santuario Original, noche del 25 de marzo Original Shrine, March 25th, evening Das Urheiligtum erwartet die Pilger am Abend des 25. März
Llegan! They are arriving! Ankunft am Urheiligtum
Mons. Dr. Peter Wolf: oración final Mons. Dr. Meter Wolf: final prayers Mons. Dr. Peter Wolf beschließt die Feier mit einem Gebet. Fotos: POS Fischer © 2006 Albúm de fotos – photoalbum – Fotoalbum Vídeo

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. 25 March, Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. In Freiberg, Merzhausen, the Silver Anniversary of the Shrine of Vocations was celebrated; in Cordoba Argentina – the seventh course of Federation Mothers sealed their perpetual consecration. In many countries of the Schoenstatt Movement, united to the local churches, the Day of the Unborn was commemorated and they asked that the Rosary be prayed for the protection of life from conception on. In Schoenstatt the weather is rainy and cool, the Original Shrine is magnificently decorated with roses and lilies, it is truly a feast. At night the Schoenstatt Family gathered to pray the Rosary in the Pilgrim Church.

For the third time, the beginning of the season for pilgrimages was organized around a theme of the diocesan church. In 2003 it was the consecration of the Diocese of Trier to the Blessed Mother. In 2004, since the Annunciation was celebrated after Easter, the theme revolved around the World Youth Day and the death of John Paul II. This year the Journey of German Catholics, which will take place in Saabrucken, in the Diocese of Trier, was taken into consideration. The theme is Justice in the Eyes of God. Monsignor Dr. Peter Wolf connected it with the Annunciation to Mary.

The title of honor of those who are called

"Workers and the businessmen have a relationship that mutually commits them, and in this relationship workers cannot be moved and disposed of like an anonymous mass for simply material gains". Monsignor Dr. Peter Wolf pronounced strong words about a very hot subject at this time. "When we hear talk about justice, we quickly think about laws, justice laid down among ourselves", Monsignor Wolf continued to say on the afternoon of the 25 March in Schoenstatt, in the Hour of Prayer for the Journey of Catholics.

"We think about the tribunals and in the processes where someone has to struggle for his rights and he hopes that justice will be done. Perhaps others think about the strikes that are presently occurring in Germany and in France calling for just salaries, or protesting against what they consider is unjust. The biblical words that are always translated as "justice", do not come however from the world of law and of politics, nor is it the language of jurists or of politicians". The biblical expression "justice" characterizes the quality of relationships, Monsignor Wolf clearly explained. "The biblical expression "justice" signifies to reciprocate; concretely it refers to living our relationships as they deserve. The "just" person is he who lives fully and in a manner which is deserved in a given relationship, be it a relationship of father, spouse, of child, of employee, brother, or ally…" Monsignor Wolf showed how man relates with God as he should: according to the model of Mary, being fully disposed to God, but not without will. "The Servant of God" is at the same time the title of honor of those called "Servants of God".

Hail Mary…

Hundreds of people gathered in the Pilgrim Church in Schoenstatt, to pray for the Journey of the German Catholics. Mothers attending an encounter, participated in House Marienland; professional women; leaders of the Movement Houses, who were participating in their annual journey; youth from Latin America; Schoenstatt Families from the area. After a meditation about the Annunciation of Mary, with a contemporary presentation of the biblical scene, Monsignor Wolf spoke. After, the Blessed Sacrament was exposed in the Monstrance and the Rosary was prayed. Hail Mary…"

It is the greeting that Mary likes to hear the most, as Father Kentenich said frequently in his homilies for this feast; it is the greeting that is continually repeated in the Rosary. It is an essential element in the Schoenstatt Marian pastoral, especially in the Rosary Campaign. "The prayer of the rosary is another factor of conversion through the simple meditation on the mysteries and the action of Mary", said Father Antonio Cosp, who represented Schoenstatt in the First Congress of Movements and New Communities in Latin America that was held in Colombia two weeks ago.

After the Eucharistic blessing everyone went to the Original Shrine singing and praying, and when the pilgrims slowly approached in the darkness, joy erupted…Soon it will be like this every month, when the Covenant is renewed on every 18th in the Original Shrine.

"A million thanks for keeping us informed about all that is happening in Schoenstatt. It is wonderful to feel that we are united in the same Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother in the Original Shrine, along with our beloved Father Kentenich. This multiplies our strength and it encourages us. "What great news that the Covenant will be renewed on the 18th in the Original Shrine", wrote Cristina Quiroz de Tagle, who belongs to the first course of Family Federation of Chile. In the Original Shrine, Father Franz Widmaier remembered all the Schoenstatters in all the Shrines of the world who are attached with this place. Then the pilgrims renewed the Covenant of Love.

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