What I Have Become Is Due to My Always Having Been a Disciple of Father Kentenich

Solemn Eucharistic celebration on the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of a disciple: Fr. Franz Bezler

P. Franz Bezler, con el P. Kentenich Fr. Franz Bezler, with father Kentenich Pater Franz Bezler mit Pater Kentenich
El maestro y su discipulo The master and his disciple Der Meister und sein Jünger
Misa del centenario, en la Iglesia de la Adoración Centenary Mass, in the Adoration Church Gottesdienst zu seinem 100. Geburtstag, in der Anbetungskirche
Celebrantes en el altar: P. Ludwig Güthlein, P. Oskar Bühler, P. Felix Kreuzwald, P. Josef Fleischlin, P. Egon Zillekens Celebrants at the altar: Fr. Ludwig Güthlein, Fr. Oskar Bühler, Fr. Felix Kreuzwald, Fr. Josef Fleischlin, Fr. Egon Zillekens Zelebraten am Altar: P. Ludwig Güthlein, P. Oskar Bühler, P. Felix Kreuzwald, P. Josef Fleischlin, P. Egon Zillekens
Prédica: P. Rudolf Mosbach Sermon: Fr. Rudolf Mosbach Predigt: P. Rudolf Mosbach
Entrega de simbolos Presentation of the symbols Überreichung der Symbole
Encuentro familiar en la granja Socializing in the barn Familienhafte Begegnung in der Scheune
Detalle de la casulla, hecha por Louise Auger de los matrimonios pioneros en Milwaukee Detail of the vestment made by Louise Auger of the pioneer couples in Milwaukee Detail des von Louise Auger in Milwaukee genähten Messgewandes Fotos: POS Fischer © 2006 Album de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

SCHOENSTATT, María and Klaus Hoppmann / mkf. "Some day each Schoenstatt Father will be 100 years old. So from now on, are we going to celebrate all of the 100^th birthdays? This was a question which was no longer relevant after the solemn Holy Mass which was celebrated on the 100^th anniversary of the birth of Fr. Franz Bezler. This was not done because of the surprise announced at the conclusion of the Mass by Fr. Oskar Buhler where he announced – precisely along with Rome – the naming of Bishop Ignacio Sanna as Archbishop. This past April 22^nd, all who responded to the invitation from the Women’s Federation had the possibility of "growing deeper" into the history of Schoenstatt which is the history of the bond between the Founder and those who followed him.

"Some centuries have men who have the mission to be creative. They are few. The mission for the rest is to be obedient and that is what I would like to be. Father Kentenich was my first and last teacher. I have been his follower." This was affirmed by Fr. Franz Bezler on June 7, 1954, the 25^th anniversary of his ordination. Let us say "disposed" instead of "obedient," suggested Fr. Rudolf Mosbach. This was the tone which dominated the Holy Mass. This was the same tone which ran deeply in the lives of those – within the confines of WYD – in which a new founding generation of Schoenstatt enthusiastically was called "heroes." It is the tone which involves the personal calling to Schoenstatt and makes it resound. Father Kentenich had by his side a Joseph Engling in each stage of his life. Decades later, this was revealed by Fr. Alex Menningen at a meeting of Girls’ Youth. "He spoke of Joseph Engling, Sr. M. Emilie and the Ver Sacrum generation…..and it always seemed to me that he was also speaking of himself," said a Schoenstatt Sister of Mary during a lunch break as she recalled the words of Fr. Alex. "In conclusion he said: A Joseph Engling is also needed today. And I remember as if it were today that my heart responded: Father, do you want me to be your Joseph Engling today?"

To follow him, to be a disciple, to be a new Joseph Engling for Father – who never wanted to do anything alone in the family: a calling which not only greatly moved Don Joao Pozzobon but also Gilbert Schimmel. Like Fr. Franz Bezler, Gilbert Schimmel’s 100^th birthday will be celebrated this year.

Franz, you do it! – The disciple accepts the mission from the teacher

Bishop Felix Kreuzwald, assistant to the Women’s Federation and as such, successor to Fr. Bezler, was the main celebrant at the solemn Holy Mass in his commemoration. Fr. Bezler was born April 26, 1906; he was ordained to the priesthood on July 2, 1929; he died February 3, 1990.

In his sermon, using three phrases from Father Kentenich directed to Franz Bezler, Fr. Rudolf Mosbach was able to illustrate this bond between master and disciple.

The first phrase was: Franz, you do it! "As spiritual director in the minor seminary, Fr. Bezler – as his immediate predecessor, Fr. Alexander Menningen, did – tried to keep alive the traditions of Schoenstatt’s early years: love for the Blessed Mother in the Shrine and attachment to the heroes of the founding generation," said Fr. Mosbach. Those were the times of national socialism. Fr. Bezler was also responsible for the Girls’ and Boys’ Youth. In 1939, the Ver Sacrum ideal was born and it captivated all of the Boys’ Youth.

Already at the end of the 1920’s, Father Kentenich planted the idea of the Ver Sacrum as a "seed" but it did not fall on fertile ground then and it did not grow. As a symbol of the Ver Sacrum ideal, that generation of Boys’ Youth chose the votive light of the Blessed Sacrament in the Original Shrine. On New Year’s Eve of 1941, representatives of the Boys’ Youth from the diocese where Fr. Bezler was director, arrived in Schoenstatt and placed the symbol in the Original Shrine. It was blessed by the Founder who gave them a talk there. When Fr. Bezler asked him to light the lamp, he answered him briefly and decidedly: "Franz, you do it," narrated Fr. Mosbach.

The disciple accepts the petition of the master.

"Franz, you belong to me!" – The disciple is profoundly attached to the master

On April 6, 1945, shortly before the end of World War II, Father Kentenich was liberated from the Dachau Concentration Camp. A few weeks later the end of national socialism also took place. Fr. Bezler returned from the underground and greeted Father Kentenich after years of exterior separation. In that moment, Father Kentenich said to him: Franz, you belong to me!

According to Fr. Mosbach, this expression "should be interpreted in two ways. It is a requirement for availability and a gift of being sheltered." The availability is demonstrated in his commitment with the Schoenstatt Movement, and since 1949 in the re-foundation of the Women’s Federation. It is the epoch in which Schoenstatt resurges fully after the persecution by national socialism, and at the same time, it is the time in which a new trial begins. With the Founder in exile, the disciple is also quickly excluded…..misinterpreted…..separated from his tasks. Availability is also being sheltered, Fr. Mosbach highlighted. The disciple is profoundly attached to the master, and the master with him.

"Franz, you cannot do this. I must do it myself"

After Father Kentenich’s return from exile, Fr. Bezler was named Director of the Movement in Germany. Fr. Mosbach described the so familiar situation: "In the mean-time, the Schoenstatt Movement in Germany had developed and spread widely not only in its branches but in the dioceses. The Founder compared it to a "fleet" in which each ship has its own "captain." Each branch, circle and community carefully guarded its autonomy, each one often planning and organizing its own projects and endeavors by their own accord…..Joyfully Fr. Bezler would have wanted to present to the Founder – returning home after 14 years of exile – a united and integrated Movement which would have been a cause of joy for him.

When he expressed to the Founder his disillusionment and confusion because his efforts to especially succeed with a united work had failed, he received an answer: "Franz, you cannot do this! I must do it."

The rose

In the offertory, some women from the Federation carried to the altar symbols related the the life of Fr. Bezler: a Ver Sacrum votive light, Father’s symbol for the Original Shrine, a chasuble, bread and wine. The chasuble has a special history: it was a gift from Father Kentenich to his disciple. It comes from Milwaukee and has as a symbol a rose…..the rose from the group of the pioneer couples which is a group of the Family Work to which Gilbert Schimmel belonged. This group sealed their Covenant of Love with the symbol of the "exchange of roses." Louise Auger, a member of this group, made the chasuble from the wedding dress of her daughter who had died as a young mother. Her daughter had died from a tumor. She emptied all of her grief as she sewed the chasuble with the symbol of her group and its motto. She gave it as a gift to Father Kentenich.

She would never see the chasuble again and she did not know that Father Kentenich had given it to Fr. Bezler. Several decades passed. In 1999, Louise Auger arrived for the first time in Schoenstatt. She was over 90 years of age and in a wheel chair. In a gathering in House Mariengart, she related to a small group of professional women and Federation women her experiences with Father Kentenich including the story of the chasuble. While she was describing it, a young woman from the Federation quickly left the room and returned shortly with the chasuble. Louise Auger’s joy was indescribable: once again she had the chasuble in her hands.

A murmur among the people

At the end of Holy Mass, some great news was made known. At that precise moment, it was being announced in Rome that Bishop Sanna, university professor and among many other titles, rector of the Belmonte Shrine, had just been named Archbishop of Oristano in Sardinia, his homeland. Fr. Oskar Buhler – who had received the notice the day before in the afternoon – made the announcement almost simultaneously with Cardinal Ruini at the Lateran University where the seminarians had been convoked for an impromptu meeting. A murmur ran among the people who responded with a standing ovation.

"Not only are we Pope, we are also Bishop," said a lady – German, naturally – on the way to the Barn, mimicking the article published last year by a local newspaper.

Lovingly, a simple but festive lunch had been prepared there: white tablecloths…..flowers and candles on the tables…..tapestries on the walls. In the hallway there were great posters with photos and quotes on the epochs of Fr. Bezler’s life. It was a family gathering…..a re-encounter…..a sharing of experiences. An older member of the Women’s Federation narrated how she had experienced Fr. Bezler in the 1940’s. During all of those years, he was always available to them. When they were building their new house, he was the first one to move so that they would not be alone. The house was not finished yet; the doors had not been hung. He accepted all of these inconveniences including the dust and the filth. He was always there for them, always ready to listen.

The happiness of Fr. Bezler surely made – and makes – the happiness and the solidarity of the great Schoenstatt Family united to its Father and Master.

Translation Carlos Cantú Family Federation La Feria, Texas USA

Sermon Father Mosbach