A letter to the Blessed Mother is worth two pairs of shoes

My experience three days before departing on my trip to Schoenstatt

Schoenstatt en Tandil, Argentina, presente en la tumba del Padre Schoenstatt in Tandil, Argentina, present in the Founder Chapel Schönstatt in Tandil, Argentinien, am Grab Pater Kentenichs präsent
Juliana Garmendia caminando por Schoenstatt Juliana Garmendia walking through Schoenstatt Juliana Garmendia in Schönstatt
Todos quieren estar en el Santuario Original All want to be present in the Original Shrine Alle möchten im Urheiligtum sein Fotos: Garmendia © 2006

SCHOENSTATT, Juliana Garmendia. Three days before departing for Schoenstatt, Germany, and without breaking the habit of waiting to the last minute to do things; I went out to look for some comfortable shoes for my trip. A friend of the family had loaned me a pair to try out to see if they would be comfortable for me, but fearing for the wear on her shoes, after so many days, I decided to go by the shoe store where she had bought them. I knew it would not be easy to find the same kind of shoes, since they had been on sale at the end of summer in Argentina (February).

Sure enough, when we arrived and asked for them, the owner of the store told us that she was sorry, but there was only one pair in stock and who knows where it was stored. Meanwhile, she showed me the new styles for winter. After telling her that I needed some of a brighter color, she asked me if I was traveling to a warm climate. My mother, who accompanied me, quickly responded "yes." Mom was very surprised to see a picture of the Blessed Mother on the counter, so she added that I was about to travel to Schoenstatt. Then, just I have done with all the people that I encountered once my trip was confirmed, I asked her if she would like to write a letter to the Blessed Mother.

Love letters do not go out of style…

As soon as I suggested that she write a letter to the Blessed Mother, there was a special glow in the lady’s eyes which showed the great emotion and joy that she felt about writing a letter to her. She said she would gladly write a letter. Just imagine, she did not want to miss the opportunity. Once she recovered from the emotion she asked me where she could deliver the letter, but since it would be difficult to find anyone at home during the next 72 hours, we agreed that I would come by the next day to get it.

As agreed, in the midst of the many things that I still had to prepare for my trip, I went by the shoe store. The lady was there, anxiously waiting for me with her letter and those of the two girls who help in the business. To my surprise they had found the pair of shoes that I had asked for the day before. So I removed my shoes and tried them on, but since they also found the same style in a different color, I couldn’t decide which pair I liked best. So I phoned my mother to ask her to help me decide, but my mother has more trouble than I do in making decisions, so I had trouble deciding. The owner was very nice, she suggested that I take them home and try them on with the clothes that I would take on the trip. Then I could see which pair matched better and my mother could return the other pair the following week. I accepted the proposal and I determinedly went to the counter to pay for the pair of shoes that I would take to Germany, but the owner did not want me to pay, explaining that she owed the Blessed Mother so much and since she could not send a bouquet of flowers, she wanted to offer her the pair of shoes which she gladly gave me. I was overcome with emotion, just imagine, I don’t receive the gift of a pair of shoes everyday!

A good debut

Once I arrived at Schoenstatt I showed the shoes to Sister Kornelia and I told her what had happened. She was very surprised by the story of my shoes; she suggested that I write about it after making a short pilgrimage through the Original Shrine and Father’s tomb.

Yesterday, after leaving the Press Office, I went to the Shrine to pray for all the authors of the letters that I had brought and for some special petitions. Then I had the courage to walk the kilometer and a half upwards to Father’s tomb with my new shoes, where I finally left the letters. When I arrived I was a little warm, but after several deep breaths, I entered and prayed again.

In the silence of that chapel, that is so impressive, there were five Sisters praying and some pilgrims thanking Father. The zipper of my bag broke the atmosphere of meditation a little, but I ended up disconcerting them even more when upon placing the letters on the tomb I took off my shoes and placed them along with the envelopes on the tomb too. I had brought all this from Tandil, then moving back, I took some photos.

The Blessed Mother answers her mail

In the end, I kept both pair of shoes, leaving the money with my mother so that she could go by the shoe store to pay for them and to again thank the owner for the gift. Just as I feared, the lady did not want to charge for the second pair. But this was not the only surprise. Everything exceeded the lady’s surprise, the Blessed Mother immediately acknowledged her letter and that of the two ladies who worked in the shoe store by making a very special visit to them. In exchange for the shoes, the Blessed Mother -through the Auxiliary of the Campaign, installed herself in the display window of the store so that she could finally offer her a bouquet of flowers.