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Centenario de Gilbert Schimmel Centenary of Gilbert Schimmel 100. Geburtstag von Gilbert Schimmel |
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Mae Wacker con la hija de Gilbert Schimmel y su esposo Mae Wacker with a daughter of Gilbert Schimmel and her husband Mae Wacker mit einer Tochter von Gilbert Schimmel und ihrem Mann |
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P. Jonathan Niehaus: charla sobre Gilbert Schimmel Fr. Jonathan Niehaus: talk on Gilbert Schimmel P. Jonathan Niehaus: Vortrag über Gilbert Schimmel |
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Gilbert Schimmel es para las familias... Gilbert Schimmel is for families... Gilbert Schimmel ist für die Familien... |
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Simbolos en la Santa Misa Symbols presented in the Holy Mass Symbole, die in der Heiligen Messe eine Rolle spielten |
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Peregrinación, rezando el Rosario Rosary procession Rosenkranz-Prozession Fotos: Jentz © 2006 |
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USA, Christi Jentz/Margaret Fenelon. "We will see Gilbert as an apostle of charity becoming all things to all men, [and] an instrument in the hands of His Heavenly Mother" - declaration in the foreword from the 1964 edition of the Schimmel novena. "The Pilgrimage began with Holy Mass at St. Mary Magdalene’s concelebrated by our Schoenstatt Fathers…" Thus began an article in the USA Schoenstatt Family Newsletter describing the Gilbert Schimmel Centennial Birthday celebration that took place on June 10th and 11th and provides information on the Gilbert Schimmel Guild. But that’s only the beginning…
Let’s look into the symbolism of the event. The Mass offertory presentation included symbols associated with Gilbert’s life and work. They included his family picture, a rosary, the Shrine and the pioneer couple’s motto. The symbols were placed in a display at the foot of the altar in the same way that Father Bezler’s 100th Centennial Mass symbols were displayed. We really liked his story, especially the part about the "Pioneer Motto Chasuble, and wanted to honor that timely connection. In comparing the symbols of Father Bezler and Gilbert Schimmel we saw how providentially both men were united by this motto, "Patris Atque Matris Sum" even though they never met. Father Mosbach, in his sermon at that Holy Mass, explained how "Father Kentenich had by his side a Joseph Engling in each stage of his life". Through these relationships many were enriched. (Remebering Father Bezler and more )
The Shrine
Another symbol – the shrine – was profoundly important to both men. This was their spiritual powerhouse. For Gilbert we chose a picture of his family seated on the steps at their house in West Allis, Wisconsin. Within the family, he lived his everyday sanctity as husband and father. Lastly, we selected the rosary because it was part of the fabric of his daily life. Gilbert had a deep connection with the rosary, which symbolized his love for the Blessed Mother. Gilbert’s Godson, Heron Ambrose, told Father Herbert Schmidt that if he could imitate just one thing about Gilbert it would be the way he prayed the rosary. Mr. Ambrose said Gilbert always had a rosary in his hand or pocket. The rosary offered on June 10th was made from red rose petals representing more than a year of striving leading up to this event. A sample of Pilgrim MTAs from St Mary Magdalene Church members found a home and the Schoenstatt Auxiliary MTA also appeared just before the beginning of Mass. These signs certainly bear witness to Gilbert’s continued interest in the rosary mission and his former parish.
We could have easily included the Father Eye and Ver Sacrum light – two of Father Bezler's symbols – but with a different emphasis. We know that the pioneer couples had a Ver Sacrum light crafted for Father Kentenich and they loved that symbol. Today it is displayed at the Movement House in Milwaukee. The Father Eye is another symbol so easy to identify with Gilbert. We know of his great devotion to the Triune God and Father Kentenich.
A new kind of father and husband
Father Kentenich encouraged Gilbert (and the other men) during the Monday Night Talks to become a new kind of father and husband for their families and for Schoenstatt. At that time, in the United States, it was understood that dedicated laymen (and women) often spent many hours volunteering outside of the home. This commitment was considered necessary if they wanted to "grow the Church" and the desperate times demanded this kind of sacrifice. When Father Kentenich met with the Schimmel’s and the other young families, the first issue he worked to correct in their training was this idea of the apostolate only outside of the home. There needed to be more balance for the sake of their individual families. Gilbert, as father, realized that he would need to pull back on some of his outside spiritual commitments and be more present in his home. This wasn’t easy for him because he was involved in so many things. He had the drive to continue and his wife supported his efforts. At this same time, his children were teens and now they wanted more independence. When Gilbert stayed home they had to adjust, too. Even his associates in various apostolates, saw that his priorities had shifted and some didn’t understand. But, under the spiritual direction of Father Kentenich, Gilbert perceived a deeper call to holiness. Through this final struggle Gilbert became an original example for future generations.
The Schimmel Cross
The recognition of this final, holy struggle and his new mission is marked by the Schimmel Cross that rests behind the shrine to the left of the Engling Stone on the grounds of the International Center in Waukesha. We rededicated this cross on June 10th, the year of its 40th anniversary using the original prayer from 1966. It was explained to me that Gilbert didn’t have much time to "work" on this new call because God accepted his sacrificial life offering for Schoenstatt without much delay. During the years that he did have left, all who knew him noted his ever-increasing sanctity.
One virtue that Gilbert possessed in abundance and wanted others to develop was that of charity. It’s what Pope Benedict XVI wrote about in his first encyclical, "God is Love" and he referred to it again on June 28, 2006, at the Papal Audience when he stated, "To be a Christian is more than just identifying oneself as a believer in the faith; it entails living out the Gospel through concrete works of charity, especially for the poor and those in need". Christian charity was the dominant characteristic in Gilbert’s life. The freewill gift that Gilbert placed at the foot of our MTA could happen so naturally and quickly because he was already an open vessel of charity for many years.
A hero died here
Father Kentenich talked about Gilbert on many occasions. Two in particular give us a glimpse into the man, Gilbert, as Father Kentenich saw him. "In every country God has chosen a special victim for the Schoenstatt family… a just man shapes his life out of faith; Schoenstatt (out of) Divine Providence." (Fr Kentenich 1/1/59). "(There is) no illusion. Gilbert had to fight in life. But Gilbert was a great man with deep meaning... You can tell a man at the hour of death. Greatness (was) his. A hero died here. May I have such an hour of death." (Fr. Kentenich 2/16/59).
It is said that Gilbert’s new mission actually began at the time of his death, from heaven. Father believed that Gilbert would be needed in a special way to help fulfill the mission of the Schoenstatt family in the future. Father Mosbach summed this idea up during his sermon commemorating Father Bezler on April 22, 2006, "As our founder often stressed: if someone has tried to carry out his or her life’s task according to God’s will, they may continue to serve it in another way from eternity".
A model for family
Father Herbert Schmidt has recorded information for the Gilbert Schimmel Guild explaining the important contribution that Gilbert can make in the future. He stated that the gift of Gilbert Schimmel’s life is valuable not only for the small Schoenstatt family here in the Milwaukee/Waukesha area but also for the entire International Schoenstatt family and in even greater terms his cause is important for the entire Catholic Church.
To underline this fact, Father Schmidt reasoned that "The church, especially now with our new Pope- Benedict XVI – is asking this question: We want a man or woman who in this century will be an example and a model for the world today, and I know deep in my heart, deep in my soul, that Gilbert Schimmel is that man. He is the person by his heroic way, who is a model for men, family men and even more for family life itself that is so often being destroyed in our modern age today because of materialism, splits in the family, divorce, abortion and other things. Gilbert is a strong, heroic example for all of us."
Capturing his spirit
A high point of the weekend came at the end of our pilgrimage. It was actually a quiet time. After Holy Mass at the Movement house we visited the gravesite of the Schimmel’s. We sang the Pioneer Couples’ Motto and reflected on the sacrifices of Gilbert Schimmel. We looked back in time to Joseph Engling and Karl Leisner. These are only three of the heroes that helped to create our beautiful Schoenstatt tapestry. We played a song by a German priest, Father Albert Gutberlet, which was written about Karl Leisner. The song expresses so well the longing for heaven that all of them must have felt during their sufferings. Sister Ellen Marie read a testimony in which Father Kentenich had noted famously that they did not have Joseph Engling’s body but they had captured his spirit. With Gilbert, it was the opposite; they had his body but had not yet captured his spirit. The couples had no idea what Father was talking about at first. In this particular testimony it was noted that they finally realized that, "…we now know what it was (his spirit) … total surrender – unselfish love". (unpublished notes 6/20/61). That is the essence of Gilbert Schimmel.