The Importance of Faith in the Christian Message

Festival of the Family Federation at the Father Kentenich Farm: the "Tree of Life from Hoerde" and its meaning

Josef y Rosa María Wieland, jefes de la Federación de Familias en Alemania Josef and Rosa Maria Wieland, leaders of the Federation of Families in Germany Josef und Rosa Maria Wieland, Bundesleitung
Durante la Santa Misa During the Holy Mass Während der heiligen Messe
Los chicos llevan flores al altar The children bring their flowers to the altar Die Kinder sind auch einbezogen und bringen Blüten zum Altar Fotos: POS Fischer © 2006
Charla de Prof. Gerwing Talk by Prof. Gerwing Vortrag von Prof. Gerwing
Expo Expo Expo Fotos: Gerber © 2006 Album de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. "It deals with underlining the importance of faith in the Christian message," said Professor Manfred Gerwing at the main conference on Holy Trinity Sunday at the Family Federation festival in Schoenstatt-Hillscheid. Just as one knows by heart all of the rules of soccer without being a player. None of those who know by memory all of the catechism of the Catholic Church can automatically be called Christians, nor those capable of reciting all the Schoenstatt pedagogical principles be called Schoenstatter..... "It has to do with underlining the importance of faith in the Christian message:" a present-day affirmation launched in an epoch in which a new interest in faith resurges and also in which often only discussions begin among those who call themselves Christians instead of offering authentic testimonies of faith and Christian life.

The entire Schoenstatt Family, especially the Federations and the Family Work, were invited to celebrate with the Family Federation in Germany on the feast of the Holy Trinity their traditional "Federation Festival" where they inaugurated the "Tree of Life from Hoerde." It is a bronze relief which recalls throughout several years the foundation of the "Apostolic Federation" in Hoerde, that is: the foundation of the Schoenstatt Work which came about through this event, structurally from the context of the Marian Congregation and the Pallottine Minor Seminary. Since January of 2005, this relief - a long-term loan from the Schoenstatt Family of Paderborn - could be found on the Father Kentenich Farm where precisely on this 2006 Holy Trinity Sunday it found its final place.

A Shrine That Is Worth the Offering of a Life

Accompanied by a radiant sun, the festival began at 10:00 A.M. with a greeting addressed to the guests: the Women's Federation, the Institute of Families and the Family League. Since the beginning of the year, the Family Federation in Germany has new leaders who thanked the previous leadership in a unique way, with a rose and champagne toast in honor of all their efforts. The Zier family shared with warm feelings, the experience of a new openness to the message of Joseph Engling in France and concretely in Merville. In that town, the Family Federation, years ago, erected a small memorial at the place where Joseph Engling, on May 31, 1918, offered his life to the Blessed Mother for the mission of the small Shrine, the Original Shrine. And the Blessed Mother made clear that this Shrine is worth the offering of a life, worth the offering of many lives.

On the French side - so much in the ecclesial as in the state - there are open doors and open hearts so that it was possible to reconstruct the memorial in Merville, affirmed the Zier family.

In the festival homily, Father Grill connected the message of the Pope - "Gof is Love" - with the message of Hoerde, pointing out where there are citations in HEAVENWARD," the seven aims of the Schoenstatt Federations: in the ending lines of the prayer "Hold the Scepter."

A Multicolored Festival

The diocesan communities from the North and the West were responsible for the Holy Mass and the organization of the Federation Festival. They prepared a "garden restaurant" which was very well decorated. They took care of the leaders of the Federation and the delegation from Merville and Hillsheid with the aim of gaining collaborators for the construction; and motivated those present that by paying one euro they could participate in the contest: How much do the Family Federation leaders weigh?

At the mid-day break, one could enjoy the "apostolic fruitfulness" which grows in the tree of life from Hoerde. Some of these were explained in a large poster in the large conference room.

Against Formality and Activity

During the festival which took place in the open hall, Michael Volmert related on the event of Hoerde in 1919, and the history of the tree of life. Professor Manfred Gerwing gave the main conference based on the spirit of Hoerde. He demonstrated that that "spirit of Hoerde" - frequently cited with the words "solemn enhancement of the interior life" - justly goes in line with deepening the life of faith and the truths of faith - verity and emotion -, main theme of the Pope's sermon on the Vigil of Pentecost. It deals with - in the Church as in Schoenstatt - with a life of faith, a living faith which protects the Church and Schoenstatt from falling not only into an inflexible formality as in a soulless activity. Do you truly believe? That is the main question. Do you truly believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? Do you personally assume that faith in your life and transmit it to others? Do you truly believe that the Blessed Mother has established herself in the Original Shrine and is active there? Do you personally assume it in your life through the Covenant of Love you have sealed and do you radiate it?

Father Grill blessed the tree of life from Hoerde in the place of honor now given to it in the conference room of the Father kentenich Farm. The presence of Mr. Rothgerber, the Brother of mary who created this tree 35 years ago for the parish of Dortmund Hoerde, caused a special joy. The festival ended with the Eucharistic blessing in the Shrine of the Family Federation.

Translation Carlos Cantu Family Federation La Feria, Texas USA