In the footsteps of Karl Leisner

Seventh "Karl Leisner" pilgrimage of priests. Three days of fraternal community

Puerta de la reconciliación en Kleve Door of reconciliation in Kleve Pforte der Versöhnung in Kleve
Concelebración en el Foro Pax Christi Concelebration at the Pax Christi Forum Auf dem Weg zur Konzelebration im Pax Christi Forum
En "Reichswald" At "Reichswald" Im "Reichswald"
Con un amigo, Daniel With a friend, Daniel Mit einem Freund aus Übersee, Daniel
En la tumba de los Padres Gerhard y Norbert Hoffacker At the tomb of Fathers Gerhard and Norbert Hoffacker Am Grab der Priester Gerhard und Norbert Hoffacker Fotos: Hoffacker © 2006

GERMANY, Stefanie Frank. Recently, a pilgrimage of four priestly communities was made for the seventh time through the road that leads to the birth place of Karl Leisner: through the lower Rhine, from Oermter Marienberg to Xanten. One of the pilgrims was Father Peter Noethen, who made this strenuous pilgrimage on foot for the second time, relates something of those three days of walking.

Twelve years ago Father Theo Hoffacker, Pastor in Xanten, Marienbaum, along with his brothers, had the idea of doing something more for a great Schoenstatt personality, the beatified Karl Leisner, organizing a pilgrimage on foot to the place of his birth at the lower Rhine. Furthermore the intention of the pilgrimage was to ask that heaven "would move" and rouse priestly vocations. Karl Leisner was jailed in the concentration camp of Dachau when he was a young deacon. A French bishop ordained him as a priest at that place.

On the road, in the footsteps of Karl Leisner

This year fourteen priests participated – from four priestly communities – on the seventh pilgrimage on foot in the footsteps of Karl Leisner. Father Peter Noethen was also among them. " Oermter Marienberg – a Schoenstatt Center – was our base. From there we departed daily towards the different stations", explained Father Noethen, who was there for the second time.

Each day a new section of the march toward Xanten was made. On the road there were motivational meditations, the rosary, and moments of silence or of a mutual exchange of impressions. The first day the group left from their base towards Kevelaer. They covered a long stretch of road and at night fall they reached the local shrine (dedicated to Mary Consoler of the Afflicted, very popular shrine in northern Germany, Holland, Belgium and Luxemburg). "We walked some 32 Km., most of it on asphalt. We were truly exhausted", Father Noethen relates.

The second day began in Kevelaer, at the so called "Door of reconciliation". This bronze door was placed by Karl Leisner along with the French bishop who ordained him as a priest during the war. Karl Leisner always had the vision of a united Europe. (N.d.R Germany and France were enemies during the 2^nd World War), commented Father Noethen. Then they continued in the direction towards Kleve, there they visited the first tomb of Karl Leisner as well as his old family home. The house was acquired by Schoenstatters and it was completely restored by volunteers. "They arrived at the house of Elisabeth Hass, Karl Leisner’s sister, at tea time. We prayed the rosary with her, just as her family always done when Karl was alive", Father Noethn recalled.

The last day of the pilgrimage of priests arrived at their goal: Xanten. The three day pilgrimage ended with a Holy Mass at the crypt in the cathedral, where Karl Leisner has been buried since 1966.

"Karl Leisner is closer to me, also humanly"

"The pilgrimage was physically exhaustive. I asked myself: Why did you do this? You could have come by bus!. But each one of us had a "person for whom to walk’. We made this enormous effort for them", said Father Noethen, "the moments of silence were very good, it was time for spiritual reflection".

Father Noethen continued saying that the pilgrims took advantage of the time to speak with others about their own life. "We are all members of some Schoenstatt community, but each one of us has his own group and his own life. Our base is the same and for us the exchange was important", said Father Noethen. "During these days we had a fraternal community, because of the great effort we made in common. We also laughed a lot". What did Father Noethen accomplish with this pilgrimage?

"Karl Leisner was very close to me, and also humanly. His person has taken on more importance for me, because we have heard much about him during the walk, for example, about his diary", said Father Noethen. I have already planned to repeat this pilgrimage next year. And Father Noethen affirms: "I will be there again".

Information about the pilgrimage on foot for priests, deacons, candidates and those interested in participating in it: Armin Haas: armin.hass@bistum-wuerzburg.de

Translation; Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA