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 published: 2006-09-20

What steps do I take to offer a home to others?

September Covenant Day in Schoenstatt – with banners, novices, Pilgrim MTA’s…

 

Los argentinos unidos a Sch con lo suyo, la bandera con sus colores y lo común a todos: la MTA y el Padre en el Santuario

Pilgrims from Argentina at the Original Shrine, September 18, with their flag and what unites them with all: the MTA, and  Father Kentenich

Pilgergruppe aus Argentinien bei der Bündnisfeier vor dem Urheiligtum, mit ihrer Landesfahne und dem, was sie mit allen eint: die MTA und Pater Kentenich

 

 

El noviciado de los Padres de Schoenstatt, a cargo de la Misa de la Alianza

The novitiate of the Schoenstatt Fathers, in charge for the Covenant Mass

Das Noviziat der Schönstattpatres war für die Messgestaltung verantwortlich

 
 

La Iglesia de Peregrinos, llena...

The Pilgrim Church, full...

Die Pilgerkirche ist gut gefüllt

 
 

P. Thomas Fluhr, predica

Fr. Thomas Fluhr, sermon

P. Thomas Fluhr bei der Predigt

 
 

Santuario Original, renovación de la Alianza de Amor

Original Shrine, Covenant renewal

Bündniserneuerung am Urheiligtum

 
 

Alianza de Amor en el Santuario Original

Covenant of Love in the Original Shrine at the end of the celebration

Nach der Feier schließen vier Pilger aus Argentinien das Liebesbündnis

Fotos: POS Fischer © 2006

Album de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

 
   

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. September 18th, a day marked by its temporal closeness to September 15th, commemoration of our Father’s arrival to heaven. At the beginning of the Covenant Mass, in Schoenstatt, he was remembered on this very blessed day, and once again gratitude was expressed for everything that was experienced on the occasion of Benedict XVI’s visit to his homeland, and for all the richness that is experienced in the Covenant of Love. Between the days of the 15th to the 18th there was a large pilgrimage from the Archdiocese of Freiburg to Schoenstatt led by Archbishop Monsignor Robert Zollitsch, a member of the Institute of Schoenstatt Diocesan Priests. In Londrina, Brazil, during the same weekend, a Symposium about the Family Pastoral of Joao Pozzobon, took place; while in Rosario, Argentina, there was a great celebration of the Rosary Campaign, that is only a sample of all that is lived around the almost 190 Schoenstatt Shrines and the many wayside shrines. All of the gratitude, all of the Capital of Grace, all of the affection of the large Schoenstatt family on this September 18th "around" the Original Shrine –symbolized in the walk that the Schoenstatt Family, present here, carried out from the Pilgrims’ Church to the Original Shrine, at the end of each 18th.

It was a joy and moving to see the Pilgrims’ Church so full of people on this night! In addition to the usual participants of the place and the surrounding areas, others present were: the general congress of the Sisters of Mary, the participants of a retreat for the Mothers’ Branch, the Branch of Professionals (the majority of them retired) and the pilgrimage of the Secretariat of Father Kentenich in Argentina, with some 50 participants from all the country accompanied by Father Adolfo Losada, who concelebrated the Eucharist, praying part of the eucharistic prayers in Spanish. Pilgrim MTA;s "overflowing with life" –crowned with rosaries and little floral crowns and with a narrative of the miracles worked during their visits to the many homes – were placed on the altar, these 50 pilgrims filled the Pilgrims’ Church with graces, fruit of the missionary commitment and of their affection for the Blessed Mother.

To have and to give a home

The Novitiate of the Schoenstatt Fathers was in charge of the Covenant Mass. A short time after finishing their novitiate and having formulated their course ideal, the novices presented themselves in their tunics of Sion, radiant with joy. The novice master, Father Thomas Fluhr, was the main celebrant. At the beginning of the Mass, he greeted all the participants in English and Spanish, to the great joy of all of them! One of the readings was also read in Spanish, and furthermore, after his homily Father Thomas Fluhr gave a summary of his homily in Spanish. (the complete homily)

Without revealing too much, he said, that he wanted to speak about the course ideal of the novices in his homily that, like that of the novices of Burundi, revolves around "having and giving a home". Contemplating the signs of the time, Father Thomas Fluhr affirmed that the importance of having a home is perceived. "I had never seen him so happy and smiling so much as when he returned to his homeland, the land of his home", he commented, referring to the visit of Benedict XVI to his country. The motto of Schoenstatt Summer also pointed to the Shrine as a home, and it was very attractive to the youth. In a time that is so rootless, of such a lack of having a home, it is important to find a home, a homeland to which to belong. It is the gift of Schoenstatt to the world: to offer the Shrine as a home, as a place of shelter. Having a home surely depends on the physical place, but always anew, also here in Schoenstatt, what should we do so that those who arrive here can feel at home, can feel sheltered, in their own home, he expressed.

Father Fluhr invited everyone to ask themselves these questions during a moment of silence:

  1. To whom do I give a home, who feels sheltered by me? Who smiles when they are with me, like it happened with the Pope in Bavaria?
  2. Where and in which person do I have my home?
  3. What steps do I take to offer a home to others?

A "show" of love for Schoenstatt

At the end of Mass, everyone went to the Original Shrine. Although this time there was not "an organized" procession, the pilgrims from Argentina spontaneously organized one, praying the rosary aloud, walking with their Pilgrim MTA’s in their arms, with lighted candles, flags and a giant banner…and the rest of the people in line behind them! Because of the season of the year, it had already gotten dark when the procession reached the Original Shrine. The novices intoned songs in German and Spanish and they read passages from the Founding Document. Consciously united to all the Schoenstatt Family congregated on this day in Shrines, wayside shrines, home shrines and spiritually in the Original Shrine, they all renewed the Covenant of Love, each one in his own language.

Without a ritual, without candles, without medals, but with much love and giving of self

While the rest went to the bonfire to burn the Capital of Grace, to the tune of "Protect Us With Your Mantle", some Argentineans along with Father Adolfo Losada remained in the Original Shrine, where four ladies wanted to seal their Covenant of Love, on this 18th. There were no rituals, no medals, no candles, or holy water, the Sisters from Argentina and part of the group were missing, but their desire and will to seal their Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother and her Shrine, here and now, were not lacking. Father Adolfo, with all simplicity, said he had some questions to ask them that at this time were kept in the heart, and that is how it was. Mirtha Guido, de Villaguay, miraculously took out some medals from her bag, some candles appeared, and with a firm "We commit ourselves" and with their silent prayer the four gave their yes to the MTA, who with immense joy, received four new allies in her Original Shrine on this day!

Initiatives, petitions, celebrations that speak of a same spirit, of a family congregated, from north to south, from east to west, around the Blessed Mother and the Founding Father in the small chapel of the Schoenstatt Valley, where on one 18th the Blessed Mother wanted to establish herself forever.

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA


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