Create networks of love

Full of light: Golden anniversary of the Schoenstatt Shrine in Meppen

Impresionante: testimonios de la vinculación con el Santuario Impressing: testimonies of the attachment to the Shrine Beeindruckende Zeugnisse der Verbundenheit mit dem Heiligtum
Misa festiva en la Iglesia Santa María de la Paz Festive Mass at St. Mary of Peace Festgottesdienst in der Pfarrkirche Maria zum Frieden
Mons. Franz-Josef Bode, Obispo de Osnabrück Bishop Franz-Josef Bode, Osnabrück Bischof Franz-Josef Bode von Osnabrück
Procesión de la iglesia parroquial al Santuario Procession from the parish church to the Shrine Prozession von der Pfarrkirche zum Heiligtum
En el Santuario: Mons. Bode enciende la vela jubilar In the Shrine: Bishop Bode lights the jubilee candle Im Heiligtum: Bischof Bode entzündet die Jubiläumskerze
La parroquia felicita The parish congratulates Die Pfarrei gratuliert Fotos: POS Fischer © 2006 Albúm de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

GERMANY, mkf. The Bishop of Osnabruck, Monsignor Franz Josef Bode summoned us to oppose the nets of hate which benefits the networks of love and of saints, and not only on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001. Today it is important to create networks of love, networks of faith and of hope, precisely at the time in which the networks of hate mortally surround the world, said the bishop. The strong networks of money, the organized network of a global economy should not maintain its unquestionable net that covers and completely drowns the dignity of the individual and the value of the developed cultures and traditions.

The networks of love, said Monsignor Bode, emerge – based on his experience – through the Shrine of the Blessed Mother throughout the world, but in the end they emerge through living people who bond with God and with others in those places, and in this way they are transformed into saints and into living Shrines. One of the first and strongest networks of love is the family, in which the generations are firmly united. In the new communities and in the Movements, such as the Schoenstatt Movement, he has continually experienced this communion of families, of generations, of men and women, of priests and of laity, said Monsignor Bode on September 10^th in Meppen, where along with more than 800 people the Golden Anniversary of the Shrine of this place was celebrated.

There was so much sunlight that it complicated the task of the photographers, and this was after a very rainy August. It was a "Papal time", with a brilliant blue sky, without clouds, with a summer temperature, and a sun that not only smiled on Pope Benedict in Munich, but also on the more than 800 people who celebrated the Golden Anniversary of the Shrine of Meppen along with the Diocesan Bishop, Monsignor Franz Josef Bode.

Houses, houses, pavilion, Carrefour, houses Shrine! The Shrine of Meppen is in the center of the city on Esterfelder Street. but this Sunday at noon it was very easy to find it. It was affectionately crowned with a wreath of roses placed on the door, with a magnificent gold number "50", there were flags, filled parking lots, diligent people who ran from one place to another: it was clear to anyone that something big was happening here, and also to those who are not from here who could find a good parking place. Everything was very well organized. "This is almost like a papal visit", said a boy with a altar boy cassock under his arm. "Everyone is running!"

The chapel that Schoenstatters call a "Shrine"

At first everyone was not running towards the Shrine; rather, they ran to the Church of Our Lady of Peace, some 15 minutes away by foot. It is modern church, luminous, which was completely full when the program began. This was even before the buses from different of the diocese had arrived. "A small, a very small Schoenstatt Family and a large pilgrim movement", said Sister Maria Hulshorst, who had traveled from Borken. The family groups from Osnabruck, with bright navy blue t-shirts, were in charge of the music. Around 2:00 p.m. the procession of altar boys and priests along with Monsignor Bode appeared, preceded by flags.

Then a small masterful work began: in the lapse of only one half hour a colorful kaleidoscope of greetings, songs, testimonies drama, symbols, images and texts about what happens in this small chapel, especially how it is attached with the Original Shrine and of the main event of the founding, the Covenant of Love of October 18^th and of the almost two hundred Shrines that are in the world was transmitted. "It is the chapel that the Schoenstatters call a Shrine", said one of the youth in the drama. "Because the Mother of God dwells here and the place as well as the people who come here becomes holy". And because someone really lives in this house, it also happens that the neighborhood crowns this house with a wreath that usually reserved for weddings, the Golden Anniversary and births. A silhouette of the Shrine made from wood manifests its attachment with the Shrine: the picture of the Blessed Mother, the lamp – that went on pilgrimage through the diocese throughout the year – the bouquets of flowers brought by the first communion children, illuminates what is being celebrated today, for the people who are in the church. The testimonies left luminous marks.

The jubilant expression of Maria Knapp was imprinted on the hearts of everyone, who because of a serious illness could not go to school and she wanted to seal the Covenant of Love in the Original Shrine along with her friends: this radiant young girl told that is she was always in pain but she had enough strength to travel to Schoenstatt before Easter and to realize her dream at that place. And since then through her pain she can avoid it for others…or the Wamhopp family, who told that in addition to their four children, they adopted a handicapped child, and that this child has filled their family with light… or Marianne Kiewe, who committed to be a missionary for the Pilgrim MTA. And while she spoke on this day of the anniversary of the Campaign, all the Pilgrim MTA’s in the church were raised…

The veneration of Mary in a Shrine helps to sanctify the world

At the beginning of the Holy Mass, Monsignor Bode wanted to stress the attachment between the cathedral and the Shrine, which was visible in the logo of the celebration.

He had committed to be at this celebration long before it was known that this September 10^th would be a great day for Germany because of the Pope’s visit. On Monday he had to travel to Regensburg to participate in the Holy Mass of September 12^th with the Pope. He said that he was in Meppen with much joy.

The liturgical texts were those of the Transfiguration of the Lord on Tabor. Monsignor Franz Josef Bode referred to it in the homily. Those who are not afraid of wisdom experience the luminous image of Jesus, said the Bishop. The apostles, at Tabor, experienced the mystery of his light and of his closeness. Jesus remained present in the men who became transparent in this light that lives in them: in the saints, above all in Mary, who make the light of Christ shine in the varied colors of his personalities. We follow the luminous footprints of the saints. In the testimonies it was said "that perhaps the light and the illuminating strength of his Word could be experienced more profoundly in the Movements and in the groups, especially also in the Schoenstatt movement illuminated and inflamed by the words and the life of its Founder, Father Joseph Kentenich". With this, the transformation of the world is a transformation into sanctity, into a civilization of love. The Movements such as Schoenstatt are called for this: "the veneration of the Mother of God in a Shrine helps in the sanctification of the world". This network of saints and of Shrines brings many people with them.

Monsignor Bode concluded by expressing gratitude to the Schoenstatt Family for their commitment with the diocesan church and he gave them a candle from Lourdes: a symbol of the attachment among Marian Shrines.

Thank you for all the light that has come from here

After the Holy Mass, all the participants formed a long procession towards the Shrine, except for those for whom the way was too long: some buses had been provided for them. The youth were in front with the picture of the Blessed Mother, the flags, the altar boys, the priests in liturgical garb, the bishop and then the people in a line that was at least four blocks in length. It was something extraordinary, said a Sister of Mary from the United States. The people stopped, looking surprised or irritated. "Now we gave Meppen something to talk about", said one of the professionals, who has taken care of the Shrine for years. The bell of the Shrine pealed when the procession came close. The first communion children and the flags formed a street for the Bishop. In the Shrine he lighted the candle of the Golden Anniversary from the perpetual candle and he blessed others with the logo that everyone could take during the afternoon. Together, everyone renewed the Covenant of Love, expressing gratitude for the light that has departed from this Shrine throughout fifty years, and they were sent forth as a sign of light.

If the pope had only known…

Everyone was cordially welcomed in the large tents that were behind the Shrine. The Red Cross cordially served coffee and cake. The tables were very well decorated, the stage, was artistic: the celebration could continue here. Monsignor Bode stayed and animatedly conversed with the representatives of the Schoenstatt Movement of Osnabruck, with the pastor of the place, with the interim mayor…Father Franz Brugger greeted him in the name of the national council of the Movement in Germany and he read a greeting from Father Lothar Penners, the Director of the Movement in Germany. The parish community greeted him and gave him a very original gift: A large box of wine for Mass that will not be enough for the next fifty years, but it well last for a good while.

Sister Annedorit, who works at the Shrine, accepted the gift with sincere joy. The interim mayor – in spite of municipal elections that were held that day – gave a very personal testimony of how she was moved by this celebration. She had heard that House Schoenstatt was a well known place for its journeys, but she did not know what behind this hidden "little house" at its side. "If you intended to inflame others with this light, then I can say that you have accomplished it!’, she said and she affirmed that she wanted to return for the next event.

Then it was time to take a look at the Family album, some entertaining representatives of the girls went on the stage wearing headbands and dresses of the 50’s demonstrating the Girls’ youth of that time, or Maria Bruggemann (who was inspired to build the Shrine on her property). Everything that was said in general about the history was already in the program for the day. In this way, it was an entertaining way to look at the family album.

When Monsignor Bode departed, he took a greeting for Pope Benedict with him, who, surely would have also come, if he had known how Meppen celebrated!

The celebration ended full of light, with much joy and with a legitimate feeling of pride. And there were people praying in the Shrine until the end…A luminous net had emerged from here.

Translation: Celina Garza, USA