The luck of having a home and to share it with youth from the entire world

The Night of the Shrine in Magnificat, Puerto Rico

En unión con los jovenes del mundo... United with the youth of the world Verbunden mit Jugendlichen in aller Welt…
Ponen sus aportes al „Santuario de vitrio“ Placing their contributions at the “Glass Shrine” Jugendliche legen ihre Beiträge ins “Glasheiligtum”
Procesión con la imagen del Padre Kentenich y varias peregrinas Procession with a picture of Father Kentenich and many Pilgrim MTA’s Prozession mit einem Bild Pater Kentenichs und Bildern der Pilgernden Gottesmutter
Frente del Santuario In front of the Shrine Vor dem Heiligtum
Consacración Consecration Marienapostel bei der Gruppenweihe
Logo Logo Logo Fotos: P. Marcelino Gonzales © 2006

PUERTO RICO, Oneliss Rolon. On August 26, 2006, the Enchanted Island, Puerto Rico, was illuminated because of the great celebration of the Night of the Shrine. From Hatillo, the town where the second Schoenstatt Shrine has been blessed on the Island, youth from the Girls’ Youth and from the Boys’ Youth, united with the rest of the Schoenstatt Family of this place to joyfully celebrate the good fortune of having a home and of sharing it with the youth from the entire world.

The activity began with snacks at 2:30 p.m. promptly at the hour of None, at 3:00 p.m., everyone knelt to welcome the Eucharistic Jesus, who came into their presence, with a strong applause. They prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Then the meaning of the Night of the Shrine and the motto were explained: to be a family and "my home is your home."

The youth deposited their Capital of Grace in front of the Shrine in a mini replica of a glass shrine that they had made and that would be used in Germany. After the contributions were made they went out in procession from the chapel of the Monastery of the Father, Slaves of the Eucharist and of the Virgin Mary (A cloistered monastery where there is blessed Room Shrine in Puerto Rico) to the Magnificat Shrine, "home of the small ones".

"Thank you for praying for me"

The flags of Schoenstatt, the Church, Puerto Rico, Germany and of the five continents led the procession. After these, the picture of the Father Founder, Joseph Kentenich, the Pilgrim MTA’s the glass shrine with the contributions to the capital of grace and the World Youth Day Cross. Four youths with torches and an Apostle of Mary with a yellow rose as a sign of loyalty guarded the Live and Real Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. During the procession, the youths prayed and praised Jesus. Once in front of the Shrine, they received the blessing with the Blessed Sacrament.

In the Shrine, the Holy Mass began at 5:00 p.m. to unite themselves with the Schoenstatt Youth of the world in such a great celebration. The Eucharist was presided by Father Marcelino González. The Mass began with a telephone call from a young boy of 14 years of age who wanted to belong to the Boys’ Youth, but the Blessed Mother asked him to offer the pain of cancer. The words "thank you for praying for me" were heard from a tired voice. After such a moving beginning, the youth united in an effusive applause for him, who shows us through his example, how to carry the cross with the confidence and joy of someone who knows he is loved by God and the Blessed Mother.

As part of the new founding generation

One of the groups of Apostle of Mary consecrated their second anniversary as a group of life to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

After the conclusion of the Holy Eucharist, all those present congregated in front of the Shrine with only the light from the stars, to see the presentation that narrated the preparations for Schoenstatt Summer in Germany and those of their Shrine.

And just as in every home, after gathering at the Eucharistic Table, they participated in a dinner where they shared and exchanged experiences of Schoenstatt Summer from the beginning of the preparations to the end.

"From Magnificat, Puerto Rico, we, as part of the new founding generation, unite in a spiritual embrace from the loyal heart of our Queen with all those who form the beautiful Schoenstatt Family. You and I for them! Long live Schoenstatt!"

Translation: Celina M. Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA