What a madness…of love for Mary

Crusade to Mary Uruguay 2006

Vamos, vamos... Marching in... Auf geht’s!
La meta: el Santuario de Nueva Helvecia The goal: the Shrine in Nueva Helvecia Das Ziel: das Heiligtum in Nueva Helvecia
Son solo 73 kilometros Just 73 kilometers, who cares! Gerade mal 73 Kilometer... Fotos: Santos © 2006
El Padre Kentenich va con sus jovenes Father Kentenich walks with his youth Pater Kentenich geht jedenfalls mit Foto: Arocha © 2006
La Mater les espera en el Santuario The MTA awaits them in the Shrine Die Gottesmutter wartet im Heiligtum Foto: Santos © 2006

URUGUAY, Luis Arocha. Is everyone mad? Yes. Mad of love for Mary. Out of pure madness everyone is invited to a pilgrimage from Montevideo to the Shrine of Nueva Hevecia, on the 18^th and 19^th of November. It is an initiative of the Boys’ and Girls Youth from Montevideo and the invitation is extended to anyone who wants to visit Mary in her Shrine and who wants to present her with the gift of walking some kilometers to reach her.

At this stage of founding and of spiritually conquering the Shrine of Montevideo, you feel very close to the special graces of God. This year the Boys’ and Girls’ Youth groups were founded in Montevideo, there were covenants, retreats, camps…all of them historic since they are first manifestations of the love of the youth for the Blessed Mother of Schoenstatt in this land. So, here goes the invitation to the youth of Uruguay to participate…and to all the Schoenstatt Family in the entire world to accompany this pilgrimage of love for the Blessed Mother!

What is it?

We are not sure what it is, but we do know why it is. It only has one objective, Mary. This pilgrimage is nothing more than an act of love for her. She is the one who calls us to her house. She calls us and we are going to listen to her…although what surely will be of more interest to Mary on this day is to listen to us! That is why on the weekend of November 18^th and 19^th we will go to encounter our Mother in the Shrine of Nueva Helvecia.

What madness…!!!

Yes, we totally agree, but you know what? Once in a while it is good to do this kind of crazy thing for her. Hasn’t Mary done much more for us? Furthermore, it is "only" 75 km. walking, and above all… walking with joy. It is not a punishment, nor a sacrifice; we proved it last year when we went. Furthermore, as we understand that the season for physical exercise has just started, the pilgrimage will be divided into two days…what nonsense!

Everyone is crazy!

Again, we agree, we are very crazy…that is why we are going to do it. That is what Jesus is asking today: madness; and on November 18^th Mary calls us precisely for this, to teach us to live this madness. She is a mother who wants to introduce us to her son, are we going to say no? Surely we also have many things to say to her, to offer her, to ask, to thank.

Our Mother (yes, she is also yours) is waiting for you. If this pilgrimage is too much to ask for you there is no problem, I suppose that she will understand, but I heartily hope that you will join us and that you will be one more of those who are crazy for her. If you truly feel called, continue reading; on the contrary we will wait for you next year, or the next, or the next…she is already waiting for you.

The crusade is planned so that the people can join us at the points of encounter according to their agenda or activities. This allows the freedom to have people join us on Sunday if they are busy on Saturday. The pilgrimage begins November 18^th at 5:15 a.m. at Terminal 3 in Montevideo. The cost for the pilgrimage includes meals, a place to sleep, scenery of tourist interest, blisters, weariness, and Sisters of Mary with a little barbeque in Nueva Helvecia. Never mind that cost includes an embrace from the Blessed Mother when we arrive.

Registration: alvarofederico@adinet.com.uy

Information and greetings: luisasieslavida@hotmail.com

Original: Spanish. Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA