Be glad, Mary, full of grace, this land receives you

Blessing of the Shrine of Los Pinos, Chile

Espera Waiting Erwartung
Entrada: El Obispo Auxiliar de la Diócesis de Valparaíso, Monseñor Santiago Silva, P. Mariano Irrureta, superior provincial de los Padres de Schoenstatt Entrance: Auxiliary Bishop Santiago Silva, diocese of Valparaíso, Fr. Mariano Irrureta, provincial superior of the Schoenstatt Fathers Einzug: Weihbischof Santiago Silva, Diözese Valparaiso, und P. Mariano Irrureta, Provinzoberer der Schönstatt-Patres
Entrada de la Mater Entrance of the MTA Einzug der MTA Fotos: M. Mas © 2006
Santa Misa Holy Mass Heilige Messe
Los Pinos tiene Santuário Los Pinos has a Shrine Los Pinos hat ein Heiligtum Fotos: www.santuariolospinos.cl © 2006 Albúm de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

CHILE, Benjamin Malandre. "Be glad, Mary, full of grace, this land receives you". This phrase was placed like a threshold between two trees at the entrance of the area where the new Shrine of Los Pinos was built; it summarizes the feeling of more than seven thousand people who arrived to that place on November 4^th. Happiness, welcome, celebration. It was truly a celebration for all the Schoenstatt Family (and for all the Church of Chile and the world); this is what was experienced throughout the entire journey.

The cloudy, gray, cold day was radically transformed as one approached the place where the ceremony would take place, which became an authentic family celebration of great proportions.

There were so many people participating that day that the autos had to be parked far enough that one could take in the natural air that surrounded the Shrine, whose name is derived from the pine forests that grow in that area. As one got closer, you could notice the festive atmosphere that would be encountered: people giving decals, little flags, selling gifts or every kind of souvenirs. It didn’t seem to matter that it was still 6 hours until the beginning of the Mass in which a new home would be given to our Queen. As one entered the area bordering the Shrine, there was a new impression: that place, where Sunday Masses were held during all these years since the wayside shrine was built, was unrecognizable even for anyone who had not been there for even a couple of weeks. The work carried out by the Family of Los Pinos to welcome all the faithful in the best manner, had transformed the place into a true open air cathedral, with seats for the 7 thousand people who were expected. The altar, of course, was the Shrine itself. The wayside shrine, the main place of area until today, hosted the picture of the Blessed Mother that would be placed in the interior of the Shrine. Not even the old parking lots escaped being transformed into places that were made as comfortable and welcoming as possible, filled benches and stands.

The hours before the ceremony passed quickly

After the impressive arrival, you had to wait. Or, better said, while you were waiting you watched the wonderful work of children, youth and adults as they worked on the last details; they welcomed the visitors, inflated balloons, sold souvenirs or worked at the first aid station. Not a single detail had been overlooked. The energy and the joy that filled each person were so contagious that the wait was not boring in the least. As the time passed the place became fuller and fuller, with delegations from every part of Chile. Concepción, Rancagua, San Fernando, Antofagasta, Puerto Montt…Each city (and each Shrine) of Chile had a large representation of delegates; there were representatives from each branch: families, mothers’, dawnbreakers, federations, institutes and many, many youth who wanted to be present on such a special day. In this way, almost without noticing, the hours before the ceremony passed.

Acclaimed with songs and flags like a real Queen

There is little to say about the Mass; the emotion that reigned cannot be imagined, it can only be remembered by those who experienced this moment. It was celebrated by the Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Valparaiso, Monsignor Santiago Silva, and concelebrated by a legion of invited priests. The reading of the wedding of Cana manifested that the main celebration was Mary, Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt. The litanies were sung by the Priest of the Major College along with a beautiful local choir, and each moment of Mass passed with hearts filled with joy until the trumpeter announced what everyone awaited: the moment when our Blessed Mother would be transported from the wayside shrine to the interior of the Shrine. The procession began with a band followed by a retinue of flags of all the branches carried by a representative. After them, four youth carried the picture on a platform. Besides them, Apostles of Mary scattered rose petals along the way. This is how Mary advanced, a real Queen, who passed among her subjects with the highest honors, as they acclaimed her with songs and waving flags. During those 10 minutes that the procession lasted, all the emotion that had been contained was released, so many years of struggle and work to build a home for Mary in this place. The Mass ended quickly, and the celebration concluded, the mission was accomplished. During these moments one could see the crowning of the stream of life that surged from the wayside shrine of the Crusaderes of Holy Family School, which the Schoenstatt Fathers bought in 1999. Jose Magasich’s dream was accomplished, the little girl who offered her life to be the first brick of the Shrine; so much Capital of Grace was offered with much sacrifice and that in an anonymous way helped to sow new hope of seeing the rebirth of a country at the feet of a new Queen for this place. They saw their efforts abundantly paid: the efforts of each branch, the sales of everything imaginable to raise funds, from hot-dogs and pastries to symbolic bricks. Los Pinos has a Shrine, and the M.T.A. has taken possession of it.

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