"The Most Important Key in the Ark of the Schoenstatt Spirituality"

The Schoenstatt Family of Cologne celebrated the 40^th anniversary of the Covenant of Love with God the Father

Mons. Felix Kreutzwald saludando a los participantes Mons. Felix Kreutzwald greeting the participants Mons. Felix Kreutzwald begrüßt die Teilnehmer
Almuerzo en la casa del Instituto Nuestra Señora de Schoenstatt Noon meal in the house of the Institute Our Lady of Schoenstatt Mittagessen im Haus der Frauen von Schönstatt
Abrazos, felicitaciones... de padres Hugs and congratulations... of parents Umarmungen und Gratulationen... der Eltern
Intercambio Sharing Austausch
Expo Display Kleine Dokumentation Fotos: Pons © 2006

GERMANY, Barbara Pons. The Magi left their palaces to follow the star….. Last October 18^th, fifty thousand persons left their homes to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the Shrine in Tuparendá; approximately two hundred Schoenstatters from all branches and many communities from the Diocese of Cologne – and many from neighboring dioceses – gathered to renew the Covenant of Love with God the Father…..forty years after Father Kentenich sealed and proclaimed the Covenant of Love with God the Father in this Shrine for the whole family.

A brilliant sun substituted for the predicted rain and it was an evident sign of the prevailing joy for the community of so many people united in the Covenant of Love. At the beginning, all gathered in the Shrine to renew together the Covenant of Love. Forty years earlier, the Founder said: "The more secure and the deeper the Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother is, so much more guaranteed will be the Covenant of Love with the Savior and God the Father."

An answer to mankind’s lack of a home

Fr. Lothar Penners, Director of the Schoenstatt Movement in Germany, came from Schoenstatt to deliver the homily for the feastday.

Among other things, he mentioned the uprootedness of modern man in the context of the Covenant of Love with God the Father as considered by Father Kentenich. He knew what it was to grow up without a father. The active, modern man today experiences frequently that his mobility, his indispensable flexibility, and modernization in the workplace, pull him away from all attachments and he experiences the lack of a home. In this situation of the times, Father Kentenich proclaimed the image of the merciful Father God; a proclamation that would free all men from fear before God and presents a God that wants to shelter them.

In a city like Cologne, with its own big-city miseries, man’s uprootedness is confirmed. In the Elendskirche (Church for Foreigners) of Cologne, which in the Middle Ages wanted to be a place of shelter for foreigners and uprooted persons, our Father and Founder proclaimed on October 30, 1966, the Covenant of Love with God the Father. Later, in a solemn celebration in the Shrine which is adjacent to the Elendskirche, representing the entire Schoenstatt Family, Fr. Kentenich sealed the Covenant of Love with God the Father. The Covenant of Love with God the Father is the "key to the Ark" of the foundation of his spirituality.

Our task is to make accessible to all men and women this image of the merciful Father God.

To once again see the gift of God’s merciful love

The Diocesan Director of the Movement, Msgr. Felix Kreutzwald, thanked the National Director of the Movement, the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, and many other persons who committed themselves to preparing and bringing about the events of this day. Then they went to have lunch in various rooms of the small Movement house. The Institute of Our Lady of Schoenstatt, in a wonderful gesture of hospitality, opened their house which is nearby. Many collaborated so that all would go well on this day. Above all, there was an experience of joyful unity among everyone.

In the afternoon Holy Mass, Fr. Penners took the Gospel theme of the blind man, Bartimaeus, who was cured by Jesus because he himself had asked to be healed. We should also ask: Lord, help us to see once again the gift of the message of God the Father’s merciful love. " I had not considered the Covenant of Love with God the Father in this way!" remarked a participant. Confidently, many discovered anew the width of the Covenant of Love with God the Father! Who does not expect something from the compassionate God? The message is for everyone. Each one lives from mercy. We were entrusted with the Covenant of Love with God the Father so that we might continue proclaiming it.

Throughout the year, there continuously arrived in Cologne many groups of pilgrims from diverse countries to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the Covenant of Love with God the Father. This was done by a delegation from Puerto Rico, Chile and Argentina who participated in the General Chapter of the Institute of Families. The anniversary day was remembered in many places; among others, at the College of God the Father in Mendoza, Argentina. There they renewed the Covenant of Love with God the Father on October 29^th in the small chapel of the college.

An invitation to visit Gymnich

While having coffee at the conclusion of the celebration, throughout the house was felt a great joy and gratitude for the day’s experience. Everyone’s disposition to help that all would go well in this small Movement House was continuously praised. All were invited to visit Gymnich, where Father Kentenich was born, on the occasion of his next birthday:

Translation Carlos Cantú Family Federation La Feria, Texas USA