The Holy Father gave the homily during the Covenant Mass

April Covenant Day in Schoenstatt

El Santuario Original en esplendor pascual The Original Shrine in Easter beauty Das Urheiligtum im Osterglanz
Procesión de entrada Entrance procession Einzug der Priester zur Bündnismesse
Durante la Misa During the Mass Während der Messe
Gran concurrencia Many participated Die Kirche war gut gefüllt
Procesión rumbo al Santuario Original Procession to the Original Shrine Prozession zum Urheiligtum
Renovación de la Alianza de Amor Covenant Renewal Erneuerung des Liebesbündnisses Fotos: POS Fischer © 2007 Albúm de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. Although it is hard to believe, the Holy Father gave the homily during the Covenant Mass of April 18th! Well, almost…During this week marked by the celebration of the 80th birthday of the Holy Father Benedict XVI, Father Joseph Flesichlin, General Director of the Institute of Our Lady of Schoenstatt, was the main celebrant of the Mass, and at the time for the homily he read the homily that Benedict XVI gave as Cardinal Ratzinger on September 18, 1985 at the Saint Mary Major Church during the Covenant Mass of the German pilgrims, within the framework of Father Kentenich’s centennial that culminated with an international pilgrimage to Rome.

On that September 18th there was a Covenant Mass in the 22 churches of Rome celebrated by different national groups. In his homily, the then Cardinal Ratzinger spoke about the Covenant of Love of October 18, 1914 in the context of world history - as a contrast to the covenants of power that were sealed during the war, apparently much stronger than the Covenant of Love sealed in the Shrine, but in the end they were much less effective than the latter one. He placed the Covenant of Love of October 18th within the context of salvation history, as a concrete expression of Jesus’ testament from the cross. After reading the text, Father Fleischlin proposed that once a year this homily by the Pope be read and meditated upon on the 18th, for the purpose of deepening in his words about the Covenant of Love, which is renewed in so many Shrines, churches, chapels, and wayside shrine on every 18th throughout all of the planet – this was a very important aspect for the Holy Father, just as it was perceived throughout the homily. And it is truly this way: to think that on the same day, in all the continents of the world, people from many nationalities and different ages…do the same thing, allying themselves once more with the Queen of Heaven and of the World…What a gift this should be for the Pope to know that the Schoenstatt Family supports him and is united with him and his service to the church from the Shrines, in the Covenant Love. As a perfect framework, the Omnia Matri Ecclesiae was heartily sung… Everything for the Mother of the Church, Everything for the Mother Church!

A special anniversary

In addition to the "Pope’s homily", it was a very special Covenant Mass since it was the anniversary of "transferring" the celebration of the 18th from the Adoration Church to the Original Shrine, as well as being the celebration of the Covenant Mass instead of a liturgy that was filled with texts as there were before. The increasing number of participants is a clear testimony of the joy that everyone feels to be able to renew the Covenant of Love in the Original Shrine, the place where it was sealed. The international board of the Federation Families gathered at the Joseph Kentenich Farm in Hillscheid, was present at the Mass. "We had already come a while ago", said Marité Marini, from Paraguay. "Ramón and I prayed for a while in the Original Shrine, it was so beautiful!"

After the Mass in the Pilgrims' Church, everyone went in procession to the Original Shrine, led by the flags from the countries (although they were not carried by the respective representatives, which was noticed with the smiles of some Argentineans and Chileans who ran to greet their "apparent" compatriots who, to their surprise, did not understand a single word of Spanish…but they still whole heartedly waved "their" flags!) In the Original Shrine –that still had the Easter decorations – parts of the Second Founding Document were read, after which Father Fleischlin invited everyone to renew the Covenant in their own language and to unite themselves with all the Schoenstatt Family. It was a very touching moment, as it usually is…to feel united to all of you today, perhaps at the same time, as you also renew your covenant, united spiritually to us in this holy place. When "Protect Us with Your Mantle" was sung loudly in different languages –the Spanish version was clearly heard intoned by the shouts of the Gold, the Marini, the Martinos and the Riveras, from the Family Federation!, the English with Sr. Angela close to the microphone! Everyone went to the Original Shrine to greet the Blessed Mother and then they went to the pyre. "At this time everyone at home would be shouting long live the Blessed Mother", commented Ángela Gold. Maybe someday that shout will also be heard in the Original Shrine!

The Capital of Grace and the letters deposited in the jars of the different Schoenstatt Shrines which were brought or sent through the people who came on pilgrimage to Schoenstatt. Just think about the hundreds of letters that Gloria Silvia brought from La Barca Jalisco, Mexico, on Holy Friday, from sick people who received the Pilgrim MTA with such much trust…

The celebration ended with the final blessing…It was already dark (the moon and the stars were shining), and after a final greeting to the Blessed Mother everyone went home…

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA