Someone Always Appears Who Needs to Dialog with the Madonna

Roman Summer Notes in Belmonte

Grupo de catequesis de la parroquia Catechism group from the parish Katechesegruppe aus der Pfarrei
Recuerdo: Corpus Christi en Belmonte Memories: Corpus Christi celebration Erinnerung: Fronleichnamsfeier der Pfarrei in Belmonte
La Casa de la Alianza, mas o menos lista... The Covenant Houser, mehr oder weniger fertig Die Casa dell’Alleanza, mehr oder weniger fertig
Casa y Santuario House and Shrine Haus und Heiligtum
18 de julio en Belmonte July 18 in Belmonte 18. Juli in Belmonte Fotos: Francisco Nuñp © 2007

ROME, Francisco Nuño. In the late afternoon, on the 18th of this very warm month of July, some thirty persons gathered to celebrate the day of the Covenant of Love in the shadow of the Matri Ecclesiae Shrine. Before Holy Mass and before burning the notes with contributions to the "Treasury of Grace," we had the opportunity to listen to Amelia Peirone, secretary for the "Cause of Mario Hiriart" in Rome. She brought us Mario’s Cross (a small wooden replica of the cross which covers Mario’s grave with its shadow in Bellavista, Chile). She spoke to the Italian pilgrims present about this young Chilean engineer whose process of canonization is now in the Vatican offices of the corresponding congregation.

With her and other friends, we have decided to storm the engineer Hiriart with petitions that he help us obtain from the engineers in Rome the necessary permits to once and for all inhabit the Casa dell’ Aleanza (Covenant House) because we continue waiting…..

The colors of Belmonte

Recently, on Belmonte’s panorama, there appear diverse colors which offer variety (and some concern) on its surroundings. On the always very green meadow which surrounds the Shrine, we see the first yellow and black "bare patches" brought on by the lack of water needed for the grass. As the weeks of the Roman Summer pass, the level of water in the wells which Belmonte has are noticeably lower. It is a natural phenomenon in these areas at this time.

There are also promising and joyful new colors on the landscape. The different tones of red, orange and yellow on the façade of the Casa dell’ Alleanza are an omen of the final works. The workers are finishing their job and the house is bright with its new Mediterranean colors.

There are also the colors of the ‘new friend’ which has for a few days now, installed itself on our land of Belmonte: the cicada (also called grasshopper or large cicada). In my Andalucía, we call it ‘cicada’ and that is why I like this name. It is a multicolored insect of the Cicadidae family which lives in the trees and is noticed by its manly singing on very warm days. The present temperatures – more than 35 degrees Celsius – and the sun which punishes the streets and the parks of Rome make the cicada sing and the flow of pilgrims to our Shrine lessens noticeably in July and August. Nevertheless, we continue with the Shrine open with the praying of the daily Rosary and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Thursdays of each week. Someone always appears who needs to dialog with the Madonna! Due to the lack of priests, we have had to cancel Mass on Saturdays; however, we are able to maintain Mass on the 18^th with the help of priest friends.

Pilgrims from the Americas

Finished are the final activities of the past course with the meetings of Sr. Fermanda and the coordinators of the Rosary Campaign…..finished are the activities of the parroquial catechetical groups who come to the Shrine for the closing of their cycle of meetings before Summer begins…..finished is the Corpus Christi festival with its procession on the grounds of the Shrine…..finished is Father Ludovico’s retreat with the group of men from the beginning family branch of the Movement…..finished are the visits of the groups of Schoenstatt pilgrims who have come to Rome. The last one was from México. I love the ease which our brother and sister pilgrims from the Americas have. Once in Europe, they visit various cities and Schoenstatt Shrines from Lisbon or Madrid. They pass through Rome and end up at the Original Shrine in Schoenstatt. They are intrepid travelers who are not afraid of distances because in their native America, distances are something else.

We are family

Following the example of our American brothers and sisters, Anneliese and I, during three weeks have traveled more than 2,500 kilometers by car and not counting our round trip flights to Madrid. That has been our vacation; Javier and Braulia Abollado, a couple from our course from the Family Institute, came especially to Rome to substitute for us as guardians of the Shrine.

Our grandchildren, Marta and Miguel, children of Jorge and Katia received the sacrament of confirmation in Madrid and we flew there to accompany them with great joy and gratitude. It was a joyful and intense family week at our home in San Agustín del Guadalix. Since June 30^th was the final day of the permit to drive our German car, we flew back to Rome and went to Switzerland by car. After a twelve hour drive, we were welcomed in the home of the Fuchs who are members of our Institute. We enjoyed some beautiful days in Switzerland. They also took us to visit the holy places of Bruder Klaus (St. Nicolás de Flue, patron of Switzerland) and his wife Dorothea. We also visited the Shrine of our Schoenstatt Fathers in Horw. From the Fuchs home, we were able to easily reach a small German town on the other side of the Rhine to make our required inspection. It was very easy because the Wehrle family from the second German course of the Institute live in this town and had prepared everything for us. How wonderful to belong to a community where its members take care of each other in unity! Before returning to Italy, we came to the city of Brigg where there is another Schoenstatt Shrine and our Sisters welcomed us into their home with the usual joy and friendliness.

Finally, through the help of Father Alois Ziegler from Switzerland, we had a few days rest in a residence-hotel in one of the northern Italian dioceses in a small town of the ‘riviera dei fiori,’ San Bartolomeo al Mare in the province of Imperia between Genova and San Remo. It was a welcoming home with a clean and tranquil beach, a house chapel and daily Mass, various ice cream shops in the area, and beautiful Mediterranean gardens surrounding the residence. We are grateful to all who made this gift possible. During our week in San Bartolomeo, we were accompanied by our friend, Fernando Arrau, who came to spend a few days in Italy (he is now in Assisi) before his staying for a few weeks at the Bundesheim in Schoenstatt.

Towards the future

Since Tuesday, July 10^th, we are anew in Rome taking care of the final work at the Casa dell’ Alleanza. During the last three days they have installed the security system for the house and the area. God willing, this will deter the bands of thieves who prowl through the Eternal City from stealing and vandalizing in Belmonte. Unfortunately, it is a reality which must be taken care of adequately. Our diocesan priests are doing the necessary things with firmness and with the hope that the Matri Ecclesiae Shrine, the Casa dell’ Alleanza and the future Father House are the response to the wishes of our Father and Founder for the Eternal City, the universal center of Christianity.

Translation: Carlos Cantú Family Federation La Feria, Texas USA 080707