A person fascinated by God is transformed into a witness

The 40^th anniversary of Father Kentenich’s visit to the former concentration camp of Dachau – 65^th anniversary of the foundation of the Family Movement and the Institute of the Brothers of Mary in Dachau

Cuadro de la MTA y del Padre Kentenich en la sala recordatoria MTA picture and picture of Fr. Kentenich in the memory hall Bild der Gottesmutter von Schönstatt und von Pater Kentenich im Gedenkraum
Rumbo a bloque 26 On the way to block 26 Auf dem Weg zu Block 26
Bloque 14, lugar de la fundación de la Obra Familiar, y del Instituto de los Hermanos de María, el 16 de julio de 1942 Block 14, place of the foundation of the Family Work and the Institute of Brothers of Mary, on July 16, 1942 Block 14, Gründungsort des Familienwerks und der Marienbrüder am 16. Juli 1942
Momento de reflexión Moments of reflection Zeit der Besinnung Fotos: Sr. M. Elinor © 2007

GERMANY, Sister M. Elinor. "To encounter Father Kentenich, to express gratitude to him, and to be sent forth anew, " was the motto of a pilgrimage of more than fifty Schoenstatters from neighboring dioceses representing different communities in– League, Federation, Institutes – and Pilgrims, to Dachau.

Sunday, July 15, at 10:30 a.m., Holy Mass was celebrated at the Carmelite Church. In the homily Father Franz Schmid (of the Schoenstatt Institute of Diocesan Priests) recalled July 16, 1942, the occasion of the founding of the Schoenstatt Family Work, and the Institute of the Brothers of Mary, in the concentration camp of Dachau. He especially highlighted the speech given by Father Kentenich in Dachau, on July 16, 1967 on the 25^th Anniversary of this seminal act.

By doing so, he fulfilled a wish expressed by Father Kentenich on that afternoon, when he said; "These talks set the course for the coming centuries. Their content should be announced and explained to the family in the future."

Father Schmid was convinced: "Father Kentenich had given clear and important guidelines forty years ago in his conferences at Dachau. Moreover, he proclaimed these guidelines throughout his life, he lived them, and he preceded us on this path of redemption. Not just to survive, not just cope with one’s fate in a world like Dachau, but to overcome it interiorly in what Father called ‘the spirit of Dachau’ is the key for mankind today, in the family, in society, and in the Church to overcome the problems of our era. Forty years ago Father also said, "The divine personality is one who knows how to overcome the horrible situation in this city of madmen, pagans, and death which is Dachau in a God-pleasing and therefore superior manner. If he wants to perfectly meet the test, he should become and be an ingenuous person, understanding ingenuous in the theological-Christian sense, that is to say, understood as divine childlikeness lived in all its true fullness, like unconditional confidence in God who knows how to discover –even at the hands of the SS assassins- the hands of the Heavenly Father."

Father Schmid continued: "A person who is moved and fascinated by God already has reached part of the goal of his life, and it naturally happens that he becomes a witness who acts within his surroundings, who, like light and yeast, makes transformation, renewal, and salvation possible." He reminded us that we would never totally escape the cross and suffering in our life, and recommended that all experiencing continual human weakness should make an ally. "Whoever has grown up in the school of Father Kentenich has learned that the ally who really helps, can only be the Blessed Mother. In Dachau he proclaimed her Mother of the Concentration Camp and Mother of Bread. He taught us to pray, I trust your might, your kindness, Mother dear."

Relive: a former prisoner returns…

After a meditation at Block 14 - prepared by families -, the pilgrims made a brief visit to the former Hall of Remembrance (where for a long time the MTA picture had been displayed) where a scale model of the camp, the grounds, and the surrounding areas now can be seen. From there they went to the new Hall of Remembrance to visit the "Queen of Dachau", the picture of the Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt, which has had a place in the area of the former concentration camp since 1967, although that has changed several times. Here they listened to parts of Father’s conference from July 7, 1967 followed by the Coronation Prayer of 1992. In 1992, the Bavarian Schoenstatt Family had crowned the Blessed Mother as Queen of the Spirit of Dachau. Later after the noon break, they all gathered in the Seminar Room. Songs like the canon, Come to us, Father, be in our midst…, a large picture of Father Kentenich, and selections from a video made in 1967 helped them to experience the presence and closeness of Father Kentenich. The 1967 video was taken in front of the museum showed the joyful farewells, which powerfully conveyed the family atmosphere of that time. Adding to that, the narratives of several people from 1967 enriched the Schoenstatters. Toward the end of the event, each person had the opportunity to take a card with a phrase of the Founders’ "Dachau telephone". These phrases may be obtained at the House of the Sisters of Mary, in Kosching.

The video, Ark and Lighthouse, depicting Father Kentenich in the concentration camp of Dachau and the texts of the July 16, 1967 conference were offered. New brochures about Dr. Kuhr, co-founder of the Family Work, were also made available. First-time participants weren’t the only ones who joined in the guided visit that Sister Marika offered. The beautiful experience was brought to a close with the song, You Did Not Leave, Father, you remain with us …. Upon bidding farewell, some of those present commented that it was truly an experience of the "Schoenstatt Family"…and surely not because the families were the largest group …

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA /amj