What a tsunami of life and graces we will experience when the entire Schoenstatt Family celebrates the Centennial of the Shrine in 2014!

Once more the Schoenstatt Family gathered at the Original shrine to celebrate and renew the Covenant of Love on September 18^th

Diez nuevas aliadas de Eslovaquia Ten ladies from Slovakia sealed their Covenant of Love Zehn Frauen aus der Slovakei schlossen an diesem 18. ihr Liebesbündnis im Urheiligtum
Alianza de Amor en el Santuario Original Covenant of Love in the Original Shrine Liebesbündnis im Urheiligtum
Todo el dia hubo peregrinos en el Santuario Original During the whole day, pilgrims came to the Original Shrine Den ganzen Tag über kamen Pilger zum Urheiligtum
Entrada de los celebrantes Entrance procession Einzug der Zelebranten
En el altar At the altar Am Altar
Renovación de la Alianza de Amor Covenant Renewal Erneuerung des Liebesbündnisses Fotos: POS Fischer © 2007 Álbum de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

SCHOENSTATT, MKF. Our Father called the eruption of life and grace in Schoenstatt an earthquake of graces. What a tsunami of life and of grace we will experience when the entire Schoenstatt Family celebrates the Centennial of the Shrine in 2014!" Tsunami was the word used by Father Juan Pablo Catoggio, Regional Superior of the Region of the Father, during his homily in the Covenant Mass in Schoenstatt on September 18^th. He emphasized the most important dimension of all preparation for the Schoenstatt Centennial with these words: We should and we can expect a new eruption of graces from the Original Shrine and Shrines from all over the world." He made a call for evangelistic zeal: Schoenstatt needs enthusiastic people, with a missionary spirit, a spirit of disciples and of apostles, in the spirit of the Father and Prophet, those who will live the Covenant of Love and who will take it to the ends of the world!"

Once again, the Schoenstatt Family celebrated and renewed the Covenant of Love that Father Kentenich sealed with the Blessed Mother on October 18, 1914, along with the young men from the seminary in the Original Shrine, united to the Blessed Mother, in the Shrines, Wayside Shrines, and Home Shrines, again imploring with Father Kentenich, "Mother Thrice Admirable, always keep us as your instruments, so that today and everyday we will be at your service with love"…wherever it may be, because that is where you need each one as instruments for your Schoenstatt Kingdom.

Ten Covenants of Love in the Original Shrine

September 18^th has always had a special feeling; thirty-nine years ago sorrowful days were experienced in Schoenstatt. And yet at the same time, they were days full of grace as the Schoenstatt family gathered to bid farewell to Father Kentenich, who was called to the House of the Father. The task for the Schoenstatt family was to assume the commitment of accepting his inheritance, and to continue taking the graces of the Shrine to the ends of the world. Since then, each Schoenstatter has been called to make him present in today’s world, to share about his life, his work, and his charism.

Slovakian pilgrims and a Schoenstatt Father gave this September 18^th, 2007 an original touch. About ten missionaries of the Rosary Campaign from Slovakia sealed their Covenant of Love at the Original Shrine during the afternoon. They had been at Schoenstatt for several days and wanted to become more committed to the Movement in their country. It was a very moving celebration, presided by Father José Fleischlin, and presumably for the first time, the Founding Document was heard in Slovakian. After a brief homily by Father Fleischlin and a song to Mary, each one of the ladies approached the altar, prayed their personal consecration, presented a red rose as a symbol of their love, and received a MTA medal. Then, together they prayed the Consecration Prayer. It was moment of happiness for everyone. The ten new allies are part of a pilgrimage from Slovakia that was in Schoenstatt from September 15^th -19^th.

In the Spirit of the Pentecost

Then, as on every 18^th, there was a Covenant Mass, a procession to the Original Shrine, and the renewal of the Covenant of Love, but this time within a framework that was very festive and international. The Schoenstatt Father’s Superiors, Directors of the Movement, and other leaders from all over the world who had met in a round of reflections at Mount Zion in preparation for the centennial of the Covenant of Love and the Shrine – were the protagonists of the Covenant Mass in the Pilgrims’ Church. Father Heinrich Walter was the main celebrant, Superiors, and Directors of the Movement were crammed into the presbytery – it was a true representation of the Schoenstatt Family from the whole world. Father Juan Pablo Catoggio, Superior of the Region of the Father from Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Italy, prepared the family during his homily for the "tsunami of life and graces," that we can expect when we, as a Schoenstatt Family, celebrate the centennial of the Covenant of Love, that original eruption of life and grace from the founding on October 18, 1914. He also mentioned the very beautiful Schoenstatt Family celebration whose participants gave their hearts to the Blessed Mother in a touching manner last Sunday in Rome-Belmonte. Father Juan Pablo challenged us to re-enkindle the fire and enthusiasm of the Covenant of Love in ourselves that Schoenstatt needs to accomplish its mission. The Church, the world, and Schoenstatt also need enthusiastic people with missionary spirits, a spirit of disciples and apostles, in the spirit of the Father and Prophet, to live the Covenant of Love, and take it to the ends of the world!

After Mass everyone processed to the Original Shrine, where Father Heinrich Walter prayed to the MTA in three languages expressing gratitude for her presence in the Shrine, and he invited everyone to renew their Covenant. The missionaries from Slovakia, the pilgrims from Chile, the youth from Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Romania, the Priests from many countries, and the participants from the different conferences taking place in Schoenstatt prayed together – everyone in their own language_ they united in a single prayer: My Queen, My Mother, I give myself to you…

The celebration concluded with burning the handwritten notes of prayers in the jars, with prayers in the Original Shrine, and with many gatherings around the Original Shrine…

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