I give my heart to you, Mother and Queen of the Family

Experiences of an unforgettable day at the Matri Ecclesiae Schoenstatt Shrine, Belmonte , Rome

... para dar sus corazones a la Mater. Mons. Sanna y Mons. Reali se juntan. ... to offer their hearts to the Blessed Mother. Bishops Sanna and Reali do so, too … um der Gottesmutter das Herz zu schenken… Auch die Bischöfe tun mit. Foto: Nuño © 2007
Todos quieren colocar sus corazones en la red All want to attach their hearts to the net Alle möchten ihr Herz ins Netz einknüpfen
P. Ludovico Tedeschi Fr. Ludovico Tedeschi P. Ludovico Tedeschi
Alianza de Amor en el Santuário Covenant of Love in the Shrine Liebesbündnis im Heiligtum
Misa festiva Festive Holy Mass Festgottesdienst
La familia de Schoenstatt de Italia reunida en torno del Santuario The Schoenstatt Family of Italy united at the Shrine Die Schönstattfamilie Italiens umsteht das Heiligtums Fotos: Balan © 2007 Álbum de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum  Nuño Álbum de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum  Sr. Fernanda Balan

ITALY, Roberta Cucarro/Francisco Nuño. On September 19^th there was a festive air at the International Shrine of Belmonte. The Third Anniversary of the blessing of the Matri Ecclesiae Shrine was celebrated with this motto: I give my heart to you, Mother and Queen of the Family. More than four hundred people from different Italian Dioceses – including Sicily and Sardinia – gathered in Belmonte, Rome.

The first bus of pilgrims arrived at the International Center of the Schoenstatt Family of Rome at 7:00 a.m. and gradually over the next two hours different groups continued to arrive. At 9:00 a.m. beneath a large tent erected in the garden of the Shrine, Father Ludovico Tedeschi opened the meeting by greeting everyone present.

Each person who arrived received a card for making a nametag. Many people were meeting each other for the first time and greeted each other cordially and affectionately, quickly establishing a connection, which created a family atmosphere that was serene and truly fraternal.

The Family as the center, the "DNA" in the process of civilization

A large tent protected the participants from the summer sun. Two talks on the subject of the family presented by Sister M. Fernanda Balan and Father Ludovico Teschi, and reflections of the subjects of the talks were discussed in each group and later shared. The attention and the concentration with which all those who listened to these talks demonstrated that each one of the participants felt responsible and united in love for the Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt.

The family as the center, the "DNA" in the process of civilization, is the essential condition, for the humanizing and socialization of a person, which can’t be substituted or transferred. The family is the foundation of society and is essential for the survival of both the state and the Church. It’s the first school of relational experiences, of life and love, which allows one to acquire the necessary tools to interact with the world,. "The family is a universal phenomenon, it’s the small but essential cell of society, the patrimony of humanity that can’t be destroyed or cut up with alternatives that will mar it!" said Sister M. Fernanda in the first part of the conference. "As a Schoenstatt Family, we want to give our hearts to the Blessed Mother, so that She will manifest herself as Mother and Queen in our own families and of the family as institution. We feel that in this way we will give an answer to the need of today and call of the Lord," affirmed Father Ludovico Tedeschi in the second part. "Father Kentenich was convinced that the Blessed Mother has a special vocation today to save the family as if it is a new Visitation, a new miracle of Cana. Schoenstatt wants to help to change the world from below, beginning with the family," he stressed.

The Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign was born in this spirit and wants to carry it out into the broad sectors of the Church.

I give you my heart

Then, they all gathered in a semi-circle in front of the Shrine to pray the Angelus.

An immense fishing net brought expressly for this occasion from Imperia, a small port in northern Italy, dedicated to fishing surrounded the Shrine. Everyone received a little red paper heart on which they wrote their offering of themselves to the Blessed Mother, entrusting their relatives, friends, and their loved ones. They hung their little hearts on the net. It was a joyful moment and one of great devotion. Bishop Ignazio Sanna, Arch- Bishop of Oristano, Sardinia, and Bishop Gino Reali, also participated.

After lunch, they shared with all the pilgrims spread throughout the Belmonte garden; Bishop Sanna, Archbishop of Oristano in Sardinia, a member of the Institute of Schoenstatt Diocesan Priests, presided at an intimate ceremony in the Shrine where thirty people, coming from different places in Italy sealed their Covenant of Love with the Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt.

Prior to the Holy Mass, some of the missionaries from the Rosary Campaign gave moving testimonies. The Holy Mass concluded the celebration with Bishop Gino Reali, Bishop of the local Diocese, and Archbishop Ignazio Sanna presiding, in addition to the many priests who also concelebrated with them. The priests having come to Rome with the missionaries lent a very solemn air to the closing of this wonderful celebration.

In the afternoon after the hugs and good-byes, the buses and cars departed with the promise of returning next year. Many of the families took CD’s of Schoenstatt songs, which had been sung during the celebration and Holy Mass, and that were recorded by a group of families from Marineo, Sicily.

A testimony of a first experience with the Schoenstatt Family

"For us it was the first experience in which we were involved, it was touching and we felt welcomed by the affection of the large Schoenstatt Family," said Rosa Manticelli, Linda Barnabei, and Manola.

They continued: The subject referring to the family was very interesting, and we are totally in agreement with the reflections presented by Sister M. Fernanda and by Father Ludovico. We are convinced and we share the idea that our youth need a healthy and secure family, that will help them to grow, which will be a beacon of salvation at all moments of difficulty and uncertainty…that it will be a family that will know how to make them understand and to like the joy of daily life, and the sharing joys and sorrows.

There were unforgettable moments mixed with songs, applause, jokes, and direct and moving experiences by some participants of the Schoenstatt Family. It was very touching and symbolic when we hung the red paper hearts, where each one of us had written and expressed our own desires and hopes, on the large net wrapped around the small Shrine,. We felt we were dreaming when we saw these people of God slowly ascend the green hill toward the Shrine, which was transformed for a moment into a resplendent light.

And why not recall the final moment of the day: the Covenant of Love? As well as the period of time dedicated to confession during which, thanks to our priests, we were able to prepare and sensitize our hearts for giving and consecrating them to the Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen, and Victress of Schoenstatt. We felt overcome by the abundant divine grace…and great interior peace! With the power of that realization we came to understand that only with Her and under Her protection would we find the peace that the world really needs.

After the conclusion of the Holy Mass, we were physically very tired, but the grace of God was so great that it gave us the strength and the fervor to do it all again, if it had been necessary. "Thank you God, for giving us such an enriching journey, with so much joy and so much love."

"I give my heart to you, Mother and Queen of the Family"

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