published: 2007-09-04 | |
God needs you, you, and youImpressions of Night of the Shrine in Schoenstatt |
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SCHOENSTATTT, Manuela Mañanes. About 300 youth from Europe and other continents around the world gathered in Schoenstatt on September 1st and 2nd to celebrate this event for the second time recalling the International Covenant of Love that was sealed in 2005 by thousands of youth from all over the world at the Original Shrine. The celebration of this project concluded with the words of the hymn for this year’s Schoenstatt Summer. This year the motto was Show your face for (y)our faith, and during the two days of the event, the youth faced the diversity of languages, cultures, and realities showing their face for this faith that is so diminished in today’s world. The boys of the Wurzburg Schoenstatt Band added a lot of enthusiasm to the gathering once more, by creating an atmosphere of spontaneity and familiarity through music, which once again highlighted the youth events at the Original Shrine. The depth of the prayer and the spontaneityIn stressing the importance of many things touching my soul during these days, it was the small details that made one feel at home. A spirit that has been growing for two years has more and more inflamed the German Schoenstatt Youth. Two things have been happening which have contributed to this spirit: the depth of prayer and that of spontaneity. It has often been said that the German style is more rigid and structured. However, during this event, like the one of Munich, in June of this year, it was noticeable how these youth have been developing elements that they received at World Youth Day of 2005, which at the same time points to the incredible potential of virtues in this generation Jubilee 2014. It has been fascinating to experience this! It has been touching to see how as an event begins with music, the youth, who at the beginning have been timidly accompanying the rhythm, gradually get to the point where they are less self-conscious and have begun to truly enjoy the music. Not just because it sounds good; rather, through experiencing the prayer that is in the song, enjoying the lyrics, and the spirituality of the moment. The Night of the Shrine was truly incredible even though the prayer time was super long, and it was very cold for this time of the year. No one moved, everyone accompanied the pilgrimage silently, there was Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament outdoors, and finally, we consecrated ourselves in front of the Shrine as it was done two years ago by thousands of us, with the theme: you and I for them. Recalling my nights at the ShrineFurthermore, after the prayers, many of these youth, the majority of them Germans and Hungarians, remained at the Shrine until 3:00 a.m. playing guitars and singing, reminding me of other nights at the Shrine at La Plata, the Holy Masses of sending forth at Madrid during the missions, or the afternoons at the Confidentia Shrine, in Buenos Aires. For me it’s truly a joy to say that this event renewed my desire to work on building that new man. Wherever one may be, since all hearts are searching, all youth have a desire for God that will bring them that interior peace that neither comfort, nor money, nor progress can give. Everyone who came to this event to renew their energy in giving themselves continually to Christ everyday found it at this gathering full of moments, which led one to say: One must give Christ a face! Thousands of people who with a smile in the halls, at every breakfast, or in every look are saying: "I have Christ within me." God needs youOne of my most enjoyable moments was the concluding song, when we sang the hymn, which says: "Everyone needs someone and God needs you, you, and you," and with these words each person pointed to someone who was in front, beside, or behind them. Suddenly I could visualize a photo of that moment, pointing at each other and saying to one another with an enormous smile, "God needs you"…That is strong! There was this realization that the song left us with a clear message…God needs me and he is saying it to me! Living in the heart of German culture for four months has enabled me to comment, without a doubt, that the German Schoenstatt youth is being encouraged more and more each day to proudly face the world and declare, "Christ needs each one of us!" Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA/amj |
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