Now, in this holy place, with you, with each other, with the youth of the world

 Night at the Shrine: Vigil and Covenant of Love celebration in the Original shrine

Peregrinación de luces: estación en el jardín de la Casa Marienau Candle Light Procession: station at the Garden of House Marienau Lichterprozession: Station im Garten der Marienau Foto: POS K. Fischer © 2007
Momentos de oración Moments of prayer Es herrscht eine tiefe Gebetsatmosphäre Foto: Martin Schneider © 2007
Después de la coreografía: con velas y rosas en manos, los participantes se preparan a la renovación de la Alianza de Amor After the choreography: with candles and roses in hands, the participantes are preparing themselves for the renewal of the Covenant of Love Nach der Choreographie: mit Rosen und Lichtern in den Händen, bereiten sich die Jugendlichen vor auf die Erneuerung des Liebesbündnisses Foto: POS K. Fischer © 2007
Hemos venido a adorarle We have come to adore HIM Wir sind gekommen, um IHN anzubeten
Vasos con agua bendita para la renovación del bautismo Vessels with Holy Water for the renewal of baptism Gefüße mit Weihwasser für die Tauferneuerung Foto: Martin Schneider © 2007

Schoenstatt, mkf. "United with our Father and Founder, Father Kentenich, we seal and renew the Covenant of Love in all the languages heard here together. Now in this holy place, with you, with each other, with the youth of the world: My Queen, my Mother…" In the middle of the night they were standing around the Original Shrine, their faces illuminated by the light coming from the Shrine; this was why they were here, it was why they came from all the regions of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Poland, Argentina, Chile, Mexico…

"Mary, pray that Jesus, dead and risen, is reborn in us, and transforms us into a night full of light, full of him. Mary, help us to lift our eyes on high. We want to see Jesus, to speak with him, to proclaim his love to all." was what Pope Benedict prayed a few hours earlier accompanied by half a million youth at Loreto, in the House of Mary, during the great vigil in preparation for World Youth Day in Sydney. On the same night at the other House of the Blessed Mother in Schoenstatt, hundreds of youth took lit candles in their hands as they were sent forth taking the light of the Shrine into the world as witnesses of the one true light, Christ.

Saturday, September 1^st at 8:30 p.m. the police were called in Hohr-Grenzhausen near Schoenstatt: two cars, eleven very young people, a couple of bottles of alcohol, wounded faces. If only they’d known that within a couple of hours a group of youth who they didn’t know would offer their prayers and renew a promise on their behalf in addition to all the youth in the world in a small chapel… In the same manner, this renewal of the Covenant of Love will be for these kids in Wasserburg House as well, who during the procession of light, began to shout and sing, trying to prove that even without amplification, every song and every prayer can be shouted out…Yes, these young troublemakers are included in this Covenant of Love, in this light that overcomes all shadows, that the commitment to the graces flowing from the Shrine reaches them too and they find a home, and turn and find the reason for life.

Stops along the way of light

It was almost dark when they left the meeting hall of the Marian School, holding candles lit from the Pascal candle. They were on a pilgrimage with stations or stops, where they contemplated the different situations found in life by transforming them into prayer: work, the routine of daily life, a world that seems not to need God any more, broken relationships, their own laziness in the faith…prayers for people who suffer in these situations or who cause them, prayers for a life of spirited, committed faith, prayers of encouragement, a look at others, these marked each of the stops. These pilgrims walking in the darkness carrying candles, continued, paused, singing, and praying often unable to see the text. They felt the atmosphere, the silence. There was a feeling that at each stop something was growing and the youth were getting in tune with each other during the moments of prayer as they were getting more and more in touch with this holy place, for the Shrine and for themselves.

And when the youth carrying their torches and candles arrived in the garden at House Marienau, they were once again overcome with a feeling of desire for the Shrine, in prayerful silence, but at the same time one of uncontainable interior joy, like that heartfelt and youthful decision of 2005: for others, you and I should be a new founding generation. It became even stronger when the procession went toward the Original Shrine and passed in front of the photos of the Schoenstatt heroes. The Hall of Fame, a place where homage is paid to the great stars, the famous soccer players and the musicians of the day, …so when the procession almost left the road running close to the gardens, the illuminated Shrine with Father Kentenich at its side was waiting clearly visible before them. Their yes to the Covenant of Love with Mary in this place transformed it into a fount of grace for many people…that was why these youth were here: to continue what began with Father Kentenich. The youth placed their candles close to the Shrine, at the tombs of the heroes, close to the stage in a pilgrims’ cross, and they began their vigil in the gardens, which were magnificently and harmoniously illuminated. Those from Wirzburg, who had motivated our youth during the celebration at Munich and in other places, accompanied them with their wonderful music. No one noticed, for one second, the passing of time even when the program ran over an hour later than planned.

Jesus, touch my heart…

"If you please Lord, I have never been eloquent" was the confession of weakness by Moses (Ex.4: 10-16) before the mission God had entrusted to him. The main purpose - the leitmotif- of the first part of the vigil: the youth brought the light of the Pascal candle to Christ, weakened in its radiance by doubts, fear of others, discouragement… Six lights were taken to the altar, each one of them faint, wavering, as symbols of recognition of our needs, and at the same time of our own feebleness and weakness when we try to swim against the current, to be different, to speak about God to others…Concurrently, the Pope addressed almost a half a million youth in Loreto saying: "It is difficult to speak to friends today about God and perhaps more difficult to talk about the Church… however: Do not be afraid! If you stay united with Christ, each one of you will be able to do great things." And he prayed with them: "Mary, speak to us of Jesus, so that the freshness of our faith shines in our eyes and warms the heart of those we meet, as you did when visiting Elizabeth…"

While the song, Jesus, Touch My Heart, rang out the youth formed a path for Jesus, who reached them from the Shrine through the species of the Eucharistic Bread. Adoration followed with songs, readings, and prayers. While in Loreto the Pope told the youth that united with Christ they could do great things, the Schoenstatt Youth sang Christ, Your Light takes away our shadows, thereby freeing one light after another of those veils that made them feeble and wavering, allowing us to see its true brilliance.

Children of God and witnesses of His love

The vigil ended with a renewal of Baptismal promises, and the Our Father prayed simultaneously in many languages. Small founts of holy water were brought, and the youth gathered in small groups to make the sign of the cross on one another, while saying things like: you, Birgit, are a favorite daughter of God and your are His witness in the world. You, Michael, are a favorite son of God and you are a witness of His love… for a few short moments, these gazes met in blessing brought about a profound peace and established a deep bond.

It was almost midnight, and there was a dry, glacial cold. The moon was over the pilgrims’ cross. The torches, the fire, and the colored lights bathed the entire holy atmosphere with a warm light.

An hour before the celebration of the Covenant of Love in this small space for personal prayer, the Church of the Pallotine Fathers, Mary, the Great Woman was performed. There was a search for footsteps, songs, testimonies, and creative activities. Many of the youth stayed outside, close to the cross and the monstrance adoring the Lord. "Please hold my camera," a young man said. "I want to go to confession at any cost." There were priests with stoles at some of the benches hearing confessions. Many of the youth went to the Original Shrine.

Will you invite me to the Shrine?

Since the youth were still gathered, a large picture of the Blessed Mother was placed at the foot of the cross, supported by three large panels of blue, yellow, and red fabric. Through the choreography of the Girls’ Youth from Fulda, the work of the Blessed Mother, in this place of grace called the Schoenstatt Shrine, was expressed with few words: our beloved Shrine. With their dances, the girls called each Schoenstatter to lead others to this Shrine, to submerge themselves and others in the streams of graces given to us, and to experience within ourselves the home, the interior transformation, and to impart the knowledge of why our land is important to each one of us.

The girls, dressed in white, symbolized people searching for something more, and the girls dressed in red, blue, and yellow symbolized the graces received from the Shrine. All this was in a wonderful scene, which was executed very well, and needed no explanation because it was readily apparent. The exquisite simplicity of the piece and quality of the choreography was very professional. When presented for the first time at the Golden Anniversary of Dietershausen, it caused a silent procession to the Shrine. One fifteen year-old girl said that when she saw so many following her and the picture of the MTA: she thought, "I can take everyone to the Shrine. What an honor!" This night, the same sensation took place on the faces of those who danced: come I will show you the place…will you invite me to the Shrine? The entire presentation invited everyone to go running out to embrace the Shrine.

A selection from the Founding Document of October 18, 1914 was read, "Mary, we are before you as the generation that will mark the future… and also the future of Schoenstatt."

"Mary, Mother of the Yes, you listened to Jesus, and knew the tone of his voice and the beating of his heart. Morning Star, speak to us of him, and tell us about your journey of following him on the path of faith." This is what the Pope prayed that night with the youth, close to Mary’s House in Loreto. "Today we have come here to attach ourselves with the grace of this holy place. Yes, beloved Blessed Mother, with you we can believe, with you we want to love, we feel hope in you"…Necessities, worries, promises, and expressions of gratitude were written on notes placed in the jar and taken to the Original Shrine in silence. "United with our Father and Founder, Father Kentenich, we seal and renew our Covenant of Love in all the languages united here. Now, in this holy place, with you among us for the youth of the entire world, My Queen, my Mother…"

Until the early hours of the morning, the Original Shrine heard the youth, their songs, and their prayers. This was Night at the Shrine.

Listen:

• Vigil in the Original Shrine ( Extracts of about 50 minutes)
• Celebration of the Covenant of Love in the Shrine taped live with texts for the choreography about 55 minutes
• Video

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