She Is the Great Missionary, She Worked Miracles

Gratitude for the ten years of the campaign in Germany – Festive Mass with the presence of the participants at the Delegates Meeting in Germany and many missionaries of the Pilgrim Virgin – Crowning of the Auxiliary Shrine

Ella es la gran Misionera, ella obra milagros She is the great Missionary, she works miracles Sie ist der große Missionar, sie wird Wunder wirken
El diacono Stadtfeld, de Mayen, habló del obrar de  la Virgen Peregrina en la preparación de  niños a su primera comunión Deacon Stadtfeld, from Mayen, spoke about the work of the Pilgrim MTA with children who are preparing for First Holy Communion Diakon Stadtfeld aus Mayen sprach über das Wirken der Pilgermadonna bei den Erstkommunionkindern und ihren Familien
La Peregrina N° 1 de Alemania peregrina en Großmaischeid The Pilgrim MTA N° 1 is in Großmaischeid Die Pilgermadonna Nr.1 wandert in Großmaischeid – seit zehn Jahren
Misa festiva junto con los delegados de la Jornada de Octubre Festive Mass together with the participants of the October Week Festgottesdienst zusammen mit den Teilnehmern der Oktoberwoche
Hna. Marié Munz Sister Marié Munz Schwester Marié Munz Fotos: POS Brehm © 2007
Celebración en el Santuario Original: coronación de la Auxiliar Celebration at the Original Shrine: crowning of the Auxiliary Feier am Urheiligtum mit Krönung der Auxiliar
La Auxiliar coronada The Auxiliary with the crown Die gekrönte Auxiliar Fotos: POS Fischer © 2007
Corona Crown Krone Fotos: POS Brehm © 2007

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. The beginning of the festive Mass begins with the resounding hymn of the Pilgrim Virgin. This hymn by Fr. Antonio Borges is known throughout Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. The missionaries (coordinators) from Sicily sing it with the same fervor as the 40,000 pilgrims who arrive in Tuparenda on October 18^th or like the innumerable persons who go on pilgrimage to Santa María following the footsteps of Don Joao. But here, it is not Santa María or Marineo. It is the Adoration Church in Germany and at the intonation of this hymn, the Auxiliary Shrine is raised on high and leads the procession into the Church, followed by the priests who accompany her and the flags of Brazil, Germany, Schoenstatt and the Vatican….. For decades it was said that this would not be successful in Germany. Obviously, if no one takes the MTA, She will not go. Once She has found apostles, She goes in haste as She did to visit Elizabeth. We only have to run behind her…..

Many people who feel connected to the Campaign in Germany, went to Schoenstatt on Saturday, October 20^th to celebrate, along with the delegates at the October Meeting, the tenth anniversary of the Pilgrim Virgin in Germany. There are approximately 5,000 Pilgrim MTA’s traveling throughout the country. By means of texts, symbols and music – led by three missionary (coordinator) families – there is much joy, gratitude and creativity expressed in Holy Mass. Our faith is strengthened by the grace which comes from the Shrine and through the Blessed Mother is expressed in the beginning text of the Kyrie. After Holy Mass, several of the delegates confirm that this petition has been immediately answered. Life speaks for itself and inspires….."The mystery of the visitation is repeated in our time," is the message from Father Penners at the beginning of the homily and introducing the testimonies which are a part of the celebration.

It is really very easy to begin in the parish with the Pilgrim MTA!

"It is really very easy to begin in the parish with the Pilgrim MTA!" One thinks he/she has misunderstood. The one who affirms this is a permanent deacon from a parish in Mayden. He says that it is super easy to start in the parish with the Pilgrim Virgin – the Pilgermadonna in German. There is no mention of the usual complaints about how difficult things are and about how difficult it is to even mention the name of Mary in Germany. One believes Mr. Stadtfeldal just by listening to him say so lovingly "Pilgermadonna," Pilgrim….. He says we are like children playing hide and go seek with God. If someone can find us, that is Mary. The first time he heard speak of the Campaign, he knew that it was what he needed for the children who were preparing for First Communion. "The mothers who are in charge of preparing the children are often distant from the Church and I thought: I have to take them the Mother of all mothers," and he adds: "The Pilgrim Mother prepares the children for Holy Communion." And what happens later? "After First Communion, normally only two or three families no longer want to continue receiving the image. A boy takes the Pilgrim Mother to his room when he comes home from school. When his mother passes by his room, she hears him talking to the Virgin, telling Her all that happened at school…..the children educate their parents through Mary."

Until the expansion, GroBmaischeid was the central geographic point of the European Union. Here, ten years ago, the Pilgrim Mother began Her work in Germany. The first Pilgrim MTA is still traveling through the town. "I remember very well the first visit of the Pilgrim MTA," is the statement in one of the testimonies. The family and their two children who were 9 and 11 at the time would always give the Blessed Mother "marbles" when She visited. The situation with the marbles ended when the children grew up, but what remained is the certainty that She is present when the Pilgrim Image is on the table in the kitchen: "When I go to the kitchen, I feel she gives me her tranquility."

A special offertory procession

The offertory procession is really something special. It is not just any symbol which is taken to the altar. There is something more. "It was a moment of grace," comments a woman who is not in contact with the Campaign. A lighted candle in the Original Shrine, a picture of Don Joao Pozzobon "in thanksgiving for the 140,000 kilometers he walked with the original Pilgrim MTA on his shoulder and which weighed 12 kilos and with a Rosary in his hands and an unswerving faith in his heart: She is the great missionary, She will work miracles," along with the petition: "See to it that throughout the world there are many new missionaries (coordinators) who will follow in his footsteps." Approaching the altar is the first Pilgrim MTA which went beyond Brazil – Father’s Pilgrim MTA which was a gift from Don Joao to Father Kentenich – the 1,000nth Pilgrim MTA – sent by Don Joao to Schoenstatt and that it would travel there until the beatification of Father Kentenich – and one of the Pilgrim MTA’s donated by Father Esteban Uriburu at Father’s centennial, 1985, an image which was given to Schoenstatters in the archdiocese of Friburg, Germany as a first intent to begin the Campaign in Germany.

How many miracles must be hidden among the many families receiving the Pilgrim MTA in their homes in Germany? How much confidence and surrender is deposited in the envelopes which go into the jar in the Shrine? Lastly in the procession is the crown which will be offered that noon to the Auxiliary Shrine in the Original Shrine along with the petition "that there be a resurgence of missionary spirit in our country in preparation for the year of grace, 2014." This calls your attention. 2014, a year of grace? Yes: 2014, a year of grace.

In the Original Shrine

At the end of Mass, the crown for the Auxiliary Shrine is blessed. At noon, hundreds of persons gather at the Original Shrine to witness the coronation – it is the most sun-filled, radiant and warm day of all the days of the October Meeting and there is also a radiant blue sky. It is a festive moment which is most certain an hour of grace for Germany.

Translation: Carlos Cantú Family Federation La Feria, Texas USA 103107