A sensitive manifestation that this Shrine has been transformed into a cradle of our hope

October 18 in Schoenstatt: celebrating the Covenant of Love and the founding of Schoenstatt

Vigilia: todo centrado en el icóno de Tabor Vigil: centered in the Tabor Icon Die Liturgie ist ganz ausgerichtet auf die Tabor-Ikone
Veneración Veneration Verehrung
Peregrinación al Santuario Original Pilgrimage to the Original Shrine Auf dem Pilgerweg zum Urheiligtum
La Auxiliar de Alemania presidió la celebración; se entregaron varias peregrinas The Auxiliary of Germany presided the celebration; several Pilgrim MTA’s were sent out Die Auxiliar von Deutschland bildete einen echten Blickfang; später wurden auch mehrere Bilder der Pilgernden Gottesmutter ausgesandt Fotos: POS Fischer © 2007
Niños participaron en la procesión Children participated in the procession Auch Kinder waren bei der Prozession dabei
El coro The choir Der Chor Fotos: POS Brehm © 2007-10-19 Álbum de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. We want to set ourselves on fire in this hope and go on our way. Whoever has the light of Christ can walk in the midst of the darkness. For Him, every road is a road of hope, especially if you walk precisely to a place of hope. That’s exactly what we want to do this afternoon, since our small Shrine in the valley is our true cradle of hope. The spark of hope from the heart of our Father has ignited many others. Many of your hearts have been captivated by its fire: then and now. We also want this to happen tonight, when we renew the Covenant of Love in the holy place. Our walk there is a sensitive manifestation that this Shrine has been transformed into a cradle of our hope.

Monsignor Peter Wolf invited the pilgrims at Schoenstatt with these words to go on pilgrimage to the Original Shrine. It’s a sensitive manifestation that this Shrine has been transformed into the cradle of our hope, and that’s what is happening today around our Shrines…and in the Original Shrine.

"Tuparenda…shines!!! Many have asked for vacation days in order to volunteer and there are about 400.. They work joyfully and with enthusiasm, like always or perhaps, like never before," Father Antonio Cosp wrote yesterday, the final day of the Novena to Our Lady of Schoenstatt. He was speaking about the task of welcoming about 35,000 pilgrims today. Every task of preparation, every prayer, every pilgrimage, every Mass, every Covenant of Love that is sealed today –like that of several girls at the Wayside Shrine in Ituzaingo, Argentina – every crowning, every rosary…is a sensitive manifestation that this Shrine has been transformed into a cradle of our hope, into a place of grace, into a Tabor for our time. To celebrate October18th is to renew our Covenant of Love with the MTA. It is to renew our firm, generous, and trusting yes at the service of Mary and her Work; to celebrate October 18^th is to renew our love of the Schoenstatt Family, it’s a renewal of the missionary spirit and of the consciousness of instrumentality.

After a day with a varied program offered by the German Schoenstatt Family, a large number of pilgrims from Germany along with the delegates from the National Conference (the October Conference), and groups of pilgrims from many countries – Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, United States, Hungary – gathered at 7:30 p.m. to celebrate and to renew the Covenant of Love in the Original Shrine.

Everyone wanted to be in the Original Shrine

Throughout the day pilgrims flowed to the Original Shrine. Who, except the MTA, will know how many encounters, how many renewals of the Covenant of Love, how many moments of profound emotion, gratitude, and commitment were experienced on this day in the small Shrine at Schoenstatt? Schoenstatt, the cradle of all the daughter Shrines, the origin and goal of the stream of graces and life that flow through the world. Be it the ladies from Mendoza and Rio Cuarto in Argentina, a mother with her daughters and daughters-in-law who spent October 18^th at Schoenstatt, many of them on their first visit to Schoenstatt; be it the young couples from Ecuador; be it Christian Figueroa with his

wife from Chile who understood everything during the Covenant Mass in the morning, because Christian knows German and he could translate for his wife; be it Schoenstatters from the United States or Poland, who could be in the Original Shrine on such a special day. The second course of Family Federation from Hungary arrived in the afternoon after a long trip, all of them happy to begin a time of formation at Schoenstatt on this day; they renewed their consecration in the Original Shrine immediately upon arriving.

Light of Tabor

The Renewal of the Covenant celebration began in the Pilgrims Church, in the style of a vigil, with a liturgy based on the icon of Tabor, which had been the theme in a previous celebration. "The small chapel in the valley should transform itself into our Tabor where the glories of Mary are manifested." In the following years, our founder paused once and again on this aspect: to take the real presence of the Blessed Mother seriously and to trust in Her silent work. Part of this believing trust is also found in the way that the Orthodox Church is attached to its icons. They venerate the presence of the Lord and of his Mother in their icons through incense and a kiss. They depend on its closeness and its effective work, like we do in relation to our Shrine and with the Pilgrim MTA. We want to open ourselves up with this attitude to the event of hope that we contemplate in the icon of the transfiguration on Mount Tabor", Monsignor Wolf explained the meaning of the liturgy that was presented with elements of the Orthodox tradition, with meditative songs masterfully accompanied by a choir. It was a special invitation to intensively experience the way, the pilgrimage to the Original Shrine, and for the renewal of the Covenant in this holy place. Everyone went through the darkness and the cold of night to the Original Shrine, praying and singing: carrying flags, candles of different colors, the jars from the Schoenstatt Shrines, and the Auxiliary MTA of the German Campaign.

United to all the international family

In front of the tombs of the heroes, behind the Original Shrine, there was a "throne" where the Auxiliary MTA was placed along with several Pilgrim MTA’s among them the 5000^th Pilgrim MTA from Germany. Songs and texts about October 18^th were alternately sung and read. A young man held a large jar on high while everyone was invited to offer their contributions to the Capital of Grace. When the jar was taken into the Original Shrine, the lights were brightened, and the Shrine shone with the light of Tabor. It was moment that touched the heart. After a moment of absolute silence, everyone prayed My Queen, my Mother…in unison, united to all the international family.

The choir sang lively and joyful songs during the burning of the Capital of Grace in the fire.

"Our feet are frozen," said a lady from Ecuador as she went home. "But the heart is on fire!"

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

Video

DOCU: Msgr. Dr. Peter Wolf