The procession of nations to new Bethlehem

Christmas 2007 in Schoenstatt

Misa de Gallo en la Iglesia de Peregrinos Christmas Mass in the Pilgrims’ Church Christmette in der Pilgerkirche
Bengalas proclaman la alegría de la Navidad Sparklers announce the joy of Christmas Wunderkerzen künden von der Weihnachtsfreude Fotos: Pia Scherer © 2007
Misa de Gallo, Iglesia de la Adoración: Los sacerdotes entregan a todos el mundo al Niño en el pesebre Christmas Mass, Adoration Church: The priests entrust the whole world to Jesus in the manger Christmette, Anbetungkirche: die Priester vertauen die Welt und ihre Menschen dem Kind in der Krippe an
Momentos de oración Prayerful moments Stilles Gebet nach der Christmette
Familias de Sudafrica y de Buenos Aires en Sonnenau, con la Hna Thereslitha, y Monika Weißenberg Families from South Africa and Buenos Aires in Sonnenau, with Sr Thereslitha, and Monika Weißenberg Familien aus Südafrika und Buenos Aires in der Sonnenau, mit Schw. Thereslitha und Monika Weißenberg
JM de Roma/Italia en la Oficina de Prensa Men’s Youth from Rome/Italy at the PressOffice Mannesjugend aus Rom/Italien im PressOffice    Fotos: POS Fischer © 2007 Álbum de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. On the afternoon of December 24^th, a few hours before Father Kentenich’s return to the Original Shrone on December 24, 1965, the Original Shrine began to fill…to truly fill. In the biblical sense, the name means full presence. The thousands of people whose names are inscribed on the "stars" were taken to this holy place which already shone in the light of Christmas. About 1900 emails arrived from 37 countries, they made the Original Shrine an open place where "the nations" come on pilgrimage as Father Kentenich said a few years after the founding of Schoenstatt.

It was beautiful to imagine this process of people…composed of presidents and prisoners, bishops an atheists, the elderly and children, premature babies who struggle for their life and very beloved people who have gone to heaven and who a re missed here on earth. The name of Sister Margarita has been sent since before her death, that of Father Horacio Sosa was written by many people…Hugo Chavez was besides Cardinal Bergoglio, priests from Cuba went on pilgrimage along with Father Nicolas Schwizer, Benedictine monks from Brazil with the team of Bayern Munchen. Everyone could come to you, Child Jesus…All of them approached the Original Shrine, the Bethlehem of everyone, whose doors remain open…On December 24^th and 25^th, the email arrived at a rate that surpassed the capacity of the print shop, so in a prophetic attachment to things, the notebook with all the "email of stars" were taken to the Original Shrine! Thank you, for allowing us to "arrive" at the feet of the Original Shrine on this beautiful Christmas", writes Andrea Prestia, from Buenos Aires, and Leonor, from the Mothers’ Federation from the same country expressed appreciation "for letting us participate in the Original Shrine and in the universal Schoenstatt". "The best gift for us was to be given the opportunity for our names and our feelings to be in the Original Shrine. And departing from them we want for all the names that there to be transformed into stars of Bethlehem who will guide many to Jesus and God the Father always in the Covenant with our beloved Blessed Mother", writes Alexandra Sanchez from Paraguay. ""Allowing to be in the Original Shrine with all our hearts, close to the stars that carry the names of family, friends, is a gift that God, himself gives us".

Not everyone made a virtual pilgrimage

But not everyone made a virtual pilgrimage. A few days before Christmas, the house that open their doors during this celebration, were full of people. In Sonnenau, more that 50 people from several countries celebrated Christmas Eve together; there were also about 11 youth from Chile who are spending some time in Schoenstatt. Students from Nicaragua and from Mexico, who could not return to their homes, spend the days in Schoenstatt. The Adriaanse Family from South Aftica was very happy to meet a couple from Argentina who had been with them at Sonnenau on a prvious Christmas!

At 4:30 p.m. on December 24^th, the Pilgrims’ Church was filled with more than 1100 people for "Midnight Mass" for children, which (in Germany) can be celebrated during the afternoon. A large number of children from babies to adolescents participated. The sparklers at the end were the highlight of a very popular Christmas celebration.

At midnight, Midnight Mass was celebrated as usual in the Adoration Church with the stars silently present. Monsignor Zimmerer, General Director of the Schoenstatt Sisters, referred to the slogan of many merchants during the time of Advent: open 24 hours. God in the manger is open 24 hours a day for us, he said. This is the Christmas message. Mary is the woman that is available 24 hours for God, who helps us to grown towards a 24 hour schedule for God.

The Pilgrim MTA and the testimony of life

On December 26^th, the "Ten Minutes at the Manger" began anew (Extra articule). During the afternoon of the same day, Fabrizion Uzain – from the first group of Boys’ Youth Italy and the missionaries of the Boys’ Youth from Cordoba, Gonzalo, Santiago, and Cabi from Paraguay arrived from Rome, along with the tow Pilgrim MTAs that accompany them on each step of their mission – be it by metro or train or during their encounters with the Holy Father a few days before Christmas (Extra article). Four the three South Americans, it was their first time to be at Schoenstatt. "Last night when we arrived, we almost did not find the Original Shrine", says Gonzalo during his visit to the Press Office on December 27^th. "How can it be that an international place like Schoenstatt there not a single sign in Spanish. It should be like in Rome – the home of the Schoenstatt world!" They proudly spoke about the newly formed Schoenstatt in Italy. "Although it is also difficult sometimes", said Cabi. "One comes from a very strong and large Schoenstatt Family that provides the atmosphere, and support for everything, one can grow and live the life that exists. In Italy one must sow everything that one wants to reap. But at the same time it something beautiful!" His next project is a retreat of testimony for secondary students’. "The impact of the personal testimony is what counts", he says. "What Christ, what the Church, Mary, Schoenstatt means to us. This is what awakens the vocation for Schoenstatt." Meanwhile, he takes the Pilgrim MTA everywhere. "When we are lacking in Italian, she speaks…"

• Video: Midnight Mass in the Adoration Church
• Audio: Midnight Mass in the Adoration Church
• Video Original Shrine

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