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Monasterio de la Resurección en Ponta Grossa, Brasil Resurrection Monastery in Ponta Grossa, Auferstehungs-Abtei in Ponta Grossa, Brasilien |
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Kreuzgang |
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Beten ... |
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... und arbeiten ... |
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... und Erholung |
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Fotos: Monasteiro Ponta Grossa © 2008 |
BRAZIL, mkf. It began simply enough, in the Christmas season of 2006/2007, well over a year ago: One of the many stars that were sent to Schoenstatt through the Internet was shipped by "Mosteiro da Ressurreição" (Monastery), Ponta Grossa. Brazil. By now, everyone, who is reading the Portuguese articles on the schoenstatt.de website, recognizes this name. In this monastery lives a Portuguese Benedictine monk in the shadow of the Shrine.
Brother Bruno Almeida osb had simply begun to translate German articles from the schoenstatt.de website into Portuguese just out of the blue. He is deeply grateful for the opportunity "to be able to work for the reign of our MTA through the translations. I designate these translations as ‚my inner Apostolate for the reign of the MT," he writes in his Christmas greeting. What motivates a Portuguese Benedictine monk in Brazil to embrace such an Apostolate? "I am a Schoenstatt member living in the shadow of the Shrine," he explains.
"In answer to your question, how does a Portuguese Benedictine monk in Brazil live as a Schoenstatt member in the shadow of the Shrine, I would like to say: Through the Covenant of Love together with our love of the MTA; a Blank Check Surrender in a great connection to my Cell Shrine. A Cell Shrine, Brother Bruno? What is that?, you may ask. I will explain it to you. The spirituality of Schoenstatt gave me an entirely wonderful present that I hold deep in my heart: The Home Shrine and the Heart Shrine in a bond with the mystery: Little Mary. The Shrine is the bearer of the presence of Mary. What a beautiful discovery and experience of God that comes through our loving Mom! (I call the Mother of God – Mom).
The meeting point between Heaven and Earth, a Shrine
The cell, for a monk, is the meeting point between him and God; it is a shrine. He spends a large part of his life in his cell. Through the ‘mystery’ of the Shrine, I have invited our Mom to descend and take her throne in my cell. Through prayer, offerings and contributions to the capital of grace, my cell was privately transformed into a small Shrine, in which the ideal is: Tabor of the Love of Mary. Now, you can come to understand the meaning of my saying: I am a Schoenstatt member living in the shadow of the Shrine. Unfortunately, I have not yet been to Schoenstatt; although, I did live in Austria for three years and in Munich for a few months where I participated in a foreign language course in order to learn German. Our father and founder, Fr. Kentenich, helped me a lot with learning German. And nowadays, I prefer to speak in German rather than in Portuguese. Our Mom prevailed, as always."
And the translations are now Brother Bruno’s quiet Apostolate for her!
Translation: Melissa Ann Schmid, USA