In love with the MTA just like the first ones

Beginning the year 2008 in the Shrine, a love song – Christmas experiences in Schoenstatt

Cientos de personas participan cada día: 10 minutos junto al pesebre Hundreds of people participating each day: 10 minutes by the manger Hunderte von Menschen kommen Tag für Tag zu den „Zehn Minuten an der Krippe“ Fotos: POS Fischer © 2008
Entregar todo al cáliz Offering all into the chalice Alles hineingeben in den Kelch Foto: I. Springer © 2008
Santiago, Gonzalo, Fabrizio: durante la serenata Santiago, Gonzalo, Fabrizio: during the serenade Santiago, Gonzalo, Fabrizio: bei der Serenade
Angelo con su peregrina Angelo with his Pilgrim MTA Angelo mit seiner Pilgermadonna
Todos pueden venir a ti, Niño Jesús... All may come to you, Jesus, Child in the manger... Alle dürfen zu dir kommen, Jesus, Kind in der Krippe... Fotos: POS Fischer © 2008 Álbum de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

SCHOENSTATT, MKF. "Father would be very happy to see these youth who are in love with the MTA just like the first ones in the Original Shrine," commented a person from Argentina upon seeing the video of the improvised serenade in the Original Shrine at the beginning of the year 2008. While outside fireworks announced the New Year, youth from Italy, Argentina, Paraguay, and Chile consecrated the year 2008 to the Blessed Mother with their songs.

The days between Christmas and the New Year in Schoenstatt were days of intense Christmas experiences. Stars continued to arrive from all parts of the world so that loved ones, people who suffer, and also entire countries such as Pakistan or Kenya would be present in the Original Shrine, the Bethlehem of this age, during this painful time. Day after day, hundreds of people from the surrounding area of Schoenstatt continued to come to participate in the Ten Minutes Near the Manger. The church was almost full each day with young parents or grandparents who brought their children or grandchildren to the manger – although many times it was precisely the opposite, it was the children who wanted to return to Schoenstatt to accompany the Child Jesus as angels, shepherds, sheep, kings, Saint Joseph, or full of happiness – as Mary! "I want to be Mary" was the phrase, which was heard most often during these days. Little girls run from the car to the church, little girls cry because there is already another "Mary," little girls who came an hour or more before the program…just to be Mary! The song: Everyone comes to you, Child Jesus, resounds again and again. Yes, everyone can come!

Activities around Schoenstatt

In the Boys’ Youth House at Schoenstatt, the branch leaders from Germany and Austria gathered from December 26^th to the 31^st for their Annual Journey that concluded with a Holy Mass in the Original Shrine on December 31^st (extra article). In Sonnenau there was a retreat for the end of the year for university students, and in House Marienland there was a retreat for retirees. At House Marienau there were retreats and course encounters – among others who were present were: Father Daniel Jany from Argentina, the course of candidates, such as Simon Donnelly from South Africa who studies in Rome, and a priest from Burundi a member of the first course of Federation Fathers in his country who is also studying in Rome.

The Boys’ Youth from Rome enjoyed a few retreat days in Schoenstatt along with Father Martin Gómez in House Nazareth, while the group from Tuscany along with Angelo from Sardinia were in Sonnenau. Angelo wrapped his Pilgrim MTA, the first one in Sardinia, with the regional flag, "because She is accustomed to warm weather and he did not want Her to catch cold," he said smiling. She accompanied him all the time, She was also present during the Holy Hour in the Original Shrine at the end of the year.

By 11:00 p.m. on the night of December 31^st, the Original Shrine was already full of people: Sisters of Mary, couples, Michelle and Jacki Adriaaanse from South Africa, all the group from Tuscany, Angelo from Sardinia, and more, and more youth! A large group from the Girls’ Youth from Chile came from a traditional end of the year celebration at the Boys’ Youth House to be in the Original Shrine; as did the Boys’ Youth from Rome: Fabrizio and Gino, Italians, and three Latin American missionaries: Santi, Gonzalo, and Cabi – who brought their guitars.

New Year’s Celebration at the Original Shrine

The Pallotine Fathers, who were in charge of the vigil, arrived with a large group of participants of a retreat, the bell of the Original Shrine, was rung after the vigil. Outside there were greetings, fireworks, much happiness – inside the Consecration Prayer was prayed in English, Spanish, and German presenting this New Year and everything and everyone who feels attached to this place of grace to the MTA…It was time to once again present Her with all the "stars" that had arrived to be here. The youth from Chile began to sing Mary of the Covenant in Spanish, and then the boys from Rome joined them singing the same song in Italian… Then one song followed another one, in a heavenly atmosphere, an atmosphere of profound and loyal love…just like the first ones!

"It was my most beautiful experience during these days," said Fabrizio. After almost an hour, when the Shrine was closed, there was a last prayer for peace for the entire world – and then the celebration to welcome this New Year began with champagne and embraces in front of the Shrine. It is the year of the 40^th Anniversary of Father Kentenich’s death, a year in which, if God wills it, his process of canonization will close at the diocesan level, it is the year of World Youth Day in Australia, and of the blessing of the cornerstone of the first Shrine in Croatia…It is six years until the centennial of the Covenant of Love. May this year belong to the MTA and those who love her just like the first ones.

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

Video ( 7 min.) and audio (50 min) of the serenade