In the footsteps of Jesus

The Blessing of mothers and parents in the Freiberg Cathedral on the Feast of the Holy Family, December 30, 2007

Foto: Se formaron filas largas para la bendición People formed long lines to receive the blessing Es bildete sich eine lange Schlange für den Segen Foto: W. Spannagel © 2008
Coro „Parish House Band“ The „Parish House Band“ Ausgezeichnete musikalische Gestaltung durch die “Parish House Band”
Doris Schuppel y Hannelore Spannagel, de la Rama de Madres, saludaron a todos Doris Schuppel and Hannelore Spannagel, Leaders of the Mothers’ Branch, welcomed all Doris Schuppel und Hannelore Spannagel, Verantwortliche der Schönstatt-Bewegung Frauen und Mütter, bei der Begrüßung
La primera bendición de la iglesia al niño a nacer... The first blessing of the church to the unborn child... Der erste Segen der Kirche für das ungeborene Kind
Bendición de niños con sus papas Blessing for children and their parents Segen für Kinder und ihre Eltern Fotos: POS Fischer © 2008 Álbum de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

GERMANY, mkf. The many strollers that were in the main hall of the Cathedral of Freiberg – which was decorated beautifully for Christmas- caused the Auxiliary Bishop, Monsignor Raniner Klug to very happily say: "Here we are truly in the footsteps of Jesus"…In the footsteps of that Jesus, who blessed the children, who considered them blessed, who has placed the dignity of men in his heart, and who has given an unconditional ‘yes,’ to each human being.

"The children already born, those to be born, and families are invited," stressed Monsignor Klug before the ceremony. Many young families – among them a group who traveled in a large double Decker bus from the Schoenstatt Shrine in Oberkirch, where they participated in an end of year retreat for families – responded to this invitation and they filled the Cathedral of Freiberg with strollers and children’s voices. "Now the Child Jesus isn’t alone here," said a little boy of three years of age, who was in awe in front of the manger. "The children are here to play." The Mothers’ Branch and that of the Families of the Schoenstatt Movement of the Archdiocese of Freiberg jointly invited the parents for this first blessing in the Freiberg Cathedral.

The Schoenstatt mothers had prepared more than fifty pairs of booties for babies and candles. Doris Schuppel, along with her family, had wrapped 200 little candles with the phrase: "The blessing of God accompanies you, Cathedral of Freiberg, 12-30-07," which would be given to the children. Meanwhile in the Baptistery of the Cathedral, baptisms were taking place. The families and the mothers approached with great joy and with "butterflies" to begin the ceremony. The beautiful large Christmas trees and the manger created a solemn Christmas atmosphere that reigned in this Gothic Cathedral – that was miraculously preserved during the Second World War. It is the Cathedral of Our Lady. This was the setting for the blessing that the Church wanted to give the future mothers, their children, and their families on this Feast of the Holy Family.

May there be a new world order according to the loving plan of God

Monsignor Rainer Klug, 69 yrs. of age and Auxiliary Bishop of Freiburg since 2000, referred to the peace and harmony radiating from the Christmas mangers. He said that "there is much in the country that needs to be put in order. The necessary basis for parents and children and all the questions about life demand answers that can be trusted from politics and society."

The blessing of God that is given today, on the Feast of the Holy Family to the future parents and children not yet born, is the trusting response for life. "You must also bless you children," he told the future parents and the many young families that had arrived with their children. "Since God has already blessed them before you knew it. Let us live as blessed ones, in this way each one can contribute to a renewed world order according to the loving plan of God, just as he shows us in the manger." - The blessing of the parents that had already been given in a dozen parishes of the archdiocese "has finally arrived to the See of the Archbishop," said Monsignor Klug, and "this is very good". He expressly extended his appreciation to the Schoenstatt Movement for this initiative.

The musical group, Parish House Band, enthusiastically accompanied the blessing ceremony, marked by a Christmas like atmosphere with traditional Christmas carols arranged with jazz and swing rhythms and with new religious songs in the Taize tradition. Above all, this was very pleasant for the many youth who are "occasional visitors." They came to this ceremony first attracted by the music, but then also for receiving the invitation for a personal blessing.

A long line like the one at the theme park at Rust

Monsignor Klug took his time to personally bless each of the future mothers, fathers, and the little siblings. "It was a line that was as long as the ones at the theme park of Rust in front of the most fantastic attractions," commented Father Rainer Birkenaier, from Oberkirch. "And this is happening in a church!" With each step that the women or the couples took as they advanced in the line, the expectation grew on their faces. Perhaps for many of them it was the first time they had received such a personal blessing or been treated individually in a church and been welcomed with such unconditional kindness. Those who came to the blessing and received a pair of booties knitted by the mothers and the youth and the candle they had also prepared radiated joy and many times they wiped their tears. "We are also going," whispered a young man to his companion. They were seated in a lateral nave and they arrived at the ceremony by chance. "I don’t know," she said. "Nobody yet knows that I am pregnant …and… no, we’d better not, I don’t know." A few minutes later they were in line, smiling openly.

After the blessing of all the women and couples who were expecting a child, an even longer line was formed – and it kept growing – for the blessing of the children and the parents. It is a custom that could be related with the Feast of the Holy Family.

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

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