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Covenant Day in Schoenstatt
Nachrichten - News - Noticias
 published: 2008-02-22

"Thank you for virtually being at the Original Shrine this day"

 Covenant Day in Schoenstatt

 
18. Februar: Prozession zum Urheiligtum

18 de febrero: Proecesión al Santuario Original

February 18: procession to the Original Shrine

18. Februar: Prozession zum Urheiligtum

 

Die musikalische Gestaltung hatten Schönstätter aus Vallendar übernommen

Coro: schoenstattianos de Vallendar

Choir: Schoenstatt members from Vallendar

Die musikalische Gestaltung hatten Schönstätter aus Vallendar übernommen

 
P. Ernst Fuchs, Schweiz, war Hauptzelebrant  

P. Ernst Fuchs, Suiza, celebrante principal

Fr. Ernst Fuchs, Switzerland, main celebrant

P. Ernst Fuchs, Schweiz, war Hauptzelebrant

 
Am Urheiligtum  

En el Santuario Original

At the Original Shrine

Am Urheiligtum

 
Begegnung: Frauen aus dem Mütterbund aus Argentinien und Deutschland  

Encuentros: miembros de la Federación de Madres de Alemania y Argentina

Encounters: members of the Mothers’ Federation of Germany and Argentina

Begegnung: Frauen aus dem Mütterbund aus Argentinien und Deutschland

Fotos: POS Fischer © 2008

 
Jugendliche aus Chile und Mexiko

Jóvenes de Chile y México

Youth from Chile and Mexico

Jugendliche aus Chile und Mexiko

Foto: Melissa Schmid © 2008

Álbum de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

 
   

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. In the dark cold of a German winter night, to the light of thousands of stars, of hundreds of candles (and the floodlight of an equipment van of a local TV station), Schoenstatt family from Germany, and many other countries gathered around the Original Shrine to renew their Covenant of Love, in the evening of February 18. They united with all those who spiritually made a pilgrimage to the Original Shrine this day, arriving from all corners of the world, bringing their contributions to the Capital of Grace from all the places in the world where graces flow brought by the stream of grace flowing from the Original Shrine on October 18th, 1914. 

This night at the Original Shrine, Father Ludwig Lipp lead the prayer inviting all to especially unite with Archbishop Robert Zollitsch of Freiburg a member of the Institute of Schoenstatt Diocesan Priests, who this day officially assumed the role of President of the Conference of German Bishops.  What a gesture of the MTA making this happen just on Schoenstatt Covenant Day!

Being present despite of the geographical distance

"The greetings and warmth of the Original Shrine is received with great joy! We always know our hearts are closely united with the source of graces from Germany and with her, all the corners of the world," writes Marines Gariglio, from Argentina. Father Kentenich’s work constantly urges us on How good to know that each 18th, the local Schoenstatt families gather around their Shrines or Wayside Shrines. So you know where to turn to when you want to meet family far from home! One example of this phenomenon was at the Shrine in Los Pinos, Chile, February 18. Vacation time in South America made the Covenant celebration there a meeting place for "Schoenstatt tourists" from all over Chile: "We in Los Pinos are also celebrating along with a variety of people who visit this time of the year in our city. It’s summer here and many people are away on holiday.

There are people from Bellevista, Providencia, Colina, Montahue, and Rancagua as you can see it is widely visited along with many young people. We offered our Capital of Grace in the raised area of the Shrine. There we renewed our Covenant and then we shared a moment between those present."

A special joy for the many Spanish-speaking pilgrims

This 18th a very cold and sunny day saw many pilgrims arrive from various countries at the Original Shrine.  Young people from Chile in their last days of an extended stay in Schoenstatt, a honeymooning couple from Miami, Florida, youth from Mexico, Paraguay, the United States, Sisters of Mary and seminarians of the Schoenstatt Fathers from a variety of countries, Chilean priests from the Institute who celebrated a Mass in Spanish in the Original Shrine in the morning, young men from Argentina who sealed their Covenant of Love this day….  In House Marienau, there were forty diocesan priests of the Erfurt diocese from the eastern part of Germany in retreat with their Bishop and the Auxiliary Bishop - they knew practically nothing about Schoenstatt but had already requested an introduction and tour of the place!

In the Covenant Mass many Schoenstatt Fathers concelebrated with several priests from the Federation. Father Penners, Director of the German Schoenstatt Movement (after a struggle with the sound system and loud speakers that weren't working) greeted all who were there and asked for prayers for Archbishop Zollitsch.  The Schoenstatters of Vallendar choir accompanied by keyboard and guitars, sang lively renditions of songs from the musical about the centenary of Father Kentenich entitled, Risk and Love, to the delight of the many Latin American participants, and the Holy, Holy in Spanish! 

Two sources of grace with a humble beginning

Father Ernst Fuchs of Switzerland was the principal celebrant; he has frequently led pilgrimages to Lourdes. And since a few days earlier on Febraury 11th was the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady the Immaculate Conception at Lourdes, he tied the two beautiful events together: the source of graces at Lourdes, and the source of graces of the Original Shrine.  Both places of Marian pilgrimage had humble beginnings that demanded a leap of faith on the parts of the protagonists: Bernadette Soubirous, in Lourdes, and Father Joseph Kentenich and the young co-founders in Schoenstatt. Fr. Fuchs invited all to prepare for a pilgrimage after the Mass to our fount of graces bringing with us all those we love, and all those who wanted to be here….

A Tabor for our times

In the Original Shrine, Father Ludwig Lipp solemnly read the part of the Founding Document that spoke of the Tabor experience and the vision of transformation of this chapel into a Tabor of the marvels of Mary. Next there was the blessing of some Pilgrim MTA pictures along with all those present, then after a moment of silence, an invitation for all to renew the Covenant of Love each in their native tongue.

It was a moment of profound attachment with all of you… especially with the Schoenstatt Family of Burundi, which the day before carried out a pilgrimage for peace from the Bujumbura Shrine to the Mutumba Shrine carrying the Auxiliary MTA International of the Rosary Campaign to the first Shrine of that country, and with everyone from different places in life from the Covenant of Love who are working for peace, life, and  justice for the world "which is pleasing to the Father…" (Heavenwards)

There were many who also prayed with pain and gratitude for Sister Lisann, who died a year ago on February 22nd, 2007; on Sunday, February 24th, a Mass will be celebrated in Schoenstatt and in Ghana for her.

"Thanks for the news from Schoenstatt…. Though we are far from this place of graces, we feel very close through the writing," writes Fr. Marcelo Cervi, a young Schoenstatt diocesan priest from Brasil. And Raquel Beltrán from Paraguay sums it all up in few words: "Thank you!! ... For being virtually present in the Original Shrine..."

Translation: amj, USA

 

 

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