Experiencing the Original Shrine

A tradition is born connecting many with the Original Shrine – "It is an historic moment, and we were present!"

Rezo del rosario Praying the rosary Beim Rosenkranz
22 de marzo: Jorge Luis, seminarista de México, ha hecho un rosario en los colores del arco iris March 22: Jorge Luis, seminarian from Mexico, has made a rosary in the colors of the rainbow 22. März: Jorge Luis, Student aus Mexiko, hat einen Rosenkranz in den Farben des Regenbogens gemacht
Lo regala a la Hermana Maria Julia He gives it to Sr. Maria Julia Und schenkt ihn Schw. Maria Julia Fotos: POS Fischer © 2008 Álbum de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. "It was an historic moment, and we were present! – Even more, we were collaborators!" Alfredo "Pope" Pereira, José María Iturrerí, Pablo Pérez, and Juan Viñas, seminarians of the Schoenstatt Fathers from Argentina and Paraguay felt great pride on March 15^th shortly after 6:00 p.m. They were witnesses and collaborators of something very simple and quiet. On March 15^th at 5:30 p.m. on the Feast of Saint Joseph (which, this year, was liturgically celebrated on this day) the Rosary was prayed in Spanish in the Original Shrine. They, along with some Sisters of Mary from Argentina, Ecuador, and a young girl from Mexico, were the ones "visibly" present; but infinitely many more joined in from their Home Shrines and then via Internet filling the Original Shrine "to enrich the place of origin," as John Pozzobon said on his visit to this place of grace.

This initiative to pray the Rosary in Spanish at the Original Shrine every Saturday at 5:30 (which on the 15^th ended with the Angelus to the sound of the Shrine’s bells) is not only an offer from the Schoenstatt Office for Spanish Speakers. Rather it is an invitation by the MTA from the Original Shrine so that those who are at Schoenstatt for a few hours, a few days, a few weeks, months, or years may offer their bit of support in order that the Original Shrine may be experienced as the spiritual home for all the Schoenstatt Family and beyond.

Martha Martin from Buenos Aires was one of the first to announce that she would join from her Home Shrine. A few hours later, she heard the recording of the rosary transmitted via Internet: "I truly could not believe what I was seeing: I prayed from my Home Shrine at the appointed time, but now I felt like I was in the Original Shrine when I had the good fortune of being there. I immediately sent it to my daughter so she could share the experience of being in the Original Shrine with me."

May all who come to this place experience the glories of Tabor

"To unite myself to the songs and praying the Holy Rosary in Spanish from so many kilometers away! To hear it in my [native] language knowing that it was in this celestial chapel, in this holy place of God, where the Father and the Blessed Mother fused their hearts with the youth and along with them with all the family and perhaps beyond…Father was so prophetic! I don’t have words to describe it, only the beating of the heart is a witness of the wonders the Blessed Mother does for each of her children," commented Inés Petit from Goya, Argentina. "My heart explodes with joy! Of course I feel good in this place! I send an embrace to everyone who made this wonder possible! To pray the Holy Rosary, to know I am united to this place of the Father, made me happy. I unite with Father in making that message alive: may everyone who comes to this place experience the glories of tabor." That is how we felt!"

Elvira González, a missionary from Buenos Aires, wrote on March 16^th, I had just heard the rosary: "What happiness we received, what peace to be able to pray the Holy Rosary in the company of the brothers and sisters who were in the Original Shrine yesterday and in Spanish!!! I was able to joyfully and devoutly offer the Blessed Mother and her Beloved Son my praises and prayers for all the families that the Blessed Mother visits. Thank you for making it possible for us to unite in prayer every Saturday in this place of grace so far and yet so close to us! That is how we feel each time the photos and videos arrive showing it to us. Thank you for the Angelus and the tolling bells that resound in our hearts…!"

From every corner of the world: Peru, Chile, Argentina..

Queca Espinoza from Lima, Peru affirms she is going to join in every Saturday; Silvia de Losada from Tucumam, Argentina speaks of the "joy and emotion of participating in these rosaries in Spanish: "Seeing it and listening to it, makes it seem that I am again in the shadow of the Original Shrine, in this blessed place, enjoying so much peace!"

"It was touching to be able to travel through Schoenstatt once again and to evoke the visit I made in 2004. I also believe that this initiative will significantly reinforce the attachment to the Original Shrine and it will motivate other brothers and sisters to make the effort to personally visit the place," commented Pedro Lázaro from Iquique, Chile further adding a practical suggestion: "It would be very important to have a schedule of the equivalent times for our local time zone. The most practical thing would be to confirm the time with the Universal GMT at this time it is 15:43 CLT and the equivalent time is 19:43 GMT. I hope to gather a group to see the activity in the Shrine on a gigantic screen in real time, or if the time is not practical, to tape it on DVD and to have a later meeting."

For the moment, the time is 16:30 GMT and beginning in April it will be 15:30 GMT.

Others have already offered their collaboration from afar: Raoul Meunier from Santiago, Chile wants to send songs; Marta Correa from Tres Arroyos, Argentina sent the song book from the retreat of Holy Week from Radio Maria. " With great emotion we unite to the prayer of the Holy Rosary with all of you, since this brings us closer to the Original Shrine making us participants in this wonderful event. We heartily appreciate this opportunity to pray along with all of you. And we send a warm embrace and blessings to all the organizers," summarizes the experience of Maria Delia from Argentina.

A rosary with the colors of the rainbow

Every Saturday there is also a guided visit through Schoenstatt in Spanish. At 4:30 p.m. a tour of the area will depart from the "Pilger Info" (Information for pilgrims, between the bridge that leads to the Original Shrine and parking lot). On March 22^nd, Holy Saturday, pilgrims from Brazil and Ecuador participated in the guided tour in spite of the winter cold. Unfortunately, the cold snow and the wind became more intense with each step and finally weariness kept them from participating in the rosary. Meanwhile, there were only three Sisters of Mary in front of the Shrine… Since it was a liturgical day, the plan was to pray the rosary in silence, in this way accompanying the silence of Jesus. "If no one comes… will we still pray?" they asked themselves. The answer was not necessary because at that exact moment, Pope Pereira, Jorge Luis, Pedro Mirablalles, and Pablo Perez another "delegation" of seminarians appeared with rosaries in hand. Jose Luis had made a cord rosary with the colors of the rainbow on the way. "One must make good use of every minute." He solemnly gave it to Sister Maria Julia "so that she would not forget the historic moment of our rosary in the Original Shrine." It seemed the MTA was very happy with this offer since no one else – at least not visibly – appeared at the Shrine when once again –the rosary was prayed aloud accompanied by the meditation from Heavenwards…just as it will take place at 5:30 every Saturday from now on. Welcome Home!