Streams of pilgrims, streams of grace

18^th at Schoenstatt: a Trinitarian atmosphere, style, and mission around the Shrines

P. Lothar Penners, prédica Fr. Lothar Penners during the sermon P. Lothar Penners bei der Ansprache
Representante de Bolivia Representing Bolivia Sie vertritt ihr Heimatland Bolivien
En el Santuario Original At the Original Shrine Am Urheiligtum
Rosario del sábado: Daniela, la joven ecuatoriana, fue la encargada de depositar la hoja con las intenciones y eventos en la tinaja del Santuario Original Saturday rosary: Daniela, an Ecuadorian girl was in charge of depositing the sheet with the intentions and the events in the jar of the Original Shrine Samstags-Rosenkranz: Daniela aus Ecuador legt die Zettel mit den Anliegen und den Veranstaltungen dieses Wochenendes in den Krug im Urheiligtum Fotos: POS Fischer © 2008 Álbum de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. During the afternoon of May 18^th, the Solemnity of the Blessed Trinity and after a beautiful day of pilgrimage to the Original Shrine, the Schoenstatt Family gathered as on every 18^th to celebrate the Covenant Mass, to go on pilgrimage together to the Original Shrine, and to renew the Covenant of Love. The largest pilgrimage, however, is the spiritual one that is present every 18^th – from the daughter shrines, wayside shrines and homeshrines of all the continents…

Several times today the Shrine was the goal of the pilgrimages. There were about 700 pilgrims from the Diocese of Fulda, among them many children wearing their First Communion attire, as well as many youth and young families. Throughout the day the MTA was never alone in her Original Shrine. She was in the midst the 700 pilgrims from Fulda and hundreds more from other places; it was truly a pilgrimage day for all of Schoenstatt! Before returning home, the pilgrims from Fulda went to the Original Shrine again, where the children offered Jesus and Mary a rose in gratitude for their First Communion. (see separate article)

During the Covenant Mass and the renewal of the Covenant of Love, in an atmosphere of meditation and serenity, the participants expressed gratitude for all the gifts and graces of this day and of their "vigil" on Saturday, and for the priestly ordination of Father Hans-Martin Samietz.

In the homily of the Covenant Mass, Father Lothar Penners, Director of the Movement in Germany, recalled the patronal feast of the Church of the Holy Trinity (The Adoration Church) that is celebrating the 40^th Anniversary of its blessing, and the National Journey of Catholics which will begin on Wednesday, May 21^st.

The Brehms from Vallendar were in charge of some of the music for the Covenant Mass, while the Sisters of Mary participated in the International Seminar of their community, One of the readings was in French and the petitions were prayed in different languages.

A Trinitarian atmosphere

In his homily, Father Lothar Penners connected the mystery of the Holy Trinity with the Covenant of Love in a very profound manner. About 20 years ago, he commented, there was a current in our western societies where people sought the religious. People did not directly seek God as a person; rather, they wanted "to float in an atmosphere of the divine", as a contemporary author states. And while many officials of the Church lamented the lack of God in the religiosity of many, Father Kentenich offered an answer. He spoke about a "Trinitarian atmosphere" around our Shrines, a divine atmosphere that calms the thirst of many for the religious…and where people, holding Mary’s hand, came nearer, step by step, to God who is a person.

According to Father Kentenich, he stressed, around our Shrines – and especially at the Original Shrine –a Trinitarian atmosphere and a Trinitarian style should reign, that will take us to a Trinitarian mission. It means, he said, to live in an atmosphere and to create an atmosphere of communion, of giving, receiving, of providing answers; it means to treat one another, to treat fellow communities, with respect, with attention, with interest. It means to run to the help of those who suffer, those who need support. It means a giving and receiving, a with Marian style of communication.

Those who were present around the Original Shrine renewed their Covenant of Love, gathered as a family and were spiritually united with all those who long to remain constantly connected with the Original Shrine.

The rosary of solidarity

Some of that Trinitarian style was already noticed in the rosary on Saturday in the Original Shrine where Sisters of Mary from Argentina and Germany and pilgrims from Ecuador prayed for all the events that would take place around the Shrines of the world this weekend, asking the MTA to especially bless everyone from the Original Shrine. They also prayed for all the intentions that were sent to the Press Office during the last week; an Ecuadorian girl was in charge of depositing the sheet with the intentions and the events in the jar of the Original Shrine. "Thank you for your greeting from here, Argentina sends a very cordial greeting, today we will share the Holy Rosary, from the Original Shrine transmitted yesterday," commented Elvira González. "It was a joy to hear the voices and the songs, and to unite ourselves to the petitions with all our heart."

It was late the night of May 18^th when the news arrived from Burundi: the large pilgrimage for peace with the International Auxiliary was a great success. Thanks to everyone who prayed and who continue to pray. Father Deogratias said that what impressed them most was the attentiveness with which they were accompanied in prayer by people from other continents…

We are, and may we be - more and more - a true family. Fill the jars. She will work miracles in Burundi and in other places too - even around the Original Shrine.

• Audio: Rosary in the Original Shrine (Spanish/German)