It is beautiful to be in the Shrine and to come out completely clean

Metropolitan Pilgrimage to the Shrine at Querétaro

Peregrinos frente del Santuario Pilgrims waiting in front of the Shrine Pilger vor dem Heiligtum
Peregrinos frente del Santuario Pilgrims waiting in front of the Shrine Pilger vor dem Heiligtum
Procesión al Santuario Procession to the Shrine Prozession zum Heiligtum
Llevaron rosales They brought rose plants Geschenk: Rosenstöcke
Preparando la corona Preparing the crown Die Krone wird bereitet Fotos: Liliana Delgado Romero/ Alicia Albrecht © 2008

MEXICO, Liliana Delgado Romero/mkf. When the pilgrims from Mexico City arrived at the Shrine of Querétaro, the pilgrims from Germany were ready to board their bus to go to the airport; they returned home after intense days of pilgrimage and tourism in Mexico. Seeing the pilgrims from the metropolitan area arrive with their roses – a gift for the Blessed Mother- touched them very much. But it was also a heavenly day for the Mexican pilgrims.

There were several meaningful moments, and one could imagine that the Blessed Mother was preparing to welcome her children commented Rodolfo, leader of the Family Branch. Another moment was when Las Mañanitas was sung as the flowers were offered and seeing the hundreds of pilgrims... impressed a lady who had come for the first time. She commented about how she had imagined that these religious things were boring, but being here was different: "the joy, devotion, and emotion of everyone is contagious," she related. The sensation of "having to be here and at no other place," the warmth, kindness, and organization made her very happy, and she felt a great peace in her heart when she returned home. This was something that will mark her life.

Mother crown yourself with my life

The crowning of the large image of the Pilgrim MTA in front of the Shrine highlight was the highlight and a customary part of every pilgrimage. The majority loved the songs and was touched by them and the sound of the bell. "Mother crown yourself with my life," is something that is easy to say, but it requires much abandonment as well as trust that gives profound peace and security.

The farewell with the blessing of the Blessed Sacrament and the breath of a soft breeze was also another great gift. And finally on the trip home hearing the testimonies of some people, for many it was their first time yet others had visited the Pilgrim MTA before.

One lady who is now a missionary of the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign said it was her second pilgrimage. During the first one the Blessed Mother gave her the strength to overcome depression, to come out of herself and to become a missionary, "I felt useful doing this," she commented. This time she was renewed and aflame with new encouragement to persevere in her mission. "To visit the Blessed Mother in her Shrine guides you in rebuilding your disordered or dispersed life and it leads you towards God’s will," commented a lady from the Professional Branch.

After entering the Shrine a ten-year old boy commented, "It’s very beautiful to be in the Shrine and to come out completely clean."

A participant who made the pilgrimage for the first time summarized it like this: "Through the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign and its fruits, I understood that we are all called to make the Blessed Mother known in our families, among our friends and acquaintances to share the great treasure that we have, above all we who are close to Tepeyac".

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