Days of rejoicing for the families from Rome gathered at Schoenstatt

Eight couples of the Family Work from Rome seal the Covenant of Love in the Original Shrine on May 3rd

Lettura Lectura Reading Während der Messe im festlich geschmückten Urheiligtum
Le coppie, vestite a festa puntualmente alle 10 del mattino sono giunte al Santuario Originale Los matrimonios, vestidos de fiesta, en el Santuario Original The couples, in gala dress, in the Original Shrine Festlich gekleidet erwarten die Ehepaare dem Augenblick des Liebesbündnisses
Le coppie, l’una dopo l’altra, si avvicinano all’altare Uno tras el otro, los matrimonios se acercan al altar One after the other, the couples go ahead and pray their prayer Ein Ehepaar nach dem anderei tritt vor und betet das pers önliche Weihegebet
Reciben al medalla Receiving the medal Überreichung der Bündnismedaille
Firmando el libro de la Alianza Signing the Covenant Book Unterschrift im Bündnisbuch
Todas las familias juntas, con los niños All the families together with the children Alle Familien zusammen mit den Kindern Fotos: POS Fischer © 2008 Álbum de fotos – photo album – Fotoalbum

SCHOENSTATT, mkf. These days in Schoenstatt were days of rejoicing for the familias from Rome who gathered to seal the Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother on Saturday, May 3rd in the Original Shrine. With a festive air, filled with emotion, they offered our Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt red hearts made of fabric placed on the altar of the Original Shrine, which symbolically expressed their hearts and those of their children. "Do not worry about the responsibility of being the first group of the Schoenstatt Family Work in Italy that seals the Covenant of Love", said Father Ludovico Tedeschi in the homily. "Only show the Madonna that you love her, that is all".

Eight couples, accompanied by Father Ludovico Tedeschi and Sister Asunción, invaded House Marienland with a festive atmosphere of songs, prayers and much Captital of Grace, which was gathered throughout the months of preparation. The Italian familias wanted to attach themselves to the Blessed Mother of Schoenstatt as her allies, to consciously live as children of Mary and to answer her call with even more enthusiasm.

It is imposible not to mention the visit to Father’s tomb on Thursday night as well as on Friday: the families gathered around his tomb to express their gratitude and to implore for strength to stay on the spiritual road which they began four years ago with their first encounter with the Schoenstatt Shrine, in the Cor Ecclesiae Shrine on Via Aurelia Antica, in the shadow of St. Peter’s.

Imposible no mencionar la visita a la tumba del Padre la noche del jueves al igual que el viernes: las familias se reunieron en torno a su tumba para agradecerle y pedirle la fuerza de mantenerse en el camino espiritual que para ellos ha comenzado ya hace cuatro años con su primer encuentro con el Santuario de Schoenstatt, en el Santuario Cor Ecclesiae en la Via Aurelia Antica, a la sombra de San Pedro.

They celebrated a Holy Mass in the Shrine of Familias shortly after arrivng in Schoenstatt; on Friday, they went to the Father Kentenich Farm, the headquarters of the Family Federation, after a day of retreat in Schoenstatt. They said, "Although they could not comunícate, the German children, who were present, and our Italian children began to play together". "It seems that there is no language barrier for children".

Covenant of Love in the Original Shrine: with tears and smiles

"Beloved familias, we are happy about your Covenant of Love with Mary, which not only strenthens your faith in Christ, entrusting your life and the care of your families to her; rather you are also uniting yourselves to us". Write Angelo and Cristiana, of the Schoenstatt Youth. "Through the Covenant we become a part of the great Schoenstatt in Italy. United in the MTA, we are close to you in prayer (on Saturday, May 3rd at 10:00 a.m. right?) Right! While the children had their own program, the small Shrine was also festively decorated to welcome the first members of the Schoenstatt Family Work from Italy, they were even wrapped with spring sunshine, which has been rare this year in Schoenstatt; there were several Pilgrim MTA’s on the altar, there were enthusiastic songs, the readings of the day – everything was part of the preparation for the climax, when through the Covenant of Love, the Baptismal Covenant of Christ of each couple is renewed through Mary and each person gives himself and makes the commitment to build the kingdom of God on earth wherever they are.

"Queridas familias, estamos felices con su Alianza de Amor con María, con la cual no sólo se fortalece su fe en Cristo, confiando a Ella su vida y el cuidado de sus familias, sino que se unen también a nosotros", les escriben Angelo y Cristiana, de la Juventud de Schoenstatt. "Con la Alianza nos hacemos parte de la gran familia de Schoenstatt en Italia. Unidos en la MTA, estamos junto a ustedes en la oración (el sábado 3 de mayo a las 10 horas, ¿verdad?)". ¡Verdad! Mientras que los niños tuvieron su propio programa, los matrimonios, vestidos de fiesta, llegaron puntualmente a las 10.00 de la mañana al Santuario Original. El pequeño Santuario también se vistió de gala para recibir a los primeros integrantes de la Obra Familiar de Schoenstatt de Italia, incluso envolviéndolos con un brillante sol primaveral como pocas veces se ha visto este año en Schoenstatt; varias peregrinas sobre el altar, cantos animados, las lecturas del día – todo forma parte de la preparación para el momento culminante, cuando mediante la alianza de amor se renueva, en cada matrimonio, la alianza bautismal con Cristo, a través de María, y cada uno se entrega con el compromiso de construir, en su lugar, el reino de Dios en la tierra.

May the Church be built on our family, may Schoenstatt be built in Italy

"We have experienced the love of God through the Madonna", Father Ludovico affirmed in his homily. "The readings of the day speak of the call of the Father; we have experienced the call of the Father. The Covenant we are about to seal as couples remind us of our wedding day", said Father Ludovico, "and when we look at our road of marriage with all its joys and also its dark moments. The readings show the marriage of Aquila and Priscilla; the apostles and the priests were not the only ones among those who spread and built the primitive Church; rather, there were also couples. In Rome, there are many churches that are built over family homes; our Covenat implies the desire and the prayer that the Church will grow on our family; that Schoenstatt will grow in Italy. We can do it with complete humility, we do not have to worry about so much responsiblity. On Octobaer 18, 1914, when Father Kentenich sealed the Covenant in this small and modest chapel, the great theme was: "Do not worry…only show me that you love me".

Now that it is about educating the children, and conjugal love, of the founding of the Schoenstatt Family Work in Italy, only one phrase matters: Show me that you truly love me! That we may say: Mother and Queen of the family, I love you. They consciously prayed for the three couples who were unable to be with them…

My heart for you…

The most touching moment – surely not only for those present on earth, but rather also for the MTA in heaven – was when one by one, the couples approached the altar with the fabric heart with their names written on it, in their hands, and they prayed their Covenant prayer. Sometimes the voice breaks when they recall the moment that someone invited them to Schoenstatt, or when they consecrated their children, with all their gifts and illnessess…They placed the paper with their prayer and their heart on the altar; they signed the Covenant book. It was a moment of rejoicing, of giving of self and of commitment. In front of the Shrine there was a constant coming and going of people; many go in and come out, they converse…But the couples seemed to be in another world, they did not care. Everything was happiness.

During the afternoon, they celerated the day with a trip to Cologne. When they returned, there was the spectacle of "The Rhine in Flames", in the city of Linz, it seemed as if it was organized just for them!

On Sunday they celebrated Holy Mass, the first greetings from Italy began to arrive. Among them, one from Monsignor Ignacio Sanna, Archbishop of Orestano, who saw the photos on the Internet and he sent them his congratulations and blessing.

When they departed to Rome on Sunday at noon, Schoenstatt felt the absence of their songs, their laughter, their children with their joy. Evidently not only the MTA in her Shrine says to them: Return soon!

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA