Joseph Engling, one of us

Closing session of the diocesan process of beatification of the Servant of God, Joseph Engling in the Gothic Hall of the cloister of the Cathedral of Trier

Mons . Robert Brahm: saludo Auxiliary Bishop Robert Brahm: opening speech Diözesanadministrator Dr. Robert Brahm eröffnet die Sitzung
Alocución del P. Joachim Schmiedl During the speech given by Fr. Joachim Schmiedl Bei der Rede von P. Prof. Dr. Joachim Schmiedl
Sello para las cajas con los documentos Sealing of the boxes with the documents Die Schachteln mit den Dokumenten warden versiegelt
Mons. Brahm, P. Schmiedl, P. Jan Korycki SAC Bishop Brahm, Fr. Schmiedl, Fr. Jan Korycki SAC Im Gespräch: Bischof Brahm, P. Schmiedl, P. Jan Korycki SAC
Cena en la Casa de Schoenstatt en Tréveris Dinner in the Schoenstatt Center in Trier Abendessen im Schönstatt-Zentrum in Trier

GERMANY, MKF. It is 6:56 p.m. when the last seal was placed and the packages with the documents were sealed, and Monsignor Robert Brahms, Administrator of the Diocese of Trier, declared the "closing" of the diocesan process for the beatification of the Servant of God Joseph Engling. After three years of arduous work, Pallottines, Schoenstatters, the representatives of the diocese united in a prayer, with a tangible pride and joy that the task had been accomplished. A serene and joyful atmosphere reigned, and although everything was carried out, as it should, in a very formal and legal manner, the special climate indicated that the doors of heaven should be opened wide at this moment…

It was a moment that had a certain touch of grace and of symbolism: the Vice-postulator, Father Vinzenz Reinhart SAC, Pallotine, and the two from the Schoenstatt Press Office – an Argentinean and a German, shared the same fate after the festive Mass in the Church of Saint Anthony: As a result of a misunderstanding, they got separated from the group that was walking to the Cathedral of Trier to participate in the closing of the diocesan process for Joseph Engling. In this "shared destiny" - a little bit lost, in a bit of a hurry, and at the end a little desperate when arriving in front of the cathedral searching for the entrance to the Gothic Hall and the doors were closed- they walked together with good humor, mutual interest and happily speaking in Spanish; they did not miss some smiles and almost complicit looks during the session, when Father Joachim Schmiedl said: "That if the process had been reopened after all, we owe it to the initiative of the Pallotines, who are represented here by the general Postulator, Father Jan Korycki, the Vice-postulator, Father Vinzenz Reinhart and of the Vice-provincial, Father Norbert Possmann". In his talk Father Joachim Schmiedl said: We know that more than a moral miracle is necessary for a beatification, but the fact that we have jointly carried out this process already points to that direction. Joseph Engling has manifested himself as a reconciler in this joint apostolic project."

Joseph Engling, one of us. Of an "us" that has seemed to grow during this process…

A specially blessed place in the Diocese of Trier

It is a very special day, said Monsignor Robert Brahms, in his greeting at the opening of this tenth and last session of the diocesan process, on June 17, 2008, in the Gothic Hall of the cloister of the Cathedral of Trier; he also greeted the representatives of the Pallotines and the Schoenstatters, who were present for this historic moment. Monsignor Brahms connected it to the beatification of Mother Rose Flesch, celebrated in the Cathedral of Trier recently, and whose feast day will be celebrated for the first time within two days. She, who was born in Schoenstatt, "a specially blessed place in the Diocese of Trier, obviously, we call and celebrate her as one of us". Also Joseph Engling, who was not born in Schoenstatt, but he received his spiritual formation there, we could also say that he is "one of us". Since he was a youth, around 12 years old, he began to keep a spiritual diary, demonstrating a desire of strong love for God, a desire that he later retook in a very good way with his spiritual director, Father Joseph Kentenich. Joseph Engling received his formation in Schoenstatt, he said, so that now he is among the outstanding founding figures. He stressed the fact that the two communities, the Pallotines and the Schoenstatters, were "both at the table here".

"At the first session on July 11, 2005, the Bishop of this diocese, Monsignor Reinhard Marx, reopened the process of beatification for the Servant of God Joseph Engling", Father Joachim Schmiedl, recalled. "During these three years the declaration of twelve witnesses has been taken, they manifested their conviction of a continued "fame of sanctity". A historic commission has given their decision on the documentation of more than six thousand pages" – pages that have been copied, translated, signed, and sealed…looking toward the notary, Mrs. Karin Pohl, he continued: "The numerous seals and signatures have been prepared very well for the greatest thing that is approaching: the next great project, the process of the beatification of Father Joseph Kentenich." Monsignor Klaus Peters, who was present at the Holy Mass that had been celebrated before, gave a summary of the different steps of the process until the final session of today, and he expressed gratitude for the most beautiful Mass attended by people from 21 nations.

Oaths and the last seal

Throughout this time, the Bishop’s chaplain had sealed the boxes containing the books with the documents of the process that will be sent to Rome. It seemed as if the signatures and seals that are required for the final documents that will remain in the diocesan archives were unending; it was done with much responsibility and concentration, and the documents that were already in the boxes and sealed will be presented to the congregation for the cause of saints. Monsignor Brahms, the officials of the diocese and Father Schmiedl made their solemn oaths; they sealed the last two boxes of documents…

Monsignor Peters took the sealed box for the diocesan archives in his hands and with a joyful and jovial expression he said: "It will be beside those of Sister Emilie Engel…" Two diocesan processes have been closed, two processes of Father Kentenich’s spiritual children. Did Joseph Engling return to Trier to open the way for his Spiritual Director?

After praying together and receiving the blessing from Monsignor Brahms, all those present took a group photo. It is 7:00 p.m.

It was a historic hour that will be in the history books of Schoenstatt and of the Church. It is still not the beatification of Joseph Engling, this depends on Rome and of heaven that will provide the miracle, and as Father Schmiedl said, "an increase of veneration". A veneration of "one of us’, a youth, who wanted to be all things for all men, and who wanted to unite and to conquer the world for his dear Mother.

What happened in Trier on June 17^th is a very important step, it was a historic day. When Joseph Engling died, Father Joseph Kentenich took it as a "seal" from heaven for the Covenant of Love and for Schoenstatt. "What will the "seals" of June 17^th bring?

• Text of Father Schmiedl’s speech