Countdown 2014
Covenant Day in April 2009: There are only 65 "18th’s" left until October 18, 2014
 |
En la entrada de Schoenstatt: transparente indicando al centenario de la Alianza de Amor At the entrance of Schoenstatt, banners tell of the Centenary of the Covenant of Love Am Eingang von Schönstatt weisen große Transparente auf Hundert Jahre Gnadenort Schönstatt hin |
 |
 |
Oración en el Santuario Original Praying in the Original Shrine Gebet im Urheiligtum |
|
 |
|
Coro de la Federación de Madres con sus familias, en la Misa de Alianza Choir of the Mothers’ Federation in the Covenant Mass Das kleine Familien-Orchester des Mütterbundes begleitet die Messe mit klangvollen Liedern |
|
 |
|
Renovación de la Alianza de Amor en el Santuario Original Covenant Renewal at the Original Shrine Vor dem Heiligtum stehen alle versammelt und halten die Fahnen in den Händen, gemeinsam wirddas Liebesbündnis erneuert – jeder in seiner Muttersprache |
|
 |
|
Rumbo al fuego, donde se queman los capitalarios All moving towards the fire, where the slips of paper from the jars are burnt Alle ziehen zum Feuer, wo die Zettel mit den Beiträgen zum Gnadenkapital verbrannt werden |
|
 |
|
Canciones Singing Es wird noch gesungen |
|
 |
|
Nos vemos el 18 de octubre de 2014 See you on October 18, 2014 Bis zum 18. Oktober 2014! Fotos: Frentzen © 2009 |
|
|
SCHOENSTATT, mkf. April 18, 2009, Easter week, beautiful sunshine, Schoenstatt buzzing with pilgrims, visitors, guests. Covenant Day as usual. Maybe. But there is a touch of anticipation, something like Advent in the air. There are only sixty-five 18th’s until the Covenant of Love’s centennial, the day on which all those who love the Mother Thrice Admirable gather around the Original Shrine and all the Shrines and waysides shrines worldwide in one great pilgrimage to the source of grace then continuing with their pilgrimages to Rome for the purpose of presenting the fruits of the Covenant of Love, which have surged in their countries, to the Church as symbolized by its representative, the Holy Father.
The Message of 2014 says: "It is with great joy and gratitude that we renew our Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother, fully aware that this is the essence of our family. This quiet act of faith of Fr. Kentenich along with a small group of sodalists is still alive within us, just as fresh as it was during the founding moment in the Original Shrine on October 18, 1914. We were surprised to discover that our deep faith in the reality of the Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother is what moves and inspires us globally. This is the source of our fruitfulness, and the concrete way in which live and follow Christ. This is exactly what we want to celebrate throughout our jubilee in 2014."
And that is precisely what we celebrate every 18th of the month. It is sixty-five times until October 18, 2014 that we will unite as a Family with enthusiasm for the Covenant of Love, an enthusiasm that comes alive, through deeds and commitment to the prophetic mission of the Father. It is much easier today to believe what he said for the first time ninety years ago, and what he repeated many times throughout his lifetime: "In the shadow of the this Shrine the destinies of the Church and the world will be co-decided."
Gathered in the Original Shrine
The International Covenant Mass was celebrated very early this morning at 7:15 p.m. at the Original Shrine. It was transmitted live via: www.schoenstatt-tv.de. It does not matter that it was only celebrated in German, English and French; it does not matter that it was silent and attended by very few people; what matters is that on the 18th, this Mass was celebrated in the Original Shrine to make this place of grace present to all the Schoenstatt Family. "We have to drink from the source of the Original Shrine," writes a family from Canada, where Schoenstatt is at the pre-founding stage, with many enthusiastic and committed people who want to add a new country to the list of many where the Covenant of Love is already present.
Remembering the Covenant Celebrations far from home
As always in the evening, the Schoenstatt Family from Schoenstatt and the surrounding area gathered for the Covenant Mass at the Pilgrims' Church. After the Mass, all went to the Original Shrine to renew the Covenant of Love, in union with everyone who renewed it this day around the wayside shrines and daughter Shrines throughout the world. The young women of the Schoenstatt Youth, who were together for a day of reflection after spending some months in Schoenstatt Centers in other countries, had proudly carried the flags of the countries where they had been. No way for Cassio, from Brazil, to carry the Brazilian flag though– the three German Brazilians would not let it go! So he ended up with the German flag!
After the celebration, it was the young people who gathered around the fire to sing and share…
See you in 65 months, on October 18, 2014!