Brief explanation of the crown

The crown that the Schoenstatt Family of Burundi offers to the Queen of Peace on August 15, 2009

BURUNDI; Fr: Deogratias. On 15th August the MTA will be crowned as "Queen of Peace and of Reconciliation" in the Shrine of Mount Sion Gikungu at Bujumbura, Burundi. The crown that we want to offer the Queen of Peace at Mount Zion is the fruit of the prayers, the contributions to the Capital of Grace, and the Mount Zion Gikungu pilgrims’ financial contributions. It is the pilgrims themselves who want to crown Mary, and for this reason, they have given their all so that this beautiful crown can be offered to the Mother of God. This crown is a sign of recognition and thanksgiving as well as an act through which we wish to offer our families and our country to Mary.

This crown is shaped like the crown in the Original Shrine at Schoenstatt. This demonstrates that we feel united to the whole International Schoenstatt Family, which has prayed greatly for us. This crown then is the symbol of the continuation of that work, which began in the small Schoenstatt Shrine on October 18, 1914. It is Mary the victorious, triumphant Queen and Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt who continues her work in her small Mount Zion Shrine. She is the one we want to crown as the Queen of Peace and of Reconciliation. This crown bears other important symbols, which reflect, reveal, and explain the reality of Burundi, and the process of crowning that we have followed. We will try to explain some of the crown’s symbols.

1. The lilies

The symbol of the lilies on the crown is a symbol of the Original Shrine in Schoenstatt, but it is also found in many of the Schoenstatt Shrines. The lily with its white, brilliant color is a symbol of the purity of the Virgin Mary. Mary, who the Church calls the Immaculate Conception because she does not have original sin, is totally pure.

Looking at the silver color of the flower, what impresses one most is the green color of the leaves; this color is the symbol of hope. When we look at the shape of the flower, we have the impression that the leaves open in their entire splendor to free the extreme part of the flower, which is like the sun. A more profound gaze would see the announcement of new times, the times of hope or of a new sun: the sun of justice, of love, and of the peace that will soon rise over this country, where justice will overshadow hatred and war.

2. The precious stones:

Three precious stones are also set on the surface of the crown. The stones are the same shape, the same size, and they are placed in almost the same position. This harmony that reigns among these precious stones reminds us of the harmony that reigns among the three persons of the Trinity, and it invites us also to live in this harmony. In the same way, it reminds us that the three large ethnic components of Burundi are also invited to live in this harmony: to live in peace and reconciliation.

In addition, these three precious stones remind us of the three main graces that we can receive in the Shrine. We are then invited to always go to the Shrine to receive these treasures from Mary. It is Mary, who from the Shrine can give these graces; that is why these precious stones are set in the shape of a star. Mary is the morning star; it is She who guides the way, the help of Christians, as Saint John Bosco liked to say.

3. The Drum

The symbol of the drum with the national colors of Burundi is found on the crown set in a very visible way. Here, and perhaps in some countries of Africa, the drum is the symbol of political power, since it is said that in Kirundi: : "ku ngoma ya Mwambuts" (literal translation: under the drum of King Mwambustsa). For this reason, the drum has always been the symbol of political stability and consequently of peace in the country. The sound and rhythm have always been in the present, as well as in the past, an expression of calm, tranquility, and joy for the country. The drum is placed in the royal court to invite the crowd, to invite them to an umugnauro celebration, to an important meeting at the court, to announce some good news, to announce a new king, etc…The drum is even played during large celebrations, for important republic ceremonies, and sometimes even for large family or religious celebrations. Presently as well as in the past, the drum has maintained it sacred character.

So, the drum is an important symbol for the people of Burundi, which is why it has its place on this crown. The symbol of the drum on the crown is more than meaningful. As a symbol of power, we want to give Mary all power over our country: Through this drum with the national colors, we want to give all of Burundi to the Blessed Mother. By placing a drum on the crown, we want to place all of Burundi there and etch it on the heart of Mary.

Since the drum is the symbol of national stability and of peace, we want Mary to receive this humble gift, so that She can manifest herself as Queen of Peace in this country.

Through this drum, we want to tell Mary that we have no other crown to offer her other than our nation symbolically represented by this drum. May our nation be the crown of the Blessed Mother!

4. The two covenants

These two covenants are the symbol of our families that we want to offer to the Blessed Mother. We recall that 2008 was the year dedicated to the families with the motto: My family, Your crown. The two covenants symbolized all the families united by the Sacrament of Matrimony and that by presenting it to the Blessed Mother, they want to sanctify their families.

By offering these covenants to Mary, our intention is clear: We want Mary to manifest herself as Queen of the families and that she works to save the families in danger. Today there are many waves and storms that ravage the institution of the family. Many wounds and falsehoods are spread for the purpose of planning confusion and destroying the family. Much propaganda is made to promote a vision called "alternative to the modern family" and this is against the vision of the family that God wanted and instituted. Our help is always found in the name of the Lord, and our hope is placed in Him, who has conquered all the "wounds of the world."

By offering these two covenants, we want to tell Mary that we have not any other crown to offer her than to offer our families symbolized through these covenants. We want to ask her to rise and to fight for the families. We want to ask this of the Queen of all families so that she can win the battle of our time. May the devil that wants to destroy the family be placed and crushed under her feet. We want to ask Mary to be the Queen of Peace and of Reconciliation in all the families of Burundi, in this region, and the whole world.

5. The jar with (straws for drinking)

Another symbol on the crown is the jar with three drinking straws. In Burundi, above all, in the rural area, these jars are ubiquitous. They serve to carry water and to keep it cool. During celebrations, the jars are always present, because they also hold beer. The straws are used to extract the drink that is at the bottom of the jar. Usually there are from two to three or several people drinking at the same time. The act of drinking together is a symbol of fraternal communication. In the past, two people who had fought and who wanted to reconcile would carry out the rite of "Kunywana: reconciliation." This meant that they drank the banana or sorghum beer at the same time, and by doing this, they were reconciled. The Bashingnatahe (notables) had to be present as witnesses of this act of reconciliation. These people could become pfampfe: which means if you die, I also die that is to say: I am willing to defend you to the point of shedding my blood.

The jar with three straws is a symbol of reconciliation that we wish for our people, our sub-region, and the entire world.

By offering this symbol, we want to invite Mary to manifest herself as the Queen of Reconciliation; that under the protection of Mary the Queen of Reconciliation, our people can regain the joy of being together and of sharing the same jar once again. May our people and, above all, our leaders regain the joy of drinking from the same jar of truth and justice to obtain the wisdom that will allow them to jointly build, without exclusion: a new country, a beautiful country, a prosperous country, where milk and honey will run as the Rusizi, a country, where the sun of justice will shine as bright as the noonday sun in Bujumbura: a country that has reconciled with its past and its people, a country of peace.

For those who are initiated in the Schoenstatt spirituality, the jar also symbolizes the Capital of Grace, and is also the symbol of the Miracle of Cana. By offering this jar, we promise Mary that we will always come to the Shrine with the Capital of Grace. We will always come to fill the jar so that the wine will run at will to calm the thirst of those invited to the wedding. Mary will always be there to intercede, so that the water of our efforts will be transformed into the wine of our hope. Consequently, the wine of peace, of reconciliation, will never be lacking in our families and in our countries, because Mary, the powerful woman of intercession, will always be there to say to Jesus: "They have no wine." (John 2:2).

6. The red base of the crown:

The red base of the crown is also a strong symbol; it is located on the bottom part of the structure supporting the other symbols. The red color is a symbol of the Burundian soil and of the sub-region. This color reminds us of all the innocent blood shed, which has watered our land during the wars we have had. Our lands have also known courageous men and women who gave their lives for our country. Therefore, this color reminds us of the blood of all the unsung heroes and all the martyrs, who were not venerated; the blood of the martyrs of peace and of fraternity. We are reminded, for example, of the forty young seminarians from Buta who accepted shedding their blood instead of betraying fraternity and love. May this blood shed by martyrs and of the other heroes of peace and reconciliation, known or unknown, help bring about a new land of hope: the country of which we all dream will surge and emerge

We hope, thanks to Mary, that this dream will become a reality some day. We also hope that this day is near and will arrive soon!

So be it!

Live transmission

On 15th August the MTA will be crowned as "Queen of Peace and of Reconciliation" in the Shrine of Mount Sion Gikungu at Bujumbura, Burundi. If the technic works on Saturday, the Schoenstatt family is invited to participate in the celebration via internet: www.schoenstatt-tv.de . We will announce on our website the day before (Aug 14), whether (and when) the transmission can take place. Your prayers for the technicians in Burundi are welcome ...