(mkf) The Holy Year was opened with a festive Midnight Mass. A door was opened by the crib, the light from Bethlehem was lit. This light is meant to be a sign for Christ, the Light of the World, for the Holy Year of Grace, and for the willingness to share the joy, love and peace that the Prince of Peace brought to the world 2000 years ago. He who is born anew in this Holy Night for all men of earth.

When the doors of the adoration church opened around 10.30PM, a big number of visitors was already waiting outside. By 23.45 PM, at the beginning of the Midnight Mass, there is not a single free place. Approximately 800 - 900 persons gathered in the church, among them a group of people from England who had "somehow" heard about this Mass.

Mass servers - young men from the area and volunteers from different countries - led the procession of approximately 20 priests. Monsignore Zimmerer, Director General of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, led the celebration, assisted by Schoenstatt Fathers Boll, Strada, Walter, and Beller. Monsignor Zimmerer greeted the Schoenstatters in all continents and countries, those present, the guests at this place of grace, and also all those who would watch this Mass via TV. The Mass was aired on Christmas morning by the local TV.

Place of Pilgrimage in the Holy Year

The door of the crib was opened to announce the opening of the Holy Year in Schoenstatt. The Adoration Church, the Original Shrine, the Pilgrim Church in the valley are official places of pilgrimage in the Holy Year, as are many Schoenstatt Shrines in several countries.

Three young women - Bincy from India, Emilyn and Leonidas from the Philippines - brought the light from Bethlehem, Baby Jesus, and a lily to the crib, as the Gospel was read. "Silent Night" resounded in many languages, as the light from Bethlehem was lit by the crib. It is to be a sign of hope and is meant to radiate the light from heaven, the light of peace to the world.

Light of Hope - Light of Peace

Monsignor Zimmerer picked up the theme for his sermon. The light from Bethlehem, a meaningful secondary cause to help people find the true Light of the World, Jesus. Jesus did not take all cross and suffering from us, but he gave meaning to it. He did not create a perfect community, or a perfect church, but he promised to be forever with this church.

The light is also a symbol for this special year of grace. Which was prepared and longed for as hardly any other Holy Year. Monsignor Zimmerer also reminded of the beginning of the perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in Schoenstatt, 70 years ago, on Christmas 1929.

The light from Bethlehem would however also challenge everybody to share the love and joy, and peace of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

After the Midnight Mass, people stood outside, wishing each other a merry and grace-filled Christmas. "It is really beautiful here," the reporter from the local TV station said. "I love this warm atmosphere which touched me already when I came here some years ago. I really like this Schoenstatt. It is a beautiful place."