[covenant-greetings] Covenant Greetings

Wed Jan 19 08:40:11 CET 2011

Greetings from the Original Shrine, where the first 18th of this year 
has concluded -- on this January 18, 2011, only 465 Covenant Days until 
the great day of the Covenant:October 18, 2014.Just like every 18th this 
one had its original charm, and just like every 18th it also has its 
special blessing and grace.On our pilgrimage toward the great feast of 
graces that is the Centennial of the Covenant of Love 
<http://cmsms.schoenstatt.de/en/k2014.htm>, we continue with a firm 
step, knowing that throughout the world we are walking together, bonded 
in the same love and commitment.Supported by the same graces, praying 
the same pilgrimage prayer, inpsired by the same desire:to arrive to the 
Original Shrine, so that there, in union with our Founding Father, we 
will renew the Covenant of Love in its creative missionary strength 
attached andinter-connected internationally.

This first year of intense preparation toward 2014 we live and celebrate 
the Year of the Father Curren 
<http://cmsms.schoenstatt.de/en/k2014/triennium.htm>t. The currents of 
life are not programs, or packages of study materials, or deeds, or 
journeys.They are not a couple of intentions of a local Family or a 
couple of desires.Currents carry forth, creating joy, a gleam in the 
eyes, commitment or daring --one jumps into the water without thinking 
twice...These last days the newspapers, not only in Germany, but rather, 
those of many other countries are constantly reporting about the flood 
and overflowing of rivers and arroyos in the area of Koblenz.They even 
found cats on the main route to Vallendar!!Schoenstatt was not affected, 
but these arroyos that usually run peacefully murmuring by our place of 
grace had two or three times as much water as usual.The affect could be 
heard --with a strong clamor -- and seen:with whirlpools and a strong 
current that carried everything in its path.Is this a symbolic 
anticipation of what we can expect during these years of the triennium?

A little more water will convert some small arroyos into strong 
currents...A little more desire for Father is enough, a little more 
affection for him, some testimonies, photos, attachments, statues, 
corners, petitions and many spiritual sons and daughters more who will 
make Father's charism and mission their own, so that what is an arroyo 
today will be transformed into a river or a vast ocean...that will take 
us to the ends of the world with the Schoenstatt message and graces, and 
that will inspire us to go on pilgrimage with joy and a growing strength 
toward the great covenant celebration!"We ask you with every step of our 
pilgrimage:awaken in us again the fire of love for You, for the Family 
and for Father 
Kentenich."/<http://cmsms.schoenstatt.de/es/schoenstatt-soy-yo/kentenich-vivo.htm>/

In spite of the cold and the typical darkness of a German January -- a 
little of this fire could be felt today around the Original Shrine, 
where, as is customary, the 18th begins with Mass in the Original Shrine 
(the video was already uploaded to www.schoenstatt-tv.de 
<http://www.schoenstatt-tv.de>). Yesterday four girls from Puerto Montt, 
Chile arrived; they are from the same group of life of the Girls' Youth 
that is Germany as exchange students and they wanted to spend the 18th 
at Schoenstatt!For the youth that is here for "Time in Schoenstatt" it 
was also their first 18th around the Original Shrine.They introduced 
themselves with the song --"Mary of the Covenant" -- for the renewal of 
the Covenant.What a surprise when they realized that half of those 
present sang with them!

Like every 18th, the Covenant Mass was celebrated at 7:30 p.m. in the 
Pilgrims' Church; it was con-celebrated by the General Council of the 
Institute of Diocesan Priests and all the Priests from the Province of 
Sion, and the songs were accompanied by Sister Tabea playing the 
organ.It was truly a festive moment!Father Elmar Busse presented Father 
Kentenich at the moment of his great decisión of the 20th of January, 
giving his all for his Family and for his mission encouraging us to 
follow him in the decisions that compete with our mission, our 
commitment, our covenant life in the present time.

In spite of the drizzle, everyone went to the Original Shrine, where we 
prayed the Pilgrimage Prayer 2014, and we united ourselves to everyone 
in the Shrines, wayside shrine homeshrines, and we implored for everyone 
who has entrusted themselves to our prayers in the Original Shrine, and 
we renewed the Covenant of Love.

When I returned from the renewal of the Covenant, I found the following 
email that was like a gift on this 18th for all of you, who in one way 
or another support  theinternational web page (soon will be called 
schoenstatt.org), so I want to share it with you (with permission of the 
author):

/It is pleasure to greet you.I belonged to the Schoenstatt Girls' Youth 
here in my country, but for different reasons I could not continue.I 
still have not strayed from what I learned there:God, the Blessed 
Mother, Father Joseph and Schoenstatt have always been my guides.I 
constantly enter the web page and I read the articles, which are very 
interesting to me.Today, I read about the encounter of the youth with 
the Pope in Madrid.I wish I could be there, I hope to make this trip, I 
offered capital of grace for this.A few days ago I had surgery for a 
mass on the uterus.In spite of the many things they told me, obviously 
all bad, I never lost faith and I did not allow this to disconnect me 
from my love of God. I prayed strongly and during the operation I always 
felt that God and the Blessed Mother's hand were with me telling me that 
everything was going to be all right.The operation was a success and my 
uterus is intact so that someday I will be able to form a family. I 
thank God for the wonders that He gives me day by day and although at 
times I feel that I can't go on, the Blessed Mother guides me and allows 
me to continueto be close to Her. Congratulations for your web page and 
continue...Greetings, Y. (Ecuador)/

With my prayers and greetings from the Original Shrine,

Sister Kornelia

Today's photos: 
http://schoenstatt.myphotoalbum.com/add_complete.php?set_albumName=album666

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