19 August 2024 · 2024-08 newsletter
Walking Together, Loving the Church
Dear Schoenstatt Family and Friends,
Greetings and blessings from our Schoenstatt Shrines for this Covenant Day – 18th August. Last Thursday we commemorated the Solemnity of The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
This Feast Day is an affirmation of the dignity of Our Blessed Mother and of all human life. This dignity is reflected especially in the life of Our Lady, in the way in which she always responded to the will of God with a joyful “yes”. In doing this, Mary fulfilled the mission given to her by the Heavenly Father and became a perfect and authentic witness to holiness.
In speaking about how we should see God in our daily life, and respond to his merciful love, Father Kentenich said:
“We should see God behind everything in our daily life, in our joys, and in our sorrows..…. We must remember at all times that there is a definite purpose in all that happens to us, even if it hurts us at the time. In all situations, we should keep in mind that God is our loving father, and we should be ready to say, "Yes, Father," to anything that is in his plan for us, whether it is a cross or joy which he sends. We must put our whole trust in Divine Providence.
……. We know that God will send only what we are able to carry.
If the load is too heavy, he will strengthen us by putting, as it were, his own shoulders under the beams of the cross.
We must learn to love God in a personal manner. He is a loving father….
We want to discuss everything with God and the Blessed Mother because where God is, there is also the Blessed Mother.
She knows what plans are laid out for us. She is truly the servant of the Lord, but she is also his helper.
We can speak to both of them in a very personal manner. We know: the heavenly Father wants us to put our trust in him through the Blessed Mother.
We want to take our covenant of love seriously and give the blank cheque to the Blessed Mother, that is, we want to say ‘yes’ to everything which the dear God has prepared for us.
Looking into the future, we ask ourselves: Are we able to say, “Yes, Father; yes, Mother,” if sudden misfortune comes upon us?
Will we be able to say, “Yes, your will be done.”
….. It is easy to say “Yes, Father, your will be done,” if the table is set, and we have a warm home and good health.
We do not want to forget to see God behind everything.
He permits suffering for our sanctification.”
(22nd January 1956, Fr. J. Kentenich, “On Monday Evenings Vol.1”, P91)
During this coming month may our Blessed Mother take us more deeply into the Covenant of Love with her, and help us to see God as a loving, merciful Father who only wants what is best for each one of us in all situations.
Blessed Mother……
Let us walk like you
through life,
let us mirror you forever,
strong and noble,
meek and mild,
peace and love
be our endeavour.
Walk in us through our world,
make it ready for the Lord.
Amen
United in our covenant,
Shirley Hall
Filed underNewsletter · Reflections