21 August 2023 · 2023-08 newsletter
Generosity is the topic of an article written this month for my Probus Club Newsletter. As the Club Welfare Officer, I wrote about how our Club is run on the generosity of the members, particularly the ones who run an event for people to participate in and how important thanking them is. Generosity is an interesting concept which crosses particularly well over to the spiritual plane. Mary’s generosity, Father Kentenich’s generosity and what I will call ‘Marketplace Generosity’ all come together to show how it can change lives for the better, even if the spiritual can be what I would call ‘covert’ as in the following Marketplace story:
What’s really important
A few years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100 – yard dash. At the gun they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with the relish to run the race to the finish and win.
All, that is, except one boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and paused. Then they all turned around and went back: every one of them. One girl with ‘Down’s Syndrome’ bent down and kissed him and said, “This will make it better.” Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood and the cheering went on for ten minutes.
(Bob French – Pg.147 in “Chicken Soup for the Soul” 1996. J. Canfield, M.&P. Hansen, – Health Communications Inc.)
Can you see the generosity in the turning around to help the wounded rather than focussing on winning? Can you see the spiritual care of the Down’s syndrome girl who tried generously to uplift the spirit of the wounded boy? Can you feel the spiritual joy of nine linked arms and the understanding of the crowd?
Mary’s generosity is her ‘Yes’ answer to the Holy Spirit’s request that she consider being the ‘Mother of God’ and her ongoing care of us. Fr Kentenich’s generosity comes from the fact that, “What Father experienced as a help in his own life he generously shared with all those entrusted to him. He drew them into his own confidence and led them to Mary, the object of his childlike confidence.”1
Where did his confidence come from? In his own words:
What insecurity, uncertainty was our lot in Dachau! How many worries, day, and night. And yet! Our greatest worry was to be carefree in boundless trust in God’s fatherly care. (…) When I consecrate myself to Mary, I give everything to her. She knows of my love. She (generously) gives me all her maternal care and love. She (generously) protects me if God so will it.2 (Brackets mine)
Mary’s ‘Yes’ goes on forever. Father shows us how his belief in the consecration, expressing his generous giving, his belief in her care and protection is seen by him as why he himself can pass that on. He sees it as his lifelong task to bring others into the promise that Mary will generously care for each of us if we commit to our part of the ‘Nothing without You – Nothing without us’ transaction of the ‘Covenant of Love’.
Looking at the picture of generosity above: Generosity promotes friendship, raises hope, encourages giving and kindness, and care given inspires hope. If Fr. Kentenich had been in the crowd that day when the Down’s syndrome girl kissed the boy and all of them got up and linked arms and walked toward the finish line, he would have been heartily clapping and hoping that this story would inspire us all.
As Schoenstatters we ought to be generous with our Covenant Promise’ as we walk with linked arms, together with Mary and Father Kentenich in sharing our Schoenstatt beliefs with others as Father Kentenich so generously did.
Angela
Footnotes
1. Sister M. Christin Diedrich, “Blindly I Trust”, https://schoenstattsistersofmary.us/the-prayer-of-confidence/
2. Kentenich, Unsere Marianische IV, Marienschwestern, Liebfrauenhoehe, 1982, 2. Auflage, 38,51.
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