17 June 2024 · 2024-06 newsletter
On Saturday 27 April 2024, Father Greg Chee, Parish Priest, Corpus Christi Parish, St Ives, Sister Luisa Maria Fabre, Pilgrim Mother Apostolate (PMA) Main Coordinator for NSW and PMA members; gathered in the parish hall, to meet other members and guests and hear more about the Covenant of Love.
The Pilgrim Mother Apostolate is spreading fast in St Ives and other local parishes. Currently there are seven Pilgrim Mother shrines visiting members’ homes. Father Greg blessed the PM shrines and spoke briefly about his devotion to Mother Mary, influenced by the teachings of St Louis-Marie de Montfort whose feast day coincided with our celebration. Sr. Luisa Maria spoke about the Covenant of Love, the Capital of Grace and the graces received when the Pilgrim Mother visits our homes.
Sister described a covenant as a formal agreement or promise either written or oral between two or more people. God made a covenant with us when we were baptised. In Schoenstatt we make a covenant of love with Mother Mary as a deepening of our Covenant of love with God.
We were encouraged by her to reflect on our wedding vows where we agreed to be faithful in good times and bad, to love and honour each other during our lifetime.
Similarly, when we make a Covenant with our Mother Thrice Admirable, there are promises and demands on both sides. Our Lady is faithful to us in good and in bad times and she will be with us forever.
Basic elements of every covenant: special election, mutual promises and demands and the blessings of the covenant.
We are chosen by Mother Mary who needs our cooperation, to act as willing instruments for her mission. ‘Nothing without you, nothing without us.’ There are six promises and six demands.
The promises
- It will please me to dwell in your midst
- And distribute gifts and graces in abundance.
- From here I will draw youthful hearts to myself.
- I will educate them
- To be useful instruments
- In my hand.
The demands
- Prove first by your deeds that you really love me.
- Increase your striving for holiness to the highest degree.
- This sanctification I demand of you.
- Diligently bring me contributions to the ‘Capital of Grace’.
- Fulfil your duties faithfully.
- Pray fervently.
The Capital of Grace
What is meant by the Capital of Grace? – We offer our prayers, joys and sorrows to her treasury and Our Lady distributes graces from the Shrine in return. Our role is to help her bring Christ anew to the world.
Shrine Graces
The Mother Thrice Admirable brings graces to our homes from the Shrine:
- The grace of a home – In her presence we feel accepted and loved.
- The grace of inner transformation – Our Lady teaches us to be like her.
- The grace of apostolic fruitfulness or mission zeal – She gives us the grace to share the message of God’s love with everyone we meet.
In the St Ives Formation group there are members preparing to make their Covenant of Love with Our Lady on the 13th of July 2024.
Testimonials
After Sr. Luisa Maria’s talk members shared how Our Lady works in their homes. The testimonies were inspiring.
One member spoke about Our Lady of Schoenstatt taking ‘perfect care’, when her son suffered a heart attack on his way to work. He was rushed to hospital, and the doctors’ quick action saved his life.
Another spoke about her desire to have a second child. Seven years on, a couple of months after she joined the Pilgrim Mother Apostolate, she fell pregnant. Her baby daughter has brought so much joy to the family.
A member who has always been close to Mother Mary told us that her husband couldn’t find work after he was retrenched. He finally accepted a job he did not like. Soon after the Pilgrim Mother visited their home, he got work in his field of expertise. The family is grateful to our Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt.
During afternoon tea members had the opportunity to speak with Sr. Luisa Maria and meet other members. In 2025 we look forward to celebrating 25 years of Schoenstatt in Corpus Christi Parish, St Ives.
Crystal D’Souza, PMA Coordinator,
Corpus Christi Parish, St Ives.
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