16 October 2020 · 2020-10 newsletter
Dear Schoenstatt Family and Friends
This month as we celebrate Schoenstatt’s Foundation Day – the 18th October – I wish you many blessings, especially from the Original Shrine in Schoenstatt.
Making this day even more special, we are also celebrating 25 years since the Australian Schoenstatt Family crowned Our Blessed Mother in our National Shrine at Mulgoa as Consors Patris (Helpmate of Christ and the Father) on 21st October, 1995. (See more about this celebration later in this edition of the newsletter)
Today as we celebrate the foundation of Schoenstatt, we read in the Founding Document of the 18th October 1914:
“Do not worry about the fulfilment of your desire. Ego diligentes me diligo. I love those who love me [Prv. 8,17]. Prove to me first that you really love me, that you take your resolution seriously.
Diligently bring me contributions to the capital of grace. By fulfilling your duties faithfully and conscientiously and through an ardent life of prayer, earn many merits and place them at my disposal. Then it will please me to dwell in your midst and dispense gifts and graces in abundance. Then from here I will draw youthful hearts to myself, and I will educate them to become useful instruments in my hand.”
On the occasion of Schoenstatt’s Silver Jubilee Celebrations on 18th October 1939, Fr. Kentenich sent a message to the Schoenstatt Family as he was unable to be present for the celebrations. As it was just 6 weeks since the start of World War II, he sent a lengthy message entitled “Words Befitting the Hour”. This document is both a text of thanksgiving to the MTA and an affirmation of the Schoenstatt Family in the spirit and mission of October 18, 1914. It so succinctly captured the fundamentals of the Movement and was of such great importance that it soon came to be known as the Second Founding Document.
In a stirring litany of blessings Father Kentenich recounted the many ways Mary had shown her love and power in 25 years of history, concluding with:
“Everything which the Founding Document hoped and prayed for has literally come true: Our Blessed Mother has erected her throne of grace here in a special manner, and she has revealed her glories to the world in many ways. She has become our Mother and Queen….”
The document then calls on the Schoenstatt Family to remain faithful to the sources upon which it was built, evoking the memory of Joseph Engling as a radiant example of Schoenstatt’s genuine spirit. Father Kentenich outlined three imperatives for Schoenstatt in the battles of the times:
- To cultivate the awareness of being instruments of God,
- To maintain Schoenstatt’s decidedly Marian character,
- To place new emphasis on the contributions to the capital of grace of the Mother Thrice Admirable.
Perhaps we could also ponder on these three ‘imperatives for Schoenstatt’ and consider how relevant they are for us today in these current difficult times. How can they help us to combat today’s ‘battles of the times”?
I believe that today there will be some couples making their Covenant of Love at the Shrine in Mt. Richon, W.A. We welcome them to the Schoenstatt Family and wish them and their families many blessings and graces on this day. May our Blessed Mother and her Son be with you all on this special day and continue to be with you into the future.
“No one will be lost who is loyal to his covenant of love” (JK)
And may Our Blessed Mother and her Son send each of you many blessings and graces from the shrine as we strive together, united as one Australian Schoenstatt Family, to live our Covenant of Love, faithfully and fully, as:
“One Heart in the Father, for the Family of God.”
United in our Covenant,
Shirley Hall
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