17 May 2021 · 2021-05 newsletter
20th May 1945 – Father Kentenich returns to Schoenstatt after his time in Dachau.
On Pentecost Sunday, 20th 1945, Father Kentenich returned to Schoenstatt after nearly three and a half years in Dachau concentration camp. He returned, together with Fr. Dresbach (who had been in Dachau with him) and Fr. Menningen and his brother who had travelled with great difficulty to Ennabeuren to collect Father Kentenich and take him back to Schoenstatt. Everyone was amazed at how well Father Kentenich appeared after all that he had experienced during his time in the concentration camp.
What had been the secret of Father Kentenich’s daring, stamina and heroic love of neighbour in Dachau? He said that it was the covenant of love with the Mother Thrice Admirable.
Throughout his life he wanted to pass on the experience that “The Blessed Mother placed her motherly heart at my disposal on October 18, 1914. I belong to her. I owe her everything”. Throughout his life this was his secret, his source of strength.
31st May 1949 – Schoenstatt’s Third Milestone
This day we mark the 3rd Milestone in Schoenstatt’s history. On 31st May in 1949, Father Kentenich once again accepted his mission through Mary, for Schoenstatt and for the Church. He placed on the altar of the newly built Schoenstatt Shrine in Bella Vista, Santiago, Chile the first part of a lengthy document which he had written in response to some of the findings from the visitation that had taken place in Schoenstatt in February that year.
In a talk which he gave to the 20 Schoenstatt Sisters present, he stated his awareness of the risks involved, including to Schoenstatt, but that the danger to Church and world left him no choice but to act. He said:
“Whoever has a mission must fulfil it, even if it leads into the darkest and deepest abyss, even when it requires one death leap after another. A prophet’s mission always includes a prophet’s fate.”
This address is an important historical document. It addresses the whole subject of the Third Milestone, mirroring Fr. Kentenich’s inner attitude as he understood this “death leap” for himself and his work. As he saw it, this milestone required such a death leap and it led to fourteen years of exile for him, and brought his work to the verge of being forbidden by the authorities of the Church.
Father Kentenich characterised the inner meaning of May 31st as “standing in divine power” or “an act of heroic love”. In this sense the third milestone in Schoenstatt’s history is an important reminder that the entire vigour of heroic faith shown on January 20, 1942 is not disconnected from a mission and a responsibility for the Church. That Father Kentenich was willing to risk everything for the well-being of the Church signals to his followers that they must love the Church, even heroically.
Because of May 31st and its consequences, Schoenstatt also became more conscious of its calling to help build an organic Church, culture and society, where the natural and supernatural, faith and life, culture and religion, etc. are not separated but integrated.
(Above includes extracts from “200 Questions about Schoenstatt”, by Fr. Jonathan Niehaus)
We pray that the spirit of the 31st May will continue to inspire us as a Schoenstatt Family here in Australia so that we too may strive to love the Church as heroically as did Father Kentenich.
“ONE HEART IN THE FATHER FOR THE FAMILY OF GOD”
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