“The inauguration of the International Shrine has entrusted the Schoenstatt Family with a great mission: to take Schoenstatt to the heart of the Church and to take the Church to the heart of Schoenstatt.”
The words of Fr. Ignazio Sanna, Archbishop Emeritus of Oristano and member of the Institute of Schoenstatt Diocesan Priests, resounded in St. Peter’s Basilica on September 8th, for the 20th anniversary of the International Shrine Matri Ecclesiae (Belmonte) in Rome.
Bishop Sanna recalled the three “enlightened words” pronounced by Cardinal Camillo Ruini at the dedication of the Shrine, enhanced them with an additional 20 years of history and challenged the participants to renew the feelings of those days: praise to God, gratitude and hope. It was a beautiful way to incorporate the present generation into this history that continues to be drawn and to encourage everyone to continue to be faithful disciples of the Founder in an attitude of “dilexit ecclesiam”.
20th Anniversary of the Matri Ecclesiae Shrine – Belmonte, Rome
The celebration of the Matri Ecclesiae Shrine began on Friday afternoon, September the 6th with a moment of prayer and the blessing of the new Engling Cup by the Diocesan Bishop, Monsignor Gianrico Ruzza.
In a family-like atmosphere, two videos were projected on the walls of the Belmonte Shrine. The first one traced the history, starting from the dream of a Shrine in Rome up to the present day. The second video was a compilation of testimonies from people all over Italy. “What does the Shrine mean to me?” The most prominent feeling was ‘feeling at home’, feeling welcomed, accepted and loved. Enza Purpura, from Sicily, was moved by the testimonies that “reaffirmed the importance of the Movement in everyone’s life!”.
Margherita Marcori, from Tuscany, wrote: “When I come to the Shrine, the most meaningful experience is the joy of visiting the Virgin Mary and feeling welcomed by her. To remember that in all these years, despite my frailties and uncertainties, She has always been faithful, She has never abandoned me, She has always taken care of me and my family!”
In covenant with Mary, we walk in hope
Saturday was the day of the national pilgrimage of the Italian Family. Pilgrims from the Puglia region traveled throughout the night, embracing the sunrise on the “bel monte” to greet the Madonnina in the Shrine. A joyful atmosphere was created around the Shrine to welcome all the pilgrims. With the Pilgrim Mother banner, the group from Tuscany arrived. Lucia Giorgio said: “The welcome we receive every time we come here makes us feel truly embraced by Mary, tenderly held under her mantle. Then, the songs, the allure of the Shrine, create a wonderful sense of refuge, I would say of Tabor. It is good to be here…”.
This second day of celebrations took place under the motto of the year of the Movement in Italy: In Covenant with Mary, we walk in hope! Beltran Gomez, National Director of the Movement, provided a spiritual and practical inspiration for living this time of special graces, pointing towards the Holy Year 2025.
The afternoon literally began with the “Hour of the Shrine” as six Tuscan pilgrims became Mary’s allies by sealing their Covenant of Love. A small group had the privilege of being in the Shrine and also renewing their Covenant of Love. Back in the Domus, since the scorching heat of Rome makes outdoor activities difficult, the “Hour of the Shrine” continued, but now in a fun way and with the active participation of all the pilgrims. 20 years of the Shrine, 20 simple and unexpected questions about the time of the Founding of Schoenstatt and about the physical and spiritual aspects of the Shrine. Each pilgrim had two cards in the shape of the Shrine and had to answer “yes” by holding up the green card or “no” with the red card. Despite the indecision, confusion and color changes, it was clear that the Italians are experts on the Shrine. By playing, they learned to know, appreciate and love the Shrine.
The tree
The last stage of the national pilgrimage began with a meditation on the rosary, using examples of Fr. Joseph Kentenich’s relationship with the Shrine. Everyone sang and walked on pilgrimage to the place that Enza called “the garden of our Father and Founder Kentenich”, located behind the statue of Father Kentenich. On that small piece of land a tree had been planted, the symbol chosen by the Italian Movement for the year 2025 to express the commitment to the mission, the growth in number and depth of Mary’s allies. A tree that took on an even greater significance because of the unity and responsibility expressed at the time of planting, where soil from all over Italy was mixed.
Quoting parts of the text that was read, Margherita wrote: “I especially liked the symbol at the end of the day: the planted tree, fertilized with the soil of each region and what this gesture meant: to give thanks for the roots (what we have inherited), to cultivate (in the Covenant of Love, in the bond with the Father and the Shrine) the flowers (to take the perfume of holiness to the world)”.
With this gesture engraved in their memory and in their hearts, some pilgrims left with feelings of joy and nostalgia. Francesca Signorini writes: “The time spent in Belmonte is very short and always quick, but in spite of this, it is always beautiful because of the home-like atmosphere, the reunion with loved ones, the beautiful activities and, of course, the Shrine.”
A crown, a sign of hope
Sunday’s highlight was the Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, the heart of the Church, especially because the picture of the MTA could be seen next to the altar and the crown destined for Queen Matri Ecclesiae in front of her. This crown will be blessed by the Holy Father, will go on pilgrimage through Italy to the Original Shrine and will be given to the Queen next year, in June, in a great international celebration. At the end of the Mass, the crown was given to a couple from the Family Federation. Then, in the midst of much excitement, the Auxiliary image made its way through the pilgrims and tourists who did not stop photographing and filming it.
The final destination, after the Mass, was the MTA’s niche in the Vatican gardens. A group of 130 people set out under a scorching sun. With joy in their hearts, strength in their voices, courage to walk and hope to arrive, they stopped first at the grotto of Lourdes and then finally arrived at the niche, which is the symbol of Schoenstatt in the Vatican, in the heart of the Church. It was not the end of this stage, but an important passage to continue the journey of hope, now towards the coronation, taking “Schoenstatt to the heart of the Church and taking the Church to the heart of Schoenstatt”.
Translation: Maribel Acaron
