A video has recently attracted attention on social networks for showing the tranquility of a priest who, during the celebration of Holy Mass, manages to remain calm and lead the faithful to prayer during an earthquake in El Salvador, Central America. Schoenstatters are struck by the sight of a large picture of the Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt, next to the altar.

Edwin Enriquez is a priest from the Divino Niño parish of San Salvador. He has been there for 11 years and has been a pastor since 2008. We approached him to tell us a little about the image of the Mother and Queen of Schoenstatt and what happened on Sunday, January 5, 2025.

Schoenstatt in the parish

He says that the image of the Mother and Queen was enthroned in the parish in 2019 and given a prominent place on the altar.

“I learned about the devotion to the Mother and Queen of Schoenstatt when I came to the parish in 2013, in preparation for the centenary of the First Covenant of Love, which was celebrated the following year, in 2014. So I approached Schoenstatt and prepared for this celebration. With it, I got to know Schoenstatt, the Schoenstatt Pilgrim Mother Apostolate, other Movement apostolates, the Dawn Breakers (Madrugadores), and the couples. I was also very motivated to pray the rosary next to the picture of the Blessed Mother. I am a diocesan priest and little by little; I also got to know the Movement through the visits of priests from Costa Rica who came to guide and accompany the Schoenstatt Movement here in El Salvador”.

The day of the earthquake

El Salvador is a country located in a region with frequent earthquakes. Father Edwin says earthquakes like the one that occurred during the Holy Mass are frequent. In the video that went viral, it can be seen that in the middle of the homily, when the priest explained the symbolism of the gifts brought by the Magi, the earth began to tremble with a magnitude of 6.3 degrees.

Calmly, the Parish Priest directs the faithful to pray the Our Father, followed by a Hail Mary and a Glory be to the Father…. “We thank you, Lord because you are always with us, and you take care of us at all times,” concludes Father Edwin when everything calms down. He then continues his dialogue with the faithful and gives them the option of returning home or calling their loved ones to see if all is well. He then continues with the homily. It was all recorded on the parish’s YouTube channel as it was being rebroadcast then.

His example spreads throughout the earth

The images immediately spread on Catholic websites and social networks, and many people expressed their admiration for the priest’s self-control on social networks.

“What an example. I will keep this publication in my heart: a deep faith and intimacy with Christ,” writes one person. “How much serenity and faith he transmitted to the assembly,” says another. “There is nothing like being cared for by a merciful Father who always loves us. This video teaches us to trust no matter what,” adds another user. All the other comments were along these lines.

As the image of the Blessed Mother of Schoenstatt was there, we went to meet the parish priest. He told us what we mentioned at the beginning of the text and told us that he was surprised by the repercussions of the video since, as a priest, prayer was part of his life, and he recommended it to all those entrusted to him: “There are always many people who ask for prayer: the sick, those who travel at the beginning of the year, blessings for work, study…”

The secret of tranquility: prayer

When asked what the secret of his peace of mind is, he answers that it is because he prays a lot. “This situation can happen anytime, and you always have to wait for it, although the last strong tremor happened in 2001. Now, I would say that the secret of my peace of mind is faith because we were at mass praying during the homily, and instinctively, the prayer of the Our Father came out, asking God to protect us and keep us from all evil. We all do this: when a difficulty arises, we ask God for help. This happens because we pray the Rosary daily and cultivate a life of prayer and spirituality. It is not improvised; prayer must accompany the life of a Christian, especially that of a priest who dedicates himself to praying for his people”.

Peace of mind is not improvised

He concludes that he is surprised that it is going around the world and that people find it extraordinary because it is normal for a priest to guide others in prayer. For him, it should be natural for everyone “to be sure that God is a Father who cares for and protects me”. The fact that the video has gone viral leads him to reflect, as it is a sign that the world is orphaned; this should be the reaction of all believers due to the practice of a life of prayer. If, upon seeing it, someone is surprised and thinks they would do otherwise, then they need to reflect on their prayer life because this peace is not improvised. It comes from a life of prayer and the recitation of the Rosary.

May this record of faith and love for the Mother Thrice Admirable motivate us to cultivate our prayer life beginning this Holy Year. For us, Schoenstatters, help us trust in the Covenant of Love and let the Blessed Mother lead us to unlimited trust in the Father’s love and care. After all, practical faith in Divine Providence helps us to remain calm in the face of life’s vicissitudes.

Translation: Sr. M. Lourdes Macías