From February 4 to 6, 2026, 28 men gathered at the Marienberg Forum of the Schoenstatt Men’s League at Tabor House in Vallendar-Schoenstatt. Under the motto “Trust in the wind, believe in the storm,” they discussed how Christian faith can remain viable amid social change, personal crises, and global uncertainty.
An old world in transformation
Joachim Konrad began the theme with a snippet of the song “An old world is burning: history challenges us all.” He described the image of smog over Frankfurt in the absence of wind: everything is still, nothing moves. Only a strong breeze brings clarity, even if it stirs up the accumulated dust at first. The wind thus became a spiritual metaphor: change is uncomfortable, it can be painful, but it creates new freshness and clarity.
Precisely at a time when many perceive world events as chaotic or threatening, the decisive question changes: it is not “Why does God allow this?” but “Where does he want to take us?”
Faith against all odds
The focus was on the reflection by Markus M. Amrein, who took Father Josef Kentenich’s attitude as a reference point. “How beautiful the new world must be if God destroys so many things.” Father Kentenich spoke these words as a politically persecuted and ecclesiastically exiled man. They are testimony to a visionary perspective that interprets events not only from a historical point of view, but also in the light of God.
Faith against all odds, according to this interpretation, is not a retreat, but a conscious decision. Like an
airplane or a parachute taking off against the wind, Schoenstatt also grew by resisting the spirit of the times. “We cannot determine the strength of the wind, but we can determine our response!”
Even before World War I, Father Kentenich warned of the dangers of collectivism: people without a strong personality risk submitting to foreign ideologies rather than their own conscience. Those who adhere to the Christian conscience assume responsibility, including political responsibility. Kentenich’s confidence was based on the conviction that everything that does not conform to the divine order of creation will ultimately be broken by reality. From this arises the courage to trust in God even when the winds are blowing against us.
Order in creation: support in the storm
In another contribution, Pedro M. Dillinger took up the image of the hexagon, for example, in the structure of a honeycomb, as a symbol of stability, harmony, and efficiency. Creation does not follow arbitrariness, but an internal order.
Applied to human beings, this means that a child’s basic trust, experienced love, and acceptance give rise to inner support. This foundation enables Christian resilience, even in the face of powerlessness, old age, or illness. Those who have learned to trust can weather the storm without breaking inwardly.
Quo vadis, work with men?
Peter Hagmann posed the question: “Quo vadis (Where are you going?) Schoenstatt’s work with men?” In addition to determining the current situation, realistic perspectives were sought. A wide range of initiatives emerged: regional and international meetings, online formats, retreats, weeks of prayer, pilgrimages, spiritual retreats on a sailboat, workshops for men, Advent prayer, study days, and prayer mornings for men. Many things do not arise from a centralized direction, but from a dynamic of independent movement.
Pope Leo as guardian of hope
In conclusion, Heinz-Richard Sahm presented Pope Leo as a “guardian of hope.” In his New Year’s address on January 9, 2026, he clearly mentioned current social issues: the “underestimated family,” “increasingly restricted freedom of expression,” the “right to life,” and the “loss of transcendence.”
Personal testimonies and moments of Eucharistic adoration in the afternoon and evening set the tone for the meeting. The forum was intended as a spiritual stimulus, not to shy away from the winds of change, but to face them with confidence in God.
Further information
Next Marienberg Forum: January 29-31, 2027, Haus Tabor, Vallendar
Contact: Markus M. Amrein, Haus Tabor, Am Marienberg 5, 56179 Vallendar
Tel. 0261 640980 · info@haus-tabor.de
Translation: Sr. M. Lourdes Macías