The day has arrived! It is 10 am. on October 15, 2025, the feast day of St. Teresa of Avila. 420 young people from six Catholic schools arrive at the Schoenstatt Shrine in Guayaquil, Ecuador. They enter the Pilgrims’ Church, men and women between the ages of 15 and 16. They come to seal their Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother. Their faces radiate joy!
They have been preparing for two months for this great celebration with Mary. We, a group of couples from the Schoenstatt Movement, have been waiting for them. We have worked hard to prepare the young people and organize this event filled with love. We have been doing this work every year since 2014. The idea arose in 2013, during the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the first Covenant of Love. It was born out of our desire to bring many people to consecrate themselves to the MTA, thus fulfilling the vision of our Father and Founder, Fr. Joseph Kentenich, on the day he united the congregation in the Original Shrine in Vallendar, Germany.
Each one brings their personal contributions to the Capital of Grace
Buses arrive punctually from different parts of the city. Each school enters the church with a poster expressing the contributions to the Capital of Grace that these students have conquered. Their signs are full of hearts and stars! They are very creative. They have drawn the Blessed Mother, Father Joseph Kentenich, and, of course, the Shrine. They have also written personal messages. Each young person carries their love letter to the Blessed Mother and their personal contributions to the Capital of Grace.
The Schoenstatt couples who carry out this mission with the young people belong to the Family League of Guayaquil. We are encouraged by the Covenant with Mary and our consecration to the Heart of Jesus. Let us remember that Ecuador was the first country in the world to consecrate itself to the Heart of Jesus on March 25, 1874.
The celebration of the Holy Eucharist begins, celebrated by Father Eduardo Auza. In his homily, he speaks of the Covenant of Love as an exchange of hearts that permeates the whole life of the young person. Both covenant partners will take care of this heart that is given today, so that it may attain holiness as Carlo Acutis lived it.
Their voices are heard as if they were one
When the Covenant Rite is performed, there is great reverence. The strength with which the young people make their promises is striking. Their voices are heard as if they were one, and they have the vigor of youth. Afterwards, the couples present the MTA medal to each student, saying, “Nothing without you,” to which the students respond, “Nothing without us.”
In the petitions, we pray for the Holy Church and mention St. Teresa of Jesus, as today is her feast day. Prayers are offered for the students of these schools, their families, and teachers. During the offertory, students from each school present their beautiful posters with contributions to the capital of grace, while couples carry the offerings. Among them are images of the Blessed Mother and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
At the end of the Holy Eucharist, the 420 young people receive a red rose and make a pilgrimage to the Shrine, where they deliver their love letter to the Blessed Mother and deposit their symbolic offerings in the jar, their contributions to the Capital of Grace. Everyone has the opportunity to stand before our Mother Thrice Admirable and entrust their desires to her.
The couples prepared refreshments for them. Many groups from different schools take photos. Some give their rose to the Blessed Mother, others take them to their families, and they depart in their buses with express joy and gratitude. It is a new youth belonging to Mary, that is born thanks to the Holy Spirit who inspired us, as apostolic couples, to go to these schools, to approach these young people, and to share with them the treasure that Schoenstatt is.
A miracle of the Covenant of Love has been fulfilled!
Translation: Sr. M. Lourdes Macías
