Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement

Sr. M. Cacilda Becker

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“We have seen his star and we have come to glorify him”

“We have seen his star and we have come to glorify him”


Teaser: "We have seen his star and we have come to glorify him", was the message of the Magi from the East before Herod's court, which generated a great commotion in all Jerusalem. They were close and they did not recognize him.

January 6th, 2021 -Fr. Francisco J. Lemes Gonçalves
Archiv Schoenstatt International

“The light came to those who were his and did not receive him,” St. John tells us in the first chapter of his Gospel. 

Herod came to feel threatened in his temporary power. Not even those who understood the Law recognized him, it was written in the Scriptures…, but the image they had of the Messiah was not compatible with the Child wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a stable and with poor parents. For this reason they did not recognize him, and even today they do not recognize him.

But the Magi followed with joy the star that came down where they were and saw the Child with Mary, His mother, and they adored Him. They came from distant lands and before that child, like so many in their own lands, they saw in him something that only those who have faith and let themselves be surprised by God are able to see in this little God who became man.

Those who are concerned about the things of the world, are unable to see the signs that God sends us to go to Mary and find Jesus in her arms. One either goes around too much, or makes too many excuses, or is too justified in wanting scientific proof or guarantees. Look at these men: they came from afar, guided by a star; they were not practicing Jews. According to tradition, they were astrologers and philosophers. They left everything, went out, took risks, and let themselves be surprised by God; they were rewarded. When they saw Jesus, they worshipped him, because they found the reason for their lives.

They brought gifts to the Child, in the symbolism of gold, incense and myrrh. Gold for good deeds and a desire for holiness that is conquered every day. Incense, recognizing him as the true God, who must be adored. The Virgin said to Juan Diego in Mexico: “I am the Mother of the true God who must be adored”. And in the myrrh, our humanity was held in the child of Bethlehem who became human and set up his tent among us.

What gifts will we give Jesus today? What gold will you offer Him? What incense will you adore Him with? What myrrh from your limitations, crosses and happiness will you offer Him?

Our Schoenstatt Shrines are this house where, as we enter, we see Mary as the Magi saw her: with Jesus. She invites us to worship him, in her arms, in the tabernacle, in the Word announced and explained. Here in her shrine we will always find Jesus with her; never, never, separated. God will always have his star in our sky, which at times will be half cloudy, dark. Let us look up and see the star, let us follow it, because it will stop in our Shrine and there we will find Jesus, and we will be able to say like the Wise Men: “We have come to your star and we have loved you!

Fuente: www.schoenstatt.org.br

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The Light of Bethlehem in Schoenstatt

The Light of Bethlehem in Schoenstatt

A light travels through Europe, wanting to remind all those who see and receive it, of its contribution to peace in the world

December 22, 2020 - Claudia Brehm
Original Shrine

Every year, an Austrian boy lights a candle in the grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Israel. It represents the angels who proclaimed peace in Bethlehem when Jesus was born, a peace that is to be brought to the world. From Bethlehem it is flown with a special lamp to Austria, and then spread to other countries in Europe. In the Original Shrine it will also be waiting for them, so that the people can receive it there and take it home. 

From Bethlehem, the Light of Peace in Schoenstatt

What happens in the Original Shrine? People arrive from various places with baskets in their arms with lamps and candles. They stand on the threshold of the Original Shrine, and then they open a large lantern that contains a lighted candle. From there, they light the candles that they themselves had brought. One woman said, “I come here to seek the Light of Peace from Bethlehem. My neighbors have asked me to bring them here as well. So I came with a basket full of lanterns and I leave with a basket full of lights for peace. But first I will go to the Original Shrine, to be with Mary, the woman who is light and peace”

What brings the light of Bethlehem?

It is a light that comes from the grotto of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, which should bring peace to the whole world, as it was announced by the angels two thousand years ago in the meadows of Bethlehem. This was the idea of the initiators of the campaign “The Light of Peace from Bethlehem”, which originated in Austria in 1986. 

When they bring the original light from Bethlehem it is accompanied by hundreds of participants, as well as a delegation of Austrian politicians. Since 1994 the light has also reached “all people of good will” in Germany, through the Girl Guide and Scout associations. This year it will take place under the motto “peace transcends borders”. 

By plane from Israel

The Light of Peace is transported by plane from Bethlehem to Vienna. From there, it is taken by a German delegation of young scouts to Germany for the third Sunday of Advent and then distributed in that country.  This year, no one was able to travel to Vienna because of the pandemic. For this reason, the Light of Peace was delivered at the border of both countries, from there, it was taken in several cars to the different parishes. This is how it arrived in Berlin, and in countries like the Czech Republic, Italy, Switzerland and most European countries. She even found her way to the United States. 

The light also awaits us in front of the Original Shrine, to be taken to the homes of the people and thus be bearers of peace. Of course, it is not only about evoking peace, but also about becoming aware of our responsibility to work for it.

A light for politics 

The visit to the capital of Germany and epicenter of its political activity, has become a long tradition. In addition to delivering the Light of Peace, the leaders take the opportunity for young Germans to talk with federal ministers, parliamentarians and state secretaries about the meaning of peace in politics. Now, the Light of Peace also shines in the Federal Ministry of Justice for Consumer Protection, Economy and Energy, Environment and Health. In previous years, this light was also given to three popes, many heads of state and political leaders. Additionally, this year there were many screen shots taken from Zoom, which made it possible to deliver it in digital form. But this does not mean that the message of the Light of Peace is any less effective.

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To Live and To Form Society as Laity in the World

To Live and To Form Society as Laity in the World

Death and life go hand in hand. This reality hits close to home in times of coronavirus, and even more so when you must announce a death on Christmas Eve. The community of the Schoenstatt Brothers of Mary announced on December 24th that their Superior General, Ernest Maria Kanzler, passed away on December 23rd, 2020 in a clinic in Koblenz, Germany from a recently diagnosed cancer.

January 1st, 2021 - Author: Heinrich Brehm
Ernest Kanzler. Foto: Marienbrüder

Ernest Maria Kanzler was born on July 31st, 1949, the second son, in Krumbach, Germany. His parents came from Hungary from which they were expelled. The family finally found a new home in Allmannsweiler, close to Friedrichshafen, where Ernest went to school. From 1964 to 1967, he learned the craft of making tools at Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen. From 1968 on, he attended the Collegium Ambrosianum of Stuttgart, Germany, an institution of the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, which allows young people who have completed their vocational training to catch up with their final exams. In 1972, he obtained his high school diploma.

His way in Schoenstatt

Ernest was active in the Schoenstatt Male Youth of his diocese since 1962. In 1968, he decided to be part of the Schoenstatt Youth Federation. After completing his school education with a high school diploma, he entered the Secular Institute of the Schoenstatt Brothers of Mary in the fall of 1972.

As a member of the community, he studied mechanical engineering at the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) in Aachen from 1974 and graduated in 1980 with a degree in engineering. It was a great joy for him that these studies allowed him to get a job in the Research Department of Daimler-Benz, in Stuttgart, related to the development of motors. Through his work, he found a way to fulfill his special preocupation, which was to live his mission as a lay person in the world and thus contribute to the formation of a new society.

Tabor Shrine in Schoenstatt. Foto: Javier Lucin

Mission in the community

In 1988, he was called by his community to be the superior of the family. In this task, he had responsibility for the community of men over 18 years, with two reelections, before he had to renounce his position, according to the statutes, in 2006. He then took on the responsibility of accompanying the Schoenstatt Men’s Movement in Germany. In 2012, he was elected again as the superior of the family, and kept this task until his final day.

For a long time, Kanzler had to live with a pain that was not diagnosed with precision. On December 11th, 2020, the diagnosis was finally confirmed to be blood cancer and it was clear that he only had a short time to live. But even knowing this diagnosis, the community was surprised at the speed at which his condition deteriorated. He finally returned to the House of the Father on the 23rd of December, 2020.

“This loss is very painful for our community and for the Schoenstatt Men’s Movement,” reflected Thomas Butz in an announcement to the Schoenstatt Movement. “It is also a loss for the mission of the laity in the world, because [Kanzler] carried this preoccupation in the depths of his heart.” He added, “but we, the Brothers of Mary, also live historically in the certainty that God can write straight with crooked lines,” and asked for prayers for the late superior of the Brothers of Mary.

Father Ludwig Güthlein, director of the Schoenstatt Movement in Germany, expressed in a first reaction his shock at the sudden and surprising death of Kanzler. “The Schoenstatt Movement of Germany, responsible for the work of the men, has lost a commited and responsible collaborator, whose central conern was to unite his professional life with a personal relationship with God. We give thanks to our Heavenly Father for Mr. Kanzler and we pray that he be received in the joy of the divine presence.”

Quelle: www.schoenstatt.de

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Message to the Schoenstatt Family

Message to the Schoenstatt Family

We are committed to a thorough historical examination

Written by: Fr. Juan Pablo Catoggio

Dear Schoenstatt Family,

These are difficult times for all of us. In an article on katholisch.de the previous accusations against our founder, Father Joseph Kentenich, are presented and documented in more detail. These include excerpts from a book written by Alexandra von Teuffenbach. This accumulation of accusations is shocking and confusing.

All the testimonies – whether positive or accusatory – were processed in the “Causa Kentenich” (i.e. in the beatification process) and known only to the persons responsible. This means for the present case that the connections were examined and determined for further thorough study by the responsible Vatican authority. They were thus evaluated in their significance and taken seriously. According to the normal practice in beatification proceedings, this process did not take place in public. No one is authorized to bring testimonies from a beatification process into the public eye, as is unfortunately the case here. Many of the documents cited in the book belong to the confidential files of the beatification process.

For this reason, the recent publications are new and shocking for all the communities of the Schoenstatt Movement. All of us are confronted with the question of whether or not the accusations are true. These accusations contradict our very positive experiences with the person and the message of Father Kentenich. They contradict our own experiences, precisely in areas that are so important for Father Kentenich and for Schoenstatt: Freedom, human dignity, especially of women, healthy natural and religious bonds, to name but a few.

The collection of documents presented is not sufficient to determine the truth. To find the truth requires thorough research and includes more than an accumulation of accusations and defenses. It requires time, competence, and diligence.  We are committed to face the challenge of such a thorough and responsible historical examination.

We are not afraid of the truth. We are interested in everything coming to light. This was always Father Kentenich’s fundamental desire. Like him, we are confident that the truth will prevail in spite of everything and that the Blessed Mother will guide us today as she has always done in the past.

 

Schoenstatt, October 30, 2020

Father Juan Pablo Catoggio

General Presidium of the Schoenstatt Movement

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Our Covenant

Renewal of the Covenant of Love

#OurCovenant2020
join in and relive the day you sealed your Covenant of Love

The Covenant of Love gives us hope in all circumstances of our life. This hope has a name: Mary. This October 18th we are invited to renew together, on a worldwide level, the Covenant of Love.

#OurCovenant2020

 

This initiative consists of preparing ourselves to celebrate and renew the Covenant of Love this October 18th by gathering as many people as possible in the Original Shrine in Schoenstatt. We know that the restrictions of the pandemic will mean that relatively few people will be able to be there physically. Therefore, with more enthusiasm we want to gather millions of people from all continents in this place of grace through the digital media. In order to be present there in a very concrete way, we also have the possibility of filling out a form (see below) with our contributions to the capital of grace and to write our personal intentions there as well.  The form will arrive directly at the Original Shrine as my contribution of love and self-education, thus contributing with my grain of sand. The Blessed Mother will then be able to freely dispose of a large capital of grace which will bring her great joy!  

How to do it in practice?  Join the Capital of Grace!  

But there is much more!  During these next 18 days we will share different content (graphics, videos and live events) with reflections and prayers on the social networks and on the site www.schoenstatt.com. 

https://www.facebook.com/schoenstattinternational/

https://www.instagram.com/schoenstattinternational/

https://twitter.com/SchoenstattInt1

https://www.YouTube.com/schoenstattinternational

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