Some statements from the liturgical texts on the feast of the Magi (Epiphany of the Lord) fit well with what we, the Schoenstatt Brothers of Mary, celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Advent 2025, December 21, shortly before Christmas, in the chapel of House Marienau in Schoenstatt.
Three Brothers of Mary – Roberto González (Paraguay), Germain Nsengiyumva (Burundi), and Ignacio Suazo (Chile) – signed three different contractual consecrations together in a special ceremony.
With courageous confidence, they began, at different times and places, a journey that they now wish to continue together: just as one imagines that the Three Wise Men came from other cultures, began their journeys in their respective countries, arrived together in Jerusalem, and knew that they had not yet reached the destination of their journey.
“Your children will come from afar” (Is 60:4)
Isaiah’s prophecy also applies to the three who, with their signatures, now continue on their journey as Brothers of Mary. At the beginning, each of them had to make a courageous decision between three and ten years ago: one in Paraguay, another in Burundi, and another in Chile. And they were required to be willing to follow the path, follow the star, and learn German in Bonn, in Kreuzberg. For several decades now, the Brothers of Mary have been running a language institute in Bonn, where students from many countries come to learn German in intensive courses. The three Brothers of Mary did not attract attention.
“Your heart will throb and swell when the treasures of the nations flow to you” (Is 60:5)
It was a joyful celebration for us, the Brothers of Mary. Our hearts beat with joy, and with each new member of the community who grows with us, the hearts of those who have been with us longer also expand. As a community, we benefit from the wealth of the nations, that is, from the International Schoenstatt Movement. It is a wealth that comes as a community, that comes to Germany, that comes at the same time to the Mother of God and to Christ. It is the wealth of the nations that the German Schoenstatt Movement also needs, because it depends on help. But not only the Schoenstatt Movement: look at any parish in Germany. Without vocations from Latin America, Africa, and Asia, Christian life would be extremely difficult.
“All kings shall bow down before him; all peoples shall serve him” (Psalm 72:11)
Although the founder, Father Joseph Kentenich, said that our community would be as numerous as the stars in the sky, the current reality is very different. We are, numerically speaking, the smallest Schoenstatt Institute, and Schoenstatters often greet us with a particularly long handshake because it is very rare to meet a Brother of Mary. That is why it is even more significant that the Schoenstatt Movement in Paraguay, Burundi, and Chile has representatives of this Institute among its members. The mission of the Brothers of Mary is to contribute to the building of the Kingdom of God with their professional skills and to serve Christ, just like Mary, the servant of the Lord.
“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” (Mt 2:10)
These three young men, from three different countries, do not want to fulfill their mission as priests, husbands/fathers, or even as single men, but have allowed themselves to be inspired by the Brothers of Mary’s mission. From a subjective point of view, we could say that in their hearts, they saw the star of the community of the Brothers of Mary rise and followed it. That star leads us into the daily life of our professions, which is sometimes stressful, exhausting, and beautiful all at once. We do this with the star that gives meaning, that leads us to the Mother of God and points us to Christ in all situations of life.
“You, Bethlehem, are by no means the least among the cities” (Mt 2:6)
We can say with confidence: Schoenstatt is by no means the least among beautiful places. The same applies to us, as a community of Brothers of Mary. Being small before God activates God’s care. Mphcev! Joseph Engling and the first members often wrote this abbreviation of a Latin expression at the end of their letters during the war. It means: “The Mother of God will take perfect care and be victorious” (Mater Perfectam Habebit Curam et Victoriam). Thus, the Brothers of Mary also lived many times and were able to make valuable contributions to the stories of Joseph Engling, Mario Hiriart, and João Luiz Pozzobon, as well as, through their own goldsmithing, to the symbolic language of Schoenstatt.
“They entered the house and saw the child and Mary, his mother” (Mt 11:11)
Fr. Joseph Kentenich built numerous houses and founded many communities. The Brothers of Mary have a very special “history of building.” Shortly after the meeting in Hörde (1919), when the Movement opened itself to all men (and not only to seminarians), Fr. Kentenich attempted to found the Brothers of Mary to have a central community at his disposal. But this was only possible 23 years later, among the prisoners of the Dachau concentration camp. And even after that, the challenges in the foundation’s history remained significant.
Roberto González, Germain Nsengiyumva, and Ignacio Suazo dared to “enter the house” of the Brothers of Mary. They were curious to get to know the community and felt at home in that house. What did they find there? There was much to discover, but above all, they found the child and his mother, Mary.
“Then they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they brought their treasures” (Mt 11:11)
Consecrating one’s life to the Mother of God and, in doing so, placing oneself entirely at her disposal and that of the Holy Trinity is no small thing. In the details, it is often more difficult than one imagines to ensure that it is not the “I” who is at the center of one’s life, but the Mother of God and, with her, God. This requires, in concrete situations of daily life, that we often make ourselves small, humble before the one who is greater and whom we serve. We do this with our talents and the professions we have learned. But among the treasures we bring to light and offer to the child in the manger are also our limitations and defects. Therefore, we thank you all for the prayers with which you, dear readers, accompany our young members who have just made their first, third, or fourth contractual consecration.
