Covenant of Love in Nicaragua from the Schoenstatt Shrine in Costa Rica
The technological tools and digital platforms also serve to bring us closer
to God and our Queen.
Last Thursday, August 20th, was a very exciting day for the Schoenstatt Movement in Nicaragua, since Father José Domingo Zambrana sealed his Covenant of Love as a Schoenstatt Diocesan Priest, in the Parish of Saint Francis of Assisi in Managua.
This Covenant of Love, had a very special detail:
The ceremony was officiated by Father José Luis Correa from the Family Shrine of Hope in Costa Rica. But, how was that?
A father in Nicaragua sealed the Covenant of Love from a Shrine in Costa Rica? It sounds strange, even impossible, but these new times also call us to reinvent ourselves and to use tools to approach God by all means.
There are no obstacles when there is a great desire to seal the Covenant of Love with the Queen of Schoenstatt. Under this desire, the ceremony was carried out through the virtual platform ZOOM, in which members of the community in Nicaragua, Father José Luis in Costa Rica, and of course Father José Domingo Zambrana participated.
“In a context where there are no Schoenstatt priests based here and in a context of Pandemic that makes it impossible to have the physical presence of our advisor Father Jose Luis Correa or any other Schoenstatt priest, it fills us with joy and gratitude to be able to count on a Diocesan Priest who opens his heart to the Blessed Mother, understand the Schoenstatt spirituality and help us in the celebration of important rituals such as the Blessing of 14 Home Shrines that are expected to be blessed in the next month to begin with the first Home Shrines in Nicaragua,” commented Adriana Truque, Coordinator of Schoenstatt Nicaragua.
Father Jose Domingo Zambrana is a Nicaraguan citizen and he studied Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and he graduated from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome with a degree in Canon Law.
With a great academic preparation, on May 14, 1995, he was ordained a priest by the imposition of the hands of St. John Paul II in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and since then he has been a Diocesan priest in Rome, Italy. Under special permission, Father José Domingo Zambrana, has been practicing his priesthood in Nicaragua for the last 3 years, actively helping and contributing to the Parish of St. Francis of Assisi in Managua, Nicaragua.
¨We hope that the Blessed Mother will lend him to us for a long time in Nicaragua.¨ – is the profound desire of the community and parish of Saint Francis of Assisi in Managua.
In his moving Covenant prayer, Father Jose Domingo wrote the following:
Dear Blessed Mother: I want to seal the covenant with you, in the happy year of my priestly silver jubilee celebrated on May 14, 2020. It is an undeserved emotion, and strong feelings fill my heart at this hour of my history as a wayfarer of faith and in need of light and grace! The joy aroused in my heart by this undeserved grace gives me encouragement and courage in my journey of faith as a Christian, a Marian and a priest. I do not belong to myself and I possess nothing of myself! I have passed until today as a wayfarer and in need of the Eternal, of his Love, and of his Tenderness.In spite of bearing the weight of my sins and weaknesses, I am confident that, through Your intercession, I will be able to become every day the Love of Your beloved Son.
Look at me and, as your possession, defend me from the Evil One. I am certain of your company throughout my life – to serve and to love – it is what I have always desired, and You; You have always preceded me in this undertaking! I do not know if I have succeeded, but the superabundance of brotherly love with which I am filled testifies that Your Son and You have sustained me in the mission entrusted to me as a Christian and a priest.
To make this covenant with the Blessed Mother is to make a capital of grace to be Merciful like the Father, humble like the Son and wise like the Holy Spirit. I am aware that the times are adverse to the Christian faith, to the Gospel, to the Church and to Catholic morality. The present times are difficult and to live as a prophet and pilgrim of faith like Fr. Kentenich, supposes an interior martyrdom before the violent aggressiveness of the devil, the world and the flesh.
I consecrate my life to you and I desire that you seal my covenant so that walking as a poor person among poor sinners; your gracious grace and rich maternal benevolence will assist me every day of my life. And may I live the Gospel of your Son, giving it and proclaiming it with my life. Without the clerical hypocrisy that is the Cancer that has harmed the community of believers. Assist me, today, tomorrow and always! And in the last moment of life, my lips will pronounce your name and my eyes will be opened to the glory of the sublime.