We are happy to announce the creation of our Sustainability Team in Schoenstatt! This group, made up of members from various countries, seeks to integrate sustainable practices into all our activities. Our goal is to care for our common home and ensure a greener future, in keeping with our faith.
Today’s text was written by one of our members, Idalys Diaz, from Puerto Rico.
Mary, hope for the world: A bridge between Laudato Si’ and the Founding Document
What do an encyclical written by Pope Francis in 2015 and a text signed by Father Kentenich in 1914 have in common? At first glance, they seem like different worlds. But if we look closely, we discover an invisible thread that unites them: a love for Mary, a passion for transforming the world, and the certainty that hope is not negotiable.
A Queen clothed in the sun… and very present today
In number 241 of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis presented Mary to us with a powerful image: “Mary is the Woman clothed in the sun… carried up into heaven, she is the Mother and Queen of all creation.” This is not just poetry. It is a way of saying that Mary is the heart of a new way of living, more connected to God, to others, and to nature. She is not far away, on an unreachable altar. She is in our midst, inspiring new beginnings. And that is exactly what Father Kentenich dreamt of more than 100 years ago when, in a small shrine in Vallendar, Germany, he and a group of young men committed themselves to what we now know as the Founding Document. Together, they dreamt of the idea:
“Would it not be possible for the Blessed Mother to establish her throne here…?”
What do these two texts have in common? Much more than meets the eye
1. A view that embraces the world with hope. Both texts see the world not as something that is lost, but as a space that can be renewed. Laudato Si’ speaks of “integral ecology,” and Father Kentenich dreams of a place where Mary can act. Both believe that grace can change everything.
2. Mary, protagonist in the transformation. The Pope calls her “Queen of all creation,” and in Schoenstatt, we choose her as the great missionary who wants to work miracles. This is not just devotion: it is commitment. It is letting Mary impel us to build a world that is more just, cleaner, and more human.
3. It is up to us. Pope Francis says, “Let us not allow ourselves to be robbed of hope.” Father Kentenich would say, “Nothing without you, nothing without us.” Both invite us not to stand by and watch, but to get to work, leave our mark, and be part of something great.
And now what? In the midst of a world that sometimes seems chaotic—with environmental, social, and spiritual crises—Mary reminds us that beauty is still alive, that fraternity is possible, and that, as in Schoenstatt, everything begins with something small: with a personal yes, with a living covenant, with a community that believes that God is still at work. It is up to us, as children of this generation, to live the Founding Document today, facing today’s challenges. And to do so from the heart of Laudato Si’, with our feet on the ground and our eyes on heaven.
From every Shrine, from every covenant, Mary continues to say: “I am here to transform the world.” And you? To help internalize the message in a Marian and missionary way, we can consecrate ourselves to Mary Most Holy or say this prayer:
Prayer: Mary, transform the world with us
Mary, transform the world with us, Mother of the Sun and of the Earth, Queen of creation, teach us to look at the world with your eyes, to love with your heart, and to care for everything God has entrusted to us with your maternal hands. May something new, clean, and full of light be born from every Shrine and from every “yes” we give you. Make us instruments of hope and builders of a new earth. Nothing without You, nothing without us. Amen.
Do you want to be part of the change?
If you feel called to contribute to a sustainable vision in Schoenstatt, we invite you to join us. Together we can make a difference!
Participate with us! – WhatsApp +34 604 94 52 86
Rosana Silva – Institute of Our Lady of Schoenstatt – Madrid
Translation: Maribel Acaron
