Schoenstatt

In the early 1900’s, Father Joseph Kentenich was teaching Latin and German in Schoenstatt, a small village on the Rhine River, at a minor seminary school run by Pallotine priests. He was 25 years old and had just been ordained. In spite of his young age, his superiors soon appointed him spiritual director for the students.

Inspired by the Marian spirituality of Saint Louis de Montfort, he encouraged his students to place themselves under Mary’s protection and to follow her as a sure guide to go to Jesus.

In 1914, students and chaplain worked together to draw up the statutes of a new Marian Congregation, soon approved by the Bishop of Trier.

By 1914, Schoenstatt had become a place of Marian pilgrimage. Twenty students who were sent to the war gathered with Father Kentenich in an old chapel in the Schoenstatt valley.

Together they sealed a "Covenant of Love" with the Mother of God. Father Kentenich asked Mary to establish her throne in the little chapel and dispense her graces from there.

This solemn act made on October 18, 1914, is considered the founding act of the Schoenstatt Movement. The small Schoenstatt Chapel has many replicas wherever the movement is established. This shrine quickly attracted countless pilgrims.

Ensemble, ils scellent une "Alliance d'Amour" avec la Mère de Dieu à qui le Père Kentenich demande d'établir désormais son trône dans la petite chapelle.

Cela se passe le 18 octobre 1914 : il s'agit de l'acte de fondation de Schoenstatt ; la petite chapelle devient le lieu de reconnaissance du mouvement marial de Schoenstatt.

Très vite, l'endroit devient aussi un lieu de pèlerinage et c'est par dizaines de milliers que les pèlerins commenceront à y affluer toujours plus nombreux...

John Paul II encourages the Schoenstatt movement

Saint John Paul II encouraged this movement during a private audience with its members on September 9, 2004, on the occasion of the inauguration of the Shrine of Matri Ecclesiae and the creation of an International Schoenstatt Center in Rome:

"Schoenstatt's commitment is addressed especially to the family as the primary nucleus of the Church, of culture and of society. In accordance with your Founder's recommendations, you give a privileged place to the Crucifix and to the image of Mary in your homes so that they will become "domestic sanctuaries of the Church" (cf. Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio, n. 55), where Mary is active as a Mother and Teacher."

On Thursday, January 20,, Pope John Paul II encouraged the International Union of Schoenstatt Families:

"It is a positive sign that families actually represent the charism of your Federation. The family is a "school of love." May you transmit your enthusiasm for marriage and the family to others! More than ever, society needs healthy families in order to guarantee the common good. If we strengthen the sacred institution of marriage and the family according to God's plan, then love and solidarity among human beings will increase!"

 A special charisma for Europe

On May 8, 2004, Sigrun Mai (Member of the alliance of the Mothers of the Schoenstatt Movement) presented the movement and its charisma for Europe:

Schoenstatt’s founder, Father Joseph Kentenich, was a farseeing pedagogue. Even before the First World War he had the intuition that a turning point in history was imminent. That is why he felt called to give a global response.

The vision of his heart was a type of person with an inner compass, strong and free from all external influences, oriented towards clear ideals, in a word, a major Christian. Only such complete men could have been able to found and animate wholesome, solid, and family-like communities, which he wanted to give to the nations and people of God "on the threshold of this new time." In addition to the founder, who is considered a spiritual father, the Schoenstatt Movement is nourished by two sources:

1.The first source is the strong belief that God intervenes in history, manifests Himself to souls and expresses His desires through inspirations. God also speaks through creation. The God of life and history imperturbably pursues His plans and achieves them. For this He uses people as His instruments. He desires an active collaboration that is particularly concrete and practical. We have to act on what we have perceived to be God’s will, here and now.

2. The second source from which the life of this Catholic movement draws is Mary, the Mother of the Lord. Mary represents a model for us Christians, being all oriented to Christ the Savior. She collaborates with Him and leads us to Him.