February 15, 2020
Greetings from the Confidentia Shrine,
After having made her covenant of love recently, a lady touched by the experience told us that she felt like an apostolic rocket! This is exactly what our year’s motto tells us: Joyful Apostles, Living the Covenant! The coordinators of the Schoenstatt Pilgrim Mother are such apostolic rockets. This month we feature a witness by Anita Mitchel from the Fort Worth diocese.
But not only coordinators of the Schoenstatt Pilgrim Mother are apostolic rockets! By virtue of our baptism and covenant of love, we are all called to be apostolic in being and acting. Forty-five years ago, on February 10, 1975, the canonization process of Father Kentenich was begun. Often, we wonder and are also asked, why does it take so long? We may imagine some of the obstacles and may have heard talks by the postulator. Ultimately however, the question why doesn’t get us very far. Father Kentenich would advise us to ask what for instead. We remember that St. John Paul II told us that we are to canonize our father and founder! And how do we do it? By making him better known and loved as an intercessor in our needs. Who of us doesn’t know a person who is in great need?! Perhaps it’s an illness, or marriage difficulties, a job loss, or trouble with a wayward child. Yes, we promise our prayer, but couldn’t we also give them a novena booklet to ask for Father Kentenich’s intercession? There are novenas for children, youth, and adults. All we have to do is get an assortment from our local centers and then be alert to discover those who may find a companion and intercessor in Father Kentenich.
And of course, after we know that Father Kentenich has indeed interceded in a particular need, we want to say thank you to him. And how do we do it? By taking the time to report when and how it happened:
- Describe the need – What was the problem?
- Prayer and trust in Father Kentenich – What did I do?
- Answered prayer – How did Father Kentenich?
Don’t write a long list, but credible proof with place, date, and your signature. This is how you and we contribute to Father Kentenich’s canonization and at the same time are apostolic rockets: all in virtue of the covenant of love.
With greetings from the Confidentia Shrine,
Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary