Schoenstatt Movement

The Apostolic Movement of Schoenstatt (German Schönstatt-Bewegung) is a Roman Catholic Marian Movement founded in Germany in 1914 by Father Joseph Kentenich. Fr. Kentenich saw the movement as being a means of spiritual renewal in the Catholic Church.[1] The movement is named Schoenstatt (which means "beautiful place"), after a small village close to the town of Vallendar near Koblenz in Germany. Schoenstatt emphasizes a strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, upholding her as a perfect example of love and purity. Schoenstatt seeks to invite the Blessed Mother (and, hence, her divine Son, Jesus Christ), into the home by establishing a spiritual Covenant of Love with her. It encourages its members to have the faith and purity of children, and to think of Mary as their mother.

Contents

Quotes

A series of articles on
Roman Catholic
Mariology

General articles
Overview of Mariology
Veneration of the Blessed VirginHistory of Mariology

Marian Movements & Societies
Sodality of Our Lady
Marians of the Immaculate Conception
Company of Mary (Montfort)
Marianists (Society of Mary)
Marist Fathers
Marist Brothers
Schoenstatt Movement
Legion of Mary
Blue Army of Fatima
Marialogical Society
Our Lady's Rosary Makers
Marian Movement of Priests
America Needs Fatima
Fatima Movement of Priests

Expressions of devotion
ArtMusicArchitecture

Specific articles
ApparitionsSaintsPopesDogmas and Doctrines

Schoenstatt "wishes to be understood as a universal vision, comprising time and eternity, this world and the next, the economic, social, ethical, political and religious needs of all people, including the dispossessed, the millions of masses… It wants to help redeem the world not only from its earthly sufferings, but also from sin and from its alienation from God. It tries to do this under the guidance and in the school of Our Lady by applying the original principles of Christianity in a new way to restore the disturbed relationship between the individual person and society, the person and business, the person and technology, and the person and social advancement." ― Father Joseph Kentenich

"Hail Mary, for the sake of your purity, keep me pure in body and soul. Implore for me deep self knowledge and the grace to persevere and remain faithful until death. Give me souls, and keep all else for yourself.

Amen"

Today

The Schoenstatt Movement is today present in approximately 42 countries: Africa (6), Asia (5), Europe (17), North America (5), and South America (9).[2] Groups within the movement include the Pilgrims' Movement, which are apostolic leagues without the obligation to live in community; apostolic federations (or unions), with a non-legal obligatory form of community; and secular institutes. Schoenstatt places a great emphasis on the family, and youth especially are an important part of the movement. There are hundreds of Schoenstatt youth groups throughout the world.

Focus

Central issues are the ideas based on that which Josef Kentenich founded the movement in 1914, including Christian personality development, orientation after ideals, and community.

A central point in the movement dynamics and faith is the devotion to the Shrine, based on the first shrine in Schoenstatt where the movement started with a special devotion to Mary and of which there are 200 replicas of around the world.

Apostolic Actions

The movement is involved in several apostolic actions, including missionary work, charity, education and other projects.

Mother Thrice Admirable

The title Mater ter Admirabilis ("Mother Thrice Admirable" in Latin) is widely used to refer to the Blessed Virgin Mary within the Schoenstatt movement. It is due to Father Jakob Rem, SJ, at the Colloquium Marianum in Ingolstadt, April 6, 1604.[3] It has been associated with specific pieces of Roman Catholic Marian art.

The spiritual center of the Marian colloquium of 1604 at Ingolstadt was a copy of the icon of Our Lady Salus Populi Romani, and father Rem desired to know which of the invocations from the litany of Loreto would please her most. He reported that after meditation, the title Mother Thrice Admirable was revealed to him.

The 1898 Refugium Peccatorum Madonna‎ by the Italian artist Luigi Crosio was purchased by the Schoenstatt Sisters in Switzerland in 1964 and has since been called the Mother Thrice Admirable Madonna, a key symbol of the Schoenstatt movement.[4][5]

Youth Festival

In the summer of 2005 about four thousand young people from all around the world; Germany, Poland, England, Italy, Uruguay, Argentine, Chile, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Africa, United States, etc. gathered for almost a week around the Original Shrine in Schönstatt, Vallendar for the Schönstatt Youth Festival prior to the WJT (World Youth Day) in Cologne. This event ignited the youth around the world, bringing renewal and energy to continue in the mission set by the Blessed Mother to each and every one there.

Schoenstatt Summer

After the success of the Youth Festival the prior year, it became obvious that there should be something to bring together each year the youth of the world, around the Original Shrine. During the Summer of 2006 Volunteers from Germany, Mexico, United States, Poland, Puerto Rico, Chile, Argentina, Portugal and Kenya, worked together to create a month long program for young pilgrims from all over the world. This being the first of many Schoenstatt Summer's. The Night of the Shrine was the conclusion of this month long program. At midnight on the 27th of August over 400 people gathered for Holy Mass around the Original Shrine. Together with them, the youth of the world in more than 90 Shrines spread around the 5 continents, celebrated at the same moment, exactly the same Holy Mass. Each Shrine celebrating also in their own special way according to the traditions of each country. This becoming the first World Youth Mass.

Famous Members

References

  1. ^ Directory of International Associations of the Faithful, published by the Pontifical Council for the Laity. [1]
  2. ^ Directory
  3. ^ University of Dayton
  4. ^ Schoenstatt website http://www.schoenstatt.de/index_english.htm
  5. ^ Research on Luigi Crosio

External links