Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Schoenstatt Shrine



My sister invited me to daily Mass at her parish, St. Vincent Pallotti in Milwaukee, to pray for my dad on the 8th anniversary of his death on July 1st.  Daily Mass at St. Vincent is quite early at 6:25 am, so after Mass I found myself with a little extra time on my hands before I had to leave for work.  I decided to spend that time in prayer in the little Schoenstatt Shrine that is directly behind the church.

The Schoenstatt Shrine is charming but even more so were the hospitable sisters that I found praying their morning prayers when I arrived.  How quickly they had arrived at the chapel following Mass!  I joined them in their prayers whenever I could, such as praying the Angelus, and when they were through they invited me to sign their visitor book, thanked me for praying with them and were very gracious when I asked about taking a few pictures.

This wasn't my first time praying at the Schoenstatt Shrine; I've gone there for adoration from time to time, but this visit moved me in a special way, perhaps because of the kindness that the sisters showed me, or maybe it was because my dad was praying for me as my sister and I were praying for him, and I could feel his love more deeply than ever that morning.

The original Schoenstatt Shrine is in Germany, home of the lay movement's founder, Fr. Kenneth Kentenich, and there are 180 replica shrines throughout the world, including four in Wisconsin. Mass is offered at the Milwaukee Schoenstatt Shrine, 5310 W. Wisconsin Avenue, on Wednesdays at 7:30 pm, and Eucharistic Adoration is held from 9 am-2 pm Monday through Saturday.  To learn more about Schoenstatt visit this link.

Schoenstatt Prayer of Good Intention

All I experience today,
What I say and what I dare,
All my thoughts and all my actions,
What I love and what I merit,
All that I direct and conquer
All my joys and all my sorrows,
All that I am and have,
I give to you as a gift of love.

Use it so the holy stream of grace
Flows richly from this shrine
To win hearts for Schoenstatt
Lead there all those whom you have chosen
That the work we offer to the triune God
May be fruitful.  Amen.



I was impressed that the stained glass window portrays an image of the chapel

Our Mother Thrice Admirable is the centerpiece of every Schoenstatt Chapel-this year Schoenstatt is celebrating it's 100th anniversary so the banner across the altar and the candle in the center are in honor of that joyous occasion

8 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Hi Lindy, sorry that this reply is so late-Holy Hill is about 45 minutes northwest of the Schoenstatt Chapel in Milwaukee.

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  2. Thank you so very much for this post. I lived on Wisconsin Ave as a young child and attended Holy Cross School. Our family belonging to the Parish as well prayed in this beautiful Chapel often. My most vivid memory was walking up to chapel on warm month of May evening's to honor our Blessed Mother Mary with hymns, incense and prayer. This was from 1963-1967 we girl's still wore a veil and Holy Mass was celebrated in Latin. His Peace & Blessings and much gratitude, Jane Therese-Marie

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    1. Dear Jane Therese-Marie, thank you so much for sharing this beautiful memory!

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  3. PETITION TO MARY


    Most holy Virgin Immaculate, my mother Mary, to thee who art the mother of my Lord, the Queen of the universe, the advocate, the hope, the refuge of sinners, I, who am the most miserable of all sinners, have recourse to thee this day.


    I venerate thee, great Queen, and I thank thee for the many graces thou hast bestowed upon me even unto this day; in particular for having delivered me from the Hell which I have so often deserved by my sins. I love thee, most dear Lady; and for the love I bear thee, I promise to serve thee willingly forever and to do what I can to make thee loved by others also.


    I place in thee all my hopes for salvation; accept me as thy servant and shelter me under thy mantle, thou who are are the Mother of Mercy. And since thou are so powerful with God, deliver me from all my temptations, or at least obtain for me the strength to overcome them until death. From thee I implore a true love for Jesus Christ.


    Through thee I hope to die a holy death.


    My dear Mother, by the love thou beareth to Almighty God, I pray thee to assist me always, but most of all at the last moment of my life.


    Forsake me not, then, until thou shall see me safe in Heaven, there to bless thee and thy mercies through all eternity. Such is my hope. Amen.

    OUR LADY OF SCHOENSTATT INSTITUTE
    SCHOENSTATT FATHERS: UK
    SCHOENSTATT SHRINE: AUSTRALIA

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  4. http://vivificat1.blogspot.com/2006/01/brief-description-of-schoenstatt.html

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    Replies
    1. http://www.careypostcards.com/milwaukee/12084-milwaukee-wi-holy-cross-schoenstatt-shrine.html

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