The Second Milestone in the History of the Schoenstatt Movement
Every January the Schoenstatt Family commemorates and gives thanks for the second milestone in our history, January 20, 1942. It was an act of simple trust in divine Providence; it was an act of standing in divine confidence and a battle for “inner” freedom. It was an act so significant it is referred to as the “axis” of our Schoenstatt history. One of the fruits of this milestone is the founding of the Schoenstatt Family Work which is of personal significance to me as I have been blessed to belong to the family branch of Schoenstatt, together with my husband, for over 30 years. I hope the sermon below explains the importance of this date in our history and for all the Schoenstatt Family that it will help us to live the spirit of January 20th in our lives.
Pilar Huerta, Family Federation
Our father and his decision of 20 January 1942
[Excerpt from a sermon on 20 January 2006 in the Adoration Church in Schoenstatt by Mons. Dr. Peter Wolf]
Dear Schoenstatt Family,
You only need to mention some dates and a whole people or generation knows what is meant. If you mention the date 11 September today, you can be certain that everyone will connect with it the terrible events of the terror attack on the USA. … You only need to mention 11 September and the whole cosmos of experiences will have been conjured up.
Something similar happens with the 20 January for our Schoenstatt Family. This date, or the 18 October or 31 May, stand for a whole world of experiences and connected realities in the history of our Movement. What has brought us together this evening is the decision and fullness of life connected with the 20 January 1942 in our father’s life and our Schoenstatt Family. Just one day prior to it, it was still completely unclear whether there would be a 20 January with its decision and significance as we know it today.