+MPHC+

The Gift of My HeartA Young Women’s Self-Guided Retreat

+MPHC+

We need to open the heart to God’s message and inspirations. "

Hence, our first step in our retreat is to open our souls through simple meditations. We need to know: what is meditation? What does it mean? How do we meditate? It may sound very simple, and yet, how necessary it is to know these things before we start!"

The introduction will basically take us into the school of meditation and prayer according to the Schoenstatt spirituality. It is a childlike way of praying and of reflecting. It is a simple way of opening the heart, so that the times of prayer can truly be moments of nearness to God and not just hard work on the soul. God, the Father does the work!"

Prayer"Dear Mother and Queen, let me become quite calm so that God’s Spirit can fill me, and that I may understand what God wants to say to me as I meditate and pray. Give me that fineness of hearing which enables the heart to sense the approach of the beloved. Help me to hear God’s inspirations of grace and attune me to his wishes. Amen. Courage of Faith Novena

What is Meditation? "Words from Father Joseph Kentenich, founder of Schoenstatt (1885-1968)

“Meditation is a school of love... We distinguish between a large and a small school of love. That large one is the actual meditation: concentrating exclusively on our self-surrender to God. The small one is meant to follow us through the whole day in tiny glances up to God. (...) So how must we meditate; how are we to live the great school of love to the full? "

Preparing the meditation"This is perhaps the most important part. It begins in the evening, in the preparation during the night prayer, and reaches a climax during the few minutes before we fall asleep... If I fall asleep at night with certain thoughts, they continue to work in me, and in the morning I am disposed to carry them out. That is why nervous people are advised to only think calm thoughts in the evening, so that they can sleep that

Opening the Heart

+MPHC+

night.The purpose for which we [will] get up— According to our method this refers to our morning consecration. I work out the first act I want to perform when I wake up in the morning. Once again not so much as a resolution; no, I think myself into it somewhat... What should this morning consecration include? In our way of thinking and speaking, it is exactly the same as what Ignatius [of Loyola] wanted – our asceticism is actually ancient: The sign of the cross, renewal of the special resolution, “My Queen, my Mother,” and then a brief preparation of the thoughts of the meditation... Since meditation is a school of love, since we want to arrive at love through it, we prepare ourselves for it.The meditation itself"

The Meditation Itself"We have to pause reverently at the place where we have our meditation, and come into contact with our personal God. We have to learn to tremble with our profound reverence before him, but also converse with him with familiar love... I may not see God just as an idea, but as a living person. It is with this living person that I am communicating during my meditation, I converse with him with reverent love. If we want to put it very simply, we could say: Now God has set aside his business of government; he wants to spend half an hour with me; he wants to communicate only with me.

I now begin my meditation, either kneeling... or sitting or standing, or walking up and down. If I relish an idea, I should calmly remain with it without worrying anxiously about moving on. Firstly, secondly, thirdly… If God allows me to relish a truth, I enjoy it as long as He wills; if He doesn’t give me any, I remain faithful in my efforts. Meditation – you now see it clearly – is primarily a school of love, not a school of thoughts, or a school of sleeping... It is not the great quantity of knowledge, but savoring and assimilating divine things that satisfies the soul. Reflection is more a means to a goal.

As soon as the soul warms to a truth, it should remain with it.” P. J. Kentenich, Milw. 1962"

From Fr. Kentenich..."“Turn inward and let this time last longer. Secondly, [become] simpler in the movement of the heart. This is something we should stress much more. Many of us make a good meditation, but continually tell ourselves, "I can't meditate." Why? We worry too much about following certain rules. Don't let this drag you down! The best meditation is the interior prayer of the heart. It is worth much more than formal, methodical meditation. You must not confuse the method with the aim. It is

only a means to an end. If the means is not helpful, let it go. All that matters is that we are with God! Be simple in your dialogue with God! Happy are those who work a lot with children. In teaching them how to do things one learns to be simple. The simpler the better! You will find that the more mature the soul, the more it rests in God with a simple affect of love. The saints could do this-and do not think that it was extraordinary. We often turn God out because we think this simple prayer is not what prayer should be. The saints could rest for months in a single affect. Think of St. Francis, whose soul rested in the affect "My God and my All!" It was his interior nest; he lived from this one sentiment. He did not say afterwards: I did not meditate because this is all I did! We drive out the

+MPHC+

Spirit of God because we cling too much to formalities. Forms are crutches which we need in the beginning. Later they can often become dangerous' Your own way is unique, but you can orient yourselves on the principle: The more down-to- earth, the better! I must speak with God like a child speaks with his father, just "as it comes naturally," even if it is not written that way in any book. Books can be written for others!” P.J.K., Childlikeness before God

Indeed, God does the work!"When Our Lord admonishes us to become like children, He is not just using rhetoric language. He means it! We should become like children from inside out. We should see, appreciate, think and feel like children do. More than finding a calming effect in a moment of meditation, the goal is to come close to God. At times that may mean to become restless because of something we might have said or done. Isn’t that how children often times feel, too? It may by that we feel restless because of a quiet longing in our hearts, an unfulfilled wish or a plan that has been crossed out. Couldn’t we just voice that same longing, complain in a simple way about that wish and plan that God in his wisdom and omnipotence has not allowed to come true in our lives? Isn’t that what little children do? Why should we be afraid of opening our heart to God just the way we are? Did not God create us? Does God not know me well enough? "

Reflection"•What has been the hardest experience up to this point in the last few weeks and months? !•What has been the most enriching and beautiful experience in the last weeks and months? !•Can I identify the hand of God behind these events? In which way? !•Keeping in mind the upcoming events, how can I return to God the love I have received through these past experiences? "

!!

+MPHC+

Our best example of prayer and of nearness to God is the Blessed Mother. She stood by our Lord as deaconess offering her heart like a chalice, ready for everything. In our reflections we will take a look at the way Christ offered himself to God the Father. In Christ, we too, may offer our hearts to God. Like Mary, who in her own womanly way was able to suffer and thus helped in the work of salvation, we too, want to learn to offer our hearts to God. This is the way we are called to help redeem our world and our culture. We just have to offer our heart. God does the rest!#

PRAYER "Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, show me the way to become a child of God the Father—the way you were a child: ready for sacrifice, obedient to his wishes and plans, and always available to the needs of others. Please, show me that every suffering can also be an opportunity to become a child in you. Help me to accept all that God sends to me in my life. Help me to offer my heart to God in joy and in suffering. Help me to make of my heart a real gift to the Father in Heaven, in your name. Amen. Courage of Faith Novena"

"

The Meaning of Surrender"“We should reflect in the most perfect possible way the self-surrender of God's only-begotten Son. You will not be disappointed if I state only the most basic facts here. Pause for a moment and think of all the images of childlikeness we have examined. We said that the child is a unique prophet of God. Psychologically speaking, this means that childlikeness is the same as a kind of shyness-reverent and filled with wonder. In a next step we equated childlikeness with simplicity. We now impart to the word childlikeness a new and deeper meaning. But we must be on our guard not to say that childlikeness is primarily sheltered-ness. Childlikeness has much more to do with self-surrender! Self- surrender is the secondary meaning or, if you will, the effect. I may come back to this later when I speak about the metaphysical essence of childlikeness. (....)"

Of fering the Heart

+MPHC+

Christ’s Surrender to the Father"Christ had to strive for something extraordinarily great in his life because it was his desire and mission to be an example for all times and places, for all persons, including the most gifted; because of this he had to choose the very greatest object in heaven and on earth as his goal in life. What was this great goal? Being constantly sheltered in God in each and every action of his life. In Christ there was nothing which was merely humanly great; his greatness consisted in the fact that everything which happened in his life was directly sheltered in God. This was because in all things he did nothing else than say ‘yes’ to what the Father willed. Ita Pater! [Yes, Father!] This is the greatest measure of life. (...)"

Check to see how true this is! What was Christ’s guiding idea throughout his life? I say what the Father told me; I do the works my Father wishes me to do (cf Jn 14,10.) I go to my suffering and death so that the world sees that I fulfill the will of the Father (cf Jn 14,31.) That should be specific uniqueness of your spirituality!

Check and see how our Lord reveals his childlike surrender to the wish and will of the Father in his prayer, work and suffering. That is the common thread of his view of life.” P.J.K., Childlikeness before God

Mary’s Surrender to the Father"“I believe we can say that we really ought to try to impress this daring of childlikeness deep into our hearts and will until the end of our lives. We want to try to portray and think through the following thoughts as plainly and simply as possible. To do this, let me ask if we might not substitute other words for the "daring of childlikeness"? It is a favorite method of mine when clarifying a concept. You have probably heard of a little Frenchman (Guido Fontgalland), whose biography is being read all over the world today. The Holy Spirit had a great deal of influence in his life. He once asked himself "which word must make God the happiest?" He thought of the Annunciation and soon had the answer: our Lady's answer to the Heavenly Father at the Annunciation must certainly be the word that makes God the happiest.

Listening to Mary speak her Fiat, it became immediately clear to him that the word 'yes' is the one dearest to the Father. The daring of childlikeness! You immediately grasp what I am trying to say: The daring comes from saying yes. Our Lord spoke his 'yes' in a difficult moment of his life: Ita- Yes, Father! And his words were anticipated by Our Lady. Her Ecce [Behold the handmaid of the Lord]...,fiat [let it be done to me...]" (Lk 1, 38) is the same 'yes' in feminine form. It must therefore be something God desires of world history if the word 'yes' is so dear to his heart!” P.J.K. Childlikeness before God

+MPHC+

God does the rest!"We just have to offer our heart. We only have to say “yes” with all our hearts and that, in a sincere, genuine way. Father Kentenich calls this total surrender given through the heart of Mary in a trustful “yes” the “daring of childlikeness.” Can I dare to speak a heartfelt yes to my circumstances? Perhaps, they are very stressful, or maybe monotonous. I may be in a rather uncomfortable work situation or ready to quit a relationship that is leading no where. Why should I suffer or continue suffering? Indeed, it is hard to admit that we are limited, helpless and dependent beings, children of God."

If you think of Mary under the cross of Our Lord and picture for yourself the ocean of pain that filled her soul, you can probably understand why theologians and saints agree that there is nothing greater than this simple yes which Mary spoke all throughout her life. Our greatness as human beings, as children of God will be decided in our capacity to admit the difficul ties in our lives with calmness, and yet aware of the response needed at each given moment."

In Christ and in Mary we want to stand before God in all simplicity and offer our heart to Him for the salvation of all those whom we carry in our hearts. What the cross meant for Christ, the constant, faithful, unaltered “yes” was for Mary. That is our womanly way of helping Christ redeem the world. That is our womanly way of carrying the cross everyday in deep union with Mary."

REFLECTION "In a moment of silence give yourself the opportunity to name those things that you need to say “yes” to."

•What keeps me from saying yes?

•What could be a motivation for me to say yes to this particular aspect, event, person or situation in my life? Can I offer it up for someone, for a particular intention?

•Would it not be harder for me to continue living in my circumstances while rigidly hanging on to my concept of life, love, achievement and perfection?

•Can I offer my heart to God through this simple, but perhaps painful yes spoken in all trust through the heart of Christ and Mary?

+MPHC+

Indeed, God does the work! God takes our heart into his hands. With good fatherly care, wisdom and attention God begins to carve out of our hearts a totally new creation—something beautiful#

Father Kentenich, the founder of Schoenstatt taught us to remain attentive to the moments when God comes closer to us through circumstances, through other people, through events and experiences. They may be joyful or at times painful. Still, God takes our hearts!#

PRAYER "Holy Spirit, you are the love of Father and Son, the fullness of their affection. Look upon my inability to love and to trust. Breathe on me, fill my mind, my soul and my body with your warmth, so that I can be open and receptive to your message through those you have given me to love. Take me into your care, carry me in the power of your love. Help me, that like Father Kentenich, I too may know happiness in being able to enrich others. Amen. Courage of Faith Novena

Getting to Know God "Words from Father Joseph Kentenich, founder of Schoenstatt (1885-1968)#

It is best for us to go into the school of the Savior. That is, we want to learn from him how he saw his heavenly Father.

If I want to bring together for our practical life how the Savior describes his and our Father, then I think we should point out three characteristics of the heavenly Father which the Savior develops. You see, the heavenly Father envelopes him, the Savior, and also us - according to the teaching of the Savior - first, with his almost incomprehensible fatherly care; second, with his

exceptional, unique fatherly love; and third, with fatherly wisdom. Listen once again: fatherly care; then second, fatherly love; then third, fatherly wisdom.

Getting to Know God’s Hands and Heart"First, fatherly care. The Father cares to an inexpressible degree for the Father-child so that the Father-child experiences absolute security in life. Thus, the Father-child must have security and protection in life. Please, do not forget to include these two expressions into present-day life. Contemporary people lack security in life. Everything is mixed up. And then: How insecure contemporary people feel! Yes, how much their lives are endangered in all directions!

Now the Savior says: The fatherly care of the heavenly Father is so inexpressible that Father-children are secure and sheltered in all situations (Comp. Lk12:22'32). You see, if I am now a genuine father,

God Takes the Heart

+MPHC+

then I must care about my children in all situations so that, although my children will be striving seriously to master life, in the background they have the feeling: I am always secure and sheltered in my father.

What now is my task? I have to bring together what the savior said about fatherly care. If you consider what the Savior brings together, then there are especially three (or) four points which he wants to impress upon us. If we compare what the Old Testament tells about the good God, then we know Holy Scripture always speaks through symbols. What are the symbols representing God in the Old Testament? It is like this: lightning and thunder is the symbol of the Father- God, the God of the Old Testament (Comp Ex l9:16-19; 20:18)' And we read there: When he touches the mountains with his finger, they smoke (Comp Ex l9: l8). What kind of symbols are these? Terrible, frightful symbols. Thus, God stands there with his justice. The Old Testament tells us that the eternal God Yahweh is good.

For instance when we read: "Upon the palms of my hands I have written your name (ts 49:16)," what does that mean? If I write the name of somebody on my hands, it means that l care for this person, I love this person. Or if it is said about the prophet: "I have called you by name, you are mine (Is 43:l;45:3)," " not by a number, but with a name, that means that I love you personally and I am attached to you."

You see, the God of the Old Testament is a God of love, but primarily a God of terrible justice.

Now I ask, what symbol does the Savior use when he describes the God of the New Testament? There are two different symbols. The first is the lily in the field, and second, the birds in the sky (Lk tZ:24-27).

What do they mean? How are these two things, these inconspicuous things, symbols for the God of the New Testament? What does the Savior intend to describe? In a unique manner, the fatherly care of the God of the New Testament; that is, his extraordinary fatherly care.

And this fatherly care is so great - this is what he wants to show – that we have no reason in any situation to worry anxiously. Thus, if I lose my whole fortune - if I am Catholic, know the God of the New Testament: I may never worry anxiously!

+MPHC+

Learning to Trust God’s Hands and Heart"We know how wonderfully beautiful the Savior told it. We should look at the birds in the sky. Now comes the classical portrayal: "Notice the ravens: they do not sow or reap; they have neither storehouse nor barn (Lk 12:24)." These are all the things which we human beings do. We sow! If we are farmers, then we have to take it literally. If we are not farmers, what does it mean to sow? To take care! We see to it that we earn money. 'Oh, they do not sow ... they do not reap..." (They) do not deposit money in the bank. They have nothing, no "banks" where they could deposit it. They also do not put it in storage, that they would store it at home. You see, always when the Savior speaks in a popular manner, he uses extreme pictures. He does not suggest not to care: Do care! He does not say: Do not take care. What does he say? Do not care anxiously! The train of thought is the following: If the Father-God is so kind that he cares for the lilies or the birds, although they (themselves) do not provide anything, the Savior draws the conclusion: "Will he not provide much more for you, O you of little faith 1t-t t2:28)?" The fundamental attitude must be a very great confidence in the Father- God. Because we are human beings, because we have an intellect, we also should care, but not anxiously, that is, not care with shaky knees. We do not worry by day and by night: What could we, could we, could we... Do not [worry] anxiously! (...) Do you know what [else] the Savior said of the heavenly Father? You have to see this image in the center of life. He said two things: First, the Father has counted your hairs. (Lk 12:7; Mt10:30) Imagine that you at that time would have counted the hair on your girlfriend’s head! She would have said: That man is really in love with me! But the Savior explained, he said so in a very appealing manner: How much the heavenly Father is in love with each of his children. But the image continues. It is not only that in his love craze he counted ma hairs – for some of us he does not have much to count! He adds: no little hair falls down (Lk 21:18; Acts 27:34) Isn’t it true, when we comb our hair in the morning or evening, how many hairs fall out! And the heavenly Father dose not let one hair fall if he does not will it.

May I ask you: Is there a more beautiful description that the one the Savior [gives] here?... We must keep in mind that the Savior is the mouth of eternal wisdom. How proud we then must be, and how much unshakable confidence must awaken in us! Then we understand the popular expression: ‘God is Father, God is good, good is everything hedoes!’ (...)

Very beautiful if you take it seriously! This is the ideal of the genuine father. This is how a father must care for his children. It is true when I say: What does fatherly care look like? Endless fatherly care!” P.J.K., Childlikeness before God

+MPHC+

God does take our heart into his hands and into his heart! "He still does it, whether we are aware of it or not. He still does it! The anxiety we feel is not a sign of lack of faith. It is a sign that we live in this world and in this epoch. Anxiety is an experience that even Our Lord endured. Our Lady searched for the child in anxiety, until she found it in the Temple. To experience anxiety is not bad. To revolve around our anxiety in such a way that we stop trusting in God, in God’s power, omnipotence and love, would be detrimental. It would terrible! We would be in real trouble if we could not turn to God in the midst of our distress in faith and hope. Childlikeness preserves us from this. One look into our past, be it recent or far behind us, may help us identify how true it is to say that our destiny, our lives, our hearts rest in the hands of God the Father. Before we begin attributing the successes or failures to ourselves or to others, it is necessary to recognize the hand of God behind the events of our own lives."

Perhaps, one of the reasons why the Schoenstatt Shrine has such a powerful message and effect in our lives is due to the fact that we find ourselves taken in, sheltered in God. The world at large keeps revolving around its own empty quests and temporary achievements. Our world wide view often times takes the best of us in growing in our faith. We tend to look at spiritualities, at saints, and even retreats and reflections as one more thing among the great gamma of spiritual options being offered out there. When we come to the Shrine, when we find ourselves in the presence of God in such a small place, face to face, before the Mother of God, we know for a fact, God holds me in his hand. God takes me into his heart!"

Reflection "In a moment of silence, take some tome to reflect on the many moments you have felt the flood of fear and anxiety in your life. Instead of thinking of the things you could have or should have done, think for a moment of God. Think of His power, love and omnipotence.

•Was I alone while going through those experiences alone? Was not God next to me, or carrying me? Was I able to grow through them?

•Were others able to grow through it?

•Where can I identify the hand of God leading those circumstances towards the goal?

•Even if the outcome has not been the one I most desired, do I lack anything?

•How could I formulate a prayer of thanksgiving to thank precisely for that particular difficulty in my life? "

!!!!

+MPHC+

We probably have read a good number of books on spirituality and self-improvement. Perhaps, we have listened to quite a number of talks and conferences, homilies and songs, poems and discourses about finding God, finding self and moving on to a better life. Most probably the final conclusion is that the answer lies within you. Is that absolutely the case? Is it possible to find the answer outside of us, beyond self, beyond your own activity, your own effort and self-assertion sprees? Of course, it is! That is exactly what the Blessed Mother did during her life. She found her point of reference always in God and in those God placed at her side. She allowed God to transform her heart. Are you willing to do the same?"

Prayer"Father in heaven, thank you for being close to me. You know me well. Give me the undivided glance of the heart towards you, the courage to adapt myself to you, and to become still as often as I want to speak to you. Hidden Witness of all my thoughts, my secret wishes, fears and plans, help me to bear with calm endurance when you set to work in my soul to transform me. Amen. Courage of Faith Novena"

Moving Beyond Failures and Sins"“We cannot be perfected, burdened as we are with original sin, unless our nature learns to sacrifice itself…God’s activity has to be prepared for, accompanied by and completed by our own activity.”

Self-knowledge. Of course, grace is at work in us, but it must also enlighten the mind, set the will in motion and warm the heart. If I don't know myself sufficiently, I cannot support the work of grace in my soul sufficiently. What are the usual means we have to apply here? In ascetical books two means are mentioned: the general examination of conscience, and the special examination of conscience. The latter is called the special resolution or particular examination. With regard to the latter, at least as we see it, we are not so much concerned with examination as with a comprehensive means of battle that permeates the whole day, taking hold of us inwardly and drawing us upwards.

Face to Face Before our Misery"Even if we have a finely organized conscience, which always makes itself felt if we have not corresponded with grace, we should maintain the examination of conscience at night. It has to summarize the weaknesses we have noted during the day. We won't be able to spend a day without

God Transforms the Heart

+MPHC+

experiencing our weaknesses, and we don't want to treat them in such a way that we get used to them. During the examination of conscience at night what matters is to see the overall picture. Don't concentrate too much on counting the individual failures - one, two, three, four, five ... It is far more important for us to keep hold of our experiences of our miseries, and to deepen them. Just with the people of today a great deal depends on learning once again to behave before God the way we are. Away with the veil! Away with the mask! Appear before God's face in all our nakedness. In this context it is simple for us not only to know in theory, but also to carry out in practice, how we can give the four negative and four positive answers. We have to do this consciously for a time until it has become second nature to us and we practically swim in this attitude.

What I am about to say is ultimately another form of contrition. In view of our weaknesses we should… Firstly, not be surprised. Secondly, not become confused. Thirdly, not lose courage. Fourthly, not settle down in them.

Beyond our Weakness"So we shouldn't simply say: This weakness is as much part of me as my face! Since we are so strongly influenced by our social environment, the danger is great that our conscience will no longer make itself felt, because we have simply accepted public opinion as the language of our conscience. So, if I live in line with public opinion, I will become superficial and behave accordingly. Then my conscience, as the strongest motivating force for the formation of my individual personality, will rapidly become discolored until I have become part of the crowd without even noticing it. So we have to have this negative boundary. Then comes the positive. Now I have to make use of little things according to the example of St Paul: If I am weak, then I am strong. I boast about my weaknesses. So I have to become: a miracle of humility, a miracle of trust, a miracle of patience, a miracle of love.

Find the Answer in God"That sounds complicated, doesn't it? However, the act is very simple. We have only to understand it if we really want grace to be at work in us; we have to be constantly at work in the background in order to allow God to govern us. If we gradually want to open our Christian lives upwards and downwards, we must always do three things: look up to God very often in faith, speak to him with faith and love, have a conversation with him, and offer corresponding sacrifices of love. "

So, don’t just look at God with faith, and pray to him, but also offer him sacrifices.” “...childlikeness must urge and drive us to implore the Blessed Mother to send us the Holy Spirit. Only he can

+MPHC+

open in us the full measure of childlikeness. Unless you become like children, i.e. unless you change and convert and reject sin and imperfection through the cultivation of tender, effective childlikeness, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.” P. J. Kentenich, Milw. 1962 "

Yes, God does transform our hearts! However, God does not want to do without our cooperation. God loves us deeply and in this love of God there is only room for those who freely embrace the plan of love He has designed for our lives. It is much more perfect, much more like God to freely embrace our own sinfulness and because we know how small and weak we are and can be, we can in total carefreeness, in complete faith, look up to God, speak to Him and offer sacrifices out of love for Him and those we love. This trust and total surrender will bring about in us the miracle of our inner transformation, simply because God cannot resist the acknowledged weakness and loving surrender of a simple child. God wants, God wills our holiness! God will not grant us this gift without our cooperation, though. !Reflection"In a moment of silence gather yourself, your thoughts, your feelings and concentration and ask yourself the following questions: #

" • Can I embrace my profession, my future vocation or my present commitments even with the weaknesses of my character? Can I embrace these weaknesses and talents so that I can be of greater service? How can I do this?

" • When it comes to dealing with my own nature, where do I meet the greatest challenge in this regard?

" • In view of these talents and weaknesses and joting down a few notes or by means of formulating a prayer, would you take the four points of contrition and the four points of humility and let them work in your soul calmly and thoughtfully? "

!!

+MPHC+

When the prophet Ezekiel uses the expression of a “new heart” in his prophecy his lends his voice to God’s wish and plan for his people. God loves the people and He wants to remain among them, in covenant with them. However, the people have failed, have profaned God’s name among themselves and with people of other nations. So that God can remain with and among them, in eternal covenant, God needs to restore things by His own power. Therefore, God will gather the nations again, will pour clean water over the people and will give them a new heart, that they may remain faithful to the covenant.#

We too long to receive the gift of a new heart, of a new life, so that we can live out of the new and eternal covenant that our Lord came to seal once and forever. In Christ, we have been given a new heart and a new life. Through Mary we are able to safeguard this covenant of love forever.#

Prayer "Holy Spirit, I ask you: Tear out of me my laziness and self-complacency, and help me to be open for the inspirations of God. Give me an intuitive way of grasping what is good, true and beautiful; a wide awake mind to discern evil and the strength to fight against it in every way. Grant me the courage to stand up as a matter of course for truth and goodness. Show me my mission and send me out renewed from within. Amen. Courage of Faith Novena (adapted)

!Begin from Within "Words from Father Joseph Kentenich, founder of Schoenstatt (1885-1968)

“Become what you are! Everything in you which is great and noble should be perfected. You should develop all the seeds of nobility found within you. Become what you are! I can now tell you: This nobility and greatness is the same as childlikeness. For us, childlikeness is the great aim of human growth. Becoming a child is the meaning of our lives, for it is our ideal of human existence.

And the meaning of becoming a child—I now close the circle of thought-is that the God-man should be formed in us. St. Paul calls out to us: "It is no longer I who live, but Christ living in me" (Gal 2,20). This is truly the total meaning of Christian education: that we be formed in the image of the God-man, the only-begotten Son. The God-man in his son- ship should take shape and form and come to life in us. (...)"

A New Heart, a New Life, a New Covenant

+MPHC+

A New Heart in Christ and Mary"It is our aim is to create a new type of [person], and this new type is the real answer to the desire of the human heart and the answer to the greatest needs of our time. Reflect for yourselves on the second train of thought. The dogmatic structure is simple. "As the Divine word came to us from the Father, so we should go to the Father." This is the way of becoming a child. What does this process look like? We have seen it in the context of childlikeness as both a natural and a supernatural drive. The meaning of human existence is growth toward childlikeness. The meaning of growth toward childlikeness is that we become more like the God-man. Here we stand once more at the beginning. The God- man, the only-begotten Son of God must take form and shape in us, both in our being and in our attitude. Those of us who are liturgically minded will find it easy to connect these thoughts with Holy Mass. Is not Holy Mass a renewal of our formation into Christ? As a result, must not every Holy Mass be the great means for fostering childlikeness in us? When I later speak about the ways of attaining childlikeness, I will expressly mention the liturgical way. I mention it to you now so that you can already take advantage of the insight. It will be considered systematically in the fourth part of our retreat when we speak of the ways that lead us to the source and root of childlikeness. There are three ways: the liturgical, the ecclesial and the Marian way. (...)"

A New Heart—A Childlike Heart"Let me remind you of Nicodemus' conversations with Christ. Recall what Our Lord said to him about becoming a child. What demand does Christ make of us? You remember the situation. Nicodemus was eager to know the way of salvation. Like other truth-seekers of his day, he was absorbed by the question, "What must I do to obtain salvation?" He could tell that Christ was a religious master, a prophet, perhaps even something greater. However, he did not dare to address the Master by day. So he came to him at night. "Master," he said, "what must we do to reach heaven?" Now listen to the unheard-of answer which Our Lord gives him. He does not say anything at all about what one must do-at least he does not speak about it directly. Rather, he says what one must become: "Unless you are born again by water and the Holy Spirit, you cannot enter heaven" (Jn 3, 5). I must receive a new being. And the biblical scholars explain what Our Lord means-he means becoming a child of God. We must receive a new divine life, we must become, above all else, children of God.'”

A New Heart—A Marian Heart"“[Mary] must be our educator and our Mother, for what we want is too new and our preparation is so inadequate... For this you need an ‘interceding omnipotence” who possesses more than human strength, more than human educational skill and wisdom. [If we consecrate ourselves to Mary...] Then our Lady will work miracles for you and make the saying from true: Mother will take, doe take and has taken care! And: She is and will always be the Great Missionary who works miracles...!” P.J.K., Childlikeness before God

+MPHC+

A New Heart for a New Covenant"The everyday realities we live in, the demands and expectations others have placed on us, seem to overwhelm us. Even when we consider the demands and expectations we place on ourselves, life becomes even more overwhelming. No one demands that we do all we want to do in one single day. We are the ones who demand that from ourselves! Would we be willing to let God be the one who places demands on us even if they are simple demands, or very well within our capacities, perhaps under our capacities, or beyond them? The humility, the surrender, the simplicity of heart this attitude demands, is the effect of a childlike heart of a heart filled with love of God and love of others."

The covenant of love which our Lord came to seal and complete, to perfect and fulfill in his being and life, is the same covenant we live out through our Baptism and all other sacraments. This covenant demands the perfection of heart, meaning the simplicity and childlikeness that allows someone else to place demands on us, that allows small, faithful deeds unseen to be the most important thing during the day. It is the covenant of love we seal with Mary in the Shrine."

Reflection"• Can God find Mary in me?

• Am I willing to let Mary educate me into this simple child that I have come to know through this retreat?

• Where can my love grow and mature even more in light of my many tasks and responsibilities?

• Where do I need to trust more in the love and care of Mary, as my Mother?

• Just simply to God about your longing to begin anew, like a small child.