I M P U L S E S 3/2019 for Daily Living

Father Kentenich- Childhood in light and shadow Excerpt from the new biography

Secretariat Father Joseph Kentenich “Joseph Kentenich Childhood in light and shadow” Reading sample from now on, because she herself In the two previous editions of was no longer able to do so. Joseph "Impulse for daily living" 1/2019 made this act of his mother very and 2/2019, the new biography of much his own. He knew that the Father Kentenich was already Blessed Mother would take care of announced. This issue No. 3/2019 him. This conviction carried him all brings you now a reading sample. through his life.

It begins with the entrance of In the biography it says under the Joseph Kentenich in the headline in . He was then eight years old. The family Childhood in light and shadow: circumstances were so unfavorable What was it about that consecration that his mother and the to the Mary that touched him grandparents couldn't take care of so deeply and that would have such him. With a heavy heart, his power over his life? There is no mother brought him to the sisters in doubt that Joseph personally the orphanage in Oberhausen. experienced a mysterious reality at When they arrived there, the the moment of the consecration that mother went to the house chapel would influence his life even more with little Joseph, knelt in front of than before: God. In the midst of the the statue of the Blessed Mother pain of the separation from the and gave her child to Mary, the beloved mother he had the Mother of God. She asked Mary to experience of a tremendous nearness take care of her child in her place of God through Mary: God is there. He loves me, very personally, even if he allows suffering. In the arms of Mary, I am as secure as the Child on her lap. The experience is so strong that it never lets go of him as an impression, even in times of crisis. Later hints indicate that through Mary he had profoundly experienced what God is really like. It was the encounter with the "mercifully loving Father God, who can't help himself but loving us endlessly," as he later formulated it.

This core experience carried him Statue of Mary in the Orphanage through the following, not easy years in the orphanage. The experiences that he had there intellectual refuge for him. When the cleared the way to a new pedagogy. older orphans graduated and left the “From childhood I have always orphanage he and his companions observed, what education is and yearned for their freedom. One said, how in general it was practiced, and "Will we ever get big like that?!" I said, No. You can't educate like Then Joseph replied to this: "It that, you have to do it differently.’” doesn't matter, but – and he tapped It was somehow in his blood to his forehead – it depends on what observe life and think about it. God you have here!" spoke to him through people and their souls and the "soul His spiritual refuge lay in the inner attunement". He considered the certainty: My mother thinks of me; “voices of soul " as a source of she prays for me. She didn't just put knowledge for what God wanted, me here but she handed me over to possibly also because he himself Mary. To cope with the suffering, suffered much early on and he to process it, he got himself a rhyme witnessed the suffering of others at booklet, to write poetry. His first close quarters. The difficult poems -as his orphanage companion, childhood and youth experiences later journalist Hermann Müser can became a driving force behind him, remember - dealt with suffering. as he himself admits, pushed Joseph was forced early to learn how towards the priesthood: He wanted to deal with difficult circumstances to give a home to others, "although and with suffering without losing my own heart also screams for a himself or breaking from it. You home." have to face the pain, to suffer it: You don't want to push it down. To Joseph lived through difficult years. write away from his soul helped him. He was homesick and ran twice On April 24, 1897 Joseph made his away from the orphanage. Picked First Holy Communion at the age of up on the way, he asked, where then is the Erft, the river that runs through Gymnich? He was "not easy to educate” one of the sisters from the orphanage said. But another tells that she met him one day, alone in the laundry room, where he was sent as a punishment. There he kneeled immovably on the floor, he was "completely oblivious" and he hadn't even noticed me. But it was obviously not only the religious power that he felt and that helped him to survive this time in one piece. Joseph's joy in learning, in knowledge, in books, increased. The school became an eleven. It was the day on which he One day a possibility opens up. told his mother again that he Father Savels had heard from his wanted to become a priest: a priest sister, a Dominican from Arenberg, I will be. "Boy, then we're going to that the missionary society of the have to do a lot of praying." That's in Ehrenbreitstein ran a the only thing that the mother boarding school for their vocations... answered to that. But this one There you could earn a high school sentence gave little hope to him. degree. The Pallottines, as they were An illegitimate child could not called, trained priests as missionaries become a priest at that time. The for Africa. They would also accept situation forced him painfully to boys from poor families and family deal more intensely with his situations similar to those of Joseph. family's destiny. But he remained But the mother hesitated. Although firm in his decision. The end of the joy that Joseph could become a school time in Oberhausen was priest at first was great, she was approaching. Once again Katharina hoping that he'd be closer to her. But Kentenich visited her son. Since the now she was supposed to separate First Holy Communion he's from her child again, and that for changed a lot. The thirteen-year-old a long time: Joseph would go to the has entered puberty. A married mission in Cameroon, and from uncle from , Reiner Greiss, there, perhaps never return?! Was who is particularly close to them, there no other possibility? Or should has accompanied the mother and is she, as she had suggested to Father now sitting between them on the Savels, still marry the father of the bench at the orphanage. He talks child, so that Joseph could be and talks to Joseph to explain the legitimized and become a diocesan situation. "He is a fine gentleman," priest? Then he would not need enter Joseph thinks, he just wants to a missionary society and could stay help." Yet Joseph stares sadly and in ... No! Her confessor had disappointedly. Why isn't his definitely disagreed with her: If that's mother helping him? The uncle the only reason to get married, then shows very proudly his new he strongly advised against it. Now camera. - Joseph reflects: "Such a what? How little the mother could thing can only be bought in make friends with the thought, that Cologne. Here only the real Joseph should become a missionary photographers have that!"... priest is revealed by a poem of the fourteen-year-old at Easter 1900. In a When his mother returned to Hymn to Love ("Power of Love") Cologne, she cannot forget his sad Joseph expressed the request: "May look and again and again she thinks you direct the thoughts of my mother everything through. What the boy whom I don't want to offend!" has in mind is hopeless. The boarding school near the fortress But how could one fulfill his wish Ehrenbreitstein to become a priest for him, how Already on August 15, 1899 Joseph overcome obstacles? had obtained his diploma in Oberhausen. But the decision for Ehrenbreitstein was delayed well into September. At the last minute, the mother had agreed with her confessor with a heavy heart... Now everything had to be done quickly because the school year at Ehrenbreitstein had already begun. Still in Oberhausen he had to undergo a physical examination and be certified, the questionnaire had to be filled out and be signed by Joseph. All this happened on September 22, 1899. The next day Joseph was sitting with a small Joseph Kentenich: the second on front row suitcase that the mother had packed and brought to the Cologne train Now Joseph stood for the first time station in the train to - in the inner courtyard of the Ehrenbreitstein. In the new suit, Pallottine property with the finally with long trousers, as it elongated main building, the two should be, he enjoyed the ride opposite outbuildings and the along the Rhine full of expectation former mill. Joseph looked around and anticipation of what would and looked at his new home: the begin now: the High School as the beautiful, ivy-covered terrace first important stage on the way to above near the old quarry stone the priestly vocation I've longed wall towards the mountain. He for. Opposite him Father Savels sat turned around, because opposite and looked at the boy thoughtfully. was - at right angles to the main What experiences Joseph had building wing - a pretty, stylish already behind him, just 1,50 meter annex with a large study hall on tall and of slim stature! And what the first floor, which had direct he had not already done to achieve access to the courtyard. At both the impossible, to make this sides were many windows, which possible! The boy was strong. made the room bright and friendly. Arrived at the Pallottine boarding The study hall even had a built in school, Pastor Savels took first care stage, as Joseph had heard because of some formalities and paid the it was at the same time serving as a 200 gold marks, the annual advance recreation room for the upper payment for maintenance. Proudly classes and as festival hall. Above Katharina Kentenich had declared it was the house chapel with its to her confessor that she would pay arched, colorfully decorated for the costs of the studies, but of windows. course, the money wasn't together fast. Page 24 to 29 ff: Dorothea Schlickman JOSEPH KENTENICH A LIFE ON THE EDGE OF THE VOLCANO HeHe Helps Helps Suitable workplace My has a new job in the area where his family lives... He was before a lot on the road within Germany and many days of the week not at home. He has three little boys 1, 3 and 5 years old. way, when suddenly the call reached the Now the children see their dad every mother: "Mama, come quickly!" What evening. He can also help put them to had happened? While fooling around the bed. We are all very happy that he is no friend had missed the path and was in longer in the sales department and now danger of sliding down the embankment... can be more with his family. Thank In the last second he reached out to the you, dear Father Kentenich! barrier. Unfortunately it was made of V. R., October 2018 barbed wire. He tore his finger and also his hand. He was bleeding all over. Four months ago, my daughter had to Because they found nothing better, they give up her training because of tied his hand with the dog leash. One excessive physical and psychological daughter tried to reach an ambulance on a strain. Now she was alone in a strange cell make a telephone call. Radio hole! city without money and without health Shortly before the next town the insurance. During her training, she had emergency doctor was on the scene. An spent her own money to get insured. ambulance brought the young man to the After many applications and only hand-clinic. The next days were still quite occasional employment, without health exciting. Will the fingers and the hand be insurance, my concern became bigger saved? and bigger. Then I remembered Father Kentenich and began to pray novenas. We asked the Blessed Mother and Father Last week she finally got an Kentenich for help. The sisters helped employment corresponding to her with their prayer. I promised Father qualification. I thank the Blessed Kentenich the publication of the answer to Mother and Father Kentenich warmly prayer, when the hand and the finger are for this great help! Hereby I redeem all right again. Meanwhile the hand is my promise for publication. restored and ready for use. God also S. H., December 2018 works among us today. We can experience it every day. Assistance in the event of an I. W., October 2018 accident Where's your God? I do not see him and Double help I don't hear him. I don't feel him. And I would like to inform you today that our yet he sometimes gives us experiences, prayers had a great effect. I am quite which we call the "lucky moments" in certain that Father Kentenich helped us. I our lives; and they work within us. An had written to Schoenstatt because our example from the last summer vacation: daughter didn't finish her studies. She is A mother, two daughters, a boy friend already 30 years old. We were worried. of one daughter and the dog were on a Now two great things happened that I like walk in beautiful summer weather. to report to be published. Our daughter They went by car for the first part, and handed in her Bachelor thesis as part of then continued on foot through the cool her studies as “art therapist” on forest. They had already gone a long 5.10.2018. Whoever does not know the connections, will think that this is get the injection because of the safety and normal, but we don't, because the due short notice. The inspiration came to ask a date was repeatedly postponed. Doctor for a sample of the medication and Eventually she needed another medical we were able to get it on time. certificate. Now we are very happy and A.O., grateful that we, through your prayers and the intercessions on the 15th of each Help in need month experienced the help of the I needed something from the store urgently Almighty God through intercession of but had no time to go. I asked Fr. the Blessed Mother and Father Kentenich to provide. Later in the Kentenich. In the days before the afternoon someone asked me if I would completion of the Bachelor thesis I need anything from the store since she had prayed a novena and rewrote a verse in to run errands anyway. With that I got view of the concrete request. Praying what I needed. Thank you Fr. Kentenich! these lines again and again have helped J.U., Wisconsin me a lot. In serious illness Now to the second event: The day after A year ago, my husband was diagnosed: he our daughter had to submit her thesis she needed a new heart valve. We were all got a job that relieved us much after very afraid of the operation, but against all many difficulties. She may start her work odds, it went very well. When he had to go on November 1. Isn't that wonderful? It to rehab, there was no progress. He also is a workplace that offers social got a bad cold and a diagnosis of insurance which is very good. So, this Parkinson's. temporal connection between the first and the second problem, the right place, The rehabilitation was unsuccessful, have made me completely convinced of because my husband could not move well, the help of Father Kentenich. and he was almost rigid. The drugs did not work for him. When the three weeks of Thank you once again for your support rehab were over; he was discharged as a through Schoenstatt. We will be in nursing case. Now we started at home with contact, at least through prayer. the Ergo- and Physiotherapy and with U. F., October 2018 much prayer. On his birthday in March, he could already be up in the wheelchair to Health Problems celebrate. A month later, there was a total Fr. Kentenich, thank you for interceding recovery and his condition continued to on behalf of my son, , who went improve. One day he could get up and for back surgery. Through a series of today he's walking at the walker again and unforeseen events, the surgery was doesn't have to be in bed anymore. The cancelled. He was able to get a 2nd therapists and the nursing staff speak of a opinion within a week at a renowned miracle. I thank the Blessed Mother and hospital in New York City. He was told Father Kentenich for their help. I prayed NOT to have surgery because it wouldn't daily: Father Kentenich, at this jubilee year correct his back pain. He only needed anniversary, please, help my husband. I physical therapy. He is getting better always prayed a decade of the Rosary with with therapy! the addition: Father Kentenich, glorify J.C. New York yourself. He did it. Many thanks, dear Blessed Mother and Father Kentenich. I went on a trip and I needed to get an M. B., December 2018 injection for my health condition every week while there. I miscalculated the time and was short one shot. I asked Fr. Kentenich for help. It was not possible to Father Joseph Kentenich - Founder of the International Schoenstatt Movement - was born on November 16, 1885, in Gymnich near Cologne and died on September 15, 1968, in the Church of Berg Schoenstatt, immediately after the celebration of the Holy Mass. He is also buried in this church. His sarcophagus bears the inscription Dilexit ecclesiam - He loved the church.

The Secretariat Father Josef Kentenich distributes information about Father Kentenich, to those who are acquainted with Schoenstatt’ spirituality and pray on his intercession. You will be able to find more information and novenas from Fr. Kentenich in our centers.

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Whenever this pamphlet directly or indirectly states that Father Kentenich is a “” it is always the expression of private opinion. The decision of the Church is in no way anticipated.