The Covenant of Love
Schoenstatt’s core process: A new beginning in faith
On 18 October 1914 Fr Kentenich and some young men preparing to become priests ask the Blessed Mother to actively show herself from a small shrine in the town of Schoenstatt and to win many people for Christ. For this they offered Mary their intense prayer and committed acts of love and offerings. They lived a covenant of love with Mary: „Nothing without you. – Nothing without us“.
In the course of time it became clear that Mary took their request seriously and fulfiled it: Many people find God anew or more deeply through their relationship with her and commit themselves apostolic to others.
Since 18 October 1914, people from all continents have joined this covenant. They experience it as motivation and help to live actively out of their baptismal covenant and to work on the renewal of society from the world of values of the Christian faith.
„For us, the Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother – as it has become and is historically effective – is a profound renewal, consolidation and safeguarding of the Baptismal Covenant, that is, the Covenant with Christ and the Triune God.“
J. Kentenich

The Covenant Book – Document of the New Beginning
Whoever wishes to do so can enter their name and the date of their Covenant of Love in the Covenant Book. This book is brought into the Original Shrine on the 18th of each month. It stands for the many people who have joined in the core process of 18 October 1914 and – united together – are shaping their lives from it.
