The Schoenstatt Shrine by Cecilia Peyton

The lovely Cecilia P. (a member of the SGY here in Ohio) wrote a quick, but nice, summary of the Schoenstatt shrine. Enjoy! -Clare K The Schoenstatt Shrine is a place of great peace, from the front to the back the calmness you feel will overwhelm you. As the doors to the Shrine open, all eyes are immediately drawn to the beautiful wooden altar adorned with the glorious MTA picture. The sense of peace is almost unbearable. To the front of the altar is a large urn, or jar, used to hold contributions to the capital of grace. Beside the altar is the magnificent St. Michael statue made of white marble. Continuing to look around the small church you see several stained glass windows, which add to the serenity and holiness of the Shrine. The pews that line the church under every window are wooden and keep your focus on God in the blessed sacrament. Behind the two rows of pews is a row of chairs, for Schoenstatt always expects many people to come! On leaving, the two heavy wooden doors will say farewell with an almost melancholy sadness, for it is a great deal harder to leave the Shrine than to enter it. Overall, the peace in the shrine is due to the fact that Christ and His Holy Mother are truly present there. -Cecilia