I first heard about the Schoenstatt Movement while on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje.  I became friends with two women who were members of Schoenstatt that were in my travel group.

My two new friends needed volunteers to help with Schoenstatt of Ohio's Facebook page.  Since I was a Marketing Manager for a non-profit, I agreed to manage their page.  I was also contacted by a sweet Schoenstatt Sister who needed a Facebook manager for their Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign's page, which I also happily agreed to help with.  I have learned so much about the movement over the last four years in my volunteer work.  My husband and I have been studying for the last nine months to make our Covenant of Love together.  And it's finally happening!  We are driving to Wisconsin tomorrow from Ohio to  make our covenant of love with three other pilgrims at the Schoenstatt Retreat Center in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

In the covenant of Love, we are giving our hearts to Mary and she is giving her heart to us. We have a special candle we had made just for us as a couple.  It has wedding bands, the rosary, the Mother Thrice Admirable Madonna, and two hearts; our hearts.  We are joining the pierced hearts of Mary and Jesus to our own hearts. 

We also were given the task to write a prayer together (below).  We had never written a prayer and the process was an incredibly holy experience for us.  In many ways this whole nine months has seemed like a prayer.

Please pray for us and also our dear friends Wanda, Betty and Don as we all make a covenant of love this Saturday.

Covenant of Love Prayer

Mother Thrice Admirable, Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt;
Deepen our love and knowledge of Jesus...
Draw us nearer to the Holy Spirit...
Help us to be open to the wishes and action of grace...
Lead us into the Heart of our Heavenly Father...
Make our home a refuge of holiness...
Comfort us through the sadness and sufferings in our daily lives...
Shower our families, children, and grandchildren with your graces...
Help us to be merciful, give us compassionate hearts...
Guide us to see the open doors in our lives through Divine Providence...
Help us unite our wills with the Divine Will of the Father...
Increase our Trust and Confidence in Jesus...
Unite our hearts to yours, in the Covenant of Love.  Amen.