The Schoenstatt Way of Life

Episode 53: "On September 15, 1968, the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, immediately after celebrating the holy sacrifice of the Mass, Father Kentenich was called home to the heavenly Father. At his request, the words Dilexit Ecclesiam (he loved the Church), were inscribed on his tomb." - from the website schoenstattsistersofmary.us/our-founder/ Join author and host Julia Monnin* on this ep...

Episode 52: O Mother, in your holy heart / deeply inscribe each name / and as a sign that we are yours / write it with blood and flame. / In love and childlike gratitude / your name shall also be / deeply inscribed within my heart / for all eternity. - "Oneness with Mary" Prayer by Fr. Joseph Kentenich How can we better pray like the Blessed Mother, "taking all things and pondering...

Episode 51: "To play the game of love we need to be interiorly free, perfectly free—free from ourselves.'" - Fr. Joseph Kentenich What does it mean to be "free"? And what does freedom have to do with the identity of the Schoenstatt movement? Tune in to this month's episode as author and host Julia Monnin* turns to the Vatican's definition of Schoenstatt as well as t...

Episode 50: "You gather what I am aiming at: I would like to make this place a place of pilgrimage, a place of grace for our house and for the whole German province, and perhaps even further afield. All those who come here to pray shall experience the glory of Mary and confess: 'It is good for us to be here. Here we want to build our tents, here shall be our favorite place.'" - F...

Episode 49: "It is so inspiring how your longing opened your eyes and hearts to the open doors through which God's Providence led you to the goal. Fr. Kentenich always told us that 'the measure of longing is the measure of fulfillment. And the Schoenstatt family in Ohio and the history of the shrine interior at St. Lawrence is a wonderful proof of this. He also said that 'longing...

Episode 48: We often talk in Schoenstatt about the need to "walk through the open doors". Well, thanks to the efforts of some Schoenstatt Mothers in Oregon who did just that, this podcast (and a few others!) are now being shared with a wider audience in the Portland area. Praised be Jesus Christ! Tune in to this special episode to learn more about these "Open Doors in Oregon" a...

Episode 47: "And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" - Luke 1:43 Taking a second to breathe in God's goodness and say "thank you" for the gift of new life, author and host Julia Monnin* reflects in this episode on the mystery of the Visitation (Luke 1:39–56) as she shares with listeners a few details about the newly erected "Schoe...

Episode 46: "In the shadow of your wings I take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.” - Psalm 57:2 Join author and host Julia Monnin on this episode as she shares with listeners the need for (and beauty of) taking refuge under the mantle of Mary's maternal protection, especially during the "Lenten seasons" of our lives. /// "What can likely be attributed to (what seem like) countless an...

Episode 45: "And is not the enraptured gaze of Mary as she contemplated the face of the newborn Christ and cradled him in her arms that unparalleled model of love which should inspire us every time we receive Eucharistic communion?" – Pope Saint John Paul II Reflecting some on the mystery of the Visitation (which we read about in Luke 1:39-56), author and host Julia Monnin ponders what it means to...

Episode 44: "Joseph was an eyewitness to this birth, which took place in conditions that, humanly speaking, were embarrassing—a first announcement of that 'self-emptying' (cf. Phil 2:5–8) which Christ freely accepted for the forgiveness of sins" – Pope Saint John Paul II Pondering our Lord's birth in a lowly manger, author and host Julia Monnin shares thoughts in this episode on St. Joseph. Specif...

Episode 43: "Each one of us must achieve the highest conceivable degree of perfection and sanctity according to his state of life. Not simply the great and greater, but the greatest heights ought to be the object of our increased efforts." - Fr. Joseph Kentenich (in the First Founding Document) What do we mean in Schoenstatt when we say, "Nothing Without You, Nothing Without Us"? And what does thi...

Episode 42: "Prove to me first by deeds that you really love me and that you take your resolution seriously. Now you have the best opportunity to do so." - Words from Schoenstatt's Founding Act. It may be easy to say the words, "You know the way for me, you know the time, into your hands I trustingly place mine. Your plan is perfect, born of perfect love. You know the way for me, that is enough."...

Episode 41: "The disciples flee, run away, while the women stand." - from a homily by Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI)  Have you ever found yourself gazing at the Blessed Mother standing next to her Beloved Son hanging on the cross with a chalice in her hand receiving each and every drop of Christ's Precious Blood as portrayed in Schoenstatt's Unity Cross and thought, "This i...

Episode 40: Do you have a hard time keeping your mind from running? This is a struggle for so many of us! Tune in to this episode as author and host Julia Monnin talks about some of the differences between pondering in our depths, like Mary, and uselessly worrying about matters that are out of our control. In this episode, Julia also shares a few practical things she has found helpful in her own l...

Episode 39: Tune in as author and host Julia Monnin sits down with Ohio's Schoenstatt Diocesan Council Men's Branch Leader, John Lalley. During their conversation, John shares his story of ever-deepening conversion and service to our Lord and Mother and the two discuss the realities and importance of growing, as men, in authentic masculinity and, as women, in authentic femininity. (Oh, and, to giv...

Episode 38: Join author and host Julia Monnin as she sits down with special guest Cathy Varno, member of the Schoenstatt Movement in Ohio and coordinator of the The Father Eye Pilgrimage currently taking place there. During their conversation, Cathy shares the story behind answering the call to coordinate this year's pilgrimage and she and Julia remind listeners about the importance of living with...

Episode 37: The Father Eye symbol from the Mariengarten Daughter Shrine (this Shrine was originally consecrated in Milwaukee, WI in 1962) has been on pilgrimage in Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia traveling with the title: "Our Mother's Mission of Uniting the Ohio Family Around the Shrine." Why does this matter and what does this actually mean? Tune in to this month's episode to find out! Join au...

Episode 36: "We must believe unshakably in the resurrection of Christ. . . . The great comfort in the confusion of our life today, in the great spiritual disaster of our time, is faith and confidence in our perfect resurrection and glory in heaven." - J. Kentenich ( Aus dem Glauben Leben , Vol.1, pp. 81-94) Join author and host Julia Monnin on this episode as she shares a follow-up thought on the...

Episode 35: If pride is the root of all sin, then humility must be the heart of all holiness, right? But what does it really mean to be humble? Join author and host Julia Monnin on this month's episode as she ponders these questions herself while reflecting on the connection between Fr. Kentenich's prayer "I beg you, Father, for all the Cross and Suffering" and the "Litany of Humility". - - - Show...

Episode 34: "Do you have any helpful hints to share with others about ways to grow closer to Mary through prayers, books, etc? Or maybe just some basic suggestions of things others can get started with?" Join author and host Julia Monnin on this month's episode as she ponders, not only these questions, but her inability to answer them! WARNING: This episode may, indeed, be a nonsensical one! But s...

Episode 33: What do Fr. Kentenich’s “joyful yes” and January 20th have in common? You’re about to find out! Tune in as Schoenstatt Sister of Mary, Sr. M. Isabel, discusses “the second milestone” in the history of our Schoenstatt family, which took place on January 20, 1942.

Episode 32: "To see and adore God in graced souls is the original form of Christian adoration." - Sr. Emilie Engel We may long to be near our Eucharistic Lord at daily Mass and in Eucharistic Adoration, but what can we do during those times when this is not possible? Schoenstatt's own Venerable Servant of God, Sr. Emilie Engel, offers us some encouragement and guidance. Join author and host Julia...

Episode 31: Author and host Julia Monnin sits back down with wife, mother, and sister in Christ, Rebecca Willard, on this month's show. In this episode, the two share the (unexpected) way the Lord proved to them the point they were trying to make on last month's show: that we do our best as parents not knowing how, if, or when anything will actually sink in but TRUSTING that God will bear fru...

Episode 30: "I know that Mary is the educator and I try to teach my kids the faith, I'm just hoping it's doing something and is sticking with them." - Can you relate with this statement of faith, hope, and love given by this episode's special guest? If so, then tune in as author and host Julia Monnin sits down with Rebecca Willard—a wife, mother, and sister in Christ—as they converse about what it...

Episode 29: What are we to do when our lives of prayer become "blah" and we're longing to feel God's presence in our home but don't? How do we live trusting more and more fully in the words of our founder, Fr. Joseph Kentenich, which confidently remind us that "no one will be lost who remains faithful to the covenant of love!"? Join author and host Julia Monnin as she ponders these questions while...