Shrine Tour

The spiritual source of the Schoenstatt Movement is the shrine. It has an integral part to play in the community's Spirituality and prayer life. Since biblical times God has often used people and places to be near to us. The Schoenstatt shrine is such a place where people can come and experience the closeness of God. The chapels at each centre are modelled on the original one at Schoenstatt in Germany. The Scottish shrine was built in 1989 and was the first to be built within the British isles. To date there are over 197 such chapels in different centres throughout the world.



The shrine is dedicated to Our Lady under the title of Our 'Mother Thrice Admirable' and offers three special qualities or graces to visitors and pilgrims:
The grace of feeling at home and being accepted for what we are.
The grace of transformation, becoming renewed people according to God's original plan for us.
The grace of Mission, going out sharing and living the Christian life in today's world.

Within the chapel there are many images and symbols which help tell its story.

	The central image above the altar is that of Our Mother Thrice Admirable (MTA) holding the Child Jesus. The original picture was presented to the Movement by the Founding Generation at Schoenstatt Germany in 1915. The Light Frame round the picture reads "Servus Maria Numquam Peribit" (A servant of Mary will never perish).
	The crown is one of the specific features of the Scottish Shrine. Every Shrine has a crown, but this one is unique to Scotland. Its design is based on the ancient Scottish crown used by the monarchs of Scotland. It has on it the words 'Dilexit ecclesiam' and between these two words there is a 'Father symbol'. The words are the motto of Fr. Kentenich, the founder of Schoenstatt - 'He loved the Church'. This crown was first used in Scotland in 1978 and every year, in October, it is taken down and carried in procession to crown the MTA picture, symbolically crowning Our Lady Queen of Schoenstatt and Queen of Scotland.
	The cross, above the tabernacle, is another unique feature of the Scottish Shrine. It was designed in Scotland and cast in metal by the Brothers of Mary in Schoenstatt, Germany. The design symbolises the horizontal and vertical aspects of Schoenstatt's spirituality. Going out horizontally to one another through brotherly love and vertically through prayer - all coming together at the centre, which is Christ, and bound in unity by the Covenant of Love with Our Blessed Mother. It was placed above the tabernacle on 20th January 1981.
	The foundation stone can be seen on the left of the altar, just behind the candle globe. There is a Celtic symbol representing the Trinity with the words: 'Regnum Patris Marianum' - The Marian Kingdom of the Father. Scotland's motto is engraved on the side of the stone: 'Let Scotland flourish through the Covenant of Love'
	The statue of St. Michael is situated to the left of the Altar. The original Shrine in Vallendar had originally been dedicated to St. Michael. When the Shrine was solemnly dedicated to the MTA, St. Michael was declared its second patron. St. Michael is also regarded as the guardian of the Blessed Sacrament. There is a statue of St. Michael in every daughter Shrine.
	The figures of St. Peter and St. Paul are a sign that Schoenstatt is an apostolic movement. The originals were introduced in 1935, highlighting that Mary is the Queen of Apostles and the Shrine is a new cenacle.
	The statue of St. Joseph is outside the Altar area, to the right. He was called to share in the mission of Our Lady, to be husband and foster father. Our St. Joseph has a mallet and a T-square in his hands. These were placed there during the building of the Shrine as a reminder that St. Joseph is the patron saint of workers.
	The original sanctuary lamp was introduced into the shrine in 1940. A group of young seminarians called themselves the "Ver Sacrum" group (Holy Springtime), whose mission is the desire for a world dedicated to Jesus and Mary.
	When open the tabernacle shows the annunciation scene on the inside of the doors, the angel Gabriel on the left and Mary on the right. Mary was the first tabernacle to bear Christ.
	The Holy Spirit symbol is positioned on the ceiling above the sanctuary. The design of the symbol uses the traditional dove, hovering with outstretched wings, to represent the Holy Spirit. It is carved from lime wood and secured to a brass plate. A Celtic design, reflecting Scottish culture, was chosen to be engraved on the brass plate. The circles and spirals, with a repeated triple coil, tie in with the Holy Trinity.
	Placed at the peak of the altar is the Father symbol. A triangle symbolising the Trinity and the all seeing eye of God the Father. Schoenstatt is a Father centred movement. Jesus came into the world to announce the good news from God the Father and to lead us all back to His heavenly Father.
	The two windows to the left and right of the Altar represent Mary (MTA) and Christ (PAX).
	The star and crucifix remind us of the Star of Africa and the Missionary work of the Pallotine Fathers from which Schoenstatt grew.
	The shrine and the sword are based on the movement's founding document in which Fr. Kentenich used St. Joan of Arc as an example of answering God's call.
	Cairns have been used down the centuries as boundary markers and memorials. Jacob, the ancestor of the twelve tribes of Israel, used a stone to mark a deeply religious experience, which he had in a dream. We have used stones from the local surroundings to build the Jubilee Cairn, in addition to the many stones brought by people, symbolising the unique part they play in the Schoenstatt Movement and in the Church at large. The cairn was blessed on 19th November 2000.

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This Way of the Cross is inspired by the Stations of the Cross led by His Holiness Pope John Paul II. in 1991, but has used this Scriptural format with additional specially-written material for the traditional Stations of the Cross to be found in the grounds of Schoenstatt.

Click here for a detailed view of the → Stations of the Cross