A 12-minute documentary about Schoenstatt has been released, just days before the Oct. 18th 100th anniversary of the ecclesial movement.

"Father Joseph Kentenich, A prophetic vision" broadly covers the severly tested, yet fruitful life of Father Kentenich and his foundation.

With footage of the landscape of the multicolored mountains that surround the Schoenstatt valley, very close to the edge of the Rhine River, the film relates the main milestones of the movement that carries the name of the town in which it emerged.

The documentary begins with the founding of Schoenstatt on October 18th, 1914, in the small chapel, which today is known as the Original Shrine. 

Father Kentenich invited young students to place the abandoned cemetery chapel in the Schoenstatt valley at Mary’s disposal; and by their love and dedication, their self-education and prayer, they asked her to initiate from that little chapel a new opportunity of faith and love.

In 1942, Father Kentenich was imprisoned by the Nazis for preaching Christian values, awakening a marked inner freedom and strong commitment in his followers, which made him an enemy of National Socialism.  

The film, which alternates pictures of the war with comments from Sister Petra Schnuerer, who was Father Kentenich’s secretary in Milwaukee for three years, explains that “later he was sent to the concentration camp of Dachau, where he remained for three years.”

Father Ángel Strada, Postulator of Father Kentenich’s Cause for Canonization, offers his testimony, especially related to the time in which the Founder had to face trials imposed by the Church, to whom he selflessly offered his charism and his life; and upon his return to Schoenstatt,  where he gave the last three years of his life to Mary and Jesus, in the people of the Schoenstatt Family and of the Church.

The film has been translated into Spanish and German, and soon versions in Portuguese, Italian, French, Polish and other languages will be offered.

The English version in high resolution can be accessed through the following link: https://vimeo.com/108398260. 

Official information about the international jubilee may be found on www.schoenstatt2014.org.