fbpx

15.09.

1968: Joseph Kentenich, Servant of God and the Founder of the Catholic Schoenstatt Movement

1968: Joseph Kentenich, Servant of God and the Founder of the Catholic Schoenstatt Movement
Photo Credit To Wikipedia Commons

Story Highlights

  • Historical event:
  • 15 September 1968
  • In 1914, Joseph Kentenich founded the Schönstatt Movement. He was in his twenties at the time. The famous painting of The Mother Thrice Admirable, by the Italian artist Luigi Crosio, has been the key symbol of the Schönstatt Movement.

This day in 1968 marked the death of Servant of God Joseph Kentenich, the Catholic priest who founded the famous Schönstatt Movement.



This Marian Movement is present in many countries around the world (approximately 42 countries). It was named after the German city of Koblenz (Schönstatt means “beautiful place” in German).

Joseph Kentenich was born in Gymnich, southwest of Cologne, in 1885. He was ordained a priest in 1910, when he was 24 years old. He was member of the Pallottines (the Society of the Catholic Apostolate), founded by St. Vincent Pallotti.

Joseph Kentenich founded the Schönstatt Movement in Schönstatt near the Rhine, just a few kilometers from the city of Koblenz. The chapel, which is located there, is known as the sanctuary of the movement.

It is interesting to note that Joseph Kentenich was still in his twenties when he founded the Schönstatt Movement.




During World War II, Joseph was arrested by the Gestapo, and spent three years in the infamous Dachau concentration camp near Munich. But he wanted to help other prisoners, and some of them found out what the Schönstatt Movement actually was (and still is).

After the war, Joseph Kentenich used his Vatican passport to visit other continents, and spread this Marian Movement.

Joseph Kentenich died in Schönstatt, Germany on this day in 1968, after he had celebrated the Holy Mass. At the time, he was 83 years old. The process for his beatification was opened in 1975. Joseph Kentenich was buried in Schönstatt.

Many chapels, “inspired” by the Shrine in Schönstatt, were built around the world. It is important to note that the Schönstatt Movement is not just some kind of movement for “Church people”, but for all open-hearted people.

The famous painting of The Mother Thrice Admirable, by the Italian artist Luigi Crosio, is the key symbol of the Schönstatt Movement.

Facebook Comments Box






Related posts