Mechernich – There are two things to celebrate, Father Patrick Mwanguhya told the faithful on the Solemnity of the Assumption in the house chapel of the Communio in Christo on Bruchgasse in Mechernich: ‘Firstly, the Assumption of Mary into heaven with body and soul and the day of Mother Marie Therese's first vow before the Stella Maris in Maastricht at the age of 19. That was 78 years ago today.’
Father Patrick, with Superior General Parish Priest Jaison Thazhathil at his side, blessed over 30 herbal poultices, a sacramental of the Catholic Church that is one thousand and one hundred years old, to celebrate the day. In addition to elecampane and camomile, typical herbs in the healing bouquet brought into the churches for the blessing include St John's wort, wormwood, mugwort, tansy, yarrow, mullein, thyme, valerian, vervain and various types of grain.
The tea made from these consecrated herbs is said to be particularly healing. In the past, consecrated herbs were mixed into the feed of sick cattle or herbs from the bush were thrown into open fires to protect them from lightning during thunderstorms. Herbs from the ‘Krockwösch’ bouquet were placed under the doorstep of new buildings.
The mass was combined with the commemoration of the vow of chastity and the consecration of Mother Marie Therese on 15 August 1946 before the image of Our Lady ‘Star of the Sea’ in the basilica in Maastricht for the sanctification of all in the church, especially the priests. Father Patrick Mwanguhya celebrated the Mass and the blessing of the herbs in concelebration with Superior General Jaison Thazhathil, assisted by Deacon Manfred Lang.
„Women said yes to God“
‘Both her first vow and the foundation of the Ordo on the day of the Immaculate Conception in 1984 took place on Marian feasts,’ says Father Patrick: ’Just as the Blessed Mother gave her yes to God in response to the angel's message, Mother Marie Therese also gave her yes to God in boundless trust, without knowing where God would lead her.’
Today it is clear that this first vow consistently led Mother Marie Therese to found a religious order, the Ordo Communionis in Christo, as a confirmation of the Second Vatican Council and a spiritual path for all people.
On 15 August 1946, Mother Marie Therese offered her life to God for the sanctification of priests and the salvation of humanity. Mwanguhya: "A very unusual promise for a 19-year-old young woman. Mother Marie Therese kept this promise until her death in 1994."
She testified: ‘Since my childhood, I have really experienced the presence of God. I used to call what I didn't really know how to interpret ‘dialogue’. From the age of five, I felt a hand on my shoulder, which I perceived so truly that from the age of 6/7 I often said: ‘My Jesus, mercy!’ I knew straight away that it was Christ and thought it was normal. I didn't talk to anyone about it because I thought everyone had it.’
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