The Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary - the life they lead, the witness they bear

by Mark Steffl

Last summer I had the unique and very good experience of attending an Einkleidung in Germany. The Einkleidung is the rich and symbolic moment in the context of the Mass when a novice to the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary receives her "sister’s dress," which is similar to a religious habit. The Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary are a community of Sisters, which are well represented in the New Ulm diocese, working both in Sleepy Eye and also in Ivanhoe.

Following Bishop Nienstedt’s invitation to the Diocese of New Ulm to form a greater promotion and awareness of the many facets of clerical, religious, and consecrated life within the diocese, I felt a special impetus to share this great experience and also to write a little about the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, the life they lead, and the important witness they bear to the world and more immediately to the Church in the Diocese of New Ulm.

The Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary is a Secular Institute. The concept and recognition of Secular Institutes in the Church is a rather new concept in the history of the Church, but one that is respected and honored for its importance and mission within the Church. Secular Institutes have a mission to live an apostolic life, an active life in the world, coupled closely with prayer and an active sacramental life within the Church.

The Schoenstatt Sisters particularly focus their lives on moral and religious renewal of the world in Christ through Mary. This Secular Institute traces its roots to 1926 in central Germany. At that time, the Secular Institute was quite novel. They are, in a word, "called to be another Mary."

This "call to be another Mary" was manifested well in the ceremony in which the novices received their "sister’s dresses." The procession into the church included the novices, who processed in wearing white dresses and veils similar to wedding dresses. This seemed very appropriate considering the act of consecration, which they were making of themselves to Christ and His Church. The symbolism evoking the total dedication and self-giving of a reciprocal relationship of love of bride and groom and the reciprocal relationship of love between Christ and His Church. After the homily during the Mass, the novices received the various parts of the dress, which is an outward sign of the life they believe they are called to follow, The sister’s dress is a deep blue, a sign of the sister’s election and of her Marian mission in the world. The belt is a symbol of purity and faithfulness to Christ and His Church. The veil is a symbol of virginity. The medal that she receives and will continue to wear until her final act of profession in the secular institute is a sign of her deep attachment to Christ and to His Mother. Each Sister also received a burning candle, a symbol of her task to be a light to the world through her apostolic being and working, that she may lead people to God. After the reception of the sister’s dress, each sister leaves and changes into her sister’s dress.

Each sister also received her new name during the Mass and hears it announced for the first time. This follows the great tradition of the Old Testament and New Testament times. Men and women received new names because of the new identity they receive through their newfound relationship with the Lord. For each Schoenstatt Sister of Mary, in connection with her "call to be another Mary" she receives the first name of Mary (another way she assumes that identity) and a second name which will distinguish her more particularly.

The relationship between the individual novice and Christ through the Mother of God in the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary is sealed with a "Covenant of Love." The sense of a covenant is particular in that it acknowledges obligations and rights on both persons involved in the Covenant.

Today the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary have 3000 members around the world and do a variety of apostolic works, primarily in the formation of girls, women and families. There are corresponding branches that work with the spiritual formation of boys and men. The Diocese of New Ulm has provided many vocations to these secular institutes. As part of our continued prayers and sacrifices as a Diocese for vocations to the priesthood, and religious and consecrated life, we ask God to continue calling young women to this important life of prayer, witness and apostolic life within the Church and particularly within our own diocese.