> 1934 - Ave, imperatrix!

1934 – Bringing the Hero Sodalists Home

Ave, imperatrix!

Part Two: The Sacrifice

War breaks out. It demands sacrifice of them. Once again they approach their Mother’s picture; they want to set out as her knights. ‘Queen, whatever you want, we want to be faithful to you! Accept us! Ave Maria! Imperatrix morituri te salutant! Empress, we who are about the die salute you!’ With their Mother’s blessing and carrying her picture in their hearts, they march out. Their motto is their faith in Schoenstatt. Those who stay behind keep watch at the shrine. The heroes have to fight a terrible battle. The devil calls up all his power to draw those who belong to the Woman into the abyss. But he can do nothing. They keep together, one supporting the other. So the devil tries to separate them. They come back together and renew their oath of loyalty. The separate in silence. Come what may! But the devil has still not given up the battle, he summons all the powers of the underworld and turns them upon the heroes. Yet even though they are outwardly separated, they remain in touch. From East to West they hear the farmer’s call:

‘Brothers, are you still alive?’
‘We are still striving.’
‘Pillar, are you still standing?’
‘I am still standing and bear a tremendous burden.’
‘Banner bearer, is the cross still standing?’
‘It is standing still and pierces my heart.’
‘Hail Schoenstatt!’
‘Schoenstatt Hail!’

As the noisy battle rages on, the call of the banner bearer re-echoes from West to East:

’Fiery young man, are you still aflame?’
‘I’m not aflame, but I glow beneath the sod.’
‘’Shepherd boy, are you still free?’
‘I am in the process of becoming free from self.’
‘Farmer, are you still sowing seed?’
‘Hail Schoenstatt!’
‘Schoenstatt Hail!’

The devil is so angry that he wants to throw himself into the battle. Michael appears: ‘Stop, God’s enemy … Your time has come! The solders have won …’

God calls the heroes home. He calls them home to eternal Schoenstatt. They have to pass through the dark valley of death. It is difficult for young people to die. But they had offered Schoenstatt’s Mother their lives. Now they want to accept death and they joyfully sacrifice their lives for her and her kingdom. Accompanied by the angels, carrying the paten in their hands into which the blood of their hearts has flowed, they walk towards the Holy Grail and Schoenstatt. They rise up transfigured to where their Queen awaits them to crown them.

Part Three of the play follows: The fruits of the sacrifice.