In the last years of Father Kentenich’s life he returned from Milwaukee to Schoenstatt. A group of the Schoenstatt Fathers took an unusual initiative. They asked Father Kentenich if they could make an imprint of his hand into a block of slowly solidifying concrete. They made a mould which on the one side had the relief image of Jesus and Mary as seen in the Schoenstatt picture of Our Lady. On the reverse side they asked Father Kentenich to press into the concrete and make an imprint of his hand. The idea was a bit different than the film stars on Hollywood Boulevard who are invited to immortalise their fame by making the imprint of their hands on the pavement. Here we had a symbol of the educating hand – the shaping hand – leading those entrusted to him to become like Jesus and Mary. At the same time we had an image of a priestly hand to give blessing to many. Most of his priestly life was spent giving his time and energy to others. When asked he said that he saw his task in helping many to find the God of their lives. Continue reading “The Father Hand”
