The friars of the friary in Schwarzenberg, Germany, a Marian pilgrimage destination, were pleased to have been visited twice in the last week by the Most Reverend Ludwig SCHICK, Archbishop of Bamberg. The archbishop has always been very close to the friars.
On April 25, 2021, the archbishop celebrated Mass with the friars at our Maria Hilf Friary in Schwarzenberg, praying for vocations. At dinner, the Guardian, Friar Mateusz KOTYŁO, spontaneously invited the archbishop to return to Schwarzenberg on May 1st. In Germany’s state of Bavaria, May 1st is dedicated to Mary. It is not the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, rather, Mary is venerated as the “Patrona Bavariae.” This is part of the Church’s tradition of celebrating May as the month of Mary.
The friars of Schwarzenberg invited Archbishop SCHICK to celebrate the 7:00 p.m. Mass on May 1st. Although only a limited number of faithful were able attend the opening of the “Marian month,” because of anti-pandemic measures, the friars were satisfied with the large turnout. In his homily, the archbishop invited the faithful to take refuge in Mary our Mother, especially during this month, and to present the intentions of all peoples to her.
Friar Andreas MURK
