Indeed, I also know and gladly acknowledge that the lives of very few priests have been as richly blessed as mine. But I also know that whatever has come into existence, whatever has come into existence through me, whatever has come into existence through you, has come about because of our Mother Thrice Admirable of Schoenstatt (August 11, 1935).

On July 8, 1910, Father Joseph Kentenich was ordained a priest in Limburg. From childhood on he had anticipated this day. He celebrated his first Holy Mass on July 10, in the same house chapel where his ordination took place, the Mission House of the Pallottines in Limburg.

The motto written on his ordination card read: Unite

O Father,

all minds

in truth

and all hearts

in love…

Truth and love were two basic values he struggled with during his years of formation. They also became basic principles for his priestly activity and later on for his foundation.