Rosenthal (dpa/sn) – With the bright sun and temperatures well over 30 degrees, the Diocese of Dresden-Meissen celebrated its children’s pilgrimage live again. Around 700 young Christians from Saxon parishes came to the Rosenthal pilgrimage church (Bautzen district) on Wednesday – because of the heat by bus instead of on foot. Two years ago, the pilgrimage was only done virtually due to the corona.
The pilgrims followed the service on the pilgrimage meadow in the shade of trees and bushes, where they could also have a picnic. Water sprinklers offered refreshment, as did the monastery spring, which was always crowded with children and young people.
“We feel something is out of kilter,” said Bishop Heinrich Timmerevers, according to his spokesman, referring to this year’s motto “Is it still okay? (Over) Life on Earth”. He appealed to children and young people to protect nature and the environment “so that the people who come after us can also live”. It is important to “keep and preserve what God has given us”.
The village of Rosenthal in Sorbian Lusatia is one of the most important places of pilgrimage for the Catholic Church in Saxony. A painted figure of Mary made of linden wood from the 15th century is venerated there, the “Mother of God of the Linde”, to which Christians from near and far make a pilgrimage every year. The children’s pilgrimage traditionally takes place every two years. Young Catholics walk the last stretch to the pilgrimage church on pilgrimage paths in the morning.
