Trento, Italy  27-31 May 2014

Trento, Italy is the site of  the Council of Trent, held between 1545 and 1563 in response to the Reformation.  Once again we had wonderful hosts, this time at the Chiara Lubich Mariapolis Center in the hills above Trento. We were encouraged to receive messages of blessing and welcoming from theMayor of Trent, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Trent, and Cardinal Schönborn of Vienna.   The group of about 50 included many of those who were in Ottmaring and Volkenroda, but also many new faces.  At the end we divided into the variousstreams of the body of Christ that we represented, bringing the Dzpearlsdz of our traditions to be joyfully received by the other streams:  ​

+  Messianic Jews
+  Russian Orthodox
+  Roman Catholic
+  Lutheran
+  Anglican / Baptist / Presbyterian
+  Pentecostal & Charismatic
+  Non-denominational / Free church  

One of the most important messages was given by Verena Lang, an Austrian Catholic.  She presented the history of the Catholic Church leading up to Luther, repenting for the corruption demonstrated by many Popes and other leaders.  She proposed viewing Luther as a prophet sent by God to the Roman Catholic Church.His prophetic message was not received correctly by Albrecht, the Bishop of Mainz.  In a prayer time afterwards, Franziskus Eisenbach (former auxiliary bishop of Mainz) asked the German Lutherans for forgiveness on behalf of his predecessor Albrecht.  Repentance was received and forgiveness offered by Reverend Burkhard Hotz, a German Lutheran.  Their embrace afterwards symbolized the beauty and power of reconciliation. 

​   Talks were given in English and German, with translation provided.
All recorded audio is being hosted on the christ the reconciler website.

Go to Audio Recordings from the Trento Gathering

Focolare (1)

Welcome (1) to Trento, Greetings from the Mayor, Bishop, and Cardinal

Amy Cogdell

The Unity of the Trinity 

Franziskus Eisenbach & Johannes Fichten-bauer

Word and Sacrament

Prayer Journey

Walking tour with prayer in various historical spots in Trento

Thomas Cogdell ​

Looking Forward 

FOCOLARE (2)

Welcome (2) to Trento, Greetings from the Mayor, Bishop, and Cardinal

Franziskus  Eisenbach

Meditation about the Icon of Rubliew
(The 3 angels)

Richard Harvey &
​Sr. Joela ​krüger

Simon of Trent & the misuse of consecrated hosts as a weapon
​against Jews

Michael Salm

Family History as German Nobility

Amy Cogdell + Groups ​

Pearls of the Church

Thomas & Amy Cogdell​

Story of a Catholic/Protestant
​Marriage Purpose of the Gathering

Hans-Peter & Verena Lang

Historical facts in policy and church
​15th and 16th

Hans-Peter &  Verena Lang​

Introduction to the History of the
​Council of Trent

Reports​

Sr. Joela – Judensau in Wittenberg

Danny Malakowsky – Church Divisions Course

Richard Harvey – Luther Books 

Johanna Binder – Kisi Kids

After the gathering in Trento, it was determined that the site of the next meeting would be Rome, Italy. 

2015 Rome