March 2020 ISSUE 41 The Mission of the IE-Publicationmmaculata of the Militia of the Immaculata, USA

"Lord, Have Mercy on Me, a Sinner." - PAGE 3 On the Battle for the Sacredness of Human Life, to Natural Death - PAGE 4

Kolbe, the Missionary, Part II - PAGE 6

Painting by Nikolay Losev The Holy Spirit in the Life of Jesus By John W. Galten, MI National President

Dear Knights of the Immaculata,

Maria! We continue our study of the Holy Spirit, and looking at Who He is, what He does, and His relationship to Jesus, the Immaculata, and ourselves. We are now considering the Spirit as He operates in the life of Jesus. “The goal of the MI (the Isaiah had professed that the Messiah would have the fullness of the Spirit, “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of under- abbreviation comes from the standing, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of Latin Militia Immaculatae, the Lord” (Is 11:1-3). Here is a list of the great gifts of the Spirit which Jesus has and gives to all who have faith. or Militia of the Immaculata) We know that Jesus was conceived in the womb of the Immaculata by the is, in fact, to make sure that same Spirit. Jesus begins His public ministry in the stupendous revelation of the Trinity at His baptism in the Jordan River. “After Jesus was baptized, He came all become saints. In all this up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove coming upon Him, and a voice came from the activity, what strikes the eye heavens saying,‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased’” (Mt 3: most of all is its Marian thrust. 13-17). Now the inner reality of God’s life is revealed, that the one Godhead is made This is a consequence of a up of three distinct Persons: Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. In this manifes- precise understanding of the tation of God, the Father and the Holy Spirit witness to the Son and give Him divine credentials, if you will. He can speak with divine authority and can give mission of the Immaculata.” the Spirit of Whom Jesus has in plenitude, because He is the Son. There is here (continues on pg. 2) (KW 1220)

THE MISSION OF THE IMMACULATA - ISSUE 41 © Militia of the Immaculata 1 Invite Friends to be Editorial from this path. But Jesus knows the will and the plan of the Father. Living (continued from pg. 1) consecrated to Our Lady! by the strength of His own Sonship and a continuity in the events leading up the Spirit, He resolutely sets His face to this theophany (God manifesting toward Jerusalem and His impending Himself) from the Holy Spirit over- Paschal Mystery, by which we are de- shadowing the Immaculata, thereby livered from the prince of this world, conceiving Jesus, and the Father and Satan, and raised to be sons and daugh- the Spirit witnessing to Jesus as Son at ters of the Father. His baptism. We shall see in the next month’s We must not forget that, shortly newsletter that He has much to say to before this Trinitarian revelation, the us in the Last Supper discourses re- request of the Immaculata at the wed- corded in St. John’s Gospel about the ding feast at Cana prompted Jesus to Spirit, about the Church, and about begin His public ministry by the work- ourselves. Behold Your Mother: ing of His great sign: the changing Until next month, as always,“Arise, The Path to Total Consecration of the water into wine. To reveal her let us be on our way!” to Our Lady in the Spirit of power and His love for her He even St. worked this sign ahead of His antici- John W. Galten pated timetable of ministry. There can MI National President This beautiful 56-page book- be no doubt as to the collaboration of let may be used individually or as a the Trinity of Persons in the illustrious P.S. Please, let others know about our group activity (in a parish setting, plan of salvation. monthly MI e-newsletter and the daily for example), or as a series of classes Jesus begins His work, the work Kolbe emails and invite them to sign up led by a facilitator, or during a day of that the Father had sent Him to accom- on the MI website--and invite others preparation for MI consecration to plish: working great signs and won- to consider total consecration to Our Our Lady. If you can offer a series of ders, delivering astonishing teaching Lady! meetings, you can read each chapter as only God can, and calling mankind with the group and invite the partic- to salvation. Throughout the teaching ipants to reflect and comment on it. ministry of Jesus, He speaks of the Alternatively, you can invite them Kingdom of God that He has come to to read each chapter beforehand inaugurate and to establish, which will and come together for discussion. result in the first fruit which we know Many people have expressed as the Church. He came to give this the desire to promote total con- Church a structure, a teaching, and secration to Mary in their parish He will endow her with the Spirit and and local area. The Path to Total power to continue His salvific ministry Consecration offers you an effec- in time. All things, both spiritual and Daily Holy Mass tive tool for making that possible! material, will be put under His feet as will be offered throughout 2020 for He triumphantly journeys toward His the MI-USA and all MI Members The suggested donation for at the City of the Immaculata confrontation with sin and death. multiple copies of the new book- established by St. Maximilian Kolbe He goes about doing great good let is $2.00/ea. plus shipping; for near Warsaw, in Poland. and giving people hope. However, the a single copy, the suggested do- darkness begins to gather and His en- nation is $3.75 shipping included. emies begin the plot to murder Him. Send your prayer intentions to be He prepares His Apostles and His dis- placed in the MI Book of Intentions Order copies today from the ciples for this event by foretelling His at the feet of Our Lady and MI National Office: [email protected] arrest, suffering and death. They were St. Maximilian Kolbe’s first class relic: slow to believe this prediction and Or call: [email protected] attempted strongly to dissuade Him 331-223-5564

THE MISSION OF THE IMMACULATA - ISSUE 41 © Militia of the Immaculata 2 a good saintly boy. In fact, he had just been caught! He was in big trouble. His Mom was very disappointed in him and had exclaimed, “What will become of you?!?” He ran to church and knelt, face down, at the altar of Our Lady of Victory. When Our Lady appeared, she did not scold him though; rather, she presented him with the two crowns, "Lord, Have Mercy on Me, a Sinner." which would shape the path of his life. Embarking on Our Lenten Journey... She “saw” him with the eyes of God, she saw who he was called to be (as she Once I heard the story of a eyes, restore my sight, and make me sees each of us!). She saw the diamond conversation between two brothers. see clearly and distinctly, as He did in the making. The younger boy asked his “big” the blind man of Bethsaida (Mk 8:22- I would argue that this early brother, “What’s repentance…?!” 26). I would tell Him the whole truth, experience of the Lord’s mercy “That’s what you do when you get like the Samaritan woman at the well, mediated by the Mother of Mercy caught,” the older boy replied without and let Him bath me in the Blood and forged in a unique way St. Maximilian’s hesitation. I remember how everyone Water gushing from His Pierced Heart journey and MI mission. He not in the room chuckled. We all related (Jn 4:4-42). I would then arise as the only spent his life letting himself with the little story. little girl who was thought to be dead being forgiven, transformed and led When thinking of Lent, we and let Him make me a new creation by the Divine Mercy he had “seen” frequently associate it with the more or (cf. Mk 5:21-43)! In addition, I would and experienced personified in the less clear concepts of conversion from join Peter at the Sea of Galilee, after Immaculata (cf. KW 19, 1263, 1331), sin, penance and, yes, repentance. If the Resurrection, where he welcomed but also making everyone know about we are honest, we might easily admit Jesus’ unconditional trust as He this personal, unlimited, boundless, that at times you and I are tempted to commissioned him, “Feed my sheep” unconditional Love Who wants only think that that’s what our neighbor, (cf. Jn 21:1-19). to make each of us like unto Himself wife or husband, child or friend, That is why this is such a crucial through the Immaculata. co-worker or priest etc., should be disposition as we enter the holy season In Mary’s womb our soul must be doing during Lent. Therefore, I keep of Lent: “Lord, have mercy on me, a reborn after the form of Jesus Christ. on looking at everyone around me, sinner.” She is bound to feed the soul with the maybe simply because, like our first Many times, perhaps, we look at milk of her grace, raise it lovingly as parents in the Garden, I am afraid to the saints in a misleading way, as if they she nourished, looked after, and raised acknowledge that I am a sinner. What were either born that way or spared the Jesus. At her knee, the soul must learn is even worse, in doing so I neglect challenges we face. Nothing is further to know and love Jesus. From her Heart to see that I stand under the merciful from the truth. Some might have had it must draw love toward Him, or even gaze of our God, and I close my heart a cloudless or devout upbringing, but love Him with her Heart and become to His transforming and life-giving many of them were unquestionably like Him through love (KW 1295). Love constantly poured over not the “big losers.” What they all have in This is and can be true for each of self-righteous but the sinner. common, though, is that the men and us. Let us open our hearts this Lenten During Lent, I shall repeat more women we now venerate as saints truly season and truly take our journey often “Lord, have mercy on me, a “knew” they were sinners and allowed toward Easter. Let us place ourselves sinner,” like the tax collector of Jesus’ themselves to be the recipients of God’s under the gaze of the Mother of Mercy, parable (cf. Lk 18:9-14). The question unconditional mercy. the Immaculata, and follow Jesus with is, “Do I really mean it as he did?” Let us look at our own St. her on our journey of faith as He calls Because if I did, it could be a game Maximilian Kolbe and the defining us to participate fully in the mystery of changer. If I truly acknowledged in all experience in his childhood, when His Passion, Death and Resurrection sincerity that I am a sinner, I would Our Lady appeared to him. She did not and walk day by day in His will. run to Jesus and let Him touch my present herself to him because he was Antonella Di Piazza, FKMI

THE MISSION OF THE IMMACULATA - ISSUE 41 © Militia of the Immaculata 3 Euthanasia was made legal in Cana- of euthanasia, the administrators bristled da in June 2016. The government refused at the word “suicide.” They call it “death to call it euthanasia but obscured it with with dignity.” a made-up name: MAID - medical aid in dying. It is not aid but rather killing. The argument for euthanasia has al- ways been the same. We are all autono- Since its enactment, 13,000 Canadi- mous human beings and have the right to ans have died via a hypodermic needle full do what we want with our lives. of poison. We were assured the law would be restricted to adults of sound mind who Not so. First, no one exists with- were near death. For me the assurance out a network of people – from parents, rang hollow. If you are willing to kill some to teachers, to teammates, workmates, patients what is to stop you from killing spouses, etc. No one is autonomous. more? Those self-described autonomous citizens demanded that law and ethics change for On the Battle for the In January of this year, Prime Minis- their needs. How is that autonomy? Sacredness of Human Life, ter Justin Trudeau, of the Liberal Party of Canada, announced euthanasia would be I learned this lesson first hand after to Natural Death expanded to teens and the mentally ill. undergoing a brutally painful spinal con- By Charles Lewis dition that turned my life upside down. It The government set up a two-week came like a bolt of lighting on December Canada has had legalized euthana- consultation that consisted of a skewed 10, 2011, a few days after my 61st birth- sia for more than three years. What was questionnaire that assumed the responder day. I collapsed on the floor from pain I described as a merciful death for those was basically in favor of state-sanctioned can still not adequately describe. suffering has become a kind of killing death. machine. Now the government wants to From that day on my life changed. I add teens and the mentally ill to the list St. Maximilian, had to retire from a long career in journal- of those eligible to die with the state’s ap- ism, I could no longer ski, hike or cycle. I proval. This is not just something in Can- patron of the could barely get out of bed without mas- ada. It is well advanced in Belgium and sive doses of morphine. I needed massive The Netherlands. Several U.S. states have pro-life movement, surgery up and down the entire length of gone the same way and more and more pray for us! my spine just to be able to function. Nine pro-death advocates are pushing for sim- years later I use a cane and depend on ilar laws in other American jurisdictions. morphine every day. Read the following as a warning. Do not What has been most frustrating is be complacent. The life you save may be how quickly the public came to accept this But I was not alone during my ordeal. that of your spouse, parents and children. vile practice as just another medical pro- I was not autonomous. My beautiful wife Take it personally. cedure, including many Catholics. cared for me without a sound of com- plaint. There were friends and my doctor I have often looked to Mary in times of Those of us who fought against eu- and, of course, the Catholic Church that trouble. I have looked to her through ter- thanasia believed if the government tried watched over me in the form of Mary, the rible physical suffering and through times to apply this procedure to teens and the Eucharist and a good friend who was a of self-doubt. I have asked her to intervene mentally ill there would be a terrible back- priest. for those I know who were sick and those lash. We were wrong. who were dying. I have also thanked her To my American friends, do not make for the good things in my life. This issue has been with me for thir- the same mistake as we did. The killing of teen years. As a reporter for the Toron- patients has cropped up in several states. At the palliative ward where I volun- to-based National Post, a national main- Treat it like a cancer - do not let it grow. It teer I always carry a stack of Marian holy stream Canadian newspaper, I wrote and will become an irreversible tragedy. cards to give to the patients. It is incredible spoke about this issue extensively. I saw to see the faces of these people, all facing what happened in The Netherlands and As for me, I still fight against euthana- death, light up at the face of Mary. Belgium and how quickly it was accepted sia and for better palliative care, which is as normal healthcare and a right. sorely lacking in Canada. Today I look to her to open the eyes So I keep going. Faith lets you do that. of my fellow citizens in Canada who have I found it strange and upsetting that Thanks be to God. become blind to a great sin: euthanasia. in Oregon, the first state to bring in a form •

THE MISSION OF THE IMMACULATA - ISSUE 41 © Militia of the Immaculata 4 Reflection on March Act of Total MI Intention Consecration O Immaculata, please intercede that to the may be the constant beat of our hearts. (Prayer composed by St. Maximilian Kolbe)

O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven “Persevere in prayer.” (Rom 12:12) through faith. As we draw closer to her, we may be certain that we can count on her and earth, refuge of sinners and Saint Maximilian writes, “Prayer is loving presence and intercession, as the our most loving Mother, God has the expression of a beautiful soul. It is only first disciples did. willed to entrust the entire order of in prayer that man lifts his heart toward Thanks to her intercession, the Holy mercy to you. I, (name), a repentant paradise and engages in conversation with Spirit came upon them and transformed the Creator of the universe, with the prime them into authentic missionaries of the sinner, cast myself at your feet Cause of everything, with God” (KW 1208). victorious love of Christ. Persevering humbly imploring you to take me The Apostles, after Jesus’ Ascension prayer opened their hearts to become cou- with all that I am and have, wholly into heaven, returned to Jerusalem and rageous witnesses of the Gospel. to yourself as your possession and gathered in the Upper Room with some Certainly, God has a unique and women and relatives of the Lord. The Acts beautiful plan for each of us too, and we property. Please make of me, of of the Apostles tells us that Our Lady, the shall come to know it if we are receptive all my powers of soul and body, of Mother of Jesus, was with them, shared to His light, to the Holy Spirit, Who gives my whole life, death and eternity, their days and helped them to be of one us the spiritual energy and boldness to be whatever most pleases you. accord and to persevere in prayer (cf. Acts authentic missionaries. 1:14). Mary, with her faith and prayer, then The Blessed Virgin Mary never ceas- If it pleases you, use all that I am and now, sustains the faith and prayer of es to intercede for those who want to and have without reserve, wholly the disciples, who have become her own give witness to Jesus and to persevere in to accomplish what was said of you: children. proclaiming the joy of the Gospel, even “She will crush your head,” and, “You Saint Maximilian adds, “Every good the midst of setbacks. Through our total mother rejoices very much when her child consecration to the Immaculata, we place alone have destroyed all heresies in asks something of her. This is an expression our lives in her immaculate hands; we wel- the world.” of the trust the child has in the goodness of come her guidance and example and set Let me be a fit instrument in your his own mother. Similarly God acknowledg- out on our faith journey with her. immaculate and merciful hands es with joy the trust we manifest to Him in “He who does not pray cannot easily prayer. This prayer should not be expressed understand the spirit of prayer. Besides, he for introducing and increasing in rigidly established forms. Its essence cannot be aware of the joy prayer offers to your glory to the maximum in all is petition, thanksgiving, or adoration to the soul and of the energy prayer communi- the many strayed and indifferent God” (KW 1208). cates in everyday life” (KW 1208). May we souls, and thus help extend as far The need for and power of prayer learn, through prayer, to listen to God and may be experienced any time, but most respond with to His Word with a generous as possible the blessed Kingdom especially when our hearts are troubled heart. of the most of Jesus. and restless, as the disciples in the Upper (from the MI International Office) For wherever you enter, you obtain Room most likely were. We may use any the grace of conversion and growth opportunity to connect with God through 2020 the Immaculata, by a simple invocation in holiness, since it is through your from the heart, wherever we are: at work MI Intentions hands that all graces come to us or at home, while we carry out our dai- leaflets are from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. ly duties, or take a walk or drive. Thus, available in prayer will become the beat of our hearts English and V. Allow me to praise you, O sacred Virgin. in a calm, loving and constant dialogue Spanish with our Heavenly Father. R. Give me strength against your enemies. The Immaculata lived this day-to- day dialogue with the Lord, which led her Request them from the to be constantly open to His plan of love MI National Office

THE MISSION OF THE IMMACULATA - ISSUE 41 © Militia of the Immaculata 5 quarters. Yet all this brought no sadness and exhausted, dying for the Immaculata… Our did not extinguish apostolic zeal: “However, nature may be appalled, look with nostalgic our state of mind is far from melancholy. You eye to another quieter and more comfort- do and you bear all things with joy for the sake able way of life, under clearly determined of the Immaculata: we are on a mission! In Chi- conditions. Yet sacrifice consists precisely na, missionaries have to cope with even greater in going beyond the attractions of bodi- troubles. Glory be to the Immaculata! Glory be ly nature. All hope is in the Immaculata.” to the Immaculata!” Instead, no sooner had Fr. Metody arrived More distressing, for Fr. Kolbe, were the in Japan than he tried to make small sufferings that originated with the brothers. adjustments, which in themselves harbored Not those resulting from the sudden death of no malice, but jarred with the behavior of the Fr. Alfons, of which he was informed by tele- others. gram, and which, after an initial moment of When Fr. Florian told Fr. Maximilian confusion, left his heart comforted “because it about the troubles of the Polish all happened on the occasion of the Solemnity Niepokalanów, he replied: “What am I still of the . Simply: she took dreaming? We have infinite troubles in both Kolbe, him to herself, as she did four years ago with Br. Niepokalanóws, and we will have even Albert.” And not even those resulting from the more.” And in an earlier letter he writes: the Missionary - long and costly illness of Br. Mieczysław, the “Lately I have gone through such troubles mental exhaustion of Br. Damian, or his own and crosses, from both outside and inside Part II ailments. Mugenzai no Sono, that my effort on behalf No. The most serious concerns arose of Kishi has had to ease up for lack of We continue to look at St. Maximilian's from the selfish behavior of some confreres, strength.” missionary dreams and challenges. especially Br. Zygmunt, Fr. Metody, and Br. But he did not give up. On the one hand, he ascribed the errors of the above- By Fr. Giuseppe Simbula, OFM Conv. Konstanty. Br. Zygmunt Król was one of the brothers chosen directly by Fr. Kolbe for the mentioned brothers to his ineptitude as a mission to the Far East. He had already been superior. On the other, he knew he could Fr. Kolbe had concerns and worries, too, the cause of some concern in Poland, but the count on the “rest of the brothers,” who, coming from the situation of extreme poverty situation then had returned to normal. And “thanks to the Immaculata, are willing to do they were in. Their activity depended entirely since, at that time, the choice was somewhat anything for her sake.” Above all he knew on contributions that came from Poland; but limited by the still fairly small number of pro- that “the Immaculata directs all things in these did not always come on time, and when fessed brothers, he was included among the the best possible way” so he did not stop funds were granted for extraordinary expens- first missionaries. But already in China he working, hoping, dreaming. To Fr. Florian es, ordinary funds were curtailed. So he could gave some signs of insubordination, then in he suggested a magazine for children, a never plan the various apostolic initiatives Japan his disobedience became increasingly vocational commitment that could awaken with any degree of ease. serious. When reprimanded by Fr. Kolbe, he dormant vocations so that Niepokalanów Nearly all the letters he sent to the Provin- declared that he would leave the Order and might be populated by one hundred cial Minister and to Niepokalanów, both to the asked insistently for his papers. The possibil- friar priests and seven hundred religious Guardian and to the community, emphasize ity that Br. Zygmunt might leave the Order in brothers, all very engaged in a wide range such difficulties, to the extent that at a certain Japan frightened Fr. Kolbe, on account of the of apostolic activities, which he described, point he feels the need to apologize for them: discredit the brother would throw on the work and in perpetual adoration of the Blessed “I imagine how awkward it must be for you of others and the scandal that would ensue Sacrament. to keep getting only and continually requests among the faithful and the pagans. Fr. Kolbe For Mugenzai no Sono he envisaged for:‘Money, money, money.’” But then the let- suffered indescribably. Father Metody Rejen- a thousand brothers able to work for ter goes on to ask for more money and suggest towicz was an honest, even good, friar, as Fr. five million copies of Kishi, distributed initiatives for raising money for the missions. Kolbe repeatedly underlines, but he failed to throughout the East by ships and planes. The money was used almost exclusive- make the spirit of Niepokalanów his own and After the return to Poland of Br. Damian, who ly for developing apostolic activity. Personal did not intend to adjust to it. was ill, and of the discontented Br. Zygmunt needs were cut down to the bare minimum: The spirit of Niepokalanów mentioned and Fr. Metody, Mugenzai no Sono enjoyed the brothers slept in the attic, under an un- by Fr. Kolbe, which is essential in a mission a period of great peace. “We really live plastered roof, and on winter mornings they land even more than at home, is described here,” writes Fr. Kolbe, “in the antechamber might awaken to find their quilts covered in as follows: “Supernatural, perfect obedience of heaven” because the “brothers are pure snow. For a kitchen, initially they had only one to the Immaculata via one’s Superiors… [and] gold.” “Glory to the Immaculata for all! burner, then two, out in the open. The walls of the strictest kind of poverty, in order to win the Among us things are going more than the house were made of wood less than a cen- world over to the Immaculata as soon as possi- well, and as soon as any suffering presents timeter thick, and without plaster, with wide ble and to making oneself similar to her: these itself, it vanishes immediately; in fact the cracks that let dangerous insects in. A high are the characteristic features of Niepokalanów.” Immaculata sweetens it tremendously. It embankment, which could not be removed Or as he writes to Fr. Metody himself: “Our almost seems like the calm that invites us because the brothers had no time to do it and task here is very simple: working hard all day, to prepare before a new storm; still, for the no money to pay laborers, prevented the sun working ourselves to death, being considered moment the horizon is serene and the sun is from reaching the sleeping and the working a little less than a fool by our own people and, shining marvelously.” (to be continued)

THE MISSION OF THE IMMACULATA - ISSUE 41 © Militia of the Immaculata 6 to join. We officially founded the Village here on October 17, 2017, the 100th year anniversary of Kolbe’s original founding. Unfortunately, after that founding things got a little messy. We struggled and prayed to understand what our Queen desired for Conception’s Village. But our loving Mother did not leave us unaided. After lots of time on planning and working with the administration, the Vil- lage finally matured last semester and this semester to what Our Lady seems to de- sire. Our mission is... We consecrate ourselves totally to Mary, without reserve, loving her more intimately and serving her more faith- Letters from MI Members fully, so as to become instruments in her hands. Through this more intimate • my husband’s rare blood cancer. Grateful, and sincere relationship with Mary, we Dear Friends of St. Maximilian Kolbe, Mary strive to allow her to (1) set us ablaze Winter greetings from marvelous with zealous love for the salvation of Minnesota. • souls and the coming of the Kingdom May our Immaculata intercede for I would love to disseminate Miraculous of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on earth, your concerns this day. I just love St. Max. Medals through my Catholic church and (2) unite us in a spiritual brotherhood I just love him. have permission from my priest to do so. founded in this mutual love of Mary, My fifth son was born in 1990, W. I think I could easily disseminate as many (3) give us the desire to take more full Kolbe. At that time, it was a newly or- as 150-250 on a card about the MI or with advantage of the graces of formation dained priest who researched information the brochures. I became an MI member at seminary, (4) set our hearts on fire for me concerning Max. My Catholic cul- and consecrated myself to the Immaculata with divine love for the Eucharistic ture, at that time, was so water downed. last August 22, and I would be happy to do Heart of Our Lord, enjoying intimate Now, through the intercession of St. Max- what I can to spread love for Our Lady and friendship with Him based on His True imilian, my Jewish husband converted to word about the MI. Presence. Catholicism and our sixth son, Joseph T., I am so grateful to have been led to We are immensely grateful to God for plans to be ordained a Catholic priest in discover the MI because the writings of St. bringing this work to fulfillment. And to 2021. Praise God!!!!! Maximilian Kolbe and the web page have you for all the work you do to advance our “It was a priest, during a quick in- been so helpful to me in understanding most noble cause. All for the Immaculata! quiring call on my part, who responded why love for Our Lady is not a diversion Paul "Well, you know what prison is like,” after from Christ but leads us closer to Him. his discovery of my being, at that time, a I want to do my little bit to share • mother “at home” with seven sons. It was this with others so they too may de- Thank you for the wonderful website, a badge of honor, trust me. light in Our Mother and grow in newsletter, and daily emails. Special thank St. Maximilian’s relic is on top of my love for Our Brother and Lord. you for the pamphlet of monthly prayer early 1800s German writing desk and an Karen intentions. I read it every day. God bless Italian worn-out holy card from my moth- you! er’s European trip in the early 1990s is • Greg right in front of me as I write. Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Immac- P.S. You have changed my life! I just wanted you to know that St. Max ulata, touches one heart in a very private, yet, It is good to finally write to you all. • evangelizing way. My name is Paul. I am currently a senior Thank you for your various efforts/ St. Maximilian’s mother was very, at Conception Seminary College. Two correspondence. very close to me while my Joseph began years ago, my brother seminarian Brian Your work (and encouragement) his novitiate in Lima, Peru... My thoughts and I felt called to start a group of the MI to me, as a member, is appreciated. May were always about how she handled Max here at Conception. We felt that the Im- more souls be led to Our Blessed Mother going to Japan... maculata desired a more formal structure and Jesus! Sincerely, Please pray for the disappearing act of for this group rather than a casual group Antonia

THE MISSION OF THE IMMACULATA - ISSUE 41 © Militia of the Immaculata 7 The Writings of St. Maximilian Kolbe VOLUME I: LETTERS • VOLUME II: VARIOUS WRITINGS At long last the complete works of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe in English: accurate, readable and The Definitive English Edition! with explanatory introduction and footnotes. Saint Maximilian Kolbe died at Auschwitz Concentration Camp as a Both scholars and general readers will find this “Martyr of Charity” in 1941. The Polish-born Franciscan Friar had edition of the Writings of St. Maximilian Kolbe an spent the previous twenty-three years as a priest, evangelizer, media inspiring practical aid for learning what this Franciscan saint has mogul, social commentator, missionary, and religious reformer. His life’s contributed to the study of Mariology and living the consecration work cut short at age 47, St. Kolbe nonetheless left behind an impressive to Mary’s Immaculate Heart. May the translators’ work contribute body of writings. In the 1950s the English-speaking world first began to a renewal of Kolbean studies in the English speaking world. reading bits and pieces of those writings translated from the original — Fr. Peter D. Fehlner, OFM Conv. Polish, Italian, and Latin. Now, at long last, devotees and scholars alike can find the entire wide-ranging array those writings collected together Hardcover edition may be ordered from in a two-volume compendium published by Nerbini International. MarytownGiftShop.com - Click Here Order e-Book Online at BarnesandNoble.com or Amazon.com. MI RESOURCES Available from the MI National Center

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THE MISSION OF THE IMMACULATA - ISSUE 41 © Militia of the Immaculata 8