June 2019 ISSUE 32 The Mission of the IE-Publicationmmaculata of the Militia of the Immaculata, USA The Secret of Priestly Holiness - PAGE 3

KMMK 88.7 FM Radio Station - PAGE 4

The Immaculata and the Holy Spirit - PAGE 7

Going Deeper into the Heart -III By John W. Galten, MI National President Dear Knights of the Immaculata,

Maria! We have been speaking in these latest newsletters of the prayer path to the of Jesus—especially in this month of June—the month dedicated to the Pierced Heart of the Savior. This path of prayer passes through the Im- maculata’s Heart by way of our Total Consecration. We are reminded by the “The goal of the MI (the Catholic Catechism of the Church that prayer is a battleground. This arduous trek is beset by the devil and our own weakness. Do not be afraid! Our Lady abbreviation comes from the accompanies us on this prayer journey to His Heart. Latin Militia Immaculatae, Besides sin, which is enemy number one, there are other obstacles on our pilgrimage. I want to dwell on one more of these potholes in the road. It may or Militia of the Immaculata) surprise you as to its identity—what the ancient tradition called “acedia.” It was is, in fact, to make sure that identified by the early desert Fathers of the Church as a sadness that resulted in spiritual listlessness, boredom, dejection, leading to sloth, laziness. It results in all become saints. In all this an “I don’t care” attitude, leaving our prayer, slackening on our spiritual exer- cises, and drifting away from the Sacraments. We, even as lay people, living in activity, what strikes the eye a terribly superficial age, typified by the search for material “kicks,” addicted to most of all is its Marian thrust. thrill seeking, fascinated by all that is “new” or “progressive,” may experience feeling bored unless we are entertained, and sad, sad, sad because none of these This is a consequence of a things delivers in the long run. precise understanding of the We see people abandoning religion, religious life, married life for some- thing “new” and “stimulating.” This spiritual illness manifests itself by tiring of mission of the Immaculata.” spreading the Faith or tiring of doing good. (continues on pg. 2) (KW 1220)

THE MISSION OF THE IMMACULATA - ISSUE 32 © Militia of the Immaculata 1 Invite Everyone to Editorial So until next month, dear Knights, Be Consecrated to continue the good fight for the King- (cont. from pg. 1) Our Lady! dom. ”Arise, let us be on our way.” A very important book was pub- lished by Ignatius Press and authored John W. Galten by Dom Jean-Charles Nault, The Noon- MI National President day Devil—Acedia. In a very insightful passage the author reveals the mali- P.S. “Restore to me the joy of Your Sal- cious heart of this sinful temptation vation and uphold me with a willing and condition: “A sin against the joy of spirit.” Psalm 51:12 charity, it is sadness about what ought to gladden us most, the participation P.P.S. Don’t forget to promote our MI in the very life of God. On the other Newsletter! Use it for your ongoing hand, acedia is a sin against charity formation and for your MI Villages re- when it crushes or paralyzes activity, flection! Behold Your Mother: namely charity, the participation of the The Path to Total Consecration Holy Spirit.” to Our Lady in the Spirit of Daily Holy Mass St. Joy is mentioned numerous times will be offered by Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict This beautiful 56-page book- XVI, and Pope Francis in his encyclical throughout 2019 for let may be used individually or as a letter The Joy of the Gospel. the MI-USA and all group activity (in a parish setting, Saints are not sad. Even the diffi- for example), or as a series of classes culties, setbacks and defeats of our dai- MI Members at the led by a facilitator, or during a day of ly lives are short-lived, but the bedrock City of the Immaculata preparation for MI consecration to of joy in Jesus remains and will remain Our Lady. If you can offer a series of according to His promise. established by meetings, you can read each chapter The remedy? Perseverance, not St. Maximilian Kolbe with the group and invite the partic- with grimness but always with the trust ipants to reflect and comment on it. of a child; a relentless dedication to the near Warsaw, in Poland. Alternatively, you can invite them to Immaculata and our daily renewal of read each chapter beforehand and our consecration to her; deepening gift come together for discussion. of ourselves to the Sacred Heart, par- Many people have expressed the ticularly in the Holy Eucharist. Against desire to promote total consecration these, even if all hell is unleashed to Mary in their parish and local area. against us, it will fail to overwhelm our The Path to Total Consecration offers stronghold. She will crush the head of you an effective tool for making that the adversary—the enemy of God and possible! all His good creation. The suggested donation for mul- One of my MI Village members tiple copies of the new booklet is had a wonderful quote on a T-shirt— Send your prayer intentions $2.00/ea. plus shipping; for a single copy, the suggested donation is $3.75 “When the devil reminds you of your to be placed in the MI Book past, remind him of his future. St. Te- shipping included. resa of Avila.” So resist his temptation of Intentions at the feet to sadness, rejoice in the Immaculata of Our Lady Order copies today from the and her spouse the Holy Spirit who and St. Maximilian Kolbe’s MI National Office: lead us to the intimate depths of love— first class relic: [email protected] the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Or call: [email protected] 331-223-5564

THE MISSION OF THE IMMACULATA - ISSUE 32 © Militia of the Immaculata 2 but rather give themselves to God for their brethren, finding their happiness in this. The Secret Not only with words, but with our lives, we want to repeat humbly, of Priestly day after day, our “Here I am.” Guided by you, Holiness we want to be Apostles of Divine Mercy, glad to celebrate every day the Holy Sacrifice of the Altar and to offer to those who request it An ardent love for the Eucharistic Heart of Mother of Mercy, the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Jesus and consecration to the Immaculate it was your Son Jesus who called us Heart of Mary: this will be the secret for to become like Him: Advocate and of grace, the growth in holiness of all priests. light of the world and salt of the earth you who are fully immersed St. John Paul II instituted the Day of (cf. Mt 5:13-14). in the one universal mediation of Christ, Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests to invoke upon us, from God, be observed on the Solemnity of the Most Help us, through your powerful a heart completely renewed Sacred Heart. Let’s pray fervently for all intercession, never to fall short that loves God with all its strength priests. Let’s invite them to be consecrated of this sublime vocation, and serves mankind as you did. to Our Lady, who embraces each priest as nor to give way to our selfishness, she did St. John at the foot of the Cross, to the allurements of the world Repeat to the Lord when Jesus said: “Behold your son!” (Jn and to the wiles of the Evil One. your efficacious word: 19:25-27). The following act of consecra- “They have no wine” (Jn 2:3), tion was composed and recited by Pope so that the Father and the Son Benedict XVI on May 12, 2010, at the will send upon us Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Immaculate Mother, Our Mother for all time, called together by the love do not tire of “visiting us,” of your Son Jesus the Eternal High Priest, consoling us, sustaining us. we, sons in the Son and his priests, Come to our aid consecrate ourselves to your maternal and deliver us from every danger Heart, in order to carry out faithfully that threatens us. the Father’s Will. With this act of entrustment We are mindful that, without Jesus, and consecration, we can do nothing good (cf. Jn 15:5) we wish to welcome you and that only through Him, with Him more deeply, more radically, Fr. Richard Nguta, parochial vicar of for ever and totally and in Him, will we be instruments of St. Mark’s Parish, Peoria, Illinois, made his salvation for the world. consecration to Our Lady and enrolled into our human and priestly lives. in the MI on April 25, 2019. Bride of the Holy Spirit, Let your presence cause obtain for us the inestimable gift Preserve us with your purity, new blooms to burst forth of transformation in Christ. guard us with your humility in the desert of our loneliness, Through the same power of the Spirit that and enfold us with your maternal love let it cause the sun to shine overshadowed you, that is reflected in so many souls on our darkness, making you the Mother of the Savior, consecrated to you, let it restore calm after the tempest, help us to bring Christ your Son who have become for us so that all mankind shall see to birth in ourselves too. true spiritual mothers. the salvation of the Lord, May the Church who has the name and the face of Jesus, be thus renewed by priests who are holy, Mother of the Church, who is reflected in our hearts, priests transfigured by the grace of Him we priests want to be pastors for ever united to yours! who makes all things new. who do not feed themselves Amen!

THE MISSION OF THE IMMACULATA - ISSUE 32 © Militia of the Immaculata 3 Radio Station KMMK: Carrying Catholic Programs in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Area and Beyond By Dan Russo, The Witness Editor, updated by Tony May, MI Member.

Tony and Susan May station leaders of KMMK, Cedar Rapids, Iowa area (Photos by Tony May/KMMK)

It came down to the wire the day friar was a trailblazer in communica- “All things work out in God’s timing,” KMMK 88.7 FM went on the air. tions, which is why they chose his ini- said Tony May. “I don’t know what I would Volunteers were working on con- tials as part of their call letters.) have done back then (over a decade ago if necting cables, readying computers “Catholic radio is an excellent means we were approved) because I was still in and perfecting other technical matters of evangelization because through the the middle of raising kids and my career.” on April 8, 2018, until the last possible airwaves people can hear the message of Now Tony is “nearly retired” and his wife, second before the radio station began Christ through all these beautiful programs Sue, is part-time music director at St. Pat- broadcasting on Divine Mercy Sunday. … and every day it changes so something rick Parish, Cedar Rapids. “We could not get that signal up be- new can be learned every day,” said Sue May. In the past year since KMMK has been fore that Divine Mercy Hour,” recalled The retired teacher spent years teaching on air, the station has broadcast syndicated Tony May, president of Pro-Life Unity music and theology at Regis Catholic Mid- Catholic programs from EWTN and Relevant and Support (PLUS) Charities, the non- dle School and Xavier Catholic High School Radio, two national Catholic networks. The profit behind the station. “It was a quar- in Cedar Rapids respectively. She got the 25-kilowatt station can be heard for a 100-mile ter to three. For us, it was very symbolic.” idea to start the station while hearing Cath- stretch around Interstate 80, including the cit- KMMK is the latest radio station olic programs on stations in Nebraska and ies of Cedar Rapids, Marion, Tama, Iowa City to be established within the boundar- North Dakota on trips to visit relatives. She and parts of Waterloo. Tony May estimates ies of the Archdiocese of Dubuque that then enlisted the help of her husband whose the signal can reach up to 400,000 people. professional engineering background and experience as a ham radio operator came in handy. Over a decade ago, the Federal Com- munications Commission opened up a window for community groups to apply for applications for Non-Commercial Educa- tional (NCE) stations, in the lower part of Transmitter communications shelter, A Murphy Tower climber installing the the FM band. The Mays, under the name of KMMK 88.7 MHz FM antenna and coax “Mary’s House”, in Coggon, Iowa, on a cellular tower the nonprofit, applied and began the push 20 miles north of Cedar Rapids to raise $55,000 for the cost of getting the carries Catholic programming, joining station up and running. A change in FCC “This is listener supported and lay driven,” said others in Dubuque, Charles City and policy kept them and other applicants tied Sue May. “We’re still working to get the word Marshalltown. The effort is an all-vol- up in litigation for about seven years, but out.” Their website is KMMK-FM.org, which unteer lay evangelization project that with the help of a high-powered Washing- includes live streaming. Tell people you know involved almost three dozen volunteers ton, D.C., attorney named Dennis Kelly in the listening area to tune in to 88.7 FM. The from the various parishes of the Cedar who has a passion for radio and Catholic station is holding a banquet Sept. 21. More in- Rapids area. evangelization efforts, they won their case. formation is at the website. Having approached their one-year In 2016, they were issued construction anniversary, the Mays reflect on the permits, but a few more curve balls caused This article is republished with permission of journey to bring KMMK, a radio sta- more delay. Finally, in 2018, they were able The Witness, the official publication of the Arch- tion named for Maximilian Mary Kolbe, to lease tower space from a cellular phone diocese of Dubuque. the patron saint of amateur radio, from company in Coggon, Iowa, twenty miles For more content and information or subscrib- dream to reality. (The Polish Franciscan north of Cedar Rapids. ing, visit TheWitnessOnline.org.

THE MISSION OF THE IMMACULATA - ISSUE 32 © Militia of the Immaculata 4 Kind God, my possession and my treasure, in whom may I receive the Body may my mind and my heart be fixed and of Your only-begotten Son, firm and rooted immovably henceforth our Lord Jesus Christ, and for ever. Amen. born from the womb of the Virgin Mary, Cardinal J. H. Newman’s Prayer and so be received into Dear Jesus, His mystical body Help me to spread Your fragrance and numbered among His members. everywhere I go. Flood my soul with Your spirit and life. Loving Father, Penetrate and possess my whole being as on my earthly pilgrimage so utterly, that my life may only I now receive Your beloved Son be a radiance of Yours. under the veil of a sacrament, Shine through me, may I one day see Him and be so in me that every soul face to face in glory, I come in contact with may feel Seeking and Adoring the who lives and reigns with You for ever. Your presence in my soul. Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Amen. Let them look up and see no longer me but only Jesus! St. Bonaventure’s Prayer Stay with me and then A collection of prayers for you to use in After Holy Mass I shall begin to shine as You shine, preparation for and thanksgiving after Pierce, O most sweet Lord Jesus, my so to shine as to be a light to others; Holy Mass as well as for Eucharistic Ado- inmost soul with the most joyous and The light, O Jesus will be all from You; ration. May love for the Eucharistic Heart healthful wound of your love, with true, none of it will be mine; of Jesus be the prime fruit of our consecra- serene, and most holy apostolic charity, It will be you shining on others tion to His Immaculate Mother. that my soul may ever languish and melt through me. Amen. with love and longing for you, that it may St. Thomas Aquinas’ Prayer yearn for you and faint for your courts, St. Maximilian Kolbe’s Before Holy Mass and long to be dissolved and to be with Eucharistic Prayer Almighty and ever-living God, you. Who would dare to imagine that You, I approach the sacrament Grant that my soul may hunger after O infinite and eternal God, have loved me of Your only-begotten Son you, the bread of angels, the refreshment for ages, and more than that, from before Our Lord Jesus Christ, of holy souls, our daily and supersubstan- the ages? In fact, Your love for me exists, as I come sick to the doctor of life, tial bread, having all sweetness and savor long as You exist as God, so it follows that unclean to the fountain of mercy, and every delight of taste; let my heart You have loved me and will always contin- blind to the radiance of eternal light, ever hunger after and feed upon you, upon ue to love me!… even before I existed, You and poor and needy to the Lord whom the angels desire to look, and may already loved me, and precisely because of heaven and earth. my inmost soul be filled with the sweet- You loved me, O good God, You brought ness of your savor; may it thirst after you, me to existence from nothingness!… For Lord, in your great generosity, the fountain of life, the fountain of wisdom me You created the heavens adorned with heal my sickness, and knowledge, the fountain of eternal constellations of stars, for me the earth, wash away my defilement, light, the torrent of pleasure, the richness the seas, the mountains, the rivers and enlighten my blindness, of the house of God; may it ever compass the many, many beautiful things here on enrich my poverty, you, seek you, find you, run to you, attain earth… and clothe my nakedness. you, meditate upon you, speak of you, and As if this was not enough, to show me May I receive the Bread of angels, do all things to the praise and glory of that You really love me tenderly, You de- the King of kings and Lord of lords, your name, with humility and discretion, scended from the pure delights of heaven with humble reverence, with love and delight, with ease and affec- to this degraded world full of tears. You with the purity and faith, tion, and with perseverance unto the end; led a hard life in poverty and suffering; fi- the repentance and love, may you alone be ever my hope, my en- nally, despised and derided, You chose to and the determined purpose tire assurance, my riches, my delight, my be hung up on a base scaffold in terrible that will help to bring me to salvation. pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, pain between two thieves. O God of love, May I receive the sacrament my peace, my sweetness, my fragrance, my You have redeemed me in this terrible but of the Lord’s Body and Blood, sweet savor, my food, my refreshment, my generous way! and its reality and power. refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, (continues on pg. 6)

THE MISSION OF THE IMMACULATA - ISSUE 32 © Militia of the Immaculata 5 You are great. the human face of God that has burst into You are the Most High. history to reveal You are Almighty. the horizons of eternity. You, Holy Father, are King of heaven The silent face of Jesus and earth. suffering and risen, You are Three and One, when loved and accepted, Lord God, all Good. changes the heart and life. You are Good, all Good, supreme Good, “Your face, Lord, do I seek, Lord God, living and true. Do not hide your face from me” You are love. (Ps 27:8ff). You are wisdom. How many times through the centuries has You are humility. not the ardent invocation of the Psalmist You are endurance. resounded among the faithful! Who would dare to imagine?... Alas, You are rest. You were not content with this, knowing You are peace. Lord, with faith, we too repeat that I would appear here on earth 19 hun- You are joy and gladness. the same invocation: dred years after this moment of the effu- You are justice and moderation. “Man of suffering, as one from whom others sion of Your revelations of love, You have You are all our riches, hide their faces” (Is 53:3), provided even for this! Your heart did not and You suffice for us. do not hide your face from us! consent that I would be nourished only by You are beauty. We want to draw from your eyes, the memory of Your immeasurable love. You are gentleness. that look on us with tenderness You remain upon this miserable world in You are our protector. and compassion, the Most Holy and exceedingly admirable You are our guardian and defender. the force of love and peace which shows us Sacrament of the altar, and now You come You are our courage. the way of life, and the courage to follow You to me and unite Yourself intimately to me You are our haven and our hope. without fear or compromise, as nourishment… You are our faith, so as to be witnesses of your Gospel, Now, Your Blood already flows into our great consolation. with concrete signs of acceptance, mine, Your Soul, O incarnate God, pen- You are our eternal life, love and forgiveness. etrates my soul, strengthening and nour- Great and Wonderful Lord, O Holy Face of Christ, ishing it…What miracles! Who would God Almighty, Merciful Savior. Amen. Light that enlightens the darkness of doubt dare to imagine?… What could You have and sadness, Life that has defeated forever given me more, O God, after having of- Pope Benedict XVI’s Prayer the force of evil and death, fered Yourself to me to become mine?… Lord Jesus, O inscrutable gaze Your Heart, inflamed with love for me, as the first Apostles, that never ceases to watch suggested to You another gift, yes, yet one whom You asked, “What do you seek?”, over men and people, more gift!… accepted your invitation to Face concealed in the Eucharistic signs You asked us to become children, if “Come and see,” and in the faces of those that live with us, we wish to enter the heavenly kingdom recognizing You as the Son of God, make us God’s pilgrims in this world, [cf. Mt 18:3]. You well know that a child the Promised Messiah longing for the Infinite needs a mother: You Yourself established for the world’s redemption, and ready for the final encounter, this law of love. Your goodness, Your mer- we too, your disciples when we shall see You, Lord, cy, therefore, created for us a Mother, the in this difficult time “face to face”(1Cor 13:12), personification of Your goodness and in- want to follow You and be your friends, and be able to contemplate You forever finite love. From the cross, on Golgotha, drawn by the brilliance of your face much in heavenly Glory. You offered her to us and us to her… Fur- desired yet hidden. thermore, You, O God of love, arranged to Mary, Mother of the Holy Face, make her the omnipotent Dispenser and Show us, we pray You, help us have “hands innocent and a heart Mediatrix of all Your graces: You refuse your face ever new, pure,” hands illumined by the truth of love nothing to her, but neither is she capable that mirror, mystery laden, and hearts enraptured by divine beauty, of refusing anything to anyone… of God’s infinite mercy. that transformed by the encounter Grant that we may contemplate it with Christ, we may gift ourselves St. Francis’ Prayer with the eyes of our mind to the poor and the suffering, in Praise of God and our hearts: whose faces reflect the hidden presence You are holy, Lord, the only God, the Son’s face, radiance of your Son Jesus, and your deeds are wonderful. of the Father’s glory who lives and reigns forever and ever. You are strong. and the imprint of his Nature, Amen!

THE MISSION OF THE IMMACULATA - ISSUE 32 © Militia of the Immaculata 6 Who is the Father? What is it that consti- will be two in one flesh [cf. Gn 2:24], and Je- tutes His being? Begetting, because He begets sus emphasizes: “Therefore now they are not the Son from eternity, and from all eternity he two, but one flesh” [Mt 19:6]. In a way incom- always begets the Son. parably more rigorous, more interior, more Who is the Son? He is the begotten One, essential, the Holy Spirit lives in the soul of because He is always and eternally begotten of the Immaculata, in her being and makes her the Father. fruitful, and that from the first moment of her And who is the Spirit? He is the fruit of existence for her whole life, that is forever. the love of the Father and of the Son. The fruit This Uncreated The Immaculata and of created love is a created conception. Thus, immaculately conceives in the womb of her the fruit of love, of the prototype of this creat- soul [Mary’s] divine life, that is her Immac- the Holy Spirit ed love, is nothing but conception. The Spirit, ulate Conception. Even the virginal womb At the urging of his superiors, St. Maximilian therefore, is an uncreated, eternal conception. of her body is reserved to Him, who therein He is the prototype of any conception in the conceives in time—for all that is material oc- Kolbe began to draft a book on Our Lady. life of the universe. curs in time—also the divine life of the God- He dictated this last reflection (KW 1318) So, the Father begets, the Son is begotten, Man. to Br. Arnold Wędrowski on the morning of and the Spirit proceeds, and that is Their es- And so the return to God, the equal and sence, whereby They differ from each other. opposite reaction proceeds in the opposite February 17, 1941, the day Fr. Maximilian What joins Them, instead, is the same nature. way to that of creation. In the case of creation was arrested by the Gestapo. Divine existence in its essence. [all comes] from the Father through the Son The Spirit, therefore, is a most holy con- and the Spirit, while here, through the Spir- ... Who are you, O Immaculate Concep- ception, infinitely holy, immaculate. In the it, the Son becomes incarnate in the womb tion? Not God, for He has no beginning; not universe, we encounter everywhere an action of her and, through Him, love returns to the an angel, created directly out of nothing; not and an equal but opposite reaction, a going-to Father. She then, woven into the love of the Adam, formed with the mud of the earth; not and a coming back, a distancing and a com- Most Blessed Trinity, becomes from the first Eve, taken from Adam; and not even the In- ing closer, a division and an unification. Divi- moment of her existence, forever, eternally, carnate Word, who existed from eternity and is sion, however, is always in view of unification, the complement to the Most Holy Trinity. “conceived” rather than “conception.” Prior to which is creative. That is nothing but an image In the union of the Holy Spirit with her, conception, the children of Eve did not exist, of the Most Holy Trinity in the activity of crea- not only does love unite these two Beings, but so they may be better called “conception.” Yet tures. Unification is love, creative love. The ac- the first one of them is all the love of the Most you differ from them also, for they are concep- tivity of God outside Himself does not proceed Holy Trinity, while the second is all the love tions contaminated by original sin, while you otherwise: God creates the universe and this of creation. Thus, in this union heaven meets are the only Immaculate Conception. action is in a sense a separation. earth, all of heaven with all of the earth, all All that exists outside of God, by virtue Through the natural law received from Uncreated Love with all created love; it is the of the fact that it comes from God, totally and God, creatures, for their part, perfect them- highest expression of love. Also, in Lourdes, in every aspect from God, carries in itself a selves, becoming similar to God, and return the Immaculata did not define herself: “Con- semblance to the Creator, and nothing exists to Him. And rational creatures love Him con- ceived without sin,” but, as St. Bernadette her- in creation that does not bear in itself such a sciously and unite themselves to Him more self recounts: semblance, for everything is an effect of this and more through such love: they make their “At that moment the Lady was standing prime cause. way back to Him. In addition, the creature to- above the wild rose bush in the same attitude The truth is that the words that define tally filled with this love, with divinity, is the in which she is depicted on the miraculous created realities speak to us of divine perfec- Immaculata, without the slightest stain of sin, medal. Upon my third question Her face took tions only in an imperfect, limited, analogical the One who never deviated from God’s Will on an expression of gravity and at the same manner. They are a more or less distant echo of in anything. She is joined in an ineffable man- time of profound humility… Joining the divine attributes, just like the various creatures ner with the Holy Spirit, because she is His palms of Her hands as if in prayer, She lift- that they define. Bride, but she is so in a sense incomparably ed them up to Her chest… turned Her gaze Would conception then possibly repre- more perfect than that word can convey in toward heaven… then, slowly opening Her sent an exception? That is not possible, for in creatures. hands and bowing to me, She said in a voice this area there are no exceptions whatsoever. Of what kind is that union? It is above all in which you could notice a slight tremor: The Father generates the Son, while the inner union; it is the union of her being with ‘Qué soy ér’ Immaculada Councepsiou! I am Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. the being of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit the Immaculate Conception.” In these few words is contained the mystery dwells in her, it lives in her, and that from the If, among the creatures, a bride receives of the life of the Most Holy Trinity and all the first moment of her existence, always and eter- the groom’s name, because she belongs to him perfections existing in creatures, which are nally. and joins him, is made similar to him and, in nothing more than a different echo, a hymn What does this life of the Holy Spirit in union with him, becomes the creative agent of praise in multicolored tones about that first her consist of? He Himself is love in her, the of life, all the more so, the name of the Holy wonderful mystery. love of the Father and of the Son, the love with Spirit, “Immaculate Conception” is the name We still have to use words taken from the which God loves Himself, the love of the whole of the One in whom He lives with a love that vocabulary of creatures, since no others are Most Holy Trinity, fruitful love, conception. is fruitful throughout the whole supernatural available to us. Yet we must keep in mind that In created semblances the union of love is the order. they are but very imperfect words. closest union. The Scriptures assert that they Maximilian Kolbe

THE MISSION OF THE IMMACULATA - ISSUE 32 © Militia of the Immaculata 7 Reflection on June Official Act of Total MI Intention Consecration to O Immaculata please intercede that the entire People of God may be the Immaculata engaged in the missionary and charitable work of the Church. (composed by St. Maximilian Kolbe)

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the contrary, love unites, brings about O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven nations.” (Mt 28:19) peace, and is constructive. It is not The Gospel according to St. Mat- strange then that only love manages al- and earth, refuge of sinners and our thew concludes with the sending of ways to render men perfect and, there- most loving Mother, God has willed the disciples on mission. The friends of fore, that only the religion that teaches to entrust the entire order of mercy Jesus went with Him to Jerusalem, the love of God and neighbor can perfect great city where Jesus died and rose. men. The religion of Jesus Christ is re- to you. I, (name), a repentant sinner, Afterward, they returned to Galilee, ally this religion of love, of perfect love, cast myself at your feet humbly to the place where Jesus had begun and this is evident in the holy words of imploring you to take me with his mission. Unlike the other Gos- Jesus Christ.” (KW 1205). pel accounts of the disciples’ encoun- The Militia of the Immaculata is all that I am and have, wholly to ters with the Risen Lord, now no one missionary by its very nature and pro- yourself as your possession and doubts! The certainty of His presence longs the witness of love of its founder. property. Please make of me, of and proximity is so unreserved that The action of MI members, consecrat- mission is shown as the natural jour- ed and lay people as well as clergy, ef- all my powers of soul and body, of ney of a faithful disciple. fectively fulfills the missionary man- my whole life, death and eternity, In chapter 10 mission was to be di- date of Jesus in various areas of society. rected to the lost sheep of the house of In the Lord’s vineyard there are many whatever most pleases you. Israel. Now, in chapter 28 its universal unknown workers and countless hero- If it pleases you, use all that I am scope is made clear. The Church is the ic acts of gratuitous love. and have without reserve, wholly community of Jesus’ missionary disci- Let’s be among those who humbly ples, whom He sends to proclaim the and generously give their hands and to accomplish what was said of you: Gospel to everyone. hearts in response to the missionary “She will crush your head,” and, “You As we look at our world in light call of Jesus, certain of His unfailing alone have destroyed all heresies in of Jesus’ mandate, we should ask our- presence. selves: To which people is the Lord Je- the world.” sus sending us today? How are we to (From the MI International Office) Let me be a fit instrument in your be missionaries in our own families immaculate and merciful hands and workplaces, in our culture and so- ciety? How are we to reach out to those for introducing and increasing who do not know Christ and those your glory to the maximum in all who are indifferent, to those who pro- fess the Faith but do not embrace it in the many strayed and indifferent practice? souls, and thus help extend as far We have been entrusted with a as possible the blessed Kingdom mission of love, and of “the charity of truth.” St. Maximilian reminds us: “In of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. looking around us and in seeing so For wherever you enter, you obtain much evil all over the place, we would the grace of conversion and growth sincerely like, especially as members of the Militia of the Immaculata, to put in holiness, since it is through your an end to this evil by leading humanity, hands that all graces come to us through the Immaculata, to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. In so doing, we from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. make eternally happy, from this life 2019 MI Intentions leaflets V. Allow me to praise you, O sacred onward, our brothers who live in this are available in Virgin. world” (KW 1160). We are to wage a English and Spanish relentless war on evil and carry it out R. Give me strength against your in love. Our lives are to speak more enemies. loudly than our words. “Hatred di- Request them from vides, separates and destroys, while, to the MI National Office

THE MISSION OF THE IMMACULATA - ISSUE 32 © Militia of the Immaculata 8 The Writings of St. Maximilian Kolbe MI RESOURCES VOLUME I: LETTERS • VOLUME II: VARIOUS WRITINGS Available from the The Definitive English Edition! The Martyr of Charity, St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe (1894-1941), MI National Center before his death in the Auschwitz concentration camp, had a full and fruitful life. The Polish-born Franciscan Friar had spent the previous twenty-three years as a priest, evangelizer, media mogul, social commentator, missionary and religious reformer. His life’s Disseminate the work cut short at age 47, St. Kolbe nonetheless left behind an impressive body of writings. In the 1950s the English-speaking and world first began reading bits and pieces of those writings translated from the original Polish, Italian and Latin. Now, at long last, devotees and scholars alike can find the entire wide-ranging introduce Our Lady array of those writings collected together in a two-volume and the MI to others! compendium, published by Nerbini International. At long last the complete works of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe in English: accurate, readable and with explanatory introduction and footnotes. Available also in Both scholars and general readers will find this edition of the Writings of St. Maximilian Kolbe an e-Book Format inspiring practical aid for learning what this Franciscan saint has Hardcover edition contributed to the study of Mariology and living the consecration may be ordered from to Mary’s Immaculate Heart. May the translators’ work contribute Marytown Gift Shop. to a renewal of Kolbean studies in the English speaking world. — Fr. Peter D. Fehlner, OFM Conv. Order e-Book Online at BarnesandNoble.com or Amazon.com.

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“If you love the Immaculata, if your heart burns with gratitude to her, offer your contribution to this work, according to your capabilities! It is worth making such an effort! The Miraculous medals and Immaculata will not forget it! May various MI brochures all MI Knights be zealous in winning the world over to the Immaculata!” can be requested St. Maximilian Kolbe from the MI National Office [email protected]

THE MISSION OF THE IMMACULATA - ISSUE 32 © Militia of the Immaculata 9