A Winning Strategy

In the light of what was said above, before reflecting on Fr. Kolbe’s missionary approach, it is important to emphasize the ingenious simplicity of his missionary strategy, the essence of which is primarily being animated by a passionate and exciting “obsession”: the desire to get closer to Mary, to belong more and more to her, to become Mary, the Immaculata, the creature in whom the Plan of God is fully realized, to “let fly more and more the wings of love” for God and neighbor, letting her continue through us to give birth to Jesus in the heart of every person.

In other words, Maximilian understood (like all the saints!) that to collaborate in the universal plan of salvation first of all it is necessary to put ourselves out there! More than methods, means, initiatives... the mission needs people! Mission requires that each of us choose, freely and decisively, to welcome the love of God, to follow Jesus and to offer Him his or her life (cf. Rom 12:1-2), to be a witness of His love, an instrument in His hands, a servant of the Truth. Like Mary, we are to be ready to say, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled” (Lk 1:38).

For this purpose he founded the Militia of the Immaculata (MI): certainly not to set up another Catholic organization, but to give life to a missionary movement, an association of people who choose to “consecrate themselves completely to the Immaculate Virgin, placing themselves freely as a docile and generous instrument in her hands” (see the MI Original Program), in order to cooperate in the conversion and sanctification of themselves and of all men. The MI is an association of people who, together and unreservedly consecrated to Mary, live and love, suffer and rejoice, work in any environment and situation in communion of life with her, making her visible in the world.

That is why reaching out and inviting more and more people to belong to the MI was the goal relentlessly pursued by Fr. Maximilian. It was not so much to swell the ranks of adherents to his association, but to contribute as quickly as possible to pursuing “the happiness of all mankind in God through the Immaculata,” allowing her to continue her maternal and universal mission everywhere, as soon as possible, through the humble and generous presence of more and more MI “Knights.”

MI members are people of every age, condition and state of life, present “everywhere, but particularly in the most important places, such as: 1) youth education (professors of scientific institutes, teachers, sports clubs); 2) the management of public opinion (magazines, newspapers, their drafting and dissemination, public libraries, circulating libraries, etc., conferences, movies, cinemas, etc.). 3) fine arts (sculpture, painting, music, theater); and finally 4) Knights of the Immaculata in every field should become the pioneers and leaders in science (natural sciences, history, literature, medicine, law, exact sciences, etc.).”

He continued this way: “With the assistance of the MI, industrial complexes, businesses, banks, etc., should arise and develop. In a word, the Militia should permeate everything, and in a healthy spirit heal, strengthen, and develop all to the greater glory of God through the Immaculata and for the good of humanity.”

This was St. Maximilian’s missionary dream! These were the new horizons that attracted his eyes! His missionary strategy could be summed up in a threefold program:

1. to be converted and to evangelise oneself at the school of Mary;
2. to evangelise others, through example, word and the generous gift of self;
3. to call and to form new evangelisers.

Closing Prayer

Hail Mary… 

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you, and for all those who do not have recourse to you, especially the enemies of Holy Church and all those recommended to you.

Go to previous prayer |  Go to next prayer | Go to the beginning