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The Militia Immaculatae, or Knights of the
Immaculata, is a worldwide Marian movement for the conversion of
non-Catholics and the sanctification of Catholics, under the patronage and
through the mediation of the Immaculate Virgin. It was founded by St.
Maximilian Kolbe in 1917 as a transcendental movement to raise and include
all Marian movements in response to the terrible forces arrayed against the
Church in our times.
The Militia Immaculata has been chosen by the District Superior of Asia as a
powerful instrument to sanctify the souls in his care and to raise up
vocations for Holy Mother the Church. It is a goal of the District that
every one of the faithful becomes a member of the Militia Immaculatae.
Original Statutes of the Militia Immaculatae
(by St. Maximilian)
“She will crush your head.” (Genesis 3:15).
“Thou alone hast vanquished all heresies
throughout the world.” (from the Roman Breviary).
I. Goal of Membership:
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To work for the conversion to
God of all men, be they sinners, heretics, schismatics,
Jews, etc., in particular the Masons; and that all become
saints, under the patronage and through the mediation of the
Immaculate Virgin.
II. Conditions of Membership:
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To consecrate oneself entirely
to the Immaculate Virgin, placing oneself freely as a docile
and generous instrument in Her hands.
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To wear the Miraculous Medal.
III. Duties of Membership:
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If possible, to pray the
following ejaculation at least once a day: O Mary,
conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to
Thee, and for all those who do not have recourse to Thee,
especially for the Masons and for all those who are
commended to Thee.
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To use all other valid and
legitimate means for the conversion and sanctification of
men, according to one’s means, in the different states and
conditions of life, as the occasions present themselves;
this is entrusted to the zeal and prudence of each one.
Particularly recommended, however, is spreading the
Miraculous Medal.
N.B. These means are
recommended only as suggestions and not as an obligation; not
one of them obliges under pain of sin, not even venial sin. Our
principal motive is to help the greatest possible number of
souls to be united with the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the
mediation of the Immaculata.
Three Levels of Membership
The Militia Immaculatae is a
universal and transcendant organization for all: “It is a
movement which should attract the masses and snatch them away
from Satan.”
It is an organization with levels of
membership to incorporate an elite: “Once souls have been won
over to the Immaculata, there will also be a few who can be led
further to the very height of devotion, even to the point of
heroism in the service of spreading the Kingdom of God through
the Immaculata. All religious orders and congregations, all the
movements in the Church can also belong to the M.I. The
different levels of membership will enable each member to give
his best to the apostolate and so attain to Christian
perfection.
It is necessary to understand the
Militia Immaculatae as something transcendant; this means that
it should not be viewed as just one organization among many
others; rather, it ought to penetrate into the depths of all
other organizations.”
M.I. Level 1
Envisaged by Maximilian Kolbe for
every Catholic, it involves a minor consecration and reception
of the Miraculous Medal ►M.I. Ceremony of Enrolment AND, for Apostolic purposes,
knowledge of a small 22 question mini-Marian catechism. ►M.I.
Primer Catechism
M.I. Level 2
This is for M.I. members with
greater commitment to an active apostolate which might be
demonstrated by active membership of an organization of the
Church Militant such as the Eucharistic Crusade, Legion of Mary,
Apostles of Mary, Archconfraternity of St. Stephen, etc. OR, if
other possibilities of common apostolate are opportune, they
could be members of a circle of studies, a movement for
students, a movement for lawyers, a movement for the suffering
etc. (c.f. ►Fr. Stehlin’s Letter No. 3)
M.I. Level 3
This is for M.I. members who have
given their entire lives to God by a priestly, religious or lay
vocation.
How To Become A Member
Initially, Fr. Stehlin will give a
conference at every Mass Centre in the District of Asia to
instruct the faithful and encourage them to join the Militia
Immaculatae at Level 1. At the end of each conference, the
faithful will be invited to enrol themselves by making an act of
consecration.
The priests of the District of Asia
will then continue the work of recruiting, catechising and
enroling new members through regular sermons, existing catechism
training and regular enrolment ceremonies (►M.I. Enrolement
Guidlines). They will also start a training programme for
existing members with a view to making them M.I. Fatima Apostles
2017....
Become a M.I. Fatima Apostles
2017 member!
An M.I. Fatima Apostle 2017 is a M.I.
Level 2 member who has (a) undergone specific training and (b)
has practiced a specific apostolate in order to prepare for the
great 100th anniversary of Our Lady's apparitions at Fatima.
(a) Training:
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5 or more 1h20 training sessions
based upon the Marian Manual No.1 (►Marian Manual No.1) or
Catechism of the Errors of Russia (currently in
preparation).
-
33 Day Consecration to Mary
according to the method of St. Louis Marie Grignon de
Monfort.
(b) Apostolate
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recruitment of members for the
M.I. by teaching the M.I. Primer Catechism teaching
Catechism to others,
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organizing Catholic action such
as Rosary processions and conferences, or any approved work
to spread the Faith or devotion to Mary.
-
The M.I. Fatima Apostles 2017
will then assist the priests in the work of recruiting and
catechising new members.
Act of Consecration
O Immaculata, Queen of heaven and earth,
refuge of sinners and our Mother most loveable, to whom God deigned to
confide the whole order of mercy
I N.N., an unworthy sinner, prostrate myself
at thy feet,
Humbly begging thee if thou wouldst deign to
take me wholly and entirely as thy property and possession and to use me,
together with all the powers of my body and soul, my life, my death, my
eternity, as pleases thee.
Use the whole of me, if thou so willest,
without any reservations, to fulfill that which is said of thee, “She has
crushed all the heresies in the world”, so that in thy immaculate and loving
hands I may become a useful instrument in engrafting and increasing thy
Glory in so many straying and indifferent souls, and in this way to bring
about the greatest extension, the blissful Kingship of the Most Sacred Heart
of Jesus.
For wherever thou enterest thou obtainest
graces of conversion and sanctification. Through thy immaculate hands all
graces from the Sweetest Heart of Jesus flow upon us.
Grant me the grace to praise thee, Lady most
holy.
Grant me strength against my enemies. Amen. |
