![DBP 1973 771 Maximilian Kolbe](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/DBP_1973_771_Maximilian_Kolbe.jpg)
The Militia Immaculatae (meaning the "Army of the Immaculate One"), called in English the Knights of the Immaculata,
[The Militia Immaculatae of St. Maximilian Kolbe, EWTN](_blank)
/ref> is a worldwide Catholic evangelization
In Christianity, evangelism (or witnessing) is the act of preaching the gospel with the intention of sharing the message and teachings of Jesus Christ.
Christians who specialize in evangelism are often known as evangelists, whether they are i ...
movement founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe
Maximilian Maria Kolbe (born Raymund Kolbe; pl, Maksymilian Maria Kolbe; 1894–1941) was a Polish Catholic priest and Conventual Franciscan friar who volunteered to die in place of a man named Franciszek Gajowniczek in the German death camp ...
in 1917.[Josemaria, Anthony.''The Blessed Virgin Mary in England Vol. 1'' 2008 p. 411]
History
The Militia of the Immaculata (or MI) was founded in Rome at the "St. Bonaventure" Pontifical Theological Faculty (now the International College of the Conventual Franciscans) by a Conventual Franciscan
The Order of Friars Minor Conventual (OFM Conv) is a male religious fraternity in the Roman Catholic Church that is a branch of the Franciscans. The friars in OFM CONV are also known as Conventual Franciscans, or Minorites.
Dating back to ...
, Father Maximilian Kolbe
Maximilian Maria Kolbe (born Raymund Kolbe; pl, Maksymilian Maria Kolbe; 1894–1941) was a Polish Catholic priest and Conventual Franciscan friar who volunteered to die in place of a man named Franciszek Gajowniczek in the German death camp ...
.["Militia of the Immaculata", Pontifical Council for the Laity]
/ref> The MI is open to all Catholics and encourages intercession
Intercession or intercessory prayer is the act of praying to a deity on behalf of others, or Intercession of saints, asking a saint in heaven to pray on behalf of oneself or for others.
The Apostle Paul's exhortation to Saint Timothy, Timothy sp ...
to the Virgin Mary
Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother o ...
for the conversion of sinners.
Kolbe presented the idea of forming the MI to his Jesuit spiritual director, as well as to his Franciscan Superior at the house of studies in Rome, and was encouraged to proceed. The purpose of the MI is to draw souls back to the knowledge and importance of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and to how every soul can easily enter into this consoling mystery through their own personal Act of Consecration to the Immaculata.
It was established as a pious union on January 2, 1922, by the Vicariate of Rome
it, Vicario Generale di Sua Santità
, unofficial_names = Cardinal Vicar
, insignia = Coat of arms Holy See.svg
, insigniasize = 75px
, insigniacaption = Coat of arms of the Diocese of Rome
, image = AngeloDeDonatis.jpg
, incumbent = Angel ...
.[
Joining the MI involves making a personal act of ]consecration to Mary
The consecration and entrustment to the Virgin Mary is a personal or collective act of Marian devotion among Catholics, with the Latin terms ''oblatio'', ''servitus'', ''commendatio'' and ''dedicatio'' being used in this context. Consecration is ...
. Members wear the Miraculous Medal
The Miraculous Medal (french: Médaille miraculeuse), also known as the Medal of Our Lady of Graces, is a devotional medal, the design of which was originated by Catherine Labouré following her apparitions of the Blessed Virgin MaryAnn Ball, 20 ...
as an outward sign of their consecration.
The purpose of the Knights is contained in these words: to do all you can for the conversion of sinners, heretics, schismatics and so on, above all the Masons, and for the sanctification of all persons under the sponsorship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Immaculate Mediatrix
Mediatrix is a title given to Mary, mother of Jesus in Christianity. It refers to the intercessory role of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a mediator in the salvific redemption by her son Jesus Christ and that he bestows graces through her. Mediatrix i ...
. - Fr. Maximilian Kolbe, 1938.
The association grew and spread to different countries. On October 16, 1997, the Pontifical Council for the Laity decreed the "Milizia dell'Immacolata" to be an international association of the faithful
In the Catholic Church, an association of the Christian faithful or simply association of the faithful (Latin: ''consociationes christifidelium'') sometimes called a public association of the faithful, is a group of baptized persons, clerics or la ...
of pontifical right.[ MI has over 3 million members in 48 countries.][
The organization publishes ''Miles Immaculatae'', a six-monthly magazine of Marian culture and Kolbian formation. Founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe, specifically for priests and pastoral workers, it is now the official publication of the International Center.]["Militia of the Immaculata", ''Zenit'', Vatican City, June 15, 2006]
See also
*Immaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception is the belief that the Virgin Mary was free of original sin from the moment of her conception.
It is one of the four Marian dogmas of the Catholic Church, meaning that it is held to be a divinely revealed truth w ...
*Immaculata prayer
The Immaculata prayer is a Traditional Catholic Marian prayer composed by Saint Maximillian Kolbe.
It is a prayer of consecration to the Immaculata, i.e. the immaculately conceived Virgin Mary
Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, ...
*Niepokalanów
Niepokalanów monastery (so called ''City of the Immaculate Mother of God'') is a Roman Catholic religious community in Teresin (42 km to the west from Warsaw), Poland founded in 1927 by Friar Minor Conventual Friar Maximilian Kolbe, who w ...
*Catholic Marian movements and societies
Catholic Marian movements and societies have developed from the veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary by members of the Catholic Church. These societies form part of the fabric of Mariology in the Catholic Church. Popular membership in Marian or ...
References
Bibliography
* Smith, Jeremiah J., ''Saint Maximilian Kolbe: Knight of the Immaculata'', 2008
* Manteau-Bonamy, H. M., ''Immaculate Conception and the Holy Spirit: The Marian Teachings of St. Maximilian Kolbe'', 2008
External links
Militia Immaculata International Website
{{Authority control
Christian organizations established in 1917
Catholic organizations established in the 20th century
Catholic Mariology
Catholic orders and societies
International associations of the faithful
Order of Friars Minor Conventual