To kick off this blog, here is the text of the original goals, conditions, and means of the Militia Immaculatae, composed by St. Maximilian himself-
I. Goal: The conversion of all sinners, heretics, schismatics, Jews, and especially Masons and the sanctifying of all under the protection and through the grace of the Holy Virgin Mary, the Immaculate.
II. Conditions:
1. The complete commitment of oneself to the Holy Virgin as an instrument in her pure hands.
2. The wearing of the miraculous medal.
III. Means:
1. A daily recitation of the prayer:
O Mary, pray for us who seek refuge in thee and for all who have recourse to thee, especially
the Masons.
2. The utilization of every possibility, as circumstances permit, to preach zealously the gospel and to
distribute the miraculous medal.
Upon examination, these statues are really very simple. That is the way St. Maximilian lived his life-simply. Though he possessed doctorates in both philosophy and theology, his mind still operated such as a child's.
This is especially evident when one reads his writings. They were written for all to understand, peasant and nobleman alike. Further examination of these statues also reveals their militant character. War against evil using prayer, not violent force. The killing of Satan's work with "spiritual bullets" (as St. Maximilian liked to call them) called Miraculous Medals, not real bullets. Most of this militant character and straight foward language has been lost or obscured in the current, revised statutes of the MI. Read them here. There is no mention of either Jews or Masons in the current statutes. It accept the fact that cultural circumstances and attitudes do change over time, but I can't help but think that these statues have been presented in more general sweeping manner (as opposed to being aimed at specifics religions or cults) as not not "offend" or discriminate against a particular group of people. This type of thinking, if indeed that is what the revisers of the statutes had in mind, is overly paranoid in nature and could be understood as leaning toward religious indifferentism. Jews still need to be converted, despite some statements I have read as of late. The Church has always taught supersessionism when it comes to understanding the Old Covenant and the Jewish religion. The Masons are in error and need to leave behind their erroneous, indifferent teachings and accept Christ fully. It is not as if the original charter for the MI was lacking. St. Maximilian strives for the conversion of all "...sinners, heretics, and schismatics.", so it cannot be said that St. Maximilian was only concerned with the conversion of Jews and Masons.
Note: Fr. Karl Stehlin's excellent book: The Immaculata, Our Ideal has an excellent chapter on this.
This book is a must have for anyone who is trying to be a true Knight of the Immaculata. A review of this book is upcoming on this blog.
Let us strive to live out our consecrated life as St. Maximilian intended, as a militant Catholic, not passive one. To have the gentleness of a kitten but the roar of a lion when called upon.
St. Maximilian, Pray for us.
