A Statue of St. Maximilian

It's easy to walk by something significant without noticing it. In my parish church, this statue sits facing a "side nave" in which I never sit. It's very easy to overlook this great saint who so diligently looks over this small part of the church. I need to remind myself to look up when I'm walking this way and say a prayer. How many statues, images or other religious items do you have in your church or home that you walk by and don't acknowledge? What if we all said a prayer every time we walked by one of these reminders of our faith? It think it would be a good habit to get into.

Back to Basics

I had vowed to myself that when I created this blog, I would not let it fall to the wayside like so many other blogs that I have stumbled upon over the years. It always annoyed me to find an "abandoned blog" that had not been touched in several months or years. Alas, this has become one of those forgotten brainstorms of mine (like many of my other brainstorms). It is time to get back to this blog.
I want to post things that will inspire people to love God, Our Lady, and St. Maximilian more but I find myself at many times lost for words. I always fall back on the "you can't give what you don't have" argument. How can I spread this love and devotion when I fall so short of the mark every day.
So this blog must never be about how creative or crafty or clever I can be so come up with something that will catch the breath of my readers. It must be about providing food for thought and resources for learning more about Jesus, Our Lady, St. Max, and the M.I.
There are so many out there who are either bigoted or blind to the teachings of the One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church. A sick world needs medicine. St. Max medicine.

Essential Reading: Militia Immaculatae "The Practical Manual"

Militia Immaculatae

The Knighthood of 

Immaculate Virgin Mary

According to the writings and the spirit 

of the founder, St. Maximilian Kolbe

 

by Fr. Karl Stehlin, SSPX 

translated into Enlgish by

Michael J. Miller

Te Deum

Warsaw 2005

Another book review of Fr. Stehlin's books, this one could be labeled the "practical manual" of the MI, although this phrase is not found in the book. In 32 pages, this book includes a simple introduction to St. Maximilian's life and mission, the founding of the M.I. and instructions for enrolling. I found several insights in this book which do not appear in some of the mainstream material concerning the M.I.. Get it and read it.

AVAILABLE HERE

St. Maximilian, Help us to become little children before God.

Feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe

One of the benefits of following a Saint who lived not so long ago is the availability of actual photographs of him or her. I chose this photo to augment this post and celebrate his feast. A look at his "serious side" brings out the heroism and genuine toughness of this great Saint. The meek and humble Saint of Auschwitz had a foundation of stone inside of him. Sometimes that stone came through in a solemn stare such as this. St. Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us.

The Immaculata, Our Ideal


Ave Maria

I can't say enough about this book. Fr. Stehlin has a done great service to traditional Catholics in writing it. It brings out the true militant nature of St. Maximilian's ministry, and how we must maintain this militant nature as members of the M.I. to be effective evangelizers. Fr. Stehlin quotes St. Maximilian directly throughout the book, giving a clear picture of exactly what the Saint was trying to achieve through the Immaculata. I have ready many biographies of St. Max.

None of them bring out this great Saint's convictions concerning the "new ecunemism" like this one. St. Max was adamantly opposed to it and viewed it as a danger to the Faith. I had not known that the new ecunemism was raring it's ugly head in the early 1900's. Honestly, I'm not that good at book reviews, so I'll leave you at this- buy the book. At  $16.95, you will not be disappointed. I was surprised that Angelus Press was out of stock on this book. They said that they have tried to order more copies from Fr. Stehlin but he had none to send so maybe it is being reprintned? Anyway, I did find it here, at the Fatima Shoppe.

Thanks, Fr. Stehlin.

Mary's Knight

Ave Maria

Presented here is the definitive biography of St. Maximilian Kolbe. Written by Claude R. Foster, Professor of History at West Chester University (now emeritus), Pennsylvania. It covers the entirety of Raymond Kolbe's life.
At 700 pages long, it measures almost 2" thick. Considering its size and laminated casewrap hardcover, it reminds me of a college textbook. It is filled with quotes from people who were intimately close with St. Maximilian, many of which the author interviewed directly. In a recent email from the author, he informed me of this:

"On July 15th, as I arrived for a two-week visit at Niepokalanow, the last Niepokalanow witness for the biography, Brother Jeremiasz, departed this world. Now all the Niepokalanow witnesses have joined the Church Triumphant. The only witness now living is Brother Roman in Japan. The biography could not be written today. All of my key witnesses for the ministry and martyrdom of Saint Maximilian are gone. The timing for Brother Hieronim and me to collaborate in providing this biography was providential."

  I can't convey how detailed this account of  his life is. No stone was left unturned in Mr. Foster's research. It also includes a wonderful set of black and white and full color photographs in the middle of the tome. (As a side note, the author has just informed me that this biography is now available in Polish and Italian.)

 It is available from the-  Marytown Bookstore
                                   1600 West Park Ave.
                                   Libertyville, IL 60048-2593
                                   Phone: 847-367-7800

           Here is a direct link where the book can be purchased online: LINK

Be good, St. Max is watching.

Why a blog?

Ave Maria

I should probably explain why this blog was created. The first reason, I think, is out of necessity.

The administrative body of the M.I. is the Conventual Franciscans in Libertyville, IL at Marytown, the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe. (BTW: I am priviliged to live only about a couple of hours from the Shrine, which I have visited) As far as I know/ remember, they do not embrace the traditional sacraments (1962 books). This does not really affect one's membership in the M.I. since your daily practice and devotion is done in solitude, but traditionalists have a habit of looking at things a bit differently. Traditionalists also like to "group up" and collaborate since in many cases we are forced to group and collaborate just to have the traditional mass and sacraments made available to us.

Another reason for the creation of this blog is a personal one. My devotion to St. Maximilian and practice of the requirements of membership in the M.I. have fallen lax. Maybe this blog will renew my vigor.
It kind of already has.

Pray for me.



St. Maximilian, Pray for us!