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.