Militia Immaculatae

Rev. Robert Brucciani

The Militia Immaculatae, or “Knights of the Immaculata”, is a worldwide Marian movement for the sanctification of Catholics and the conversion of non-Catholics, under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe in 1917 as a movement to raise and include all Marian movements in responding to the terrible forces arrayed against the Church in our times.

The Militia Immaculatae will be established in the District to be a powerful instrument to sanctify souls and to raise up vocations for Holy Mother the Church. Fr. Stehlin, District Superior of Asia, is the great apostle of the movement which currently has about 10,000 members worldwide. It is a goal of the District that every one of the faithful becomes a member of the Militia Immaculatae.

Original Statutes

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:

— To work for the conversion to God of all men, be they sinners, heretics, schismatics, Jews, etc., in particular the Freemasons; and that all become saints, under the patronage and through the mediation of the Immaculate Virgin.

II. Conditions of Membership:

— To consecrate oneself entirely to the Blessed Virgin Mary, placing oneself freely as a docile and generous instrument in Her hands.

— To wear the Miraculous Medal.

III. Duties of Membership:

If possible, to pray the following aspiration 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.

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 transcendent organisation for all:

It is a movement which should attract the masses and snatch them away from Satan.

It is an organisation 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 transcendent; this means that it should not be viewed as just one organisation among many others; rather, it ought to penetrate into the depths of all other organisations.”

Level 1

Envisaged by Maximilian Kolbe for every Catholic, it involves a minor consecration and reception of the Miraculous Medal (see M.I. Ceremony of Enrolment) AND, for apostolic purposes, knowledge of a small 22 question mini-Marian catechism (M.I. Primer Catechism).

Level 2

This is for M.I. members with greater commitment to an active apostolate which might be demonstrated by active membership of an organisation 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. (see Fr. Stehlin’s Letter No. 3).

Level 3

This is for M.I. members who have given their entire lives to God by a priestly, religious or lay vocation.

Enrolment

Initially, Fr. Brucciani will give a sermon or conference at every Mass Centre in the District to instruct the faithful and encourage them to join the Militia Immaculatae at Level 1. Once the faithful are prepared, they will be invited to enrol themselves by making an act of consecration.

Eventually, the priests of the District will continue the work of recruiting, catechising and enrolling new members through regular sermons, existing catechism training and regular enrolment ceremonies (see M.I. Enrolement Guidlines).

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 fulfil that which is said of thee, 'She will crush thy head,' and 'Thou alone hast 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.

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