On February 11th, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Pius V Church of Mukwonago, WI enrolled 99 new Knights of the Immaculatæ to the 1st Degree. Despite a raging snowstorm, these fervent parishioners refused to let the inclement weather prevent their coming to the Church on this special day.
The preparation for the enrollment was begun years ago with all the previous SSPX pastors who encouraged a strong devotion to Our Lady. The combination of an awareness of the critical state of the world, and knowledge of the apparitions of Our Lady at Lourdes, La Sallette, and Fatima, has spurred on parishioners to have rooted in their spiritual life the praying of the Rosary and the continual imploring for her help and protection. In addition, most of the parishioners previously made the total Consecration to Our Lady according to the method of St. Louis de Montfort and annually renew their consecration on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Sunday’s enrollment into the Milita Immaculatæ was merely the next step for parishioners to build upon their devotional past and to now express more deeply their love for her.
In addition to the traditional M.I. Corner in the St. Pius V Church bookstore, there is also an M.I. station for the propagation of the Faith under the patronage of the Immaculata. Zealous parishioners have provided the means for pamphlets, booklets, parish “business cards,” and Miraculous Medals to be distributed free of charge according to the M.I. Statutes; “to use all valid and legitimate means for the conversion and sanctification of men…as occasions present themselves.” In the future Father Trummer also hopes to set up this same station as a booth in local market festivals throughout the year “to work for the conversion to God of all men…through the mediation of the Immaculate.”
On this special occasion Father preached about The Communion of Saints and the continual cry of Our Lady to pray and sacrifice for poor sinners. He established a parish theme for Lent; “laboring for the sanctification of others; ourselves sanctified,” which refers to not thinking of self during Lent, but only thinking of our neighbor who needs graces merited for him. “If we live in the state of grace and offer up all our mortifications, penances, prayers, sacrifices, and good works this Lent with a burning desire for the salvation of others, then it will automatically result in our own growth of holiness…. our sacrificial efforts will clear the way for the anti-biotic, the Immaculata, to restore the Mystical Body back to health one cell at a time.”
Another enrollment ceremony will take place in a few months for all those unable to be enrolled on this day.
