Beautiful story
The message came from Father Stehlin to our parish ‘Our Lady Help of Christians, Star of the Sea Church’ in Perth, Australia through our prior, Father Shane Johnson one Sunday during Mass in July. I listened intently to the letter that was relayed to us, to the plea. The plea for joining the Militia Immaculatae. Well, the seed was planted in my head, and most importantly in my heart. This was something that I had to do.
As soon as I got home, I started researching everything that I could on the Militia Immaculatae and the story of Saint Maximilian Kolbe. And what an incredible story that was. What an awe inspiring human being. Having been blessed with a vision from Our Lady at the tender young age of ten offering him the choice between a white crown and a red crown, representing purity and martyrdom, he chose both. Having not known much about Saint Maximilian Kolbe, I was moved and totally inspired by his story. I set about looking for a date for my consecration. I first looked at the 15th August, the feast day of the Assumption of Our Lady. Then as I was researching I noticed that Saint Maximilian Kolbe’s feast day was on the 14th of August. I saw this as a signal grace, and straight away decided to ask Father Johnson if it was possible for me to be consecrated on Sunday the 14th August 2016 by sending him an email in the week. Well, Father Johnson never read my mail, but amazingly came to me as I knelt in the pew before Mass, and said “Christine … are you going to join the Militia Immaculatae?”, I replied “Father, did you not receive my email”. Yes, I absolutely want join the Militia Immaculatae.
Over the week that followed Father Johnson continued to give encouraging accounts of the Militia Immaculatae and Saint Maximilian Kolbe to the parishioners. He also communicated with Father Stehlin about our plan of having our first consecrations on the 14th of August.
We received word back from Father Stehlin “I am very happy for your decision to make the enrolments on the very day of the martyrdom of St. Maximilian Kolbe. It will be a day of grace for Australia, the very first enrolments. I will arrive the day afterwards in Australia and will proceed with the enrolments in Tynong on the 22nd August Deo et Immaculatae volente.” What an incredible day of grace it was for Australia with the first enrolments to the Militia Immaculatæ taking place in Perth, at the ‘Our Lady Help of Christians, Star of the Sea Church’
parish, officiated by our Prior, Father Johnson on this the 75th Anniversary of the death of Saint Maximilian Kolbe in Auschwitz.
29 faithful expressed their devotion to our most loving Mother by enrolling in the Militia Immaculatae and consecrating themselves entirely to the Immaculate Virgin. It was heartening to see so many joining the Army of the Immaculate as warriors in the constant battle of converting all to God through Mary, with 11 men becoming Knights of the Militia Immaculatae. It is truly a comfort to know that her Immaculate Heart will be our refuge and the way which leads us to God. We are reminded that at Fatima “Our Lady said that God wished to establish in the world devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Our Lady said that many souls would be saved from Hell and the annihilation of nations averted if, in time, devotion to Her Immaculate Heart were established.” In the end Her Immaculate Heart will triumph! Christine Rocher (Australia)
