We propose „Knight of the Immaculata” No. 2 in English language. In this ussue we present means, which each of Knights can use for the glory of the Immaculata and the salvation of souls.
Dear Knights of the Immaculata!
The year of the great jubilee of the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady in Fatima and the foundation of the Militia Immaculatae has already begun. We want to consecrate all our “Knight of the Immaculata” bulletins to form and to make more efficacious HER little army for this gigantic spiritual warfare in the latter times and particularly during this crucial year 2017.
In the present issue we want to attract your attention to the means, the “weapons” of the Knight. Saint Maximilian Kolbe invites us to “use all honest means” to make Our Lady known and loved, to convert the souls so that they may recognize their heavenly mother and through her their Heavenly Father.
It is important to be convinced that everything which is not sin can and should become a tool, an instrument, a way, a means to enkindle the heart of everybody with love for HER, to unite our hearts with HER heart, to submit our will to HER will. And because HER will is always dependent on the will of God, our union with the Immaculata is the shortest, easiest and surest way to holiness.
These means or weapons are: apostolic prayer, suffering, good example, sacrifices (especially the fervent fulfillment of the duties of state) and work. Prayers and sacrifices obtain the graces of conversion and sanctification for the souls, good example being a strong motivation for many to choose the way of salvation. And what does Saint Maximilian mean, when he mentions “work for the Immaculata” that each knight can do? Everybody can “distribute the Miraculous Medal”, give flyers, booklets, holy cards, books to friends, relatives, neighbours etc. The archives of the M.I. are full of almost innumerable extraordinary and miraculous conversions thanks to the use of these “weapons”.
If we neglect them, many people remain in the darkness, if we use them, many more will be saved. This is the reason and importance of the “M.I. – corners” in all places, where Knights of the Immaculata can be found (see pages 9–11). This is also the reason for the recent establishment of a MI publishing house “Kolbe Publications”, so that each Knight can receive the tools for his apostolic work.
However, it must be repeated over and over again: without the grace of God all these exterior means will not bring any good fruit. The grace for us, and for the others, we obtain only by humble prayer, mortification and faithful accomplishment of our ordinary and often banal daily obligations. It is of the utmost importance that we would never start an apostolic action and never use any of the above mentioned means without having asked the Immaculata to bless our work and to open the minds and hearts of the people to whom we go. We will be always convinced that our ‘work’ is the work of the pencil, but SHE uses this unworthy and mean pencil for her great designs: the conversion and sanctification of many souls.
“We have “Knight of the Immaculata” (for all people) and the “A Little Knight” for children. Soon other serial magazines (newspapers, weeklies, monthlies and quarterlies) and non-periodicals (brochures, books) will join the fight for a more complete discussion of matters. They are all adapted to different strata of society, states, conditions. “The Immaculata” is the character pervading all this and the goal — to conquer the whole world and every soul individually Immaculate, and through her to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.” – wrote St. Maximilian from Mugenzai no Sono (July 2, 1931)
Fr. Karl Stehlin
