The Director of the Militia Immaculatæ, Father Karl Stehlin visited Asia. To begin with, he visited 3 cities in South India on 3 consecutive days to preach a conference on the necessity of the Blessed Mother in our life and how to live as her children, letting her take control and fight our battles.
On the 24th of January Father preached a recollection at the Priory of the Most Sacred Heart in Palayamkottai. It was a joyous occasion to receive Father Stehlin at the Priory since we bid him farewell on his appointment to Poland. To quote Father Stehlin “…I arrived happily in India on Wednesday and was picked up by Fr. Therasian in Madurai. On Thursday I held a conference about the M.I. for the faithful. Quite a lot of people showed up (5 priests, 13 religious sisters – Fr. Therasian). On Friday I had a meeting with the priests to explain to them the detailed strategy of the follow-up and perseverance of the Knights…”
On the 26th of January 2019, the Knights of Chennai were all geared up to receive Rev. Fr. Karl Stehlin. The Fatima Convent in Kodambakkam was all set for a day of traditional recollection, though we faced a few obstacles. True to the title “Mary: Victorious in all our battles” Our Lady emerged victorious. 150 people attended, of which 80 were invested with the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and 35 were enrolled as Knights in the Militia Immaculatæ.
For many new comers that day, it was a foretaste of Heaven when they attended the Tridentine Latin Mass for the first time. Many of those who attended a traditional recollection for the first time surrounded Father after the recollection seeking personal advice and letting him know how much his preaching meant to them. We had to literally steal Father away for fear that he may miss his flight.
To quote a young lady who enrolled in the M.I. that day “… I was going through a very tough time and was very distressed; I feel so much peace and comfort after listening to Father, and now that I am her Knight I know she will hold my hand and guide me through any battle I face”. Worthy of note were 4 young men who saw the poster on Facebook and travelled all the way from Kerala, the neighbouring state to attend this recollection. They were so greatly moved that they stayed back to attend our Traditional Holy Mass on Sunday, and after Holy Mass they were in tears as they said their goodbyes, their one request being “Please pray that one day we’ll witness and enjoy this heavenly bliss in Kerala”.
To sum it up, it was a day well spent contemplating on the love of the Blessed Mother for us and her powerful role in our salvation.
Day 3, the 27th of January, Father preached in Trichy, and 50 of our faithful attended. The Knights of Trichy welcomed Father with a song entitled “Auf die Erde” and presented him with a report on the activities of the M.I. for 2017–18. The recollection was a source of great inspiration for the young Knights, and the day ended as it began, with a song of farewell to Father, and a prayer raised in song “The Lord bless you and keep you”.
All Knights thank you Father Stehlin for making this arduous journey for love of the Immaculata and her Knights. We pray that our Lady will continue to bless you with good health and all the graces you need for your zealous work in bringing many souls to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through her Immaculate Heart.
My heartfelt gratitude for the immense love, prayers and support of our National Coordinator Rev. Fr. Therasian Babu (Prior – India), truly a man who works tirelessly in the background.
Neville Philip
National Coordinator – M.I. India
