Table of content

1. What the Militia Immaculatæ is.
2. The three degrees in the Militia Immaculatæ
3. Father Kolbe answers questions about the necessity of the Militia Immaculatæ and the act of Consecration.

1. What the Militia Immaculatæ is. The Militia of the Immaculata is not an association in the classic sense of the word, with concretely defined activities that are created for a particular group of people. “It is a movement which should attract the masses and snatch them away from Satan. 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. Membership in the M.I. will enable each member to give his best to the apostolate, and in this way attain Christian perfection in his state of life, in his vocation. It is necessary to understand the M.I. as something transcendent rather than general; this means that it should not be viewed as just one organization among many others; rather, it ought to penetrate into the depths of all other organizations.” (From a letter, December 31, 1935). “The essence of the M.I. consists of belonging to the Immaculata unconditionally, irrevocably, unreservedly, and entirely. That is why anyone who joins the M.I. becomes entirely Her property. And in precisely this way he belongs to Jesus, just as She belongs to Jesus, and the more he is Her property, the more he belongs to Jesus.” “The M.I. calls itself a militia, a knighthood, because anyone who belongs to Her does not limit himself to consecrating himself totally to the Immaculata, but he also strives, as much as he can, to win the hearts of others for Her, so that others, too, may consecrate their hearts to Her, just as he has consecrated himself to Her.” “The object of the M.I. is to strive for the conversion of sinners, heretics, schismatics, etc., and especially of Freemasons, as well as for the sanctification of all, under the protection and through the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin.”

2. The three degrees in the Militia Immaculatæ

Fr. Maximilian Kolbe distinguishes three degrees in the MI, depending upon the members’ zeal, their capabilities and their state in life.

1. “In the first degree of the M.I. each one consecrates himself to the Immaculata and endeavours to realize the purpose of the Militia individually, according to his own circumstances and the rules of prudence.”
   This degree is the basis, the foundation of the Militia: in his individual, personal life, the Knight of the Immaculata prays, sacrifices and works like a soldier in single combat.
   To know more about the MI 1…
2. “In the second degree of the M.I., the Knights bind themselves by special statutes and programs. They unite their forces, in order to reach their declared goal more quickly and effectively.”
   This degree is characterized by united effort and the organization of Knights so as to conduct a public apostolate. The Knights can join forces for various projects, whether in a parish, in a local religious community, or at the level of a religious order or congregation. Associations can also be formed by Knights who share the same spiritual interests, grouped by age or apostolic aims, etc. Furthermore, already existing organizations (e.g. youth movements, study groups, etc.) can subscribe to the ideal of the M.I. and thus function as second-degree M.I. groups.
   To know more about the MI 2…
   
3. “The third degree of the M.I. consists in an unlimited consecration to the Immaculata. Thus She can do with us what She wills and as She wills. We belong entirely to Her and She belongs entirely to us. We do everything with Her help, we live and work under Her protection.”
   This is, so to speak, the summit of the M.I.: the consecrated state. The Knight dedicates himself completely and exclusively to the apostolate  of the Immaculata and seals this consecration by taking religious vows.
   To know more about the MI 3…

“In this way, the first degree is restricted to individual action, the second degree, to the public and social apostolate, whereas the third degree goes beyond all limits and aims at heroism.” (From a letter dated May 25, 1920).

3. Father Kolbe answers questions about the necessity of the act of Consecration. 

Father Kolbe answers to 6 questions about the necessity of the act of Consecration to the Immaculata

4. Father Kolbe answers questions about the necessity of the Militia Immaculatæ. 

Father Kolbe answers to 8 questions about the necessity of the Militia Immaculatæ