The portrait of the knight
The Militia Immaculatæ brings together those whom Father Maximilian Kolbe has named “Knights”. This word refers to the Middle Ages. It is characterized by nobility of heart, generosity, service, courage, bravery, sense of honor, selflessness, piety and total dependence on the lord. In the M.I, it is to the Queen of Heaven and Earth that the knights pledge loyalty and service.
However, this chivalry is not a simple pageantry but a very deep spirituality of which the Immaculate is the source. Also, on this page, you will find articles to deepen your knowledge of the daily and Marian life of the true Knight of the Immaculata.
Saint Maximilian Kolbe sketched this ideal thus:
“Pro amore usque ad victimam”, everything for love, even the gift of one’s life. As it is a spiritual combat, men and women are invited in the same way to this chivalry.
The Knight’s Program
- “The knight is driven by a lofty ideal. He doesn’t just do things by halves, he wants everything! The world is too small for him. (Saint Maximilian Kolbe)
- Once he has learned to know and love the Immaculata, he wishes to invest himself for Her, to become her instrument, and to let herself be guided by Her. He achieves this through consecration to the Immaculata! He is not content with a blessing, “but strives, as far as possible, to draw other hearts to Her to dedicate themselves to Her” (St. Maximilian Kolbe). With Saint Maximilian Kolbe, he can therefore affirm: “I live only for souls, that is my mission!” »
- Mary leads the Knight to Christ, which is why his motto is: “Conquer the whole world for Christ through the Immaculata”. He aspires for Christ to be recognized in society, being well aware that nothing could be more effective (against the evils of our time) than “the restoration of the sovereignty of Our Lord.” (Saint Pius X)
- The Knight is not discouraged by his own weakness or by the superiority of the enemy. “There are two paths: one’s own strength or that of God. It all depends on the path you use. If the cause is null when one supports his actions on his own forces, then the effect will be null. Are we then going to build on ourselves or on God? (Saint Maximilian Kolbe). The Knight like another David, addresses the Goliaths of this world who have uncrowned Christ in these terms: “You come to me with sword, spear and shield; I, on the contrary, come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, in the name of the God of the army of Israel, whom you deride” (1 Samuel 17, 45).
- He does not put his trust in the means or the wisdom of this world, but in God alone. Like David, he uses those means which are madness in the eyes of the world. He puts his trust in “these weapons” that his Mistress has given him, namely the Miraculous Medal and the rosary – “David’s slingshot” (Pius XII) – and “the last means of salvation” (Our Lady of Fatima).
Father Maximilian summarizes this ideal thus:
“Let us consider today the portrait of an authentic Knight of the Immaculata. He does not close his heart in himself, neither in his family, nor in his relatives, nor in his friends, nor in his compatriots, but he embraces everyone, each and everyone individually, because all, without exception, are redeemed by the blood of Christ, – all are our brothers. »
He desires for all true happiness, illumination by Faith, purification from sins as well as a heart inflamed by the love of God, a love without limits… Here is his dream: the happiness of all humanity in God by the Immaculata. The Knight of the Immaculate is a fighter who seeks to conquer for all the hearts of his Sovereign.
“He stretches out his hand to all, prays for all, suffers for all.” (Father Maximilian Kolbe)
TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE KNIGHTS