Militia Immaculatae

Servants
of God

The Militia Immaculatae (MI) is a Franciscan marian evangelization movement that encourages total consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary as a means of spiritual renewal for individuals and society.

Founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe , O.F.M.conv., in 1917, the MI movement is open to all Catholics. It employs prayer as the main weapon in the spiritual battle with evil.

MIs also immerse themselves in apostolic initiatives throughout society, either individually or in groups, to deepen the knowledge of the Gospel and our Catholic Faith in themselves and in others.   St.Kolbe wrote: «Saint Francis is the perfect model for all the missionaries and His example drives us to apostleship, for the salvation and sanctification of souls»

 As the Second Vatican Council teaches, calling upon Mary's intercession "does not hinder in any way the immediate union of the faithful with Christ, but on the contrary fosters it" (Lumen Gentium 60).   Pope John Paul II says:"Membership in the Militia means complete dedication to the Kingdom of God and to the salvation of souls through Mary Immaculate."

The 3 conditions of MI are:
(1) that you make a voluntary and total oblation of yourself to the Immaculate Virgin as an instrument in her most holy hands.
(2) that you carry the Miraculous Medal. This condition, even though not essential, stands nevertheless as an external sign of your interior offering to Mary.
(3) that you take care to have your name and surname registered in the book of the MI association where it has a canonically established center.

The MI International Center is located in Rome at "Casa Kolbe," Via San Teodoro 42, Tel. 06.679.38.28 - 06.679.49.74,  of the Friars Minor Conventual, historically Sede Primaria where St.Maximilian instituted the Militia of the Immaculata. All the other offices, erected as Filial Offices, refer to their respective National Centers.

Marian consecration is a formal act of self-giving that does not stop at Mary, but is Christ-directed.

Coming "To Jesus through Mary" through our Marian consecration is not an extraordinary way of worshipping God and bringing about our sanctification; rather, it is the best way.  

It is really consecration to Jesus.  By consecrating yourself to Mary you pledge to become her instrument, performing all your actions through, with and in Mary, for she points the way to the heart of Jesus.

The MI's mission is "To Lead Every Individual With Mary to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.". 

She leads us to personal sanctification, the conversion of Church opponents and ultimately the universal reign of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Mary is not the Creator; she is not the Redeemer. She never substituted herself for God. But it was God's will that Mary would have a special role in our Christian life and sanctification.  It is a universal role assigned to her by God.  She was chosen to help us in our consecration through her intercession and maternal care, thus disposing us to develop the gifts of God that we received in Baptism.

She is the perfect example of the Church, and the model for all the faithful. In her perfect spiritual sensitivity to the Holy Spirit's inspiration, she is God's creaturely masterpiece.

Mary became the prototype of total consecration when, at the beginning of the New Testament, she said "yes" to becoming the mother of God.   We can consecrate ourselves to the Immaculata in various ways and this consecration can be formulated in different words; indeed, a simple interior act of the will is sufficient, since in this is included the essence of our consecration to the Immaculata.

Prayer of Total Consecration
By St. Maximilian Kolbe

Immaculata, Queen of heaven and earth, refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to you. I, N..., a repentant sinner, cast myself at your feet humbly imploring you to take me with all that I am and have, wholly to yourself as your possession and property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most pleases you.
If it pleases you, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of you: "She will crush your head," and, "You alone have destroyed all heresies in the world."

Let me be a fit instrument in your immaculate and merciful hands for introducing and increasing your glory to the maximum in all the many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever you enter you obtain the grace of conversion and growth in holiness, since it is through your hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

V. Allow me to praise you, O sacred Virgin.
R. Give me strength against your enemies.

When Blessed Duns Scotus, a Franciscan, (1265-1308), went to Paris for a dispute in which he was to defend the privilege of the Immaculate Conception at the University of the Sorbonne, he passed by a statue of the Blessed Mother and prayed to her with the above mentioned words ("Allow me to praise you, O sacred Virgin. Give me strength against your enemies"). As tradition has it, the Blessed Mother bowed her head as a sign of confirmation.  

In the first part of this petition Duns Scotus turns humbly to the Mother of God and asks that she permit him to praise her. Acknowledging his great unworthiness for such a sublime work as praising the Blessed Mother, he likewise acknowledges that grace depends upon her, and it is enough that she permit him, and his efforts will be crowned with success.The second part is strong, unconditional, brave.

As an instrument in her hand, he asks for strength to overcome the serpent.  Who is her enemy? Whatever is stained, whatever does not lead to God, whatever is not love, whatever comes from the hellish serpent, he himself is her enemy; hence it includes all our defects, or all our faults. We ask her to give us strength against him. (Commentary on the Consecration Prayer by St. Maximilian Kolbe)

The miraculous Medal

Our Lady manifested the Medal to Sister (now Saint) Catherine Labourè on November 27, 1830, in the motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, in Paris. Catherine saw our Lady standing on a globe, with dazzling rays of light streaming from her outstretched hands. Framing the figure was an inscription: "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee".

The vision turned and showed the design of the reverse side of the medal. Twelve stars encircled a large "M" from which arose a cross. Beneath the "M" were the hearts of Jesus and Mary.   Then Mary spoke to Catherine: "Have a medal struck upon this model. Those who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck, and pray with confidence." .

With approval of the Church, the first Medals were made in 1832 and were distributed in Paris. Almost immediately the blessings that Mary had promised began to shower down on those who wore her Medal, which soon would be called "miraculous." The Miraculous Medal is not a "good-luck charm"; rather, it is a great testimony to faith and the power of trusting prayer. Its greatest miracles are those of patience, forgiveness, repentance, and faith.

L I N K S

M.I. International Center - official website
(english, italiano, español)

Welcome to... Militia of the Immaculata
(english)

Milizia dell'Immacolata
(italiano)

O.F.M.conv.
Frati Min.Conventuali