Militia Immaculata brings cheer to elderly during Advent

Intermountain Catholic

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Members of the Militia of the Immaculata, affiliated with Saint Mary Parish and members of the St. Mary choir in West Haven bring Advent cheer to residents of the Peachtree Assisted Living Center in Roy.

WEST HAVEN — The Militia of the Immaculata (MI) families brought Advent cheer to residents at the Peachtree Assisted Living Center in Roy by singing Advent songs and passing out Christmas cards Dec. 4.

The MI is affiliated with Saint Mary Parish in West Haven. They were joined by Chris San Nicolas, St. Mary choir director, and members of the choir. Some of the residents thanked them and told them how beautiful they sounded.

The MI focuses on family spirituality and follows the mission statement of the Father Kolbe Missionaries, which is bringing the love of Our Lady and the strength of our faith to families. Four families and six individuals attend the monthly meetings, which are the first Sunday of the month after the 11:30 a.m. Mass, said Donna Masek, MI Father Kolbe volunteer.

The MI is a worldwide evangelization movement founded by Saint Maximilian Kolbe in 1917. "The movement is open to all Catholics over 7 years old. Marian consecration is a formal act of self-giving that does not stop at Mary, but is Christ-directed," Masek said. "The purpose is to live the fullness of our baptismal promises, to strive for holiness and to promote the knowledge and veneration of Mary in order to realize a Marian and missionary presence in the Church and the world."

During the meetings, the group members say a prayer to the Holy Spirit, the consecration prayer to Our Lady in the spirit of St. Maximilian Kolbe and the rosary for special intentions, Masek said. "The December intention is, ‘Like you, we become dwelling places of Emmanuel, God with us, giving hope and the joy of life to our youth.’ "After we pray, we study formational materials or do a community outreach project."

Masek and her husband, John, became consecrated volunteers of the Institute of the Immaculata in 2005, while they were members of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Sandy. They moved to West Haven almost two years ago and transferred the MI there. The volunteers are lay men and women who are at least 18 years of age, who are both suitable and willing to assume the obligations presented by the bylaws. They must have a desire and a firm intention to live according to the Gospel and the doctrine of the Catholic Church. The missionaries, on the other hand, are consecrated to God with the perpetual vows of poverty, obedience and chastity. They entrust themselves to Mary, nurturing the legacy of St. Maximilian Kolbe.

St. Maximilian Kolbe was born Rajmund Kolbe on Jan. 8, 1894 in Zdunska Wola, then of the Russian Empire. During his childhood he had a vision of the Virgin Mary and asked her, what would become of him. The Virgin Mary held two crowns, one white and one red – symbols of purity and martyrdom – and asked him which he would choose. He chose both.

In 1907, Kolbe illegally crossed the border between Russia and Austria-Hungary and joined the Conventual Franciscans. In 1912, he entered the novitiate and was sent to Rome to study. As a student, he witnessed vehement demonstrations against Popes Pius X and Benedict XV. This inspired Kolbe to organize the Militia Immaculata or Army of Mary to work for the conversion of sinners and enemies of the Catholic Church, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary.

Kolbe died at age 47 on Aug. 14, 1947 in the Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz, where he volunteered to die in place of a stranger. He was canonized Oct. 10, 1982 by Pope John Paul II, and declared a martyr of charity.