Novena to the Immaculate Conception with St. M. Kolbe

Join us for a Solemn Novena in the honor of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady, under the guidance of the devoted Marian Apostle, St. Maximilian Kolbe.

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Content of the Novena:

Every day, during the Novena, you'll be receiving:

  • The Opening Prayer.
  • Readings from the writings of St. Maximilian Kolbe.
  • Prayer intentions.
  • A meditation.
  • The Closing Prayer. 

Why a Solemn Novena with St. Maximilian Kolbe, among all saints? 

St. Maximilian Kolbe was very active in promoting the Immaculate Virgin Mary and is known as the Apostle of Consecration to Mary.

Much of his life was strongly influenced by a vision he had of the Virgin Mary when he was 12: "That night I asked the Mother of God what was to become of me. Then she came to me holding two crowns, one white, the other red. She asked me if I was willing to accept either of these crowns. The white one meant that I should persevere in purity and the red that I should become a martyr. I said that I would accept them both."

Later, St. Maximilian joined the Conventual Franciscans and organized the Militia Immaculata (Army of the Immaculate One) after having witnessed demonstrations against Pope St. Pius X and Benedict XV. His goal was to work for the conversion of sinners and enemies of the Church with the intercession of Mary.

After being ordained priest, he continued to promote the Blessed Virgin throughout his country, Poland. 

Until the last day of his life, St. Maximilian never ceased to manifest a profound devotion to Our Lady. While he was imprisoned in  Auschwitz after issuing anti-Nazi publications, he led daily prayers to Mary with the prisoners, according to several witness accounts. He was executed on August 14, after volunteering to take the place of another prisoner, who had a family. His remains were cremated on August 15, on the Assumption of Mary Solemnity. 

Picture: 

The Immaculate Conception, by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, CC0 Public Domain. 

Source:

The website of the Militia of the Immaculata for the writings of St. Maximilian Kolbe. 


Prayer from the novena

Prayer to Mary Immaculate by Pope Pius XII

Enraptured by the splendor of thy heavenly beauty, and impelled by the anxieties of the world, we cast ourselves into thine arms, O Immaculate Mother of Jesus and our Mother, Mary, confident of finding in thy most loving heart appeasement of our ardent desires, and a safe harbor from the tempests which beset us on every side. Though degraded by our faults and overwhelmed by infinite misery, we admire and praise the peerless richness of sublime gifts with which God has filled thee, above every other mere creature, from the first moment of thy conception until the day on which, after thine assumption into Heaven, He crowned thee Queen of the Universe. O crystal fountain of faith, bathe our minds with the eternal truths! O fragrant Lily of all holiness, captivate our hearts with thy heavenly perfume! O Conqueress of evil and death, inspire in us a deep horror of sin, which makes the soul detestable to God and a slave of Hell! O well-beloved of God, hear the ardent cry which rises up from every heart. Bend tenderly over our aching wounds. Convert the wicked, dry the tears of the afflicted and oppressed, comfort the poor and humble, quench hatreds, sweeten harshness, safeguard the flower of purity in youth, protect the holy Church, make all men feel the attraction of Christian goodness. In thy name, resounding harmoniously in Heaven, may they recognize that they are brothers and that the nations are members of one family, upon which may there shine forth the sun of a universal and sincere peace. Receive, O most sweet Mother, our humble supplications, and above all obtain for us that, one day, happy with thee, we may repeat before thy throne that hymn which today is sung on earth around thine altars: Thou art all-beautiful, O Mary! Thou art the glory, thou art the joy, thou art the honor of our people! Amen.