Maximilian Monday: Our Lady - Mediatrix of All Graces

Today we look into the intimate role between the Holy Spirit and the Immaculata. As the spouse of the Holy Spirit, it is the Immaculata who dispenses all graces from God to His people, whether they explicitly know it or not. As I cannot hope to explain it better than St. Maximilian Kolbe, let us turn to his rumination on this topic:

"An absolute and irrefutable sentiment in the Catholic Church, although it is not yet declared a dogma, is that the Mother of God is the Mediatrix of All Graces. During the first centuries of Christianity this truth was already known.

The work of the Militia Immaculatae and of the Knight depends precisely upon the truth that the Immaculata is the Mediatrix of All Graces. If it were not so, our whole activity of the MI would be illogical. The Holy Spirit does not act except through the Immaculata, His spouse. Hence she is the Mediatrix of all the graces of the Holy Spirit.

If we were to look into the interior of our souls, we would see how much activity of the Immaculata there is and has been in our souls from the dawn of our lives to the present moment, and how much assurance of her benefits for the future. These are for the most part mysteries of each individual soul. It is enough to mention that every grace received each day, hour, and moment of our life is her grace, flowing from her motherly heart that loves us.

In her womb the soul must be regenerated according to the form of Jesus Christ. She must nourish the soul with the milk of her grace, caress and rear us in the manner in which she nourished and brought up Jesus. The soul must learn to know and to love Jesus at her knees. Let us draw love for Him from her heart. Yes, love Him with her heart, and through love become like Him.

It is incredible that anyone should approach Jesus without Mary. Why? For, omitting the very fact that she brought forth Jesus and raised Him for us, the approach to Jesus is without doubt a grace in itself. But all graces come to us through her in the way that Jesus himself came. Is it then permitted to converse directly with Jesus, if I do not think of Mary? It is not a question of feeling or thinking, but of the fact itself that it is so, even though the thought of her intercession would never cross your mind. If you really love Jesus, then above all you desire to do His will in all things, and receive graces in the way that He ordained. When you have such a disposition you can and ought freely turn to the Sacred Heart of Jesus being confident that you will obtain everything. If someone however were to tell himself, "I do not need any medication, I do not need the Blessed Mother, I myself am able to praise and honor the most Sacred Heart of God and ask for what I need"- would Jesus not cast him justly aside for such insufferable pride?"

Through the Immaculata we can become great saints, and what is more, in an easy way. The Immaculata as the Mediatrix of All Graces, not only can and desires to give the grace of conversion and sanctity at certain times and places, but she wants to regenerate all souls, and moreover, our [Franciscan] Order.

What does conversion and sanctification through the Immaculata mean? It means that the grace needed for conversion and sanctification comes through the Immaculata. "I am able to do all things in him who strengthens me" through the Immaculata. And why through the Immaculata?

God in His infinite goodness, not wishing to punish us for our failings, pledged Himself by the Blessed Mother. The Holy Fathers say that God divided His Kingdom in two parts: He left justice for Himself, and to His Blessed Mother He gave mercy. Thus we have the right to add "through the Immaculata"

Whatever happens for the cause of conversion and sanctification is a work of the grace of God. But the Mediatrix of that grace is the Mother of God. As Jesus is the sole Mediator with God the Father, so the only Mediatrix with Jesus is the Mother of God. Therefore, conversion and sanctification come through her.

Our gifts become immaculate in the hands of the Immaculata. In Jesus Christ they become divine, infinite, worthy of the majesty of God the Father. What Mary gives to Jesus is unsoiled, and Jesus then renders it to God the Father in an infinite way. The honor, then, which we give to Jesus through Mary is unsoiled and infinite.

Our life on this earth is to be the prolongation of the life of Jesus through Mary. With the help of the Immaculata we are capable of everything.

The nearer we come to the Immaculata, the more we become holy. The Mother of God is the Mediatrix of All Graces, and holiness is the work of the grace of God. The devil knows that the nearer we are to the Immaculata, the more graces we receive from her hands. That is why he tries at all costs to draw the soul away from the Blessed Mother, even under the guise of devotion to Jesus. He knows that God established such a way through the Immaculata, and he likewise knows that when the soul departs from this way, it will not receive as many graces. Therefore whether we feel aversion, whether we are in darkness or in light, let us always advance by way of the Immaculata. It is very important matter that our life be lived through her, with her, and in her.

The Immaculata is the ladder upon which we climb to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Whoever removes this ladder will not reach the top and will crash to the ground. We strongly believe that she leads us to Jesus. Let whoever teaches otherwise be anathema! Let him be anathema!

If we wish to love Jesus with the heart of the Immaculata, receive Him with her heart, praise Him with her acts, make reparation and at the same time give thanks through her. Even if we were not to feel and understand this way, nevertheless it is so. Then with her heart, with her acts we praise Jesus, or actually, it is she who loves and praises Jesus through us. We are then her instruments."

The union between the Holy Spirit and the Immaculata is far greater than our minds can understand, and probably will ever understand until we stand before the throne of Almighty God. In the meantime, let us fly to the Immaculate Heart of Mary with child like trust, pleading with her to teach us how to imitate her virtues, so that we may do all things through her, with her, and in her - to better do them through Christ, with Christ, in Christ for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

Take it to the streets!!

Last Sunday our Holy Father Pope Francis led the Universal Church in worldwide Eucharistic processions and adoration, and it was beautiful. In my corner of the world, we exited the Church and stepped into the heat of Texas. Catholic processions are a great way to honor Our Blessed Lord, and give witness to Him in our cities.

They are important for us too, as they help remind us of our Catholic identity, and strengthen it as well. We should undertake processions more often, and not just limit them to the boundaries of Church grounds, but go into the streets!

The secular world wants us to stay within Church property, secluded away; ‘out of sight, out of mind’. If we give into their mentality, we have already given up on the effort to let the beauty of the One True Faith shine through to them.

Think of what it would be like to step out of your house and see a line of people walking through your neighborhood carrying flags and banners in honor of Christ the King and the Virgin of Guadalupe, reverently chanting prayers with Rosaries in hand. At the very heart of this group a beautiful canopy covers Our Eucharistic Lord Who is carried by a Holy Priest within a monstrance, and an Altar Boy continually swings a thurible as incense rises up to Heaven.

A great number of people participate in a procession from Christendom College

I have had the opportunity to take part in a couple of processions that went out into the streets, and the results were awesome. Men and women came out of their homes and made the Sign of the Cross, kids stopped playing basketball and watched as we passed. People driving by stopped and asked why we were doing such a thing. Also, those participating were edified tremendously. Processions fascinate people, and open their hearts to eternal things.

Why would we make such processions? One reason is to make pilgrimage to a holy site, and another is to offer the procession for a specific intention, as we did this past Sunday. (The first intention was for the obedience of the Church so that she appear before the world as “beautiful, without spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish.” The second intention was for victims of violence, drugs, human trafficking, economic insecurity and social marginalization.)

When we look at it in this way, the reasons for having Catholic processions are many: for an end to abortion, or an increase in vocations; for all the poor souls in purgatory, conversion of the world, and increasing the belief in the True Presence; even for the end of liturgical abuse. The list goes on and on.

Too often we stand by and let the secular culture influence our actions. The Bride of Christ holds the Truth, but we often do not bring it to society for fear of being hated or persecuted. Take comfort in this: though many will hate us, and we will most assuredly be persecuted - if just one person feels the call of the Holy Ghost to conversion by witnessing the beauty of Catholic culture through a procession, it is all worth it, and it brings great glory to God. In the end, isn't that what it’s all about?

Let us venture out into the neighborhoods and bring Christ to His people as the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter does in this picture from Scranton, Pennsylvania

What Else Is There?!?!?

We, you and I, were created to be saints. It is our destiny. It is the fulfillment of our happiness. It's being the best version of ourselves.

It's not about halos and serious stone faces. It's about being real- the realist version of yourself. Being a saint isn't boring, no - it's actually the definition of "living life"- a JOY filled life. Saints are people FULL of joy because a saint is simply a friend of God.

Meaning they are constantly in God's friendship (in this life and in the next) and would rather die than to hurt and/or end their friendship with God (by sinning or falling into heresy). And God being a perfect friend makes them whole (in this life and in the next). 

Sin hurts our friendships and our true selves. There is only one way to be a failure in this life and that is not to become a saint. 

June has SOO many great saints. Learn about them all. Imitate just ONE! 

As I look at this calendar and see the pictures of June's celebrated saints, I have to ask myself, "What's hurting my friendship with God?" 

And then I must act on the answer. 

Here are some daily tips to help your OUR personal sanctity:

• Get up at a fixed time, as early as possible. Eight hours of sleep should be enough. More than this or less than six hours of sleep is usually not healthy.

• Make your first priority to offer your day to God through the intercession of Our Lady.

• Work with order and intensity during the day as a way of serving God. Set goals and establish priorities in order to develop a practical schedule. Sanctifying ordinary work is the goal of our life. 

• Try to attend daily Mass, receiving Holy Communion, as often as possible. This is the best sacrifice we can offer to God.  Prepare yourself for Mass by spending some time in prayer.

• Spend some time in mental prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Even it's for only 5 minutes. 

• Foster traditional daily devotions: The Little Office, The Liturgy of the  Hours, the Rosary, the Angelus. 

• Make use of sacramentals- wear scapulars,  Miraculous Medals, Holy Water etc. 

• Do some other spiritual reading. Start with the New Testament or some well-known traditional spiritual book. 10 to 15 minutes is sufficient.  

• Nightly examinations of conscience. And if need be daily confession.

As Patrick Coffin often exclaims, "Be a saint- what else is there?"

Maximilian Monday: It is the will of the Immaculata!

In today's edition of Maximilian Monday, we explore the union between the will of God, and that of Our Lady. Here is how St. Maximilian Kolbe explains it:

"Christian perfection consists in the union of our will with the will of God. The will of the Immaculata is closely united with the will of God, so that it seems as if there were but one will. Since we are speaking of doing the will of God, we can at the same time boldly say that we are doing the will of the Immaculata.

And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done unto me according to thy word

By this we do not detract from the glory of God, but rather we add to it. When we so act, we make manifest the perfection of Mary as the most perfect creature of God and the complete union of her will with the will of God. Do not be afraid, dear children, to say, "It is the will of the Immaculata," because it is the same as the will of God.

There is no doubt that the will of the Immaculata is wholly united to the will of God. The problem is only to unite our will with her will so that through her we might be united with
God.

Whoever would say that he does not wish to serve the Mother of God is obedient to the devil, for it is the will of God that we do not exclude the Mother of God.
We accomplish the most for the happiness of souls when we perfectly perform the will of the Immaculata, our commandress.

Whatever does not depend on our will is surely the will of the Immaculata. Whatever should come even from evil and perverse people is certainly the will of God, certainly permitted by God, and therefore the will of the Immaculata.

If we say, "It is the will of the Immaculata," besides the fact that we acknowledge the will of God by this phrase, we also honor the Blessed Mother, inasmuch as we acknowledge that her will is so fused with the will of God that it constitutes one intimate union. In addition, we give more honor to God by recognizing His perfection in creating such a great, powerful, good and holy being as the Blessed Mother.

I would be altogether happy a the moment of death if all those at the City of the Immaculata would in all things recognize the Immaculata. When this is brought about everything will be done; when it is absent all will fall apart."

May we strive forward as instruments in the hands of the Immaculata, for bringing Our Blessed Lord the greatest glory we possibly can. It is the will of the Immaculata!

Gregorian Chant: Good for the soul

Gregorian Chant speaks to more than just the ears, it speaks to the soul. When I hear Gregorian Chant, my mind is elevated to contemplation, my soul is flooded with peace. Prayer comes easier, and there is a connection with eternity (as well as our Catholic history). It even helps me sleep! Gregorian Chant was once synonymous with the Mass, and it is extremely important for us to embrace it once again.

Documents from the Second Vatican Council call us to use Gregorian Chant within the Liturgy. From Sacrosanctum Concilium:

112. The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art.

116. The Church acknowledges Gregorian chant as specially suited to the Roman liturgy: therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services.

The musical tradition of the universal Church  has been Gregorian Chant, and the definition of pride of place is as follows: 'the first or highest or most important place.'   If Gregorian Chant is suppose to hold the most important place, why don't we hear it in every Mass?

One might make the argument: "Well, it does say that other forms of music are equal..." But even using that argument, there should still be at least some Gregorian Chant within the Liturgy, but alas, there is none that I know of. We are discarding music that is truly Catholic for music that is infused with secular society, and it is detrimental to the Faith. For some reason we think that children will be drawn more by drums and electric guitars in Mass and so we don't even try to show them the beauty of Gregorian Chant. This results in kids growing up without a clear understanding of what Catholic music is. In my opinion, this lack of understanding (regarding the music in this case) contributes to the fall away from the Faith.

I don't even particularly need to know what the Latin means when I hear it, because my soul understands the prayer that is happening, and the prayer is efficacious even if my mind does not fully comprehend. That being said, I hope to one day be able to understand and sing Gregorian Chant better. For now, I will resign myself to the Chants in the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary in private.

An increase in the use of Gregorian Chant within our lives (especially in the Liturgy) will bring us closer with Our Lord. That will then supply us with abundant peace, and therefore we will have greater fortitude in this turbulent world.

The Catholic Faith and all of its culture is interesting, it's beautiful, and above all- it's True. Gregorian Chant should be sung in every Diocese, at every Parish, within every Mass. That's what the Second Vatican Council teaches us, and I pray that we would soon live that reality. I hope that one day Gregorian Chant is taught at every Parish, so that each Parishioner is able to join in the prayers of our Catholic brothers and sisters of ages past.

Maximilian Monday: The Essence and Purpose of the MI

Today we look into what the essence and purpose is of the Militia of the Immaculata; this is what St. Maximilian Kolbe says on this matter:

"The essence of the MI consists in its belonging to the Immaculata unconditionally, irrevocably, without restriction, and this under every aspect.

The MI began and developed through holy obedience. And it could not be otherwise, for its essence is to be of the Immaculata, the Immaculata's servant and child and slave and thing and property and so on; in brief, to be hers under every aspect. Make yourself disappear and become as if her. The most essential element in such a transformation is the adjustment, the fusion, the union of ours will with hers.

The ultimate purpose of man is the purpose towards which he tends, and for which he uses the means of attaining it.

The love of God through and in the Immaculata is our purpose, and our life is our means. Consequently we should use up our life for that purpose.

To win as many souls as possible for the Immaculata is our life, our breath, our every heart beat. Thus we dedicate ourselves to the Immaculata more and more, unconditionally and irrevocably, and to engraft this dedication in the heart of everyone in the whole world, so that she might be able to rule at will in our hearts and in the hearts of everyone in the whole world. In other words we must bring about the accomplishment of the purpose of the MI in the whole world, as swift as possible, and then remain watchful so that no one remove the banner of the Immaculata from any heart.

What an enormous work!

And then death, after a life so laborious, long suffering and utterly used up for the Immaculata!

To bend the proud neck of the world to the feet of the Immaculata is the purpose of the MI: to win the whole world and every soul in particular for her as soon as possible, as soon as possible, as soon as possible. Then the kingship of the Sacred Heart of Jesus will reign through her upon the earth.

It is absolutely necessary to gain the whole world for her, so that the reign of sin will cease.

What do we wish to say by the words, "strive for the conversion and sanctification of souls through the Immaculata?" What do we stress by these words?

We wish to emphasize that the shortest, surest way to conversion and sanctification is the Immaculata. We ourselves wish to advance on this road and teach it to others.

Through the Immaculata we will attain the ultimate purpose of the MI, that is, the greatest possible glory of God.

There are two sentences placed at the beginning of the charter of the MI: "She will crush thy head" and "Thou alone hast destroyed all heresies in the whole world." In these two concepts is embodied the purpose of the Militia Immaculatae. And that is why the members of the MI dedicate themselves to the Immaculata unreservedly as tools in her hand, so that through the members she will deign to accomplish what was spoken of her in these sentences.

The Purpose of the Militia Immaculatae is to gain the whole world, all hearts and each one in particular for the Queen of both Heaven and earth. It is our goal to give real happiness to those poor souls who seek happiness in the passing pleasures of this world."

That is the essence and purpose of the MI as explained by the founder. What an enormous work indeed, but by the Grace of God we will succeed, we must succeed!

Pray: 'O Mary conceived without sin pray for us who have recourse to Thee! And those who do not have recourse to Thee, especially the enemies of the Church and those recommended to you.'

How we Salute in the Militia

We do it before we eat. We do it as we walk into the sanctuary. We do it when we genuflect. We start Mass with it. We end Mass with it. We do it three consecutive times before we read the Gospel. We do it when we drive past a Catholic church. We do it before the game, before we go to sleep, and before we travel. In the west we do it with our right hand; in the East they do it with their left. Some do it with three fingers; some kiss it upon its completion. Martyrs did it as they were taken to their death. We are marked with it when we are baptized. You don’t have to be literate to do it because it requires no special education  or skill. It is our salute:

In nómine Patris et Fílii et Spíritus Sancti. Amen. The sign of the cross. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

It is our most simplistic prayer but it conveys and sums up the entire mystery of our faith. It’s a simple prayer but it is SO crucial to beat our battle with the flesh, the world and the diabolical. 

Paul speaks of the cross in almost all his New Testament letters: “But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal 6:14). 

The earliest accounts suggest that Christians traced the cross with their thumb upon their forehead. My patron saint, Saint Francis de Sales explains it this way:

“We raise the hand to the forehead, saying ‘In the name of the Father’ to signify that the Father is the first person of the Most Holy Trinity, of whom the Son is begotten and from whom the Holy Spirit proceeds. Then saying, ‘And the Son,’ the hand is lowered to the breast, to express that the Son proceeds from the Father, who sent him down to the womb of the Virgin. The hand is moved from the left shoulder to the right, while saying, ‘and of the Holy Spirit’, as the third person of the Holy Trinity, proceeds from the Father and the Son, that he is the love that unites both, and that, through his grace, partake of the fruits of the passion. Accordingly the Sign of the Cross is brief declaration of our faith in the Blessed Trinity, in the passion of Christ, and in the forgiveness of sin, by which we pass from the left side of curse to the right side of blessing.”

There is no way of talking about the sign of the cross without talking about the Most Holy Trinity. Most catechists dread talking about this subject, and most priests only preach about it on Trinity Sunday. Why? Because as Saint Augustine says, “If you understand it, it’s not God.” 

No matter which way I go about this topic I’m sure to be... well-- a heretic. Just kidding.... maybe.  

Once I went to a conference where it's theme was, “God is Love.” I believe that statement is what makes us Christians. A Jew or a Muslim would say God loves. But the radical Christian difference is we say God IS Love. And I think that is the best way to explain the Trinity. 

If you say God is Love, then you have to mean that within the very being of God there is a play between a Lover, the Beloved, and the Love that they share. If God is not a Trinity, God is not love. For love requires three things: a lover, a beloved, and a relationship between them.

One Being- three Persons. 

In the creed we say “We believe in one God.” That is our Catholic way of saying what the Jews have said for years “Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God alone.” 

God is one but we know through the revelation of Jesus Christ that God has to shown himself to be One being three persons. The sender the sent and the love in which the sent was sent. Still think the sign of the cross is simple?

So how does this apply to us today? 

We are called to be men and women who invoke the Trinity. You say “sure I make the sign of the cross all the time”. But I tell you today that we have to be MEN and WOMEN of the Triune God. Jesus gave us the perfect example. He held nothing back from the Father. That’s how we should love each other. 

^^^ That’s the principle for the Sacrament of Marriage. In marriage the two become one. So much so, that nine months later you have to name that love that was shared between the two. That is one reason why that Catholic Church condemns contraception (I didn’t say doesn’t like. I said condemn).

It’s an anti-trinity mentality. The contraceptive mentality says “I’m going to give most but not all” but the mentality of the Trinity says “Have this mind among yourselves which was in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but EMPTIED himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:4-7).

 Imagine for a moment if Jesus on the cross had a contraceptive mentality. What if he held back- just a little back up there on the cross? What if he just appeared to have died? (You know that’s an ancient heresy BTW) 

If Jesus had a contraceptive mentality there would be no salvation for you and me.

At the beginning of this post I named a lot of places that we invoked the Trinity. Some places I didn’t name were the bed room, computer room, office, and over a smart phone--and it’s a sad fact. Can you imagine what power would be released if we invoked God in the places where we fell often to lust, anger and pride ? 

Can you imagine what power would be released into our marriages if we invoked God in the bedroom? You’re talking about a country that spends billions on pornographic material and millions on Viagra and other related medications. It’s food for thought-what if we prayed and called down the Trinity while we partook in the martial embrace – the very action that replicates the life of the Trinity?

It’s no small thing we do when we make the Sign of the cross. It should take our breath away- but only so that we can be filled up with another breath: the spirit of God.

PRAY:

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.