expokolbe.comexpokolbe.com/NEWS/public/MI Monthly Formation_June... · Web viewMI Monthly IntentionImmaculata, please intercede…that contemplating the merciful love of Christ,

MI Monthly FormationJune 2016Volume VII, Issue 6

A Journey withThe Immaculata

Dear MI Members and Friends,

Man receives the Lord’s merciful love as a gift, while he in turn is called to “extend” mercy to others. By overcoming the difficulties of prejudice, incomprehension and hatred we should accept wholeheartedly one another. Open mindedness to other’s background and needs helps us to be able to love like the Lord asked. Maximilian helps us to see that even behind a seemingly good devotion, there can be masked antipathy, the desire to dominate and inability to accept one another.

Here are the Auschwitz martyr’s enlightening expressions, “But the most awful thing is that such a soul fails to realize the seriousness of its predicament. It carries out all the good works with the others. It may even be deeply moved in prayer, because the devil is able to lure souls even this way. It may truly believe that it is not behind the others, and indeed be convinced that it precedes them: for one of the features of that soul is a clear lack of humility. Haughtily trusting in its own intelligence, it does not even accept the reproach of superiors, but writes it off as dislike and prejudice on the

part of the superiors.

"Thus blinded it plunges deeper into the mire and will not be shaken from its slumber even when it crosses the threshold of mortal sin!... I do not want to keep writing about this. May God preserve us, may the Immaculata protect us, from the shadows of such a thing” (KW 329).

The Polish saint demonstrated an interior openness, even toward his opponents. He prayed for his enemies: he wasn't indifferent to their journey, but tried to transmit much love and mercy to them. Here are his enlightening words: “...we extend our warmest thanks and a friendly “May God reward you” to all those who, with their advice, their writing, their money, or by other activities, have helped Rycerz at any time in its struggle to defend the highest spiritual ideals. However, we are not going to wish well to these people only. In the same charitable spirit, we turn to those who were enemies of Rycerz and to those who made every effort to prevent the magazine from coming out! All these people we forgive wholeheartedly, wishing that, if they have not

MI Formation compiled by Father Kolbe Missionaries Layout-America Ornelas

MI Monthly Intention

Immaculata, please intercede…

that contemplating the merciful love of Christ, we may open our hearts to the needs of our brethren.

Monthly intentions can be found at: http://www.mi-international.org/NEWS/public/ENG_Intentions2016.pdf

National Center of the Militia of the Immaculata1600 West Park Avenue Libertyville, IL 60048 847-367-7800, ext. [email protected] MissionImmaculata.comConsecration.com

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of JesusAnd Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of MaryJune 3 & 4 - page 3(art by Mike Conger)

MI Monthly Formation June 2016Page 2

gone to Confession for a while, they might do so as soon as possible. And in case they are not familiar with Christ’s sweet teaching or do not belong to His fold, we wish

their souls may as soon as possible be washed with the water of Holy Baptism” (WK 1021).

Maximillian’s missionary testimony also consisted of profound respect for different cultures. Dialogue facil-itated the optimal process of enculturation. He delicately and sensitively proclaimed the evangelical message. According to his way and thought he believed the proclamation of the Gospel must be sealed with charity and with a welcome to other’s thoughts and lifestyles.

He left us a radiant testimony, through his capacity to insert himself and to quickly and profoundly be involved in his surroundings. He knew the people, he listened and was able to establish a serene dialogue with everyone. This enabled him to make concrete proposals to problems, and give relevant suggestion about the apostolate. Noteworthy is the saint’s great capacity to listen to others and his sensitivity and efficaciousness in meeting their needs. This welcome is crucial for the credibility of an

apostolate that is respectful of the desires and demands of the people. Kolbe especially stressed the Franciscan Rule exactly because it foresees the

possibility to proclaim the Good News “to everyone”, especially those who don’t share his religious beliefs. In fact he believed, “St. Francis is a paragon of the missionary; his example and his rule are highly missionary and allow the greatest degree of direct apostolic zeal for the salvation and sanctification of souls” (WK 299).

Francis and his Rule are an indisputable point of reference for Maximilian, that in the Poor One, and his way, sees an extraordinary model of missionary life without limits. Also in this perspective, the martyr of Auschwitz enters fully in the Franciscan tradition that develops with his brilliant contribution. The martyr of Auschwitz embraces this optic fully, the Franciscan tradition which he developed with his genial contribution.

God bless.

Fr. Raffaele Di Muro,MI International PresidentTranslated by Antonia Velasco &Ann O’Donnell



For Reflection

Do I think of the vertical dimension of mercy? How willing am I to accept another person who lives differently

from me? Has my missionary journey brought me to accept others

unconditionally? Do I try to overcome my reasons for resentment and hatred? Is my heart always open to others? What are my obstacles and how can I overcome them? What can I learn from Kolbe?

Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary - June 4“Humanly speaking the Divine Heart is like the heart of a good father. If a child is guilty of something, the father must punish him. Justice, or rather the father’s love for the child, calls for that, lest the child underestimate his own mistake. Nevertheless, the father would not really want to cause pain to his child, even though the child deserves it, and would like to find any legitimate reason not to inflict punishment. Forgiveness without an adequate reason would be tantamount to encouraging impudence in his guilty child. Yet the father would need someone to intercede in favor of his child and thereby mete out justice as well as affectionate love.

”Well, the Divine Heart of Jesus, burning with love for us, who are guilty, has found to this end a means most worthy of divine wisdom. He gives to us his own dear and beloved Mother as mother and protectress, the holiest creature among saints and angels, to whom nothing can be denied, because she is the worthiest and the most beloved of all mothers. In addition, He has given her a most magnanimous heart, so much so that she could never fail to spot even the smallest teardrop on earth or

neglect to worry about the salvation and sanctification of every man" (KW 1094).

The Writings of St. Maximilian



Kolbe in English!

Please send me The Writings of St. Maximilian Kolbe two volume set.

___________ Sets ($95.00/Set + $15.00 S&H = $110.00/set) $__________ Total EnclosedMake check payable to Marytown Press Illinois residents add 7% sales tax ($6.65/set)Marytown Press • 1600 W. Park Ave • Libertyville, IL 60048 •CALL 800-743-1177MI NewsMarytown, MI National CenterLibertyville, IL

- MI Monthly Gathering for AdultsThird Saturday of the month, 10:00-11:45 AM followed by noon Mass.Meet other MI members and join in prayer, reflection on the MI monthly intention, dialogue and apostolate update and planning.

St. Maximilian Kolbe Award -August 13, will be given to MI member, lay evangelist and Catholic radio talk show host, Terry Barber from West Covina, CA.

MI PILGRIMAGE TO POLAND September 6-17, 2016Join us for this unique pilgrimage to Poland, in the footsteps of St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Faustina and St. John Paul II. Call Mater Dei Tours (800-515-2632) today! We still have limited room available, but you must register quickly! Not only is the deadline almost here, but space is quickly disappearing!

MI MidwestKansas City, MOhttp://www.consecration-midwest.org Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows – A Perpetual Pilgrimage Site in Belleville, IllinoisOur pilgrimage to OUR LADY OF SNOWS, was so wonderful. Fr David did a great job for the retreat and the Masses and Rosaries were held in the most beautiful chapels. I cannot


http://www.consecration-midwest.org/


remember a more uplifting and beautiful Pentecost Mass that I have attended ever. Even the weather was perfect, Thank you HOLY SPIRIT FOR A GREAT TIME. Meet you in prayer,Christine Rossi MI

Escondido, CAMilitia ImmaculataFirst Saturday Family Rosary at the ParkJoe & Sue O’DonnellPlease join us as we gather to pray for our families, church, country and schools.When: First Sunday of the month, June5 Where: Kit Carson Park Time: 2pm-4pmAfter 2pm rosary all is welcome to play ball... and have a social snack together.

Modesto, CASt Joseph Church http://www.stjmod.com/outreach-ministries.htmlMI Adult Prayer VillageMI Family VillageImmaculada Espanol

Houston, TXMI "Domus Mariae" Villagehttp://www.midomusmariae.com

West Haven, UTMI Families of the Immaculata VillageSt Mary’s Catholic Church www.stmarysutah.org1st Sunday 12:30PMOn Mother’s Day, under an outdoor rain shower, the love of our parish community towards our Blessed Mother and Catholic faith shone brightly during the annual multi-language rosary and parish May Crowning. Represen-tatives from five different countries led the decades of the Joyful mysteries of the rosary and brought fresh flowers to give to our Blessed Mother.

As one participant noticed, the pronunciations of "Jesus" and Maria" were similar in all languages, thus witnessing to our unity within the Mystical Body of Christ. As the Immaculata always leads us to Jesus, we are helping to organize the parish's annual Corpus Christi procession that will be followed by an international potluck reception on May 29th.

Fr. Kolbe MissionariesWest Covina, CA www. kolbemision.org/[email protected] 626/917-0040www.kolbemission.org/en

May 21 Families to the MAX participants concluded a three year family formation in the spirit and legacy of St. Maximilian. Each family prepared a backpack that symbolized their family mission to be a witness to others, filling it with items that will help them: a rosary, the Word of God, the daily renewal prayer of total consecration, artwork about what is


http://www.kolbemission.org/en

http://www.stmarysutah.org/


important to them as a family consecrated to Mary. The day ended with a rosary procession, May Crowning and the renewal of the family total consecration.

June Calendar7 Presentation of St. Maximilian, Chula Vista10 Teens to the MAX, 6-9PMJulyJuly 8 MI Teen Leaders overnightJuly 9 MI Teen Day AugustAug 13 Kolbe Festival - 75th Anniversary of Kolbe’s MartyrdomSt. Christopher Parish, West Covina, CA1-2:45 Veneration of the First Class Relic of St. Maximilian3:00 Holy Mass with Bishop David O’ConnellFollowed by Kolbean exhibit and celebration

NOTRE DAME MI, INhttps://sites.google.com/a/nd.edu/ndmi/Follow us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/NotreDameMilitiaImmaculata

Union Center, WIRosa Mystica MI Village Prayer VillageBev Cousineau,Moderator

Milwaukee, WIVillage of the Immaculatahttp://www.immaculatavillage.org/Facebook page: Village of the ImmaculataKurt Keidi, Moderator

MARIAN CONSECRATION AT ST. ANTHONY HIGH SCHOOL IN MILWAUKEE, WIBy Kurt Keidl OFS

St. Anthony High School celebrated their annual May Crowning during an all-school Mass on May 6. Senior Maria Valdez was elected by her peers in the graduating class of


http://www.immaculatavillage.org/

https://www.facebook.com/NotreDameMilitiaImmaculata

https://sites.google.com/a/nd.edu/ndmi/


2016 with the honor to crown Our Lady's statue. Voting was conducted after a discussion of Mary, Model of All Virtues, and seniors identified eight of their female peers who best strive to embody the Marian virtues of faith, hope, charity, prayer, obedience, purity, and humility. Seniors Jenny Camacho, Monica Garcia, Kim Lopez, Isela Meza, Leslie Monreal, Miriam Ojeda and Sandra Ruiz were also recognized by their peers, in addition to Maria, as young women of faith who strive to imitate the Blessed Mother, and presented roses bearing the name of a Marian virtue during the coronation ceremony. Fr. Cliff Ermatinger, pastor, gave each girl of the court a blessed rosary. After the homily, Maria Valdez and Leslie Monreal consecrated themselves to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and were invested with the Miraculous Medal and enrolled in the M.I. Both girls were prepared by M.I. Village of the Immaculata moderator, Kurt Keidl OFS. The crowned statue of the Virgin Mary, Queen of St Anthony High School, graces the main entrance of the school in St. Raphael Hall. After Mass the girls also crowned the statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe in St. Michael Hall.

MI FAMILY NEWSPriestly Ordination Anniversary June 29 Fr. Joe Illo’s 25th priestly ordination (Star of the Sea, San Francisco). Photo: Ordination day with Mother and sister. Father’s vocation has taken him throughout Europe, South America, Mexico, throughout the world, preaching retreats to the Missionaries of Charity, serving

the Diocese of Stockton, CA and now the Archdiocese of San Francisco. He attended a YMI summer program in his youth when he made his total consecration to the Immaculata and began a vocational discernment. At St. Joseph’s parish in Modesto he led the entire staff to be consecrated in the MI and established an Adult, Family and Spanish Village. Thank you Fr. Joe!

http://starparish.com/event/ 25th-anniversary-of-the-fr-illos-ordination/

Congratulations to all the Graduates!!Ana Maria Ibarra Class of 2016 Registered Nursing fromMt. San Antonio College in Walnut, CA.

Sick and SufferingWe continue our prayers for Fr. John Grigus, OFM Conv - Rector of the Shrine St. Maximilian Kolbe, Marytown, Libertyville, IL and all MI members battling cancer and terminal illnesses.

Soul of the Faithful DepartedTony Molina was a high school student when he made his total consecration in the MI. He had a major conversion of faith and became a very active member of the then YMI. May 21


http://starparish.com/event/25th-anniversary-of-the-fr-illos-ordination/


he was taken off life support after two major strokes. He was only 47 years old. Mission Hills, CA

Patricia Treece, author of the biography on St. Maximilian Kolbe, A Man for Others,returned to the Lord on Monday, April 18.

During the month of February she had been very ill, but then once again she seemed to be doing better... her health took a sudden turn for the worst in April. She died at her daughter's home, lovingly cared for by her family and several friends in Oregon.

Patricia will be dearly missed. She was a woman of great virtue and seeker of truth. May the saints come out to meet her and bring her home.

From Catholic Book Blogger Interview November 25, 2013 by Pete SocksI was bludgeoned by one of Kolbe’s Conventual Franciscans (Br. Francis Mary Kavalage), so to speak, into doing a book the Harper & Row editors wonderfully titled A Man for Others on St. Maximilian Kolbe for his canonization (I wanted to learn Polish and spend 20 years to do it right – my right, not God’s!). This, my first book for adults, told Kolbe’s life through roughly 100 people who knew him, including men I interviewed who worked with him in the missions or were in the line-up at Auschwitz where Kolbe volunteered to die for another man. Max has been a huge inspiration to me and, they tell me, to many others through many foreign translations. This year a 30th publication year edition is available. I rejoice that I was permitted to add a brief review of the charges of anti-Semitism that accompanied the canonization which were widely circulated and believed, in spite of the saint’s already having been cleared by a joint Jewish-Catholic investigation.

From her website -Patricia is regarded as an expert on recent - the last century and a half - Catholic saints, although she says that John Paul II beatified and canonized so many, she simply can't keep up with all the new role model/prayer intercessors he gave the Church and human family.

Patricia is a convert to Catholicism who writes for "the human family." She is the author of critically-acclaimed books on saints and related topics, such as Mysticism, Healing God gives Through the Prayer Intercession of Saints, and Supernatural Phenomena. Her first book, A Man for Others (about St. Maximilian Kolbe) was published in 1982 by Harper San Francisco to acclaim by secular as well as religious press. It is still in print - Treece's books tend to stay in print for decades - and has been translated into a number of languages, anthologized, and been secular and Catholic book club selections.

Treece's more than a dozen works include The Sanctified Body, Messengers (in paperback retitled Apparitions), Meet Padre Pio, Meet John XXIII: Joyful Pope and Father to All, and the best selling Mornings with Therese of Lisieux. Her books have won awards from secular,


http://www.patriciatreece.com/books.html




http://www.patheos.com/blogs/catholicbookblogger/author/psocks/


Catholic, and Protestant sources. Meet John XXIII, a four-year project on the 20th-century Pope, recently received a Catholic Press Award. Her work has been translated into French, Portuguese, Japanese, Spanish, Polish, Italian, and Vietnamese.

With a degree in Journalism (with a concentration in Anthropology and Liberal Arts) and advanced studies at Middlebury College's Ecole Francaise and UCLA giving her the ability to research in several languages, Patricia has traveled extensively to saints' shrines and archives to research her many popular titles from eyewitness accounts and authentic documents.

Her most recent work is: God Will Provide: How God's Bounty Opened to Saints and 9 Ways It Can Open for You, Too.

Until health problems forced her to take a break, she was also for years the saints columnist for the Los Angeles archdiocesan newspaper The Tidings.

Daily Renewal of Total Consecration

Immaculata, Queen and Mother of the Church, I renew my consecration to you this day and for always, so that you may use me for the coming of the Kingdom of Jesus in the whole world. To this end I offer you all my prayers, actions and sacrifices of this day.

Daily Miraculous Medal Prayer of St. Maximilian

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you, and for all those who do not have recourse to you, especially the enemies of Holy Church and all those recommended to you.

Links MI International Calendar http://www.mi-international.org/calendario.asp?month 12&year-2016US Catholic Conference of Bishops www.usccb.orgZenit News Service [email protected]

MI CanadaPO Box 21003, 314 Harwood Ave. SouthAjax, ON L1S 2J0 • 416-465- [email protected] • www.consecration.ca

ESPAÑOL

Tema del Año 2016:“Kolbe, mártir de la caridad y signo de la misericordia de Dios”

INTENCIÓN MENSUALPara que… .Contemplando el amor misericordioso de Cristo, abramos nuestro corazón a las necesidades de los hermanos.



A cargo del Padre Raffaele Di Muro, Presidente Internacional M.I.

El hombre ha recibido como un don de Dios su amor misericordioso, y al mismo tiempo nos ha llamado a "extender" esta misericordia a los demás. Superando las dificultades causadas por el prejuicio, la incomprensión y el odio, deberíamos aceptarnos unos a los otros con todo el corazón. Estar abiertos a la historia y a las necesidades del prójimo nos hace capaces de amar como el Señor pide. Maximiliano nos ayuda a entender que detrás de la fachada de una hermosa devoción se pueden ocultar antipatías, ansias de dominio e incapacidad de aceptar a los demás.

Aquí están las expresiones iluminadoras del mártir de Auschwitz: “ pero lo más terrible es que esta alma no se da cuenta de la gravedad de su situación. Puede realizar todas las prácticas de piedad con los demás, conmoverse profundamente durante la oración, ya que el diablo es capaz de atraer a las almas incluso de esta manera; puede realmente creer no estar detrás de los otros, e incluso realmente cree que precede a los demás - pues una de las características de este tipo de personas es una evidente falta de humildad. Altivamente confiando en su propia inteligencia, ni siquiera acepta los llamados de atención de sus superiores, sino que los atribuyen de inmediato a un sentimiento de antipatía o de prejuicio en su contra.

Cegado a tal punto, cae más profundamente en el pantano, y no se despierta de su sueño, ¡ni siquiera cuando llega al límite de pecado mortal! ... No quiero seguir escribiendo acerca de esto. Dios nos libre, y nos libre la Inmaculada de las tinieblas de tal cosa”(EK 329).

El santo polaco demuestra también estar interiormente abierto a los que se le oponen. El recuerda en la oración a sus enemigos: su camino no le es indiferente, sino que trata de transmitirles mucho amor, mucha misericordia. He aquí sus palabras iluminadoras: “Expresamos nuestros más cálidos agradecimientos y un amistoso; Dios los recompense;, a través de la Inmaculada, a todos los que de alguna manera, con el consejo, con la lapicera, o con el dinero y con otras actividades, han ayudado al Rycerz en su lucha por los ideales espirituales más sublimes. Sin embargo, nosotros no alimentamos los mejores sentimientos sólo hacia estas personas. Con el mismo amor nosotros nos dirigimos a los que eran enemigos del Rycerz y también a aquellos que han dirigido todos sus esfuerzos en este sentido con el fin de no permitirles salir de esto! A todos ellos nosotros los perdonamos de corazón, deseándoles que si hace largo tiempo que no se acercan al confesionario, lo hagan lo antes posible; y si no conocen la ternura de las enseñanzas de Cristo y no pertenecen a su redil, les deseamos que cuanto antes el agua del s. bautismo lave sus” (EK 1021).

El testimonio misionero de Maximiliano consiste también en el profundo respeto por las culturas distintas de la propia, en el diálogo que le permite un óptimo proceso de inculturación. Trata de dar el mensaje del Evangelio con gran delicadeza y con la máxima sensibilidad. El anuncio es acompañado, según su ejemplo y su pensamiento, precisamente por su testimonio, guiado por la caridad y la acogida de otras formas de pensar y de vivir.

Él nos da un radiante testimonio por su capacidad de involucrarse y comprometerse profunda y rápidamente en los ambientes donde entra. Conoce a la gente, la escucha y es capaz de establecer con todos un diálogo cordial y constructivo a través del cual trata de proponer soluciones concretas a los problemas, y también líneas sólidas para el apostolado. Se debe destacar la gran capacidad de nuestro santo de escuchar al prójimo y salir al encuentro de sus necesidades con sensibilidad y eficacia.


Justamente esta acogida es determinante para la credibilidad de un apostolado que es respetuoso de los deseos y demandas del pueblo. Kolbe elige particularmente la regla franciscana, ya que proporciona la posibilidad de un anuncio “para todos”, motivo de acogida a todos los hermanos, sobre todo a aquellos que no comparten sus ideas religiosas. De hecho, él considera “el Padre San Francisco es el modelo del misionero; su ejemplo, su Regla son altamente misioneros y permiten el máximo celo apostólico dirigido a la salvación y a la santificación de los hermanos” (EK 299).

Francisco y su Regla son un punto de referencia indiscutible para Maximiliano que en el Pobrecillo, y en su estilo, ve un modelo extraordinario de vida misionera sin límites. Incluso en este sentido, el mártir de Auschwitz entra totalmente en la tradición franciscana desarrollándose con su genial aporte.

Para la reflexión ¿Considero la dimensión vertical de la misericordia? ¿Hasta qué punto logró aceptar al hermano que vive de una manera diferente de la

mía? Mi camino misionero ¿me pone en condiciones de aceptar incondicionalmente al otro? ¿Trato de superar los motivos de resentimiento y de odio? Mi corazón ¿es siempre acogedor hacia los hermanos? ¿Cuáles son mis cerrazones , y cómo puedo superarlas? ¿Cuál es la enseñanza de Kolbe en este ámbito?

-Fr. Raffaele Di Muro,MI International PresidentCentro Nacional del la MIOficina Hispana de la Milicia de la InmaculadaFr. Kolbe Missionaries531 E Merced Ave – West Covina, CA [email protected]://www.kolbemission.org/es/home


Documents

expokolbe.comexpokolbe.com/NEWS/public/MI Monthly Formation_June... · Web viewMI Monthly IntentionImmaculata, please intercede…that contemplating the merciful love of Christ,