The Militia of the Immaculata, founded by St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe in 1917, to assist Her in the mission of evangelization.   The MI points out for us the strong devotion our Order has for the Immaculate Mother of God, one of the elements of the charism that we have inherited from our Seraphic Father St. Francis.

As Franciscan friars we are called to respond to those words that Our Lord Jesus Christ proclaimed to St. Francis, "Go and rebuild my Church that you see falling into ruin."  St. Maximilian, a Conventual Franciscan, followed this cue by responding to this call to rebuild the church when he witnessed the spread of godlessness and attack upon the Church of Christ. 

Who is this Hero of Auschwitz who founded the Militia of the Immaculata?  And what does he teach us today?

Mankind is always in need of heroes, men and women who were exceptional for their ideals and deeds. This is particularly true today when forces of materialism tend to lessen man's dignity and his ideals. Nevertheless, in the midst of the world's darkness there are heroes who are like beacons of light to enkindle idealism and to bolster man's dignity. In the sphere of politics and government there are heroes who light the fire of freedom and justice in the hearts of men among professional men, social workers, military men, scientists, and indeed in all strata of society there are heroes.