Wear the Miraculous Medal Marian Prayer of Marian Consecration

Consecrate Yourself to Mary

(Composed by St. Maximilian Kolbe)

Following the spirituality of St. Maximilian Kolbe’s Militia of the Immaculata

The Miraculous Medal owes its origins to the appari-
tions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the chapel of the O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven and earth, refuge of
Rue du Bac, Paris, in 1830. She appeared to Catherine sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed
Labouré, showing the young nun and future canonized to entrust the entire order of mercy to you. I, (name),
saint the design of a medal that serves as a mini-cate- a repentant sinner, cast myself at your feet, humbly
chism of the Church’s teaching on Our Lady. imploring you to take me with all that I am and have,
In a vision, Mary stood on a globe with brilliant wholly to yourself as your possession and property.
light streaming from her jeweled fingers. “Behold the Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body,
symbol of graces shed upon those who ask for them,” of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most
she said, representing herself as Mediatrix of All Grac- pleases you.
es. Surrounding her a banner read, “O Mary, conceived If it pleases you, use all that I am and have with-
without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you,” sym- out reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of
bolizing her Immaculate Conception. The vision re- you: “She will crush your head,” and “You alone have
versed, showing the letter “M” entwined with a cross destroyed all heresies in the whole world.” Let me be
St. Maximilian Kolbe’s Original above the Sacred Hearts. This image represents Mary a fit instrument in your immaculate and merciful
Charter of the Militia of the as Co-redemptrix, a unique participator in Jesus’ sav- hands for introducing and increasing your glory to
ing act of redemption. the maximum in all the many strayed and indiffer-
Immaculata
Millions of medals have been distributed and un- ent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the
I. Purpose of the Movement told graces given “to those who wear it around the neck” blessed kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
• Pursue the conversion of every person as the Virgin promised to St. Catherine. Hearing of For wherever you enter you obtain the grace of con-
living in sin, heresy, schism and especial- the miraculous conversion of the agnostic Alphonse version and growth in holiness, since it is through
ly Freemasonry, and the growth in holi- Ratisbonne through the medal, St. Maximilian made your hands that all graces come to us from the most
ness of all persons, under the sponsorship wearing it and giving it away an integral part of his Sacred Heart of Jesus.
of Mary Immaculate. movement. He called the Miraculous Medal “a ‘bullet’ V. Allow me to praise you, O Sacred Virgin
II. Conditions for Membership with which the faithful soldier hits the enemy, that is R. Give me strength against your enemies
evil, and thus rescues souls.”
• Make a voluntary and total oblation of
oneself to Mary Immaculate as an instru-
ment in her most holy hands. Gaining a Plenary Indulgence upon
• Carry or wear the Miraculous Medal. consecration to the Immaculata
III. Means of the Apostolate A Plenary Indulgence—the complete remission Daily Miraculous Medal Prayer
• Once a day if possible, beseech the Im- of temporal punishment in purgatory due to sin—is
To lead
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray
maculata with this prayer: “O Mary con- granted by the Church for consecration to the Immac-
for us who have recourse to you,
every
ceived without sin, pray for us who have ulata. This great honor was bestowed on the Move-
recourse to you, and for all who do not have ment by Pope Pius XI in 1926.
and for all who do not have recourse individual
to you, especially the enemies of Holy
recourse to you, especially for the Freema-
To receive the indulgence, you must: Church and all those recommended to you. with Mary
sons.”*
• Use all the legitimate means that one’s
• Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation within to the
the eight days preceding your consecration,
particular state in life, condition, and Sacred Heart
varying opportunities make possible, the • Attend Mass and receive Holy Communion on
choice of which is left to the zeal and the day of your consecration, of Jesus.
prudence of each member, and especially, • Pray at least an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory
propagate the Miraculous Medal. Be for the intentions of the Holy Father, and St. Maximilian Kolbe
• Renounce all attachment to sin, even venial sin, 1600 W. Park Ave. | Libertyville, IL 60048
* This prayer has subsequently been broadened in scope.
See “Daily Miraculous Medal Prayer” on the following page. on your consecration date. 847-367-7800 | KolbeShrine.org
190-733
Total Consecration to Mary To better “win the world for the tal consecration to Mary Immaculate as a means Preparation for Total Consecration
Immaculata,” the friars utilized of spiritual renewal for individuals and society. The
Consecration means setting yourself aside for ser- the most modern techniques. MI is one of the few Vatican-approved public associa- 1. Select the date on which you want to consecrate
vice to God. The Church has always advocated This enabled them to publish tions whose mission, like that of the Catholic Church, yourself, preferably a Marian feast day (see below).
consecrating yourself to Jesus Christ through the countless catechetical and devo- is universal.
Blessed Virgin Mary, the perfect model of discipleship. tional tracts, a daily newspaper
From the earliest known prayer to Mary, the Sub
Tuum Praesidium (c. 200) to St. John Damascene
with a circulation of 230,000 and
a monthly magazine with a circu-
This worldwide movement employs prayer as
the main weapon in the spiritual battle with evil Marian
and apostolic initiatives throughout society, either
(d. 750) to St. Louis de Montfort (d. 1716), devotion lation of over one million. Maxi-
individually or in groups, to deepen the knowledge of Feast Days
to Mary and total consecration to her have ancient milian used short-wave radio and
the Gospel and our Catholic Faith in themselves and
roots. In our times Pope John Paul II recommended planned to build a motion picture
in others.
an “act of entrustment” to Mary (his papal motto was studio—he was a true “apostle of the mass media.” He January 1 Solemnity of the Mother of God
an enthusiastic Totus Tuus–“Totally Yours”). St. Max- established another City of the Immaculata in Naga-
saki, Japan, in 1930, and envisioned future evangeli-
Spiritual Benefits of Total Consecration February 11 Our Lady of Lourdes
imilian Kolbe adds a strong missionary dimension to
Marian consecration. zation centers worldwide. Consecrating yourself to Mary through the ideal of St. March 25 Annunciation
Maximilian will be one of the most important acts of
Marian consecration, therefore, is no archaic spiri- Maximilian was a ground-breaking theologian. His May 13 Our Lady of Fatima
your life. You will become willing instruments of Our
tuality but a living and active means of advancing the insights on the Immaculate Conception anticipated
Lady, the handmaid of the Lord and the immaculate May 31 Visitation
Faith as a People of God. It is not just another “devo- the Marian theology of the Second Vatican Council
instrument of God.
tion,” but a complete spirituality, one not lightly under- and further developed the Church’s understanding of June 27 Our Lady of Perpetual Help
taken. It is a formal act of self-giving that does not stop Mary as “Mediatrix” of all the graces of the Trinity, Through total consecration you cooperate with
at Mary, but is Christ-directed. It is really consecration and as “Advocate” for God’s people. Mary in the work of building up and renewing the July 16 Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
to Jesus; in the words of St. Maximilian, “To lead every modern day Church. She will enlighten your mind, August 15 Assumption
In 1941, the Nazis imprisoned Father Maximilian
individual with Mary to the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.” guide your will, empower your efforts and intercede
in the Auschwitz death camp. There he offered his life August 22 Queenship of Mary
for you in a special way before the throne of the
In 1992 the Holy Father developed our under- for another prisoner and was
Father. September 8 Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary
standing of this consecration even further. By dying condemned to slow death in a
for another and “consecrating his life to the Immaculate starvation bunker. On August You will also share in the intercessory prayers of the September 15 Our Lady of Sorrows
Virgin,” St. Maximilian has become, suggests the Holy 14, 1941, his impatient cap- faithful worldwide, who pray daily for those who have
Father, a “prophet and a sign of the new era, the civili- tors ended his life with a fatal consecrated themselves to Mary. October 7 Our Lady of the Rosary
zation of love.” Here, St. Pope John Paul II is clearly injection. Pope John Paul II November 21 Presentation of Mary
The spirit of total consecration to the Immacula-
endorsing Kolbe’s example of Marian consecration canonized Maximilian as a
ta is the spirit of continual conversion. Not everyone December 8 Immaculate Conception
as a critical element of his “new evangelization” and “martyr of charity” in 1982.
who consecrates themself understands perfectly in the
Saint Maximilian as a primary intercessor. St. Maximilian Kolbe is con- December 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe
beginning, the power of this consecration. But when
sidered a patron of journalists,
St. Maximilian Kolbe’s Evangelization lived in the spirit of willingness and humility, the
families, prisoners, the pro-life
Immaculata will elevate our natural gifts and inspire
movement, the chemically ad- 1. Prepare yourself for the day of consecration with
Saint Maximilian was born Raymond Kolbe in Poland, us to holiness and fruitful service within the Church.
dicted and those with eating daily Mass if possible, the Rosary, spiritual reading;
January 8, 1894. In 1910, he entered the Conventual
disorders. As Jesus said to those who would stand up and fol- and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation on or
Franciscan Order. He was sent to study in Rome where
he was ordained a priest in 1918. low him: “Even greater things than these will you do.” shortly before the day of your consecration.
Kolbe and the Militia of the Immaculata
Father Maximilian returned to Poland in 1919 and 2. On the day of your consecration, recite the
The Militia of the Immaculata (MI) is a worldwide
began to spread the Militia of the Immaculata (MI) official act of consecration (on back of brochure).
evangelization movement founded by St. Maxi-
movement of Marian consecration, which he found- Renounce all attachment to sin and, if possible,
milian Kolbe on October 16, 1917, dedicated to “Maximilian Kolbe is a prophet
ed while in Rome, on October 16, 1917. In 1927, he attend Mass. In this way you will be making an
total consecration to Mary. Maximilian gathered and a sign of the new era,
established an evangelization center near Warsaw effort to remove all obstacles to Our Lady making
together six like-minded young friars before a stat-
called Niepokalanow—the “City of the Immaculata.” the civilization of love.” you her own in the Holy Spirit.
ue of the Blessed Virgin and drafted a charter that
By 1939, the City had expanded from eighteen friars would establish one of the most influential Marian – Pope John Paul II 3. Finally, ask Our Lady and St. Maximilian to show
to an incredible 650, making it the largest Catholic apostolates ever. The charter still serves as a blue- you how you can best serve the Lord from this
religious house in the world. print of spiritual progress today. It encourages to- moment on.