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TheMakingofaKnight
TheWritingsofBl.MaximilianM.Kolbe
ReturningtoPolandaftercompletinghistheologicalstudiesinRome,Blessed
MaximilianarrivedinCracowAug.28or29,1919.Hewasatonceassignedtoteachin
theOrdersseminarythere.HebegansimultaneouslytopropagatetheM.I.by
organizingfocusgroups.Thefollowingarticleisthetextofaninstructionhegavetothe
seminariansfocusgrouponSept.18,1919.Thepurposeofthisinstructionisaboveall
practical.ItnotonlyindicatestheprimaryconceptsonwhichtheM.I.isbased,butsets
forththeattitudesanddispositionsthatwillkeeptheKnightsmovingsteadilytowards
theirgoalofbecomingeffectiveinstrumentsinourLadyshands.
AtourlastmeetingIpresented,inafewwords,thehistoryandnatureoftheMilitia
Immaculatae.Today,inalongerandmoredetailedformIwilltrytopresentitspurpose,
nature,means,difficultiesandrewards.
I.

ULTIMATEANDPROXIMATEPURPOSESOFTHEM.I.

Everythingthatexists,i.e.,thebeingofeachthing,isformedaccordingtothespecific
purposeforwhichitexists.So,inordertounderstandthenatureoftheM.I.,itis
necessarytoexamineitspurpose.Now,everythinghasatwofoldpurpose:Theultimate
andproximate.
TheultimatepurposeofeverycreatureisthegloryofGodmanifestedexternally.In
contrasttoirrationalcreatures,rationalbeingsmanifestthisgloryinaperfectway,for
theynotonlyreflecttheimageofGodsperfections,theyalsocometonowandadmit
them.Hence,homage,adoration,thanksgivingandloveforthecreatorbythecreature.
But,Godlovesusinaninfinitelyperfectwayandshowsthislovebycomingintothe
worldtoraiseusupagain,toenlightenus,tostrengthenus.Andeventoredeemus
throughamostterribleandpainfuldeath.Heshowsitbyremainingamongusforaltime
andallaroundtheworld,althoughheisshamefullyneglectedandabandonedbythe
ungrateful.Heevengiveshimselftousasfoodanddrinkinordertoimparttousashare
inhisdivinity.
WemustthereforeloveGodinaperfectway.Yet,ascreatureswearefiniteandunable
togiveHiminfiniteglory.So,letusatleastgivehimasmuchgloryasweareable.For
thisreasontheultimatepurposeoftheM.I.isthegloryofGod,andnotmerelythe
greatergloryofGod,butthegreatestglory.
Theproximatepurposeofacreatureistheparticularpurposeforwhichitismade.This
particularpurposeservesasameansofattainingtheultimategoal.Now[aswehavesaid]

thereflectionofGodsperfectionsisthepurposeofallcreation.Hencetoknowand
recognizeGodsimageinus,andtoperfectitbyfreelyrespondingtoGodsgracesand
thusthroughcharityuniteourselvesallthemorestrictlywithGodthroughakindof
deification,isthe[particular]purposeofman.
TheM.I.thereforehasforitsproximatepurposetheconversionofnonCatholicsand
particularlyofthoseunfortunatepersonswhointheirblindnessliftuptheircriminal
handsagainstthemostlovingandbestFather,i.e.,the[enemiesoftheChurch];andthis
subjecttothedirection,protectionandmediationoftheMostBlessedVirgin.,the
Immaculata.Underherprotection,thatis,asinstrumentsinherImmaculatehandsand
throughherintercession,usingallthemeansShehasgiventous,andprayingthatshe
wouldobtainmercyforall.AstothereasonwhywehaverecoursetotheMostBlessed
VirginMaryunderthetitlesofHerImmaculateConception,wehavealreadyseenthisin
ourlastdiscourse.
II.

THENATUREOFM.I.

Theforegoingisourrealpurpose,accordingtowhichourwholeunionmustbeformed.
Wehavelearnedfromphilosophythateverythingismadeupofmatterandform,
whicharecombinedtogethertoestablishthenatureofthebeing.IntheM.I.thematter,
asineveryorganization,isitsmembers,andthesecanbeallthosewithoutexceptionwho
desiretoattaintheabovementionedpurpose:youngandold,theReligious,priestsand
laity,menandwomen,thelearnedandthesimple,inonewordallwhodesirethegreatest
gloryofGodwithoutlimitations,throughtheImmaculata.
Theformofeveryorganizationisthatwhichjoinsthememberstogetherinorderto
attaintheorganizationspurpose;itconstitutestheorganizationsessence.IntheM.I.the
formisthecompletededicationofourselvesandeverything,withoutanyreservations,
totheMostBlessedVirgin,sothatshewoulddeigntoaccomplishinusandthroughus
whatwasoncewrittenofHer:Sheshallcrushyourhead(Gen.3,15),andYou
yourselfhaveconqueredalltheheresiesinthewholeworld(officeoftheBVM);inone
word,thatshewoulddeigntosanctifyusandthroughustouniteotherswithGodinthe
mostintimatelove.
TheexternalsignofthisdedicationistheMiraculousMedal,becauseitwasgiventous
byHerself,andthisisanintegralpartoftheM.I.
Thekeepingofthespiritoftheforegoingoffering,aswellasthewearingofthe
MiraculousMedal,doesnotobligateusunderanysin,eventhesmallest;itisloveonly,
lovewithoutlimitstowardstheMostSacredHeartofJesus,inordertobringbacktohim
asmanysoulsaspossibleandtounitethemwithHimasintimatelyaspossible,whichis
theonlymotivefortheexistenceandactivityoftheM.I.
III.THEMEANSOFTHEM.I.
WearemerelyaninstrumentinthemostlovinghandsoftheImmaculata,andonlyinthis
waycanweexpecttoreachourultimatepurpose,whichisnotonlythegreater,butthe
greatestgloryofGod.Hence,alloureffortsmustbedirectedtothis:thatweallow

ourselvestobeled,thatwedonothingofourselves,butonlywhatShewantsintheway
Shewantsit.
ButwheredowefindandhowdowerecognizethewillofourQueen?Thereisonlyone
surewayofdoingthisinthewholeworld:holyobediencetoallwhorepresentGod,
whosewillistheverylifeoftheImmaculata.Butwemust(herewereasoninahuman
way)recognizeadifference:Goddirectsallthingsaccordingtohisjustice;howeverhe
hasgivenusthemostBlessedVirginasaMothersothatwemightavoidthestrokeof
justiceandseekrefugeunderhermotherlymantleofmercy.Forthisreason,saysSt.
Bernard,Godhasreservedtohimselftheorderofjustice,andconsignedtheorderof
mercytothemostBlessedVirginMary.
WecansometimesrecognizetheBlessedVirginsintentionsthroughinterior
inspirations.Yetwecanhardlyeverbesurethattheycomefromherandnotourown
selfloveorfromthedevil.Forthedevilcandisguisehimselfasanangeloflightand
suggestthemostholythingstous.Thesemayevenbegoodforsomeoneelse,butthey
willnotbewhattheLordGoddesiresforus.EventhoughthemostBlessedVirgin
shouldappearHerselfinordertosendusonthemostnobleofmissions,whenandwhere
couldwehavethatcertaintythatitisreallyShe,andnotsomephantasmorsometrickof
thedevil?IndeedweknowthatthedevilevenappearedtoSt.CatherineofSienna(ifI
amnotmistaken)asthecrucifiedLordJesus,anddeceivedherforatime.
RecognizingOurLadyswill
Inallsuchinstancesthebestcriterionisobedience.Thatis,wemustpresentourfeelings
totheproperreligiousauthorityorspiritualdirectorasthecaserequires,andfaithfully
fulfillhisdirectiveinthematter.ShouldheforbidwhattheImmaculatawants,Shewill
stillbeabletoachieveHerpurpose,asShedidwhentheauthoritiesopposedHerwillin
thecaseoftheMiraculousMedalandatLourdes.IndeedtheLordGodsometimes
permitssuchobstaclesintentionallyinordertoclarifyHiswishes.Whateverdoesnot
comefromGodortheImmaculatawillcometonothing.
Hence,werecognizethewishesofourQueennotonlyinthedirectcommandswe
receivefromauthoritiesbutalsointhepermissiongivenustofulfillourinterior
inspirations.Ourwholelife,everythought,workanddeedisinHerhands.LetHerdirect
alloftheseasShepleases.
AtvarioustimesandinvarioustrialsthemostBlessedVirginMaryhascometotheaid
ofHerchildren,givingthemdifferentwaysofattainingsalvationmoreeasily,and
freeingothersfromtheyokeofSatan.NowinthisepochoftheImmaculateConception
themostBlessedVirginhasgivenmankindtheMiraculousMedal.Itsheavenlyorigin
hasbeenprovenbycountlessmiraclesofhealingandparticularlyofconversion.The
ImmaculataHerselfinrevealingitpromisedallwhowouldwearitverymanygraces:and
sinceconversionandsanctificationaredivinegracesfromGod,theMiraculousmedal
willbeoneofthebestmeansforattainingthesegifts.Forthisreasonitconstitutesafirst
classweaponoftheMilitiaImmaculatae;itisabulletwhichafaithfulKnightofthe

Immaculataaimsattheenemy,i.e.,evil,therebysavingpersonscaughtinevil.And
abovealltheMiraculousMedal(originalProgramorCharteroftheM.I.).
On this medal there is inscribed the ejaculation: O Mary conceived without sin, pray for
us who have recourse to you. This is a prayer which the Immaculata Herself places upon
our lips, revealing it to us and recommending its recitation. This is truly our heavenly
weapon a perfect weapon for a Knight of Immaculata. And so we fulfill this directive of
Mary. But because there are also some who do not have recourse to Her, we add the
following: And for all those who do not have recourse to you. Now the head of the
hellish serpent is the union of the enemies of the Church. We therefore mention especially
those who are ensnared by them.
So therefore we strike daily at all members of the hellish dragon, and above all else at the
head. The results of this work (or rather of the prayer) we do not see now, but after death
we will see how true are the words of the Savior: Ask and you shall receive (Jo, 16,24);
for here we can be sure that what we ask for is certainly not contrary to Gods will.
The Program of the M.I. indicates that we are to use all means (as long as they are licit),
which our state of life, conditions and circumstances permit, which are recommended to
the zeal and prudence of everyone. Here we have opened the broadest field for actions,
for there is every variety of state in life, conditions and circumstances, offering
countless ways and means of action.
Two categories of Action in the M.I.
There are, however two general categories of action that can be distinguished: the work
of a single individual acting on his own initiative, and the united or corporate action of a
group. In the first case, every individual can do much according to the talents given him
or her by God and inspired by love and confident prayer. But there will always be those
works which individuals acting alone will be unable to accomplish. The same thing is
true in prayer. For Jesus Himself said: For where there are two or three gathered together
in my name, there I am in the midst of them (Mt. 18, 20). Therefore one can pray and
work more effectively in a group, joining forces with the other members.
The nature of such groups will differ according to state, condition and circumstance.
Common to all groups will be the drive to reach the goal in the most perfect and easiest
way, that is, the salvation of every possible soul and the highest possible degree in
holiness for everyone.
All the means (as I have already mentioned), whether employed by individuals only, or
also by groups, must be used according to obedience. This alone is the certain criterion of
the will of God and consequently of the Immaculata on this earth. Furthermore, they are
recommended to the zeal and prudence of each one. This it to be understood as not
obliging anyone under the pain of sin, and as promising that only in the next world will
everyone receive a reward according to what he has done.
Only by relying on this imperturbable rock (of obedience) can we become as unshakable
as God, because then we are certain of His will through the Immaculata. And even though
obedience would say yes today and no tomorrow, we shall do it this way today and
another way tomorrow, but we will never say that we made a mistake by doing it a
different way; it was well done when we did it yesterday and it is still well done, although

different today. It is just as God does, and He does not change; He allows rain today, but
not tomorrow.
IV.

THE DIFFICULTIES THE KNIGHTS MUST FACE

It is of the nature of the M.I.s work, however, that difficulties and contradictions will
arise. These must be overcome in peace. Whatever good has happened on this earth has
been opposed by difficulties. And the greater and better the good, the greater the
difficulties put in its way. To be convinced of this it is enough to look into our history
books. Therefore we too should expect something similar. But I do not speak a priori
only, for I have seen with my own eyes how the M.I. in Rome went through its baptism
of fire.
Whence must these contradictions come? Where do they arise? We must be prepared to
face them on all sides. I do not speak here of the difficulties we experience in every work,
nor yet about the wars which will be declared against us by the very ones for whose
eternal salvation we will be fighting. For some will wrongly interpret our best intentions
and purposes, and this sometimes deliberately. Some will hurl the most lying calumnies,
according to the principle recommended by Voltaire: Lie, lie, for something of it will
remain for you.
But I speak of the persecutions which can befall us from reasonable people, including
some enrolled in the ranks of M.I. and all this can happen with the best of intentions in
those who oppose us. Truly, it is most painful, if on does not have confidence solely in
God through the Immaculata, to see someone full of zeal for the greater glory of God
crossing us at every turn and trying to destroy or ruin what has been built up. Perhaps
having once himself been deeply involved in the work of the M.I. such a person will
afterwards draw away and begin suggesting doubts to others, sowing distrust and
indifference.
Nor is this all, for we ourselves are changeable: what we accept today with enthusiasm
will tomorrow seem boring; what today attracts us will tomorrow frighten us because of
the number and heaviness of the sacrifices it demands. And there we note that this
difficulty arises from self love. . . .
Faced with all this where shall we find relief? On what shall we lean for support in these
difficulties? Our support must be something very stable and unchangeable, something
that can serve as an irremovable foundation; in a word, something of God, and this is
nothing else than holy and unswerving obedience to the Immaculata, who reveals Her
will through our superiors.
Whoever leans on this does not have to fear any storm. Let all the bad and the good rise
up against him in the word and in the deed, let the body grow heavy through indolence
and unwillingness to work, let the mind become clouded, let the will falter and become
discouraged; let all in him and around him conspire against him, let hell rage, let the
world turn upside down while everything within him is in turmoil the good knight of
the Immaculata will scorn all this. He will not confide in himself, but will trust without
limits in God through the Immaculata, for he is convinced that he acts in Her powerful
hands. In truth this and this alone is the granite rock against which all the foaming waves
break.

This is Not Just a Theory

I can speak not only from theory but also from my own experience and the experience of
others. These consecrated knights calmly met all the very reasonable and prudent
opposition thrown at them to destroy the M.U. at its very roots. They paid no attention to
mere human reasoning which they allowed to pass in one ear and out the other.
In a way, we all are afraid to encounter difficulties in any good work; yet these
difficulties are all very profitable; they are needful and even necessary, for sooner or later
they serve to clarify the whole matter; they harden and strengthen the will for further
work and become a font of merit for heaven.
In fact, how many things in Rome were clarified in this fire of opposition, especially in
regard to the foundation and basis of the entire M.I.! It is similar to the way in which
heresies in our Holy Church are a stimulus for the unfolding and clarifying of truth.
Through them we come to recognize the power and the solidity of the truth that is
opposed, and thus our wills are stirred to reach out for it and hold onto it. They cling to
the truth more tenaciously when the ruined opposition dies. For when we suffer while
filled with hope and the certainty of victory, we become more bold, more enlightened,
more vital and experience, and when the foundation of this hope and certainty emerges
unshaken, we are ready to take on more dangerous and more painful battles.
In all these battles for the Immaculata a much greater reward awaits us than if everything
had gone along smoothly, a reward bigger and more splendid insofar as the work was
heavier, the sufferings more keen, and the love of God alone through the salvation and
sanctification of souls more ardent.
V.

OUR REWARD

God in His infinite goodness, in order to draw us closer to Himself and to encourage us to
work, sometimes even on this earth gives us a taste of this happiness, the fullness of
which is to be our crown in heaven.
Trying with all our might to respond to grace as faithfully as possible, and to spread the
glory of God through the Immaculata both in ourselves and in others, we can often taste
the sweetness of a childs peace as he gives himself without limits into the arms of his
mother, without a care and without a fear, confident in the wisdom, the strength and the
goodness of his mother. Sometimes a storm will be raging all around us, lightning will
strike, and we thus given to the Immaculata without limits, and sure that nothing will
happen to us as long as this best of mothers does not permit it will rest sweetly and
peacefully, working and suffering for the salvation of souls.
Then again crosses will fall upon us, but the grace of God will warm our hearts,
inflaming them with such love that we will burn with the desire to suffer, without limits:
to suffer humiliations, scoffing, sneers, forgetfulness and the contempt of others, in order
that we may show by this how we love our Father, and out best Friend and His more dear
Mother, the Immaculata. For suffering is the school of love, its firebrand and strength.
As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing (II Cor. 6, 10). Behold, this is what it means to live
for an ideal!
And then even though a whole host of bitter foes conspire against us, we will still find
some real and true friends who, united with us in sincere love and in unity of a common

ideal, will console us in sorrow and help us in our falls in order that we might never let
out hands fall, but persevere gallantly, trusting solely in God through the Immaculata and
fighting until death.
All this, however, is only a very small portion of our total reward. It will not always
accompany us, but only at those times when our Mother, seeing our weakness, will try to
strengthen us. She then sends us, as to children, these sweets which we should receive
with the greatest gratitude and humility, in order that being strengthened we might
cheerfully get to work once more.
We will, however, win much more if in exterior and interior darkness, full of sorrow,
overworked, suffering without consolation, persecuted at every step, plagued by continual
failures and abandoned by all, laughed at, scorned, alone, we will as the Lord Jesus did
on the cross pray for all without exception, just as Christ did for the good and repentant
thief, to bring back all to God through the Immaculata and unite them to Him.
The Importance of Limitless Desires
But this life will pass, and then will begin our true reward. Not even the smallest labor,
the smallest suffering undertaken for the glory of God, will escape a lavish reward and
this through all eternity. . . . The Lord God, as we see from history, not only rewards what
we have done, but even what we have desired to do, although it was not in our power to
achieve it. Desire then, desire without limits!
And, Oh infinite love, God often permits his lovers even after death to satisfy their
desires, and to act in this world, praying and working for the salvation and sanctification
of souls; whence come good inspirations and even miracles. Sister Therese of the Child
Jesus used to say: If I knew that after death I would not be able to work in heaven for the
salvation of souls, I would rather remain on this earth until the end of the world.
She promised that she would let fall from heaven a shower of roses, i.e., graces. And
really, in but a short time after her death she gained many souls for God throughout the
world. The many miracles reported in the latest editions of her biography bear witness to
this. Similarly Gemma Galgani is known already throughout the world, even in China,
and everywhere she is bringing in an abundant catch of souls.
So also we may have this hope, that if we now imitate these holy souls not so long dead,
if we burn with the desire of saving souls, then after our death too the Immaculata will
complete Her work through us. This She will do much more then than while we live on
this poor earth, where in giving a helping hand to others, we must watchfully be on guard
that we do not fall ourselves. Thus we shall be able to comfort the Most Sacred Heart of
Jesus.
Jesus Himself when dying saw only the Most Holy Virgin and His beloved disciple
whom he could call His own; His other disciples had run away, one had denied Him
under oath, and Judas had handed Him over to the Jews. Therefore, we should not worry
very much when we do not see the fruits of our labor on this earth. Maybe it is the will of
God that we should collect them after death and that someone else would see them in this
world.
The Real Reward

Our first real reward, therefore, is the possibility and the ease of making a most effective
catch of souls, even after death.
Let us imagine further how grateful all the countless array of souls will be for whom we
have opened heaven, and even if we have helped them increase only one degree of glory.
How they will thank us through all eternity, and we will be grateful to them, because
working for them we have prepared for ourselves a crown. With what love will they burn
towards Her who deigned to use us as instruments for releasing from the bonds of the
devil. How shall we not praise Her goodness, that She chose us who are so unworthy,
miserable, and unfit to be Her Knights, that we might captivate souls for Her Heart?
Finally, what a hymn of praise, glory and thanksgiving will not the inhabitants of heaven
rise to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for His goodness in giving us so tender a Mother, in
order that we might be able to turn to Her and hide under Her motherly mantle and thus
avoid the punishments of His justice! Unwilling to punish us and desiring to forgive, He
thought of giving us a Mediatrix and an intercessor the dearest of all mothers. To Her
he entrusted the order of mercy, while He left the work of justice to Himself.
He created such goodness in Her that She is unable to abandon the sinner, even the worst,
who seeks Her help, and He made Her so powerful, that Her wish is sufficient instantly to
move the Heart of the Infinite God. And so all together with the Immaculata we will
thank and adore forever the mercy, goodness, wisdom, power and justice of God in the
reward which He promised us.
Then, forming Her heavenly guard of honor, the group closest to Her, we will reach and
posses God: the final purpose and goal of the M.I., that is, the greatest possible glory of
God through the Immaculata.
Fr. Maximilian M. Kolbe
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