Fr. Michael summarizes St. Maximilian Kolbe's consecration principles into these 3 words: (1) Mystery; (2) Militia; and (3) Love.
MYSTERY
St. Maximilian's greatest contribution to Marian theology is the unraveling of the mystery of the Immaculate Conception.
"The Holy Spirit is the uncreated Immaculate Conception, and Mary is the created Immaculate Conception. She is perfectly united to the Holy Spirit, because she was conceived without sin, never sinned, and always does the will of God perfectly. She allows the Holy Spirit to overshadow her, take possession of her soul, and bear fruit through her."
This is sound theology which has a parallelism in one of Christ's teachings/parables:
"Nor do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will spill out, and the skins will be ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved." (Matthew 9:17)
Jesus Christ, being pure and unblemished, had to be borne by a similarly pure and unblemished vessel.
MILITIA
Fr. Michael says:
"Kolbe recognized that the greatest way to give glory to God is to unite oneself to the creature who glorifies God most perfectly, Mary Immaculate. He also realized that the way to give God the greatest glory is not to do so just as one person, but to have a whole army of people who give God the greatest glory."
Kolbe understood that, in order to build a militia, he needed to begin with himself and then inspire/infect others.
LOVE
"Kolbe was united to Mary through a dependence of love ...
By relying on her powerful intercession, experiencing her tender care, speaking to her from our hearts, letting ourselves be led by her, having recourse to her in all things, and trusting her completely."
Kolbe says:
"If you have the will to love, you already give a proof that you love. What counts is the will to love. External feeling is also a fruit of grace, but it does not always follow the will. Sometimes, my dear ones, the thought, a sad longing, as if a plea or a complaint, may occur to you: 'Does the Immaculata still love me?' Most beloved children! I tell you all and each one individually, in her name, she loves every one of you. She loves you very much and at every moment with no exception. This ... I repeat for you in her name."
MYSTERY
St. Maximilian's greatest contribution to Marian theology is the unraveling of the mystery of the Immaculate Conception.
"The Holy Spirit is the uncreated Immaculate Conception, and Mary is the created Immaculate Conception. She is perfectly united to the Holy Spirit, because she was conceived without sin, never sinned, and always does the will of God perfectly. She allows the Holy Spirit to overshadow her, take possession of her soul, and bear fruit through her."
This is sound theology which has a parallelism in one of Christ's teachings/parables:
"Nor do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will spill out, and the skins will be ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved." (Matthew 9:17)
Jesus Christ, being pure and unblemished, had to be borne by a similarly pure and unblemished vessel.
MILITIA
Fr. Michael says:
"Kolbe recognized that the greatest way to give glory to God is to unite oneself to the creature who glorifies God most perfectly, Mary Immaculate. He also realized that the way to give God the greatest glory is not to do so just as one person, but to have a whole army of people who give God the greatest glory."
Kolbe understood that, in order to build a militia, he needed to begin with himself and then inspire/infect others.
LOVE
"Kolbe was united to Mary through a dependence of love ...
By relying on her powerful intercession, experiencing her tender care, speaking to her from our hearts, letting ourselves be led by her, having recourse to her in all things, and trusting her completely."
Kolbe says:
"If you have the will to love, you already give a proof that you love. What counts is the will to love. External feeling is also a fruit of grace, but it does not always follow the will. Sometimes, my dear ones, the thought, a sad longing, as if a plea or a complaint, may occur to you: 'Does the Immaculata still love me?' Most beloved children! I tell you all and each one individually, in her name, she loves every one of you. She loves you very much and at every moment with no exception. This ... I repeat for you in her name."
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