Maximilian Kolbe And Our Lady's Army

Today is the feast of St Maximilian Kolbe. He died on this day in 1941 by giving his life so that a fellow prisoner in Auschwitz could live. His captors became somewhat impatient when he did not die fast enough and so hastened his death with a lethal injection.
St Max is an icon of Our Lord's words: "No greater love hath a man than one who lays down his life for his friends." (see John 15:13)
This great saint also had deep devotion to Our Blessed Mother and in 1917 formed the Militia of the Immaculata. This organization, which is worldwide, was founded as a means of total consecration to Jesus's Sacred Heart through Mary.
I made my Consecration to Our Blessed Mother through the MI on June 19, 2004, the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary that year. I try to remember to renew it on that day each year. This year I will join Fr. Gordon MacRae of These Stone Walls, along with other members of the Militia of the Immaculata, in renewing our consecration to Our Lady.
Fr. John Corapi has been known to say that: "Our Lady wears combat boots." Well she has an army in those who have consecrated themselves to her Son through her.
We constantly need to remember that until Our Lord comes again, we are engaged in battle, but there is strength in numbers; all of us fighting together with prayer and sacrifice can do much for the salvation of souls. In a sense it is following Jesus' and Maximilian Kolbe's example of laying our lives down for others.
You can read more about St Kolbe as well as the Militia of the Immaculata at the above link.

St Maximilian's Miraculous Medal Prayer
O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee, and for those who do not, especially the enemies of the Church, and for all those who have been recommended to you.