After exploring Mundelein that very frigid morning, Martha, Steven, and I drove a little more than two miles— just seven minutes— to the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe and arrived in perfect time for noon Mass. We were beside ourselves with joy!
Prayers
Immaculata, queen and mother of the Church, I renew my consecration to you this day and for always so that you may use me for the coming of the kingdom of Jesus in the whole world. To this end I offer you all my prayers, actions, and sacrifices of this day. Amen.
Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you and for all those who do not have recourse to you, especially the enemies of holy Church and all those recommended to you. Amen.
O God, who gave the Church and the world the priest and martyr, St. Maximilian Kolbe, burning with love for the Immaculate Virgin Mary and with apostolic zeal for souls and heroic love of neighbor, graciously grant through his intercession that, striving for your glory by eagerly serving others, we may be conformed even until death to your son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen (Companions of St. Anthony, 2016).
Our Lady of Czestochowa… Mother of God, immaculate Mary, to you do I dedicate my body and soul, all my prayers and deeds, my joys and sufferings, all that I am, and all that I have.
With a joyful heart I surrender myself to your bondage of love.
To you will I devote my services of my own free will for the salvation of mankind and for the help of the holy Church whose mother you are.
From now on my only desire is to do all things with you, through you, and for you. I know I can accomplish nothing by my own strength, whereas you can do everything that is the will of your son and you are always victorious. Grant, therefore, helper of the faithful, that my family, parish, and homeland might become in truth the kingdom where you reign with your son. Amen.
Quotes from St. Maximilian Kolbe
“For Jesus Christ I am prepared to suffer still more.”
I am a Catholic priest from Poland. I would like to take his place because he has a wife and children (o the Commandant at Auschwitz).
The most deadly poison of our times is indifference. And this happens, although the praise of God should know no limits. Let us strive, therefore, to praise him to the greatest extent of our powers.
Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did.
No one in the world can change truth. What we can do and should do is to seek truth and to serve it when we have found it.
“Prayer is powerful beyond limits when we turn to the Immaculata who is queen even of God’s heart.”
August 4, 2016
How sweet and full of comfort are the moments spent before the Blessed Sacrament. Are you in trouble? Come and throw yourself at his feet (St. John Vianney).
August 5, 2016
Man has a noble task: that of prayer and love. To pray and love, that is the happiness of man on earth (St. John Vianney).
August 18, 2016
“The guest of our soul knows our misery; he comes to find an empty tent within us— that is all he asks” (St. Thérèse of Lisieux).
August 22, 2016
“God placed Mary far above all the angels and saints and so filled her with every heavenly grace from his own divine treasury so that her innocence and holiness exceeded every creature but God himself” (Pope Pius IX).
October 28, 2016
From Mary we learn to surrender to God’s will in all things. From Mary we learn to trust even when all hope seems gone (St. John Paul II).
December 15, 2016
I will not allow myself to be so absorbed in the whirlwind of work as to forget about God. I will spend all my free moments at the feet of the master hidden in the Blessed Sacrament (St. Faustina Kowalska).
December 23, 2016
I hope that your example attracts many souls to the adoration of Jesus Christ who is present on the altar to be of comfort and hope to those who confide in him with faith and love; they look on him as the Emmanuel, God with us, who wished to dwell among us: his heart in our heart (Pope St. John Paul II).
December 26, 2016
Make a visit to the tabernacle. Much more will follow. God will make limitless poetry out of the prose of your life, and he will renew the face of the earth, beginning with your little corner (Editors of Servant Books, A Eucharistic Christmas).
April 18, 2017
Suffering gives you the opportunity to grow. Your trials give you a gift: the opportunity to become the person you always wanted to become. A holier person. A more patient person. A person who endures. A person who is kinder. A person who is more merciful (Jeff Cavins in When You Suffer).
August 12, 2017
“The martyrs of love suffer infinitely more in remaining in this life so as to serve God, than if they died a thousand times over in testimony to their faith, their love, and their fidelity” (St. Jane Frances de Chantal).
November 12, 2017
Sacrifice teaches us the joy of putting others first while it strengthens us to respond decisively to the influence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Yielding to God takes guts, like leaping off a high precipice into pitch darkness. It feels risky; but when we can’t clearly see what’s ahead and we choose to entrust ourselves to God’s love, the rewards are fantastic. It’s as if we ventured out into the wilderness with no provisions, to discover mysterious treasures that speak to our hearts like nothing we have ever experienced before (Lisa Mladinich in True Radiance: Finding Grace in the Second Half of Life).
Links of interest… Black Madonna shrine & grottos (walking tours)… Come, pray the rosary (virtual)… Enter the world of devotion to Mary… How a radical atheist became a Catholic priest… Life for life (movie)… Marytown: about / chapel livestreaming (Mass & adoration schedule) / facebook / homilies: audio & visual / video… Mission of the Immaculata (Marian militia turns 100 – Niepokalanów)… Practice of silence for lay people… Prayer library… St. Maximilian Kolbe: 9 things to know (more) / about / biography (more) / Conventual Franciscan / lessons from / martyr of charity (homily) / Mass at Auschwitz / moral hero / prayers: consecration / priest & martyr / profile / quotes / relics / saint of Auschwitz / story / timeline / writings (Immaculate Conception – more)… Tune into silence… Why the Jasna Góra Shrine is one the most popular pilgrimage destinations in Poland (scars on the image)…
WP posts… Call of service… Honoring Joselito… Lady of sorrows… Today’s beatitudes… Twelve candles
Filed under: holy relics, prayer, shrines, spiritual gifts, St. Maximilian Kolbe | Tagged: building community, God's master plan, Marytown, National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe-Libertyville IL |
Shared thoughts... 
Guten Morgen das sind aber super Fotos die in Original sehen muss überwältigend sein toll hab einen schönen Tag mit vielen lieben Grüßen Klaus in Freundschaft
Translation: Good morning. Super photos… and tribute. Have a nice day. In friendship, Klaus.
Hello-hello, dear Klaus. Happy to hear from you again. God bless you sweetly!
Such beautiful prayers.
Yes, it’s amazing what’s out there waiting for us to discover and enjoy. Don’t forget to click on the Marytown widget to visit the chapel!
Beautiful!
The best part is knowing that I can revisit anytime thanks to the shrine’s live streaming!
Oh wow! I need to check out their website.
Just click on “chapel livestreaming” (red lettering) in the links of interest at the bottom of the post. Daily Mass is at noon, in case you’re interested.
Thanks.
Have a sweet day, Claudia!