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SAINT MAXIMILIAN KOLBE
NOVENA 2017
This year the novena to Saint Maximilian is situated within the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the MI and Our Lady's appearance in Fatima.To present the spirituality and mission of the Militia, some biblical images are presented alongside writings of St. Maximilian*.We will then briefly contemplate what we have heard in a Marian prayer. The voice of Father L. Faccenda will introduce us to this time of prayer. (From La prese con sé). May Father guide us in this time, which is so special to us.
INTRODUCTION
The Voice of Father
G. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
A. Amen.
G. I adore you, Our Heavenly Father,
A. because you placed your only begotten Son in the most pure womb of Mary.
G. I adore you, O Son of God,
A. because you deigned to enter her womb and become her true Son.
G. I adore you, O Holy Spirit,
A.because you deigned to form the body of the Son of God inher immaculate womb.
G. I adore you, O Most Holy Trinity, O God One in the Holy Trinity,
A. for elevating the Immaculata in such a divine manner.
Resp. Gloria (sung) or together: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end.Amen.
LISTENINGPRAYER FINAL SONG
1st Day: The Treasure and the Pearl
INTRODUCTION
Father Kolbe did not cease "working" when his earthly life was terminated, but as he often affirmed, while on earth he had to hold the Mary's hand to ask her help, now in Heaven he can work with two hands, therefore, he is our great intercessor in heaven. I seem to see Father Kolbe totally intent on taking care of whomever prays to him; I see him carry our requests to the Lord, through Mary; I see him intercede for us with the force that is born of his friendship with God. (Father Luigi M. Faccenda)
G. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
A. Amen.
G. I adore you....
LISTENING
From the Gospel according to Matthew (13:44-45)
The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.
From the Writings of St. Maximilian Kolbe
For our part, we accompany our wishes with our work and by answering in person – at the cost of our labor, our property, our health, our reputation and our life. With your mighty aid (since we can do nothing alone), we will release to you the greatest possible number of souls from the bondage of the devil, of the world and of the flesh. And once they have been made happy, we shall offer them up for you to own, until we meet again, Loving Mother, in heaven…(SK 1037, 1923).
SILENCE/RESPONSORIAL
PRAYER
G.We pray a decade of the Rosary contemplating the Word of God we just heard: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be...
A. We fly to thy protection, O holy Mother of God. Despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
G. St. Maximilian, who always listened to the Word of God, pray for us.
St. Maximilian, who lived what he heard, pray for us.
St. Maximilian, untiring seeker of God's riches,pray for us.
SONG
2nd Day: Salt and Light
INTRODUCTION
Fatima and Father Kolbe were and are always present on my journey. Therefore, while I invited brothers of every class and condition to consecrate themselves to the Heart of the Mother, I indicated in the voice of the martyr of Auschwitz the road and the way to take: to be Mary, live Mary, witness Mary, work creatively with Mary. (Father Luigi M. Faccenda)
G. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
A. Amen.
G. I adore you...
LISTENING
From the Gospel according to Matthew (5:13-16)
You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
From the Writings of St. Maximilian Kolbe
In other words to elicit such love toward the Immaculata by kindling it in one’s heart and to communicate such fire to those who live around us; to kindle all souls, and each one individually, with such love: the souls who live now and shall live in the future. To set such flame of love within oneself ablaze ever more forcefully and without restrictions, all over the earth: that is our goal (KW 1326,1940).
SILENCE/RESPONSORIAL
PRAYER
G.We pray a decade of the Rosary contemplating the Word of God we just heard: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be...
A. We fly to thy protection,O holy Mother of God. Despise not our petitionsin our necessities, but deliver us alwaysfrom all dangers O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
G. St. Maximilian, who placed your trust in the Lord, pray for us.
St. Maximilian, who let yourself be led by the Spirit, pray for us.
St. Maximilian, who lived serenely in difficult times, pray for us.
Song
3rd DAY: The Birds of the Sky and the Flowers of the Field
INTRODUCTION
The gift of the Kolbean vocation surpasses every gift, because in this way one enters in full possession of Mary, while Mary takes possession of one's whole life. It is a gift that responds to the needs of all times, in a particular way to the times in which we live. (Father Luigi M. Faccenda).
G. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
A. Amen.
G. I adore you...
LISTENING
From the Gospel according to Matthew (6:25-33)
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.
From the Writings of St. Maximilian Kolbe
We leave everything to the Providence of God, in whose hands lie the whole world and all its events. God, through the Immaculata, disposes as He prefers; this will also be the best thing for us. (KW 24,1919).
SILENCE/RESPONSORIAL
PRAYER
G.We pray a decade of the Rosary contemplating the Word of God we just heard: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be...
A. We fly to thy protection, O holy Mother of God. Despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangersO glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
G. St. Maximilian, totally trusting in Providence, pray for us.
St. Maximilian, who entrusted your missionary dreams to the Immaculata, pray for us.
St. Maximilian, always attentive to the needs of your brothers, pray for us.
Song
4th DAY: GIORNO: From the Ear to the Rooftops
INTRODUCTION
The secret that trained the heart of Father Kolbe throughout his life was certainly the love that he nurtured for the Immaculata. He was a pioneer of that reality that places the Immaculate Conception at the center of the Most Holy Trinity. (Father Luigi M. Faccenda).
G. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
A. Amen.
G. I adore you...
LISTENING
From the Gospel of Matthew0} (10:26-32)
“Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.
From the Writings of St. Maximilian Kolbe
The Militia of the Immaculata uses any lawful means for helping souls in the work of their salvation and sanctification through the Immaculata. Besides direct apostolate and the press, an effective means today is the radio. The Militia of the Immaculata, therefore, cannot possibly neglect it. (KW 1235).
SILENCE/RESPONSORIAL
PRAYER
G.We pray a decade of the Rosary contemplating the Word of God we just heard: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be...
A. We fly to thy protection, O holy Mother of God. Despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
G.St. Maximilian, untiring proclaimer of the Gospel, pray for us.
St. Maximilian, who has taught the multitudes to love the Word, pray for us.
St. Maximilian, prophet and apostle of the mass media, pray for us.
SONG
5th DAY: The Vine and the Branches
INTRODUCTION
The strength of his sanctity draws us closely to Father Kolbe. We will live. And our life will be totally Mary's, and its fruit will be Mary's fruit, because our life is consecrated to her, and a good tree cannot bear spoiled fruit. (Father Luigi M. Faccenda).
G. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
A. Amen.
G. I adore you...
LISTENING
From the Gospel according to John (15:1-7)
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
From the Writings of St. Maximilian Kolbe
The Savior is not saying that without Him we cannot do "many things" but "nothing," absolutely nothing. The fruitfulness of work, therefore, does not depend on abilities, efforts, or money, even though those also are gifts of God and useful for Catholic action. It only and exclusively depends on our degree of union with God. (KW 1071).
SILENCE/RESPONSORIAL
PRAYER
G.We pray a decade of the Rosary contemplating the Word of God we just heard: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be...
A. We fly to thy protection,O holy Mother of God.Despise not our petitionsin our necessities,but deliver us alwaysfrom all dangersO glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
G.St. Maximilian, constant and faithful in prayer, pray for us.
St. Maximilian, who taught us to offer everything to Mary, pray for us.
St Maximilian, strong in difficulties and trials, pray for us.
SONG
6th DAY: The Mustard Seed
INTRODUCTION
The spiritual inheritance from St. Maximilian is an inheritance without limit. The motto, "live, work, suffer, and even die for the Immaculata," ought to be for us a life lived according to his example. Undoubtedly it Is a very challenging inheritance, because it is about being like the one who left it. (Father Luigi M. Faccenda).
G. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
A. Amen.
G. I adore you...
LISTENING
From the Gospel according to Mark(4:30-32)
He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.”
From the Writings of St. Maximilian Kolbe
Our mission is to transform the world, men, women, and souls in the Immaculata. To realize it certainly is not enough for our lives or for those who will come after us, but it will take centuries. We must put our brick now; the others will add to them (cf. Conferences)
SILENCE/RESPONSORIAL
PRAYER
G.We pray a decade of the Rosary contemplating the Word of God we just heard: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be...
A. We fly to thy protection,O holy Mother of God.Despise not our petitionsin our necessities,but deliver us alwaysfrom all dangersO glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
G.St. Maximilian, courageous proclaimer of truth, pray for us.
St. Maximilian, attentive and generous in love, pray for us.
St. Maximilian, with your gaze always attracted to new horizons, pray for us.
SONG
7th Day: The Sheep and the Wolves
INTRODUCTION
Today St. Maximilian entrusts us, above all, with an inestimable gift: his Marian and missionary charism. This is in fact the gift of grace that he first received from the Spirit and that he can now continue to fruition through us (Father Luigi M. Faccenda).
G. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit
A. Amen.
G. I adore you...
LISTENING
From the Gospel according to Matthew(10:16-20)
“Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
From the Writings of St. Maximilian Kolbe
In addition, mutual love does not consist in the fact that no one ever causes any sorrow in us, but that we strive not to cause grief to others and we become accustomed to forgiing whatever hurts us immediately and completely. I would like to underline that I do not hate anyone on this earth. (KW 925,884).
SILENCE/RESPONSORIAL
PRAYER
G.We pray a decade of the Rosary contemplating the Word of God we just heard: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be...
A. We fly to thy protection,O holy Mother of God.Despise not our petitionsin our necessities,but deliver us alwaysfrom all dangersO glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
G.St. Maximilian, faithful builder of peace, pray for us.
St. Maximilian, solicitous for the good of others, pray for us.
St. Maximilian, promoter of communion and unity, pray for us.
Song
8th DAY: Two Coins
INTRODUCTION
Father Kolbe will walk with us, make us a guide, add to us the Immaculate, our model. Together we will reach our ideal: Christ Jesus, who will make us able to love all men and will fill our hearts with joy without sunset . (Father Luigi M. Faccenda).
G. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
A. Amen.
G. I adore you...
LISTENING
From the Gospel according to Mark (12:41-44)
He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”