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But his health, already undermined, failed him. His fever ran above 104 Fahrenheit and he suffered a delirium. He was first put in the hospital in Cracow, then in a sanatorium at Zakopane, where the mountain air would be healthful. He entered the sanatorium in June of 1920 and spent a total of a year and a half there. Humanly speaking, hospitalization in such a place would indicate the finish of all the projects of his Marian apostolate. But as things worked out supernaturally, this period was a solid foundation for their development. The Lord uses humble means, of themselves inadequate, to achieve His greatest works (1 Cor. 1:27-28). Saint Maximilian, unable to rise from his bed, his breath slow and feeble, by means of suffering prepared the powerful expansion of the apostolate of the Militia of the Immaculata into every part of the world. His only concern was always to fulfill the wishes of the Immaculate Virgin, belonging as he did to Her in an unrestricted, unreserved way. Nothing was his; all was Hers, even the malady in his lungs. A beautiful and meaningful custom of Saint Maximilian was this: When he went to bed he always put his clock and eyeglasses at the foot of a little image of the Immaculate Virgin, which he kept on a little bedside table. Time (the clock) and space (eyeglasses) were his Queen's. She would surely do what She wished with them for the promotion of God's kingdom.
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"Do not be afraid. When your mother arrives, you will be in Paradise." His mother arrived an hour after the young man's death. Her disapproval was strongly expressed when she saw her son's body with the medal of the Immaculate around his neck
"Sir, Go To Confession."
Another episode is recorded which beautifully reveals how Saint Maximilian won souls when he would lead them to the Sacraments by means of the Miraculous Medal. A fellow friar, Father Florian Koziura, gives this account: When Father Kolbe was at Zakopane he became acquainted with a gentleman known as an intellectual. Each time he met him he asked, "Sir, you go to confession." But the man would usually answer, "No, Reverend Father. I respect you, but I am not going to confession. Perhaps another time." Some weeks later the same gentleman was about to depart, and he came to Father Kolbe to bid him farewell. Father Maximilian's last words were, "Sir, do go to confession." "Excuse me, Father, but I have no time. I must go to the station at once." "Then at least take this Miraculous Medal." The man accepted the medal at least for politeness' sake and set out at once for the railway station. Meantime Father Maximilian fell on his knees to beg the Immaculate Virgin for the conversion of this obstinate sinner. Then, what a wonderful thing happened! After a time someone knocked at the door. The same gentleman who had been in a hurry to catch a train appeared. From the doorway he blurted out, "Father, I want to go to confession."
Publishing Venture
After a year and a half Saint Maximilian returned at last to Cracow. Zestful and tireless, he was back to work again. His first thought was to publish Knight of the Immaculata. But how would he pay for the printing? He turned to his Father Provincial. He received encouragement only; but financial help was impossible. He would have to raise the money by himself. Nothing was left for him to do but go out and beg. What an experience - to seek alms from door to door for the Immaculate Virgin! In the beginning he lacked courage. He would set out, then come back. When the first door opened at which he knocked, he blushed, stuttered out some words that were not understood, and shamefacedly withdrew. "On another day," he reported later, "I went into a stationery store to beg an offering for my journal. Feeling very embarrassed, I ended up making a small purchase and leaving. I dragged myself on, reproaching myself for weakness in failing to carry out my intention to suppress, for love of the Madonna, my feelings of humiliation. I decided to try again and
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went into another shop. Again shame overcame me. Filled with embarrassment, I failed to utter a syllable. Then I suddenly found myself on the street without knowing how I got there." It was painful, but Maximilian finally managed. In January of 1922 he published the first issue of Knight of the Immaculata with five thousand copies.
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