The Knight of the Immaculate by Fr. Jeremiah J. Smith

Author:Fr. Jeremiah J. Smith
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
Published: 2016-11-10T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12 — INDIA

IN June, 1932, at the request of his Provincial in Poland, Father Maximilian set out for India to found another City of the Immaculata. At this time, he was plagued with an abscess on the back of his neck. But since the will of the Immaculata was made known to him by the wish of his superior, he obeyed with utter self-effacement. True, a “Niepokalanow” in India was fully in accord with his ideal to establish these “cities” wherever possible. In a letter written en route to India, he insisted: “I think that the Blessed Virgin gives to each one of us as many and as great graces as are necessary to carry out her plans. Consequently—but I must restrain myself—what I believe is that in every country a local ‘Niepokalanow’ is to be set up, using all the products of modern technique, for the best inventions are meant to serve her first of all.”

On his way to India, Father Maximilian disembarked at Singapore. He was tempted to start a “City” there, but once again, jurisdictional restrictions interfered, so he continued his journey. By June 31, he was at Ernaculam, India. En route, he made the acquaintance of the Vicar General of the Malabar Rite in India. A fast friendship was struck, such that, when they landed in Ernaculam, the Vicar General insisted that Maximilian first discuss his plans with the Eastern Bishop. The little Franciscan so impressed him that the Bishop begged Father Maximilian to set up his “City” under his jurisdiction. A Syriac diocesan priest even offered to become a Franciscan to help begin this work. However, Maximilian could not accept this heart-warming generosity, since by law he had to turn to the Archbishop of his own Latin Rite.

While in the waiting room of the Latin Arch-bishop, he sat in view of a statue of his little friend of Roman days, St. Therese of Lisieux. As he spoke to her in prayer and reminded her of their agreement, a petal of a rose placed before her statue dropped off and fell at his feet. In his mind he thought, “Surely this is an evident sign that all will turn out well.”

In fact it did. The Archbishop not only graciously received Father Maximilian, but person-ally drove him in his own automobile to a prospective site for the Indian City of the Immaculacata. Within five months, the same Archbishop made an official request to the Polish Provincial to send priests and brothers to Ernaculam to establish there a City of the Immaculata. Thus ended Father Maximilian’s personal apostolate in India. He had opened the way and prepared the groundwork. Unfortunately, pre-war difficulties and the War itself delayed the opening of a City of the Immaculata in India.

When the indefatigable Maximilian returned to Japan, he did not remain there long. It was 1933, the provincial chapter year in Poland. His presence was requested there to explain all the developments in the East. At this Chapter, Father Maximilian was reappointed superior of the Japanese Mission.

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