Corpus Christi Blog

The Star of the Immaculate

05-26-2019Weekly Reflection

Last week, in our 33 Days to Morning Glory journey, we walked with St. Maximilian Kolbe as we learned about Mary as the “Immaculata” — the Immaculate Conception. Here are pictures from the Adoration Chapel at the Center of Prayer for Peace in Niepokalanów, Poland where the monastery that St. Maximilian founded is located.

The central part of the altar is a true size sculpture of the Virgin Mary with her hands open in invitation. Christ present in the Eucharist is located under Mary's heart, in a large, brightly lit Host, shown under her parting coat. The silver figure of the Virgin Mary is surrounded by true size silver lilies, symbolizing chastity. Lit from beneath, together with golden rays also surrounding the figure, they present the aureola of light, in which the Virgin was seen during her apparitions in Lourdes, Guadalupe, and Fatima. This figure also resembles the Miraculous Medal of Mary Immaculate, which was venerated by St. Maximilian. At the crystal layer, 12 cut gemstones are placed, symbolizing 12 stars from the Apocalypse of St. John, which are also pictured at the Niepokalanów Miraculous Medal of Mary Immaculate.

“I envision a beautiful figure of the Immaculate amid a great altar. Behind her outstretched arms in the background there is a monstrance, in which the Most Blessed Sacrament is constantly displayed. Friars will adore it all the time. Those who will look inside the church, inside the ‘basilica,’ will fall on their knees, adore the Eucharist, and look at the face of the Immaculate, who along with Jesus will work on fulfilling what they have asked for.”
— St. Maximillian Kolbe

BACK TO LIST