Immaculate Conception and the Holy Spirit: The Marian Teaching of St. Maximilian Kolbe Paperback – March 3, 2008

This book has changed my life and understanding of the "Immaculate Conception" Our Blessed Mother of God. Every Catholic must and should have this on their shelves. I have this book marked everywhere! It is written by Fr. H.M. Manteau-Bonamy, OP, who is a theologian with great insight on St. Kolbe's writtings. It is always important to me that my books have an Imprimatur which this book does have! I will quote just some of the book to give an idea whats in store for you!..."In what does this life of the Spirit in Mary consist? He himself is uncreated Love in her; the love of the Father and of the Son, the Love by which God loves himself, the very love of the Most Holy Trinity. He is a fruitful Love, a 'Conception'. Among creatures made in God's image the union brought about by married love is the most intimate of all. In a much more precise, more interior, more essential manner, the Holy Spirit lives in the soul of the Immaculata, in the depths of her very being. He makes her fruitful, from the very first instant of her existence, all during her life, and for all eterinty."The union between the Immaculata and the Holy Spirit is so deep we can't completely understand it."For the Holy Spirit is her spirit."To make himself clear he states that the Holy Spirit is not incarnate in Mary. Only Jesus the Second Person of the Trinity became incarnate and took flesh. But he states that the Holy Spirit is so deeply present in Mary St. Kolbe says "The Holy Spirit is quasi (in some manner) incarnate, without being really and strictly incarnate; for Mary the Immaculata is, as such, taken up by the Holy Spirit in all her being, as a woman and as a mother.""Jesus Christ has two natures, divine and human, which are united in one single divine Person; such is theexact and precise formulation of the dogma. The Immaculata is united to the Holy Spirit so closely that we really cannot grasp this union. But we can at least say that the Holy Spirit and Mary are two persons who live in such intimate union that they have but one sole life."When seen in this light we can understand better the gifts the Father has sent us, Jesus his son, and Mary a living image an icon of the Spirit of Love in the Most Holy Trinity."God sends us the one who personifies his love: Mary, the spouse of the Spirit- a spirit of maternal love- immaculate, all beautiful, spotless, even though she is our sister, a true daughter of the human race. God confides to her the communication of his mercy to souls. He makes of her the Mediatrix of the graces merited for us by her divine Son, for she is full of grace, the mother of all souls born of grace, reborn, and always being reborn, becoming ever more God-like."Every Catholic must have this! I hope all will learn the role of Our Mother who cares for each of us!Hail Mary!

This is an amazing book. The author I have never read before, but he makes it easy for a non-specialist to comprehend the incredible work of St. Maximilian Kolbe regarding our Lady's title as revealed in the 1854 appearance, Immaculate Conception.Kolbe's insights into the title itself (Immaculate Conception) and all its implications are completely enlightening and give one a far deeper comprehension of Mary, her role, how the Trinity works functionally and our relation to this wonderful God and His Immaculate Conception He created for the primary purpose to bear God become man in her womb and thus become Theotokos, God bearer and Mother of God (the Greek term means both).This is essential reading, particularly for those who in some measure comprehend the basics of Church teaching on Mary, Mariology as it is called. I would hope all clergy would read this so they might draw from the wellsprings of Kolbe's enlightened teaching and share that with all people, especially their congregants.

When you think of the Immaculate Conception, the average Catholic understands that Mary was conceived without sin in the womb of St. Ann. But that is just the tip of the majesty of what God prepared for Her of whom He spoke in Genesis 3:15, "I will put emnity between thee and the Woman..." To all those who cannot understand the vocation of the Mother of God, St. Maxamilian will open your eyes to the rest of the story, words written with a passionate, inspired wisdom on a subject as deep as it is hidden.

Amazing. This is a difficult, thought-provoking read, but worth every bit of your attention and focus. It should be read prayerfully and slowly, but an excellent investment!

This is one of the best books I have read on Mary as the spouse of the Holy Spirit. Lots of wonderful insights packed into this little book!

Great book and service

This book helps me understand more about Saint Maximilian Kolbe, the Holy Spirit and the Immaculate Conception. Thanks

St. Maximillian Kolbe is known for both his martyrdom and his sanctity. Unfortunately, he was never fulfilled his dream of writing a book on devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Fr. Manteau-Bonamy discusses and explains his Mariology, based upon his letters and conferences. It is very important, though, to be careful to understand Kolbe what he is saying and not saying, and his are probably the most difficult read for someone just beginning their walk with God, and forgive the term, with Mary. This last aspect is important to understand.This book would probably be the best example, in a sense, in not overemphasizing devotion to Mary without caveats, which both the Glories of Mary by St. Alphonsus Ligouri and True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin both have. Kolbe's thought patterns are very sublime and can be difficult to understand.St. Maximilian is right in the Franciscan tradition of believing Mary as the Spouse of the Holy Spirit. The consequences of her Immaculate Conception (which refers specifically to her being conceived in her mother's without the stain of original sin, not the Virginal Conception of Our Lord or to a virginal conception of Mary which is not Catholic and can never and will be), are reflected throughout the book.To conclude, the Second Vatican Council told the faithful to explain Catholic devotion to the Blessed Virgin in a way that Protestants understand its true nature, as based ultimately in devotion to her Son. Hence, I would be careful of placing this hands of those who either weak or trying to understand heir grasp of Catholic theology of Mary. (I used to make the mistake of overplaying Mary myself). As a result, I can only give it a 4 out of 5.It should be remembered that I hold Kolbe to be both orthodox and legitimate in his theology. It is just very difficult.

Though known for his courageous act of martyrdom under the Nazis, St Maximilian is the source of decades of reflection on the theology of the Immaculate Conception. One would hope that Catholics would know that this refers to the fact that Mary, the Mother of God, was never touched by sin: neither original or actual. What St Maximilian does is to explain that this is not a pious title referring simply to a past event. It is the basis of a continuing relationship with the Holy Spirit such that Mary is a principal channel for the Christian’s living relationship with the third Person of the Holy Trinity.

I bought this on behalf of another and since it arrived sealed, I was unable to inspect the content. That is why I cannot comment further. It is, of course, a highly specialised book concering an arcane area of Catholic theology. I do however mention that the deep theological thought of Saint Maximillian Kolbe is often overlooked being eclipsed by his heroic death at Auschwitz..