The Militia Immaculata, or "Army of the Immaculate," is a worldwide Catholic evangelization movement founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe in 1917 in response to protests against the pope in by freemasons in Rome. The MI, as it is also known, is open to all Catholics and encourages intercession to the Virgin Mary for the conversion of sinners. Joining the MI involves making a vow of consecration to Mary. Evangelism is the proclaiming of the Christian Gospel. ... Maksymilian Maria Kolbe (8 January 1894 – 14 August 1941), born as Rajmund Kolbe, was a Polish Franciscan friar who volunteered to die in place of a family father in the Nazi Auschwitz concentration camp. ... The Pope is the Catholic Bishop and patriarch of Rome, and head of the Catholic Church. ... American Square & Compasses Freemasonry is a worldwide fraternal organization. ... Prayer is an effort to communicate with God, or to some deity or deities, or another form of spiritual entity, or otherwise, either to offer praise, to make a request, or simply to express ones thoughts and emotions. ... Blessed Virgin Mary A traditional Catholic picture sometimes displayed in homes. ...