St. Maximilian was well aware of his own weakness and therefore he fully entrusted himself to the Immaculata. This is well expressed in his Rule of Life. Conscious of the impotence that devoured the nature of men, St. Maximilian gave instructions to read The Rule once a month.

Following those precepts will help refresh the goals in your mind and correct your shortcomings.

May this Rule be your light on the way to sanctity.

May it be your guidance to model your world upon her world.

The Rule of Life – Regulamentum vitae (to be read monthly)

1. I shall become a saint, the greatest saint I can be.

2. Salvation and sanctification of myself and of those living now and in the future shall be the greatest glory of Our Lord – through the Immaculata

3. Peccatum mortale vel veniale deliberatum a priori exclude – Banish mortal sin and venial sin, committed with full consent of will, from your life.

Be at peace with your past.

Your fervency will compensate for time lost.

4. I will not leave: 1) any evil without reparation (destroying it!) and 2) any good I could do, multiply or be contributory to.

5. Regula tua oboedientia – Obedience is your rule.

God’s will through the Immaculata.

Your tools:

6. Do what you do, do not pay attention to anything else, either good or bad.

7. Semper quieta, amorosa action – Peaceful and benevolent action.

8. Serva ordinem, et ordo servabit te — Preserve the order, and the order will preserve you.

9. Praeparatio, actio, conclusio – Preparation — Action — Conclusion.

10. Always remember that you belong exclusively, unconditionally, absolutely, irrevocably to the Immaculate: whoever you are, whatever you have or are able to do, all your ‘actions’ (thoughts, words, deeds) and ‘passions’ (pleasant, bitter, indifferent) are her absolute property. Therefore, may she do with all of this whatever is pleasing to her – not you. The same with your intentions – they belong to her, so she can change, add, take away as it pleases her (as she will not contravene the Justice).

You are a tool in her hands, so do only what she desires: accept everything from her hands. To her, like a child to the mother, have your recourse. Entrust everything to her. Seek her, honour her and her case, and leave any concern about yourself and your people to her.

Keep nothing, everything you receive consider as hers. All the fruits of your work depend on your unity with her, the same as she is an instrument of God’s Mercy.

O Immaculate, my life (every moment of it), my death (where, when and how) and my eternity belongs totally to you. Of everything, you do whatever you like.

Omnia possum in Eo, qui me [per Immaculatam] confortat (see Philippians 4, 13) — I can do all things through Him, Who strengthens me [in the Immaculata].

11. Totus primo sibi et sic totus omnibus" (idem in exercitii spiritualibus anno 1920 mens Septembri)

Watch over yourself, but give yourself wholly to others.

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