The spirituality of the Institute is defined by its name: Institute of the Immaculate, Mother of the Church. The members of the Institute wish, following the example of the Immaculate, to give their entire lives to the maternal service of the Church, striving at all times to be open to the revitalising breath of the Holy Spirit in the Church and to undertake those ministries that aim at its self-realization and renewal.
Inspired by the Marian spirituality of St. Maximilian Kolbe, INMK sees in the Immaculate the pinnacle form of realizing the vocation of the human person to boundless devotion to Christ and His mission. The Immaculate is a personal model for the members of the Institute, and surrender to Her in the sense of union with Her in the attitude of Her spousal dedication to Christ in the Holy Spirit, summarizes the entire Marian piety of INMK.
The second important source of the Institute’s spirituality is the ecclesiology of the Second Vatican Council, with particular emphasis on the idea of Mater Ecclesiae, a diaconal, personalist-dialogical idea, leading to an understanding of the essence of the person as a selfless gift of self (CIC 24c), and the liturgy (especially the Eucharist and the liturgy of the hours) as the source and summit of the entire Christian life. Spirituality understood in this way is the deepest motive and inspiration of the entire apostolic commitment of the members of the Institute of the Immaculate, Mother of the Church.
This spirituality is realized by INMK members in the practices of the inner life, among which a special role is played by prayer as a personal encounter with Christ, the Eucharist – understood as the source and summit of Christian life, the Liturgy of the Hours and the rosary. Periodic practices include days of recollection, annual retreats, as well as group meetings.
The deepest content of the life of INMK members is the evangelical counsels and the resulting bonds are a constitutive element of community life practiced in the community of residence as well as in individual life.
In the INMK, temporary and perpetual vows are taken. The initial trial before taking the first vows lasts three years and the candidate must be of legal age. To take vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, she must be at least 20 years old. Perpetual vows are taken after at least 6 years of temporary incorporation (temporary vows).