The Franciscans of the Immaculate are a new branch of pontifical rite in the Franciscan order.  They strive to be perfectly conformed to the poor, humble and crucified Christ through a life of fraternal charity, supernatural obedience, and poverty in the spirit of their seraphic father, St. Francis of Assisi. 
What distinguishes them from the other branches of the Friars Minor is their vow of unlimited consecration to the Immaculate. This vow of unlimited love for Our Lady was inspired by the example of St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe, the Franciscan priest and martyr who offered his life for a family man in Auschwitz during World War II. St. Maximilian was a tireless apostle who used every licit means to spread the Catholic faith and especially total consecration to the Immaculate. 

While the Franciscans of the Immaculate give primacy to prayer and contemplation from their life of union with God through Mary, they work feverishly to conquer the whole world for the most Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Immaculate utilizing, like St. Maximilian, every means at their disposal. 

In 1998 the friars began to produce inspirational Catholic and Marian music. The guitarist and vocalist on the first five releases is Friar Maximilian Mary de Cruce, FI. He began studying piano and guitar at the age of 9 and, while being a lead guitarist in a high school rock band, started to study classical guitar on the side. He went on to study classical guitar at DePaul University, Chicago, but during his freshman year at music school he received an extraordinary grace of conversion and a calling to be a Franciscan priest. He left his future musical career for the sake of serving Christ and his Church. As a Franciscan of the Immaculate, the superiors have encouraged him to utilize his musical talents for the cause of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Songwriter, singer, guitarist, Fr. Maximilian was ordained to the holy priesthood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Jubilee Year of 2000.