St. Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us!
Today is the feast day of St. Maximilian Kolbe, patron of the pro-life movement, prisoners, addicts and families. Born in Poland in 1894, Maximilian was a troublesome child. His mother asked him once “what is going to become of you?” Raymond, as he was named, was concerned about his mother’s question. He knelt before a statue of the Blessed Mother and asked her. The Blessed Mother appeared and spoke to him. She offered him two crowns; one of purity and one of martyrdom, asking him which he’d choose. Raymond choose both. He became a Franciscan Friar, taking the name Maximilian Mary.
Maximilian founded the “Militia Immaculata”, dedicated to spreading devotion to the Immaculate Virgin Mary and consecrating souls to her. The Militia printed the “Knight of the Immaculata” magazine, which distributed millions of copies despite political tensions at the time. His militia quickly grew to over 800 men., the largest in the world.
Maximilian left for Japan and India to establish new cities of the Immaculata and spread devotion to her in the far east. His choice of location in Nagasaki saved the friary when the city was destroyed by an atomic bomb.
In 1936 he returned home due to ill health (he had had tuberculosis previously). When the Nazi’s invaded in 1939, he was arrested, but soon released. He refused to stop printing the “Knight”, and was also hiding thousands of Jewish people within the friary. In 1941, he was arrested once again. This time, he was sent to the concentration camp of Auschwitz.
On July 31, a prisoner in the camp had escaped. As punishment, ten other prisoners were to be randomly selected and sentenced to death by starvation. One of the ten chosen cried out, pleading for mercy as he had a wife and young children. Fr. Kolbe stepped forward, volunteering to take the man’s place. It was allowed. (It is well-known that the Reich held Catholic religious with great contempt, especially priests).
Following two weeks of starvation, all of the ten men sentenced had died, save Fr. Kolbe. He was then given a lethal injection and died.
St. Maximilian Kolbe was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1982.
What I Wish Every Catholic Knew: The story of this great Saint. I highly recommend the book “A Man for Others” by Patricia Treece.
What I Wish Every Catholic Would Do: Imitate the virtues of this incredible man. His charity, his love of the Immaculata, his fervor in spreading the Faith.
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my mother: to you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
