St. Maximillian Kolbe is a modern day saint of saints. He died in a tiny dark cell (#11) in Auschwitz on August 14, 1941. He was only 47 when he died but he lived an incredible life that is worthy of note through eternity and exalted in Heaven, I’m sure. His life as a mercy saint still rings loudly throughout our world today.
Some of St. Maximillian Kolbe’s greatest accomplishments were highlighted on our pilgrimage to Poland last year.
St. Kolbe had a devout love of the Blessed Mother, the Immaculata. This Love was passed to him by his mother.
He was a rambunctious boy and at some point, when the youngster was finally reprimanded by his mother, she raised the question as to what would become of him if he continued his naughty behavior. Tearfully, he presented himself before the Blessed Virgin Mary and humbly asked her the same question of himself.
In response, Our Lady showed him two crowns: one red, the other white. When asked to choose which he preferred, he chose both: to remain pure and undivided in his love for God and the Blessed Virgin, and to be a martyr. Only a saint can make such a generous choice!
A year before he was ordained as a Franciscan priest, on the eve of October 16, 1917, he founded a movement, named the “Knights of the Immaculate” (“MILITIA IMMACULATAE” or “M.I.”). Along with six other friars, he consecrated himself totally to the Immaculate. To this very day, its goal continues to be the sanctification of as many souls as possible under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary. You can learn more about and become a knight of the Immaculate at http://missionimmaculata.com.
In 1927, he founded Niepokalanów, the City of the Immaculate with nearly 800 friars all working for the Immaculate with the huge mass media apostolate. They lived heroic lives of poverty, continuous prayer, and voluntary penance. They were united in their mission of evangelizing not only Poland, but the whole world!
It was to Niepokalanów the Nazis came on February 17, 1941 and arrested him. He was taken with several other friars to Auschwitz.
”Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” John 15:13
In July of 1941, it was reported to the deputy camp commander that a prisoner from St. Maximilian’s barracks had escaped. In order to set an example, and to prevent further escapes, the standard procedure was to have the commander of the barracks single out ten men for the starvation bunker. Father Maximilian, although not among the ten first selected, volunteered, in a heroic act of charity, to be the victim in place of a prisoner who cried out: “My poor wife; my poor children!” The result of this self-offering was that Father Maximilian would be assigned to the infamous starvation bunker where he would slowly but surely die.
St. Maximillian Kolbe lived a died a heroic life of virtue and love to which we could all aspire.
The below image is on the Adoration Chapel in Niepokalanów. The image is incredible, the chapel is truly breathtaking. The imagery of Jesus in the Eucharist sitting within the heart of the Immaculata, His Blessed Mother…no words I can write can convey the feelings within my heart when I saw that or think of it even today.
