St. Maximilian Kolbe

Today is the feast day of St. Maximilian Kolbe. He was born in 1984, of Polish descent. He became a priest of the Franciscan order. In his youth, he contracted Tuberculosis, and although he recovered, he remained somewhat frail his entire life.  Maximilian also founded a movement called the Immaculata, and it was devoted to Our Lady.  He also started a magazine called the Knights of The Immaculata, and formed a community of 800 men.

St. Maximilian went to Japan where he built a monastery, and also went to India where he continued to promote the movement. In 1936, he returned home because of ill health.  After the Nazi invasion, he was imprisoned and released for a time. But in 1941, he was arrested again and sent to the Concentration Camp in Auschwitz.

One of the memorable stories of St. Maximilian Kolbe is that when he was at the Concentration Camp.  A policy was in place.  If one prisoner escapes, 10 people were selected and punished for that person.  It was a way to discourage anyone who contemplate the thought of escaping.  It happened that one person did escape, and 10 people were selected.  Although Maximilian was not selected among 10, he offered his life in exchange.  

One of the people who were selected among the 10 begged the officers, saying: “Please, I have a family. I have a wife and children.”  Upon hearing this, Maximilian Kolbe said: “I have no wife, and no children. Please take me instead.” Maximilian Kolbe offered himself in the place of the young husband and father. 

He and 9 others were sent to a starvation bunker.  But miraculously, they lasted for two weeks.  While in the starvation bunker, they were glorifying God and singing hymns of praise.  And it was there, that Maximilian Kolbe gave his life for Christ. 

He was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1982.

What if we were in the same situation, and we were not selected among the 10?  I'm sure that we would be very relieved, and am able to live to see another day.  But would we offer our life for another person, even if that person is a stranger?

Maximilian Kolbe is a saint and a hero of the church, and his selfless act of courage and heroism continues to live on today.

Today, we honor St. Maximilian Kolbe, and we seek his intercessions for us on the faith journey.