Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe

Commemoration of the Feast of St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe (1894-1941)

“I prayed very hard to Our Lady to tell me what would happen to me. She appeared, holding in her hands two crowns, one white, one red. She asked if I would like to have them—one was for purity, the other for martyrdom. I said, ‘I choose both.’ She smiled and disappeared.” After that he was not the same.

Kolbe entered the minor seminary of the Conventual Franciscans in Lvív (then Poland, now Ukraine). He achieved doctorates in philosophy and theology, he was deeply interested in science, even drawing plans for rocket ships.

Having ordained at a tender age of 24, he founded the Militia of the Immaculata, whose aim was to fight evil with the witness of the good life, prayer, work and suffering.

He dreamed of and then founded Knight of the Immaculata, a religious magazine under Mary’s protection to preach the Good News to all nations. For the work of publication he established a “City of the Immaculata”—Niepokalanow—which housed 700 of his Franciscan brothers. He later founded one in Nagasaki, Japan. Both the Militia and the magazine ultimately reached the one-million mark in members and subscribers. His love of God was daily filtered through devotion to Mary.

Kolbe is probably more 'recognisable' through his heroic act of sacrifice -

In 1939, the Nazi panzers overran Poland with deadly speed. Niepokalanow was severely bombed. Kolbe and his friars were arrested. But on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception 3 months later, they were released.

But in 1941, he was arrested again. The Nazis’ purpose was to liquidate the select ones, the leaders. The end came quickly, in a certain concentration camp in Auschwitz three months later, after terrible beatings and humiliations...

Thanks to one prisoner who escaped, the commandant ordered 10 men be executed, among them a certain Sergeant Francis Gajowniczek, who has a wife and children. Maximilian Kolbe asked to take his place in the starvation chambers.

So they were led to the bunker(s). They stood in complete darkness (in all sense), naked (literally) & they became a bunch of men waiting to die of starvation. By the eve of the Feast of the Assumption - only 4 were still hanging on. Kolbe was then executed while praying in a corner. His fleshless arm received the fatal bite of the hypodermic needle - filled with carbolic acid. He was cremated indignantly - to put it bluntly, his body was piled up with the rest, and burnt.

Pope John Paul II, a fellow countryman, was filled with pride as he beatified then-Father Maximilian Kolbe in 1971 to become Blessed Maximilian Kolbe.

After 11 years, that same Sergeant Francis Gajowniczek whom Kolbe saved and sacrificed for, stood amongst many on that fateful day, filled with gratitude - as then-Blessed Maximilian Kolbe was finally canonized by the Holy Father.

Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe is honoured on 14th August, Eve of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - on the day of his death.

His martyrdom was inspired by a limitless, passionate desire to convert the whole world to God.

His inspiration - the Immaculata.

~
Today, perhaps not many of us have the courage to be like St. Maximilian; sacrificing his life & loving to the point of death - moreover for a total stranger. Simple as the impact of that incident may sound, but St. Maximilian reminded us once again of what Jesus Christ did 2000 years ago. At least Sergeant Francis definitely appreciated Kolbe's sacrifice, whereas Jesus was on the brink of death, but nobody appreciated his sacrifice then; He was cursed & condemned - by us.

All these in the name of Love.

So perhaps we can draw strength & inspiration from our Lord, and from St. Maximilian Kolbe, to have that wee bit of sacrificial love. Carry out your simple act of sacrifice today, however meagre or small the impact of your sacrifice may seem to be; for a stranger if you can. If not, prayer is a good alternative too for the rather 'lazybones' (I'm referring to yours truly =p)

At least, that would serve as a good start to the path of martyrdom & sainthood ya "Fral"? =D

“Courage, my sons. Don’t you see that we are leaving on a mission? They pay our fare in the bargain. What a piece of good luck! The thing to do now is to pray well in order to win as many souls as possible. Let us, then, tell the Blessed Virgin that we are content, and that she can do with us anything she wishes” - Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe.


God Bless & Peace be with you.

"Omnia Vincit Amour - Love Conquers All"