St. Maximilian

Born 1894 in Poland

Feast day August 14

Had tuberculosis, but recovered, but was frail and weak the rest of his life.

1907 Joined his brother in Conventual Francisicans.

Professed his first vows in 1911 and adopt name Maximilian

Final Vows in 1914 in Rome adopting names Maximilian Maria to show devotion to
Blessed Virgin Mary.

In 1912 sent to Kraków and went to College in the same year. Studied philosophy
theology, mathematics, and physics.

Earned doctorate in philosophy and Theology.

St. Maximilian Kolbe witnessed outrageous demonstrations against the Catholic Church.

Of one scene was St. Michael the archangel was depicted lying under the feet of Lucifer. Also, pamplets were distributed in which the Holy Father was attacked shamefully.

This inspired St. Kolbe to organize the Army of Mary to help the conversion of sinners, specifically toward the Freemasons.

He also used the radio to help spread his faith.

In World War II he hid two thousand Jews from the Nazis

He was arrested on February 17, 1941.

He got transferred to Auschwitz as prisoner #16670

End of July, three prisoners suggest to deputy camp commander SS-Hauptsturmführer
Karl Fritzsch to pick ten prisoners and starve them to death so prisoners camp escape.

One of the men destined to be killed had a family, so Kolbe volunteered to die instead of him.

He celebrated Mass every day in the starvation cell.

The guards gave him unleavened bread and wine so that he could give Holy Communion to the prisoners.

He told the other fellow prisoners that they would be with Mary in Heaven, so they should not fear.

Kolbe was always praying and staying calm every time the guards checked on him.

Kolbe was the only one living after two weeks, so the guards injected him and killed him.

He was beatified by Pope Paul VI 1971

Canonized as martyr by Pope John Paul II

Miracles:

July 1948, cured intestinal tuberculosis in Angela Testoni
August 1950, cure of calcification of arteries/sclerosis of Francis Rainer.

Prayers

The statue of Kolbe above the Great West Door of Westminster Abbey.