August 14 - St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe, priest & martyr

Today the Church commemorates the martyrdom of St. Maximilian Kolbe.  St. Maximilian, a Franciscan friar, is remembered for his great devotion to the ever-virgin Mary, Mother of God.  His desire that all be brought to "the Immaculata" so that she might bring all to her beloved Son led him to start a publishing house in his native Poland which produced a number of periodicals.  This publishing house grew to 650 friars.  He also began a daily newspaper, a monthly magazine, and a radio station.  His circulation reached over a million readers resulting in his going to Japan to establish a second location was established in Nagasaki.

When Nazi Germany invaded Poland, St. Maximilian desired to go back home to be with his people.  Of course, he quickly came to the attention of the Nazis and was arrested.  He was sent to Auschwitz concentration camp.  One morning, after a number of men attempted to escape, all of the prisoners were lined up and told that a number of men equal to the number who tried to escape would be chosen at random and sentenced to the starvation bunker. A man who was a husband and father was chosen and he broke down in tears.  Moved by the man, Fr. Maximilian stepped forward to take his place.

While they were in the starvation bunker, Fr. Maximilian continued encouraging his fellow prisoners as they all weakened.  One by one the others died until only Fr. Maximilian was left.  Finally, the Nazis killed him with a lethal injection on the eve of the Feast of the Assumption of his lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The life of St. Maximilian Kolbe is remarkable and worthy of further reading.  If you're ever in the Chicago area, check out the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe at Marytown, the Franciscan Friary in Libertyville, IL.  It is well worth the visit.