Maximilian Kolbe
Maximilian Maria Kolbe (originally christened Raymund) (1894-1941) is a Catholic saint. He was a Polish Franciscan who worked in Poland and Nagasaki, Japan. He died in Auschwitz because he wanted to save another prisoner. Maximilian saved the life of that prisoner. Maximilian is remembered on August 14, the date of his death. The first-class relics of St Maximilian Kolbe are preserved and distributed by the friary of Niepokalanów, establish by St Maximilian in Poland.
| Maximilian Kolbe | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 7 January 1893, Zdunska Wola, Poland |
| Died | 14 August 1941, Auschwitz |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholicism |
| Beatified | 17 October 1971 by Pope Paul VI |
| Canonized | 10 October 1982 by Pope John Paul II |
| Feast | August 14 |
| Patronage | drug addicts, political prisoners, families, journalists, prisoners, pro-life movement |
Kolbe was smuggled to a prison hospital to try to stop beatings and lashings as part of being a priest. One day three prisoners disappeared from the camp and then the deputy camp commander decided to choose ten men at random to be starved to death to prevent any more escapes.
One of the men, Franciszek Gajowniczek, cried out, "My wife! My children!" When Kolbe heard this he volunteered to take his place.
After two weeks of starvation and dehydration Kolbe was the only one of ten men that was still alive. He was always standing or kneeling in the middle of the cell looking very calm whenever the guards arrived. The guards then decided to give a lethal injection as he was still alive. Kolbe then raised his arm and waited for this deadly injection.
Maximilian Kolbe Media
Maximilian Kolbe's prison cell in Block 11, Auschwitz concentration camp
Kolbe, on a West German postage stamp, marked Auschwitz
The statue of Kolbe (left) above the Great West Door of Westminster Abbey
The first monument to Maximilian Kolbe in Poland in Chrzanów
Stained-glass window by Alois Plum depicting Edith Stein and Maximilian Kolbe
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References
- Catholic Forum.com, Saint Maximilian Kolbe
- The first-class relics of Saint Maximilian Kolbe Archived 2016-01-21 at the Wayback Machine
- Niepokalanów Archived 2013-11-04 at the Wayback Machine, the friary established by St Maximilian Kolbe (English page)