Last Friday, on August 9, we celebrated the martyr Saint Theresa Benedicta of the Cross, a jewish convert to Catholicism and Carmelite nun who was killed in the Nazi Concentration Camp in Aushwitz in 1942.In 1941, today’s Saint too died a heroic death in Auschwitz.
Prior to his arrest, Fr. Kolbe, a Franciscan Friar, hid nearly 2,000 Jews and Poles, in his Polish monastery. But, in 1939 he was arrested by the Nazis and without trial or sentence, Fr. Kolbe was transported to Auschwitz. Yet, the Lord had work for him even in that desolate place; there he heard confessions and celebrated Mass using smuggled bread and wine.
One day, several prisoners managed to escape. As punishment, 10 men from his block were selected to die. When a married Jewish man with a family was among them, Fr. Kolbe asked to take his place. The stunned Nazi officer agreed to the exchange. Fr. Kolbe and the other nine men were stripped, locked in a cell, and left to starve to death. After two weeks, some, including Fr. Kolbe were still alive. They were given lethal injections of carbolic acid, and their remains were thrown into an oven.
Father Kolbe’s death was not a sudden, last-minute act of heroism. The holiness, the service, the love and care of souls, led him to the willingness to sacrifice his life, for the good of a stranger.
Saint Maximillian once said, "The most deadly poison of our time is indifference.” Indifference toward God and the dignity of human life led to the massacre of millions in Fr. Kolbe’s day, and in our own it has led the draconian abortion laws in our country and around the world, it leads to mass shootings and lack of sympathy to the plight of the poor, the immigrant, the lonely.
Kolbe spoke of Christian love as the remedy for indifference. Love, he said, is a “creative force.” Look at what Christian love has done throughout the centuries: the invention of hospitals, orphanages, universities, the most magnificent art, music and architecture in human history, and the conversion of gravely hardened heart.
Let’s pray today for the conversion of hearts from indifference to love, and through Saint Maximilian Kolbe’s prayer and example may we too be made into instruments of peace for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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That all members of the Church, laity and clergy, will be committed to self-sacrificial service in their daily lives.
For an end to indifference to God and human dignity in our government institutions, universities, businesses, and personal attitudes.
That the young students of our school beginning classes next week, may know the love of Christ in their families, that each school family may seek to practice right religion to the honor of God.
That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering.
For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom. We pray.
O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.
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