"That night, I asked the Mother of God what was to become of me, a Child of Faith. Then she came to me holding two crowns, one white, the other red. She asked me if I was willing to accept either of these crowns. The white one meant that I should persevere in purity, and the red that I should become a martyr. I said that I would accept them both."
That he accepted both crowns was certainly evident in his life.
Born in Poland in 1894, Maximilian Kolbe entered the Franciscan Order at the age of 16 and was ordained in 1918. In 1939, the Nazis bombed and invaded the Polish town in which the friars were living, Fr. Kolbe and his fellow friars were arrested. Without trial or sentence, Fr. Kolbe was transported to Auschwitz. Yet, even in that desolate place of suffering, the pure-hearted Fr. Kolbe was put to work; there heard confessions and celebrated Mass using smuggled bread and wine.
One day, several prisoners managed to escape. In retaliation, 10 men from his block were selected to die. When a married Jewish man with a family was among them, Fr. Kolbe volunteered 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 Maximilian were still alive. They were given lethal injections of carbolic acid, and their remains were thrown into an oven.
Where did this courage, courage to lay down his life for another come from? Certainly from his deep faith and love for his fellow man. Belief that the teachings of Christ are to put into practice—“there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friend” is not just an ideal or a pious sentiment, it is a directive, a command: this is my commandment, the Lord says, love one another as I love you.
And no doubt, his faith and courage and love was bolstered by his great devotion to Our Lady, about whom he wrote the following: “By dedicating ourselves to her we become in her hands instruments of God’s mercy even as she was such an instrument in God’s hands. We should let ourselves be guided and led by Mary and rest quiet and secure in her hands. She will watch out for us, provide for us, answer our needs of body and spirit; she will dissolve all our difficulties and worries."
By entrusting himself to her, by accepting the crowns and crosses that came to him from God through her, Fr. Kolbe became a true instrument of the Immaculate, having the strength and depth of love necessary to imitate the Lord in self-sacrifice. May we do the same, 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.
For an increase in devotion to Our Lady, that through her the Church may obtain a renewed zeal for souls.
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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