St. Maximilian Kolbe

Many people have heard the story about St. Maximilian Kolbe in Auschwitz, but you need to know this saint’s whole story.

He was born “Rajmund” in 1894 in Poland. Coming from a family of weavers, he knew poverty. As a young boy, he heard the Lord ask him if he wanted the white crown of virginity or the red crown of martyrdom. He told the Lord he wanted both.

His family had great faith in God and their devotion to Mary inspired him. St. Maximilian said, “Never be afraid of loving Mary too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did.”

St. Maximilian went where he was called, and embraced the vow of poverty. He stayed in Poland often, studied in Rome, and even traveled to Japan to spread the gospel.

In the midst of Nazi propaganda spreading across Poland, he wanted to use film and media to conquer immorality. Instead of demonizing the media, he established his own publication to combat Nazism and Freemasonry.

Despite suffering from tuberculosis, he still managed to evangelize in the most grim circumstances.

When he was sent to Auschwitz, it was clear his willingness to suffer for Christ would be tested even more. Some prisoners escaped Auschwitz, and as punishment the guards chose ten prisoners to starve to death in a starvation bunker. When a prisoner cried and said he had a wife and children, St. Maximilian took that prisoner’s place, willingly giving up his life. In the bunker, Maximilian wouldn’t starve to death. So they gave him a lethal injection. This still didn’t kill him, so they gave him another injection which did kill him.

“For Jesus Christ I am prepared to suffer still more” (St. Maximilian Kolbe).

St. Maximilian’s life was much more than the selfless sacrifice that brought it to an end. His devotion to Mary, his resourcefulness, and zeal for evangelization helped bring the gospel to more people during the mayhem of war-torn Europe.

How can I love Our Lady more? How can I give more time to Jesus? How is the Lord calling me even amid suffering?

St. Maximilian, pray for us.

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[despicableyou]

Also, the man he saved, Franciszek Gajowniczek, survived Auschwitz and was present at St. Maximilian Kolbe’s beatification in 1971 and his canonization in 1982!

[jaroslawbaczewski]

St. Maximilian’s is my patron saint. I chose him as my patron for my Confirmation. His whole life is truly inspiring.

[pawelwysocki]

Before the war, he also built a monastery in Nagasaki that survived the nuclear bomb.

It was shielded by the mountain it was built on. Someone initially picked a different location, but st. Maximilian didn't agree. Some people say he talked about a ball of fire falling from the sky...

The monastery is still there, if anyone wants to see it.

[saimmoul]

I was deeply impressed when I read St. Maximilian Kolbe in my youth and he became my favorite saint.

While on the trip to Pocono, i happened to celebrate the mass at St. Maximilian Kolbe’s on the Pentecost Feast yesterday, which I don’t think a coincidence.

I also got my kidney surgery on August 14th, on the feast of Maximilian Kolbe in 2002. He might be leading me to Jesus.

I like your precise wrap up and interpretation about the saint.

[madalinetoler]

Don’t forget someone who took the scariest most horrific place in the world and replaced it with love compassion humility grace faith forgiveness and more love than the happiest place on earth. That’s the saint i picked for my first communion. And he did all this while he was dying from tuberculosis. He put others before himself every second of every day. Then he took someone’s fear and pain. Not only the one he died for but him being in the death room took the other 9 men’s fear and turned their last moments into moments of faith love and fellowship.

[MJ-eiug]

One of my favourite quotes from St Maximilian: Courage, my sons. Don't you see that we are leaving on a mission? They pay our fare in the bargain. What a piece of good luck! The thing to do now is to pray well in order to win as many souls as possible. [Said when he was first arrested.]

[leonirohana]

I am from India. I know about this saint. He made a supreme sacrifice by giving his life for some other person Maxmillan kolbe. Thank u for this info.

[-jd]

I am so happy you did this video today 😊 St Maximilian Kolbe and St Teresa of Avila are two of my favorite saints. Both stories give me the hope I need in difficult times. “Be Catholic: When you kneel before an altar, do it in such a way that others may be able to recognize that you know before whom you kneel.” St Maximilian Kolbe

[bethanyann]

I'm not crying, YOU'RE CRYING! What a beautiful life.

[eml]

Just learned about him today and wow what a remarkable selfless soul. Truly a reflection of God 😊

[pxter]

Thank you! St. Maximilian Kolbe is my Confirmation name and Saint✝️

[leftoversoversigjt]

Gorgeous saint and a true follower of Jesus.

[michaelmartin]

What a wonderful segment on Saint Maximilian Kolbe, thank you! I did not know.much about this Saint so this was very beneficial. God bless, and thank you again! Please keep making this content.

[christopherdominicpaul]

Praise God that we have such awesome Saints in the church. St Kolbe has beautiful insights and his thoughts are used in the consecration of mother Mary in "33 days to morning glory". Such a courageous man of God.

[christinamaria]

Thank you for this, I’m converted to catholic a year a go. Loving our Lady still bothers me, because the doctrine i have growing up. I was afarid loving and asking her help, and meditate the rosary will take away my love for Jesus. But the more i meditate the rosary, the more i love Jesus. But my heart and my mind keep fighting about this. Now i have the answer, thank, you, thank you, thank you, thank you 🙏

[wanlongsanmarboh]

I'm glad I learned about this saint back in those days of my catechism classes at school. I remember that was around 2007 when I was in high school.
Thank you for reminding me again of the story of this great saint. God bless!

[jesusmusicduke]

I visited Auschwitz when I was ten years old. This story affected me deeply and I am now a Catholic theologian.

[TheMenzy]

My ex wife from Poland filled me in on this Saint since he is very well known in Poland where Catholics are 90% of Poland's population. Such a brave man,

[bernicerubio]

God bless to you too!! I love, love, love the whole message. Thank you!

[SaintCharbelMiracleworker]

No greater love hath a man who lays down his life for another.