St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe
Feast Day: August 14
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” – John 15:13
Martyr of Charity and Apostle of Mary
St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe is honored as a priest, missionary, and martyr of charity, known for his deep devotion to the Immaculate Virgin Mary and for his heroic sacrifice of his life for another in a Nazi concentration camp. His feast day, celebrated on August 14, commemorates his profound witness to self-giving love and trust in God.
A Child Inspired by Mary
Maximilian was born in 1894 in Poland into a devout Catholic family. As a child, he had a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who offered him two crowns: one white for purity and one red for martyrdom. He accepted both, dedicating his entire life to Mary and to Christ.
Founder of the Militia Immaculatae
Maximilian joined the Franciscan Order and was ordained a priest in 1918. Burning with zeal for the salvation of souls, he founded the Militia Immaculatae (Army of the Immaculate), a movement dedicated to consecration to Mary as a means of bringing the whole world to Christ.
Through printing presses, radio, and publications, he spread devotion to Mary and the Catholic faith throughout Poland, Japan, and beyond.
Arrest, Imprisonment, and Heroic Sacrifice
During World War II, Maximilian continued his priestly ministry despite Nazi persecution. He was arrested by the Gestapo in 1941 and sent to Auschwitz concentration camp.
When a prisoner escaped, the Nazis selected ten men to die by starvation as punishment. One of the men cried out for his wife and children, and Maximilian stepped forward, offering his own life in his place.
In the starvation bunker, Maximilian led the prisoners in prayers, hymns, and the Rosary, sustaining their hope until only he remained alive. On August 14, 1941, the guards ended his life with a lethal injection.
Patron of the Pro-Life Movement and Families
St. Maximilian Kolbe is the patron saint of the pro-life movement, families, journalists, and prisoners, offering a powerful example of how love, faith, and sacrifice conquer hatred and evil.
A Witness to the Power of Love and Marian Devotion
St. Maximilian’s life reminds the faithful that true holiness is total self-giving in love—love for God, for Our Lady, and for others, even to the point of death. His fearless trust in Mary’s intercession and his profound love for souls continue to inspire Christians around the world.
St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe, pray for us!
