St. Maximilian Kolbe
Maximilian Kolbe was a saint who lived a normal life as a child and devoted his life to God at a very young age. Raymund Kolbe was born January 8, 1894 in Zdunska Wola, in Poland. His father was German and his mother was Polish, he grew up relatively poor. In 1914, his father was captured by the Russians and killed for fighting for an independent Poland (Maximilian Kolbe Biography). Whenever Raymund was a little boy he was presented by Mary two crowns when he was praying to an image of Mary. The first crown was white and symbolized purity in Christ, which symbolized the vocation of religious life. The second crown was red and symbolized martyrdom, which meant that he would die a martyr. Mary ask which crown Kolbe was willing …show more content…
Whenever Poland was captured by the Nazi´s in 1939, Kolbe was captured under general suspicion. He was released three months later. Kolbe helped many refugees escape the Nazis. His community of friars helped over 3,000 people during the war. Kolbe also started a new illegal radio station as well as published a newspaper devoted to Mary that scorned the Nazi´s, it was called Knight of the Immaculate. A little while after he published this newspaper he was arrested for hiding Jews in the friary. He was sent to Auschwitz where he was given the prisoner number 16670. His daily work would involve lifting stones, mining, and building the crematorium wall. He received especially cruel treatment because of his occupation. He took the punishment as suffering for Mary and stayed extremely calm throughout it all. Maximilian kept his deep faith during all of the suffering. On June 15, he was able to send his mother a letter saying: ¨Dear Mama, At the end of the month of May I was transferred to the camp of Auschwitz. Everything is well in my regard. Be tranquil about me and about my health, because the good God is everywhere and provides for everything with love. It would be well that you do not write to me until you will have received other news from me, because I do not know how long I will stay here. Cordial greetings and kisses, affectionately. Raymond.¨ He often would share the already miniscule rations with other prisoners. In July of 1941, three prisoners escaped the camp. As a result 10 men were chosen to be starved to death in a bunker. One of the men chosen was Franciszek Gajowniczek. When he was chosen he yelled that he had a wife and children. Kolbe hearing this took his place to die. When the officer asked Kolbe what he wanted he said ¨I am a Catholic, Polish priest, he has a wife and children. When asked what the
Maximilian Kolbe was a saint who lived a normal life as a child and devoted his life to God at a very young age. Raymund Kolbe was born January 8, 1894 in Zdunska Wola, in Poland. His father was German and his mother was Polish, he grew up relatively poor. In 1914, his father was captured by the Russians and killed for fighting for an independent Poland (Maximilian Kolbe Biography). Whenever Raymund was a little boy he was presented by Mary two crowns when he was praying to an image of Mary. The first crown was white and symbolized purity in Christ, which symbolized the vocation of religious life. The second crown was red and symbolized martyrdom, which meant that he would die a martyr. Mary ask which crown Kolbe was willing …show more content…
Whenever Poland was captured by the Nazi´s in 1939, Kolbe was captured under general suspicion. He was released three months later. Kolbe helped many refugees escape the Nazis. His community of friars helped over 3,000 people during the war. Kolbe also started a new illegal radio station as well as published a newspaper devoted to Mary that scorned the Nazi´s, it was called Knight of the Immaculate. A little while after he published this newspaper he was arrested for hiding Jews in the friary. He was sent to Auschwitz where he was given the prisoner number 16670. His daily work would involve lifting stones, mining, and building the crematorium wall. He received especially cruel treatment because of his occupation. He took the punishment as suffering for Mary and stayed extremely calm throughout it all. Maximilian kept his deep faith during all of the suffering. On June 15, he was able to send his mother a letter saying: ¨Dear Mama, At the end of the month of May I was transferred to the camp of Auschwitz. Everything is well in my regard. Be tranquil about me and about my health, because the good God is everywhere and provides for everything with love. It would be well that you do not write to me until you will have received other news from me, because I do not know how long I will stay here. Cordial greetings and kisses, affectionately. Raymond.¨ He often would share the already miniscule rations with other prisoners. In July of 1941, three prisoners escaped the camp. As a result 10 men were chosen to be starved to death in a bunker. One of the men chosen was Franciszek Gajowniczek. When he was chosen he yelled that he had a wife and children. Kolbe hearing this took his place to die. When the officer asked Kolbe what he wanted he said ¨I am a Catholic, Polish priest, he has a wife and children. When asked what the