Emma Kunzmann

6 December 2017

Mr. Campbell

Saint Project

St. Maximilian Kolbe

Have you ever had the courage to stand up for someone, when you do not even know the

person? Well, St. Maximilian had an abundant amount of bravery, and he stood up for a man,

when no one else did. However, he did not do this alone and he knew that, and accepted help

from the Blessed Virgin Mary. After his service to God for his whole life, people are showed that

his exemplary bravery and kindness are things we should all strive for to this day.

St. Maximilian Kolbe was born with the name Raymund Kolbe, in Poland, 1894. Kolbe`s

life story really began when he was a young child, and he saw a miraculous vision of the Blessed

Virgin Mary. He described this event as thought Mary came to him, and offered him two crowns,

one white one, and one red one. The white one meant that he would persevere in purity, and the

red one meant that he would be a martyr. Kolbe knew this had significance, so he did not even

hesitate to say which one he would choose. Instead, Kolbe responded with a simple way of

saying he would choose both crowns.

"Dear God, help me to be more like Maximilian Kolbe in my ways of life. Help me to

always aspire to be the best version of myself and realize that Mary is my mother and is always

there for me. Give me strength and perseverance to be able to do God’s will and turn to you in
times of need. Help me to be able to do good, stand up for other people, and always do the right

thing. Amen."

Later on in his life, he and his brother joined the Conventual Franciscans. Here in this

convent, Raymund received the name Maximilian. After announcing his final vows, he chose to

take the second name of Mary, to honor the Blessed Virgin. Kolbe was then sent to Rome to

study, and got his doctorate in theology. He then organized a group known as the Militia

Immaculatae. This was a way for people to pray through Mary`s intercession. He then came up

with the Miraculous medal prayer, which is still prayed to this day.

In the year 1918, Kolbe was ordained a priest and was still venerating the Blessed Virgin

every chance he had. His love kept growing stronger and stronger for her and he realized how

much of an impact she had been making on his life. He founded new monasteries and traveled all

over the world. He traveled to East Asia, China, India, and Japan to try and convert people and

start new monasteries. In 1936 however, Kolbe was forced to return to Poland because of an

unfortunate turn of events with his health. When he returned, things were not the same as when

he left.
 After the invasion of Poland by Germany, Kolbe was one of the few and fortunate men to

be left in a monastery. He took advantage of this privilege and turned the monastery into a

hospital for those who were wounded. He was briefly arrested at one point, but then released.

The Germans wanted him to sign a paper, meaning that he would then too become a German, but

Kolbe resented that and refused to sign the papers. He was a child of God, not Hitler. He then

went back to his monastery where he wrote novels and prayers, and hid over 2,000 Jews from

persecution. The monastery was shut down in 1941 by the German Gestapo. Kolbe and the other

monks were arrested for the final time. Kolbe was whipped, mocked, and suffered many harsh

beatings. However, he continued to pray to the Blessed Virgin through all his suffering. Later on,

three prisoners escaped Auschwitz, meaning that ten innocent men would have to die. Kolbe,

however, was not one of these men. As a man was walking to his death, Kolbe heard him scream

out, "My wife! My children!" Kolbe immediately, without hesitation, offered to take his place.

As Kolbe was awaiting his death, he was starved for two weeks, and still did not die. The guards

were amazed by this, so they decided to put him to death themselves. They gassed him, and as he

was dying, he was said to have peacefully raised his hand in the air and slowly die. He prayed to

Mary through all his suffering and the man he saved continued to live with his children and wife.

We can use this as an example so that when we are going through tough times, we will know

who to turn to, and that is our Blessed Mother, Mary. She will always be there for us and is

willing to reveal herself to us in hard times. .

This is truly a story of humility and perseverance that we should all take as an example in

our own lives. Kolbe teaches that God has a plan for all people, and we should never be afraid to

do what it right. Even though the right thing may be the hard thing, Kolbe teaches that it is worth

it in the end. Especially if it means being with God and Mary for the rest of eternity.
 Works Cited
“Maximilian Kolbe.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 6 Dec. 2017,
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximilian_Kolbe.
Online, Catholic. “St. Maximilian Kolbe - Saints & Angels.” Catholic Online, Catholic Online,
www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=370.
“Saint Maximilian Kolbe.” CatholicSaints.Info, 7 Dec. 2017, catholicsaints.info/saint-maximilian-
kolbe/.