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St Maximilian Kolbe: Apostle of Our Difficult Age
Religion
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First published January 1, 1982
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March 5, 2023
AN EXCELLENT BIOGRAPHY OF THE ‘SAINT OF AUSCHWITZ’
The translator’s Introduction to this 1982 book states, “Maximilian Mary Kolbe… [is] a saint of today, so close to our generation, to the events we ourselves have experienced, that his figure is familiar to many of us. Since 1941, when he died at the age of forty-seven in the starvation bunker at Auschwitz, he has touched our hearts and filled us with deep emotion. By the sacrifice of his life, which he lovingly offered to take the place of an unknown prisoner---the father of a family, who had been condemned to die in reprisal for the escape of another prisoner---he exemplified the redemptive love of Christ… The cause of his canonization was speedily undertaken, culminating in the solemn declaration of October 10, 1982, by which His Holiness John Paul II proclaimed this humble Franciscan priest a saint of the Church.”
Antonio Ricciciardi reports, “The religious formation of Friar Maximilian took place from the time of his entrance into the Order of Friars Minor Conventual until his ordination to the priesthood and the completion of his theological studies… the future founder of the Knights of the Immaculata grew day by day in wisdom and sanctity.” (Pg. 24)
He explains, “The development of events in the world made Father Kolbe realize that a more widespread renewal was needed… he set for himself the task of conquering the world for the Immaculata. Anti-Catholic forces, with Masons in the foreground, were on the move, and they were especially strong in Rome… Friar Maximilian … [saw] these events …. as evidence of a deep rooted program against Christ and His Church… In Mary… [he] saw the heavenly standard bearer who would lead the ranks of new apostles to final victory… As a Franciscan… He was not a reformed… he was a ‘renewer.’” (Pg. 41-42)
He recounts, “on the evening of October 16, 1917, these first six candidates to the new ‘Knighthood,’ guided by Friar Maximilian, knelt before the altar of the Immaculata in the chapel of the Franciscan College and consecrated themselves to Mary. The ‘Militia Immaculata’ [M.I.] was thus officially founded.” (Pg. 49)
He states, “in November of [1921] his health improved enough for him to return to Krakow… From then on, his life would be characterized by even greater activity, as if he foresaw that life would be brief and wanted to make the most of it… Whatever he undertook had far-reaching effects.” (Pg. 71)
He notes, “Father Kolbe’s missionary efforts, which had as their objective the entire world, were first to be directed toward the Far East where there would rise the second ‘City of the Immaculata.’ This ideal of an apostolate among the infidels had roused his enthusiasm …” (Pg. 125)
He acknowledges, “From the beginning of the apostolate of the M.I., some confreres deemed exaggerated Father Maximilian’s stress on Marian devotion… [and] was estranging himself from the spirituality of the Order and was losing sight of the imitation of the founder, St. Francis of Assisi. On the contrary, Father Maximilian not only fully followed in the footsteps of the Seraphic Father in the practice of the religious virtues, but also in … his unique Marian devotion.” (Pg. 160)
He explains, “St. Maximilian, following in the footsteps of the seraphic saint of Assisi, embraced the idea of evangelical poverty, adapting it, however, to the changed conditions of his time. He saw in holy poverty a two-edged sword: the source of fertile ground allowing for growth in Christian and religious perfection, and the ‘safeguard’ for the costly apostolate of the M.I.” (Pg. 226)
But inevitably, “The freedom Poland had achieved from prolonged subjection in 1918, was lost in a far more terrible way in 1939… without formally declaring war, Germany attacked Poland… their army was too weak to compare with their enemy’s gigantic war machine… Father Maximilian’s premonitions of approaching catastrophe had become a most sad reality.” (Pg. 237)
He adds, “In the early months of 1949, two thousand men, expelled from Posnania and 1500 Jews, were given hospitality… Such Christian charity…was not exempt from unpleasant consequences. The presence of those expelled roused the suspicion of the Nazi authorities who began to exert a greater vigilance.” (Pg. 247-248)
Next, “Father Kolbe and the other priests were taken to Warsaw and kept in … prison. That very moment marked the beginning of his ascent to his sorrowful Calvary. Justification for Father Kolbe’s arrest had to be given by the Nazi authorities… [The] accusation … referred to a plot against the occupational authorities and as such rendered utterly impossible any step on behalf of the imprisoned religious.” (Pg. 261)
He recounts, “Father Kolbe’s confinement in Auschwitz lasted from May 28, 1941, the day which marked his arrival in the camp, until August 14, the day of the consummation of his holocaust.” (Pg. 272) “During the first days, Father Maximilian worked as a bricklayer with the task of pulling carts of gravel and stones for the construction of a wall aro0und the crematorium. It was one of the heaviest works…” (Pg. 282)
He continues, “Father Maximilian had been at block 14 only a few days when an incident occurred which was to shock and frighten the entire camp of Auschwitz. A prisoner escaped. According to a law … in the camp… as punishment and as a lesson, ten men of his block would be condemned to die y starvation in the horrible underground bunker.” (Pg. 301-302) “A prisoner, stepping out of the ranks, walked calmly toward Commander Fritsch… voices spread… “It is Father Maximilian! It is Father Kolbe!’” (Pg. 304)
The following is the testimony of Francis Gajownicek: “I knew that he who offered himself in my place was Father Kolbe. It was also said that of the ten, he lived the longest. My prison companions had great admiration for Father Kolbe.” (Pg. 305) “The witnesses laid stress on the fact that Father Kolbe gave his own life to save the life of a fellow prisoner… His task was not merely to save one; he realized the grave need to save the nine others from abandonment and despair… Father Maximilian went voluntarily to this most evil place ever erected by man, conquering its confines with a heart full of love.” (Pg. 308)
He concludes, “On Assumption day, Friday, August 15, his body, placed in a box, was taken to one of the ovens… that humble desire was to draw upon him the attention of the whole Church which now rejoices in invoking him as Saint Maximilian Kolbe.” (Pg. 314)
This book will be “must reading” for anyone studying the life of Father Maximilian.
The translator’s Introduction to this 1982 book states, “Maximilian Mary Kolbe… [is] a saint of today, so close to our generation, to the events we ourselves have experienced, that his figure is familiar to many of us. Since 1941, when he died at the age of forty-seven in the starvation bunker at Auschwitz, he has touched our hearts and filled us with deep emotion. By the sacrifice of his life, which he lovingly offered to take the place of an unknown prisoner---the father of a family, who had been condemned to die in reprisal for the escape of another prisoner---he exemplified the redemptive love of Christ… The cause of his canonization was speedily undertaken, culminating in the solemn declaration of October 10, 1982, by which His Holiness John Paul II proclaimed this humble Franciscan priest a saint of the Church.”
Antonio Ricciciardi reports, “The religious formation of Friar Maximilian took place from the time of his entrance into the Order of Friars Minor Conventual until his ordination to the priesthood and the completion of his theological studies… the future founder of the Knights of the Immaculata grew day by day in wisdom and sanctity.” (Pg. 24)
He explains, “The development of events in the world made Father Kolbe realize that a more widespread renewal was needed… he set for himself the task of conquering the world for the Immaculata. Anti-Catholic forces, with Masons in the foreground, were on the move, and they were especially strong in Rome… Friar Maximilian … [saw] these events …. as evidence of a deep rooted program against Christ and His Church… In Mary… [he] saw the heavenly standard bearer who would lead the ranks of new apostles to final victory… As a Franciscan… He was not a reformed… he was a ‘renewer.’” (Pg. 41-42)
He recounts, “on the evening of October 16, 1917, these first six candidates to the new ‘Knighthood,’ guided by Friar Maximilian, knelt before the altar of the Immaculata in the chapel of the Franciscan College and consecrated themselves to Mary. The ‘Militia Immaculata’ [M.I.] was thus officially founded.” (Pg. 49)
He states, “in November of [1921] his health improved enough for him to return to Krakow… From then on, his life would be characterized by even greater activity, as if he foresaw that life would be brief and wanted to make the most of it… Whatever he undertook had far-reaching effects.” (Pg. 71)
He notes, “Father Kolbe’s missionary efforts, which had as their objective the entire world, were first to be directed toward the Far East where there would rise the second ‘City of the Immaculata.’ This ideal of an apostolate among the infidels had roused his enthusiasm …” (Pg. 125)
He acknowledges, “From the beginning of the apostolate of the M.I., some confreres deemed exaggerated Father Maximilian’s stress on Marian devotion… [and] was estranging himself from the spirituality of the Order and was losing sight of the imitation of the founder, St. Francis of Assisi. On the contrary, Father Maximilian not only fully followed in the footsteps of the Seraphic Father in the practice of the religious virtues, but also in … his unique Marian devotion.” (Pg. 160)
He explains, “St. Maximilian, following in the footsteps of the seraphic saint of Assisi, embraced the idea of evangelical poverty, adapting it, however, to the changed conditions of his time. He saw in holy poverty a two-edged sword: the source of fertile ground allowing for growth in Christian and religious perfection, and the ‘safeguard’ for the costly apostolate of the M.I.” (Pg. 226)
But inevitably, “The freedom Poland had achieved from prolonged subjection in 1918, was lost in a far more terrible way in 1939… without formally declaring war, Germany attacked Poland… their army was too weak to compare with their enemy’s gigantic war machine… Father Maximilian’s premonitions of approaching catastrophe had become a most sad reality.” (Pg. 237)
He adds, “In the early months of 1949, two thousand men, expelled from Posnania and 1500 Jews, were given hospitality… Such Christian charity…was not exempt from unpleasant consequences. The presence of those expelled roused the suspicion of the Nazi authorities who began to exert a greater vigilance.” (Pg. 247-248)
Next, “Father Kolbe and the other priests were taken to Warsaw and kept in … prison. That very moment marked the beginning of his ascent to his sorrowful Calvary. Justification for Father Kolbe’s arrest had to be given by the Nazi authorities… [The] accusation … referred to a plot against the occupational authorities and as such rendered utterly impossible any step on behalf of the imprisoned religious.” (Pg. 261)
He recounts, “Father Kolbe’s confinement in Auschwitz lasted from May 28, 1941, the day which marked his arrival in the camp, until August 14, the day of the consummation of his holocaust.” (Pg. 272) “During the first days, Father Maximilian worked as a bricklayer with the task of pulling carts of gravel and stones for the construction of a wall aro0und the crematorium. It was one of the heaviest works…” (Pg. 282)
He continues, “Father Maximilian had been at block 14 only a few days when an incident occurred which was to shock and frighten the entire camp of Auschwitz. A prisoner escaped. According to a law … in the camp… as punishment and as a lesson, ten men of his block would be condemned to die y starvation in the horrible underground bunker.” (Pg. 301-302) “A prisoner, stepping out of the ranks, walked calmly toward Commander Fritsch… voices spread… “It is Father Maximilian! It is Father Kolbe!’” (Pg. 304)
The following is the testimony of Francis Gajownicek: “I knew that he who offered himself in my place was Father Kolbe. It was also said that of the ten, he lived the longest. My prison companions had great admiration for Father Kolbe.” (Pg. 305) “The witnesses laid stress on the fact that Father Kolbe gave his own life to save the life of a fellow prisoner… His task was not merely to save one; he realized the grave need to save the nine others from abandonment and despair… Father Maximilian went voluntarily to this most evil place ever erected by man, conquering its confines with a heart full of love.” (Pg. 308)
He concludes, “On Assumption day, Friday, August 15, his body, placed in a box, was taken to one of the ovens… that humble desire was to draw upon him the attention of the whole Church which now rejoices in invoking him as Saint Maximilian Kolbe.” (Pg. 314)
This book will be “must reading” for anyone studying the life of Father Maximilian.
April 5, 2017
Great introductory book on the life, influence, and impact of the heroic life of St. Maximilian.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews