SAINTS CORNER- From Priest to Prisoner: The Story of Saint Maximilian Kolbe

Hello! It's Julia! I have to do a report on a saint for school, and I just picked Saint Maximilian Kolbe. He has an amazing story! Would you like to hear about him?

Saint Maximilian Kolbe was born Raymund Kolbe on January 8, 1894. When he was twelve, he had a vision of Mary. She came to him holding two crowns. One was white and the other was red. She asked which one he wanted, and Maximilian said, "both!"

He became a priest in 1918, and took the name Father Maximilian Mary Kolbe, in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who he had a strong devotion to. He founded the Militia Immaculata, or Army of the Immaculate One.

When the Germans invaded Poland, Maximilian stood strong and stayed at the monastery. When his town was captured, he was sent to prison. However, he was released three months later. He continued his work as a priest and hid many Jews who were running from the Nazis.

In 1941, the Nazis shut down the monastery, and Maximilian was sent to prison. He was sent to a concentration camp called Auschwitz after three months in prison.

One day, someone in the camp escaped, and the Nazis decided to kill some men to discourage other escapes. One man announced that he had family, and if he died he would never see them again. Maximilian, who had not been chosen to die, calmly said that he would go in his place. Maximilian died in place of that man on August 14, the day before the Assumption of Mary.

Although not many of us are asked to give our lives up, we can still make small sacrifices like Maximilian Kolbe made. What kind of sacrifices can you make?

Saint Maximilian Kolbe, PRAY FOR US!!!