"The Patron Saint of our Difficult Century"
Born as Raymond Kolbe in 1895
When he began to pray he soon began to thrive.
“Red or White?” the Lady asks pointing to each rose.
“What do they stand for?” The young boy asks in prayer as
his eyes close.
“Ones for martyrdom, the other chastity, which would you
prefer?”
The young child prayed fervently, “I’d like them both… yes I’m
sure.”
As he grew older he quickly discerned his place.
A Franciscan, a Missionary Priest, who worked at helping
people make God a space.
He had such a true devotion to the blessed mother.
He lived fully for God, dedicated through our lady like no
other.
After years of working, Father Kolbe returned to Poland,
where God thought it time for another test.
It was then that the future saint was taken under the Nazis’
arrest.
To Auschwitz he was brought, where he was forced to work and
suffer.
By his example many
who struggled only became tougher.
One day a man escaped and the Nazis staged a plan.
Ten men would die so no one would follow the example of this
one young man.
Included in the ten was a man both a husband and a Father.
He cried out in despair that he had a daughter.
Father Kolbe heard and offered to take the young man’s
place.
The Nazis accepted and sent them all to Block 13, the
torture space.
They were sentenced to death by way of starvation.
But the young saint kept spirits up by leading them in
prayer without cessation.
After roughly three weeks only four men remained alive.
It appeared that Kolbe did intend to strive.
The Nazis chose injection to ensure the young priest’s
downfall.
It was how he came to leave this world and fulfill God’s
final call.
August 14, 1941 – His date of death, his final breath, the
day he met Our Father.
Finally at peace with Christ Our King, Mary Our Mother, and
with no one who can bring him any bother.
October 10, 1982 – John Paul II declared Father Kolbe both
martyr and saint.
He encouraged us to learn of the brave priest who made a
sacrifice that would cause many to plaint.
The young man whom the priest saved was present at the
declaration.
He praised God loudly and without any vexation.
Saint Kolbe’s feast day remains to be the date on which he
died.
He reminds us all that love and peace can be found if you
have God by your side.
Sources –
“St. Maximilian Kolbe.” Accessed
August 12, 2014. http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=370.
“Maximilian Kolbe.” Accessed
August 12, 2014.http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Kolbe.html.
“Who Is St. Maximilian?” Accessed
August 12, 2014.http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/whostmax.htm.
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