Fr. Maximilian Kolbe – Saint of Auschwitz – Heroes of the Faith Series

 

Father Maximilian Kolbe’s story is extraordinary as was his life and his example.

Jesus said “Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” Jn 15:13.

This is exactly what Fr. Kolbe did  to finish strong a life of devoted, courageous service to God and to his fellow man.

You can read a short biography of Fr. Kolbe at Biography Online at the link below and/or you can view a 4 minute or an 8 minute YouTube video narration of his life.

I did all three of these things and found the time well worthwhile.

Fr. Maximilian Kolbe Biography Online

 

 

 

Canonization

per Wikipedia

On 12 May 1955, Kolbe was recognized as the Servant of God.^[16] Kolbe was declared venerable by Pope Paul VI on 30 January 1969, beatified as a Confessor of the Faith by the same Pope in 1971 and canonized as a saint by Pope John Paul II on 10 October 1982.^[2][20] Upon canonization, the Pope declared St. Maximilian Kolbe not a confessor, but a martyr.^[2] The miracle which was used to confirm his beatification was the July 1948 cure of intestinal tuberculosis in Angela Testoni, and in August 1950, the cure of calcification of the arteries/sclerosis of Francis Ranier was attributed to Kolbe’s intercession.^[2]

After his canonization, St. Maximilian Kolbe’s feast day was added to the General Roman Calendar. He is one of ten 20th-century martyrs who are depicted in statues above the Great West Door of Westminster Abbey, London.^[21]

 

Controversy

per Wikipedia

Slovenian sociologist Slavoj Žižek criticized Kolbe’s activities as “writing and organizing mass propaganda for the Catholic Church, with a clear anti-Semitic and anti-Masonic edge.”^[24][26] However, a number of writers pointed out that the “Jewish question played a very minor role in Kolbe’s thought and work”.^[24][24][27] On those grounds allegations of Kolbe’s anti-semitism have been denounced by Holocaust scholars Daniel L. Schlafly Jr. and Warren Green, among others.^[24]

During World War II Kolbe’s monastery at Niepokalanów sheltered Jewish refugees,^[24] and, according to a testimony of a local: “When Jews came to me asking for a piece of bread, I asked Father Maximilian if I could give it to them in good conscience, and he answered me, ‘Yes, it is necessary to do this because all men are our brothers.'”^[18][27]

 

The preponderance of evidence about the life and and the values of Maximilian Kolbe seem clear enough to justify the attention, honor and legacy of this man of God.

I count him as a Hero of the Faith.

What do you think?

 

Etc.

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Fr. Maximilian Kolbe – Saint of Auschwitz – Heroes of the Faith Series

Thanks.

I appreciate it.