Saint Maximilian Kolbe

Feast Day: August 14


Known as Apostle of Consecration to Mary

Pope John Paul II declared him the “The Patron Saint of Our Difficult Century”

Maximilian was born in 1894 as Raymond Kolbe. He is the second of the 3 sons born to a poor Catholic family in Poland which was then occupied by Russia.   His parents were both Franciscan lay tertiaries who worked at home as basket weavers. His father later ran a religious book store then enlisted in the army.  His mother, on the other hand, soon worked as a midwife and owned a grocery store in part of her rented house. In 1907, Kolbe and his elder brother Francis decided to join the Conventual Franciscan junior seminary in Lwów. In 1910, Raymond Kolbe was allowed to enter the novitiate and professed his first vows a year after. He adopted the name Maximilian Maria to show his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary
and received the final vows at age 20. That same year, his father who fought for Polish independence from Russia was captured and hanged by the Russians as a traitor. Maximilian's mother eventually became a Benedictine nun.

While in seminary, Maximilian and his six friends founded the Immaculata Movement to work for the conversion of sinners, opposition to freemasonry, as well as the spread of the Miraculous Medal and devotion to Our Lady.

During this time, he contracted tuberculosis which nearly killed him and though he recovered, Maximilian remained frail all his life. In 1915, he earned a doctorate in philosophy at the Pontifical Gregorian University,
and a doctorate in theology at the Pontifical University of St. Bonaventure for years after. 
After receiving a doctorate in theology, Maximilian Kolbe spread the Immaculata Movement through a monthly magazine publication called "The Knight of the Immaculata" which had over a million circulation.  The Immaculata friars also published catechetical and devotional tracts as well as newspapers reaching thousands of people daily.

Maximilian founded the monastery of Niepokalanów near Warsaw. He established a seminary, a radio station (used to spread Catholic faith and to speak out against the atrocities of the Nazi regime) and several other
organizations and publications. Kolbe is the only canonized saint to have held an amateur radio license.

In 1930, Maximilian along with 4 brothers left for Japan and within a month upon their arrival was printing a Japanese version of the Knight of the Immaculata. Six years after, the magazine grew to a circulation of 65,000.  Maximilian founded a monastery in Nagasaki in 1931 that still stands today as a center of Franciscan work in Japan.

He was forced to return to Poland because of poor health and by 1939, following the Nazi invasion of Poland, Maximilian along with several of his brothers were arrested.  They were released barely 3 months later.  But on 17 February 1941, Maximilian was imprisoned in Pawiak, Warsaw and the brothers dispersed for housing Polish refugees many of whom were Jewish and for publishing materials considered to be anti-Nazi.  He was transferred to Auschwitz and branded as prisoner #16670. Maximilian suffered a lot from the abusive guards and was even left for dead after being beaten and lashed. Nevertheless, Maximilian ministered to other prisoners and spent his time hearing confessions, conducting Mass and giving communion when unleavened bread is made available.

On July 31, 1941, there was an escape from the camp and in retribution for one prisoner's escape, ten men were to be starved to death. One of the selected men, Francis Gajowniczek, was a young married man and father.  Father Kolbe offered himself in place of him.

In the prison cell, Kolbe led the other 9 men in prayer and worship. Each time the guards checked on him, he was seen praying and ministering to others or would be singing hymns to the Virgin Mary. After enduring 3 weeks of starvation and dehydration, only Kolbe remained alive. 

The guards wanted the bunker emptied so Maximilian Kolbe was murdered with an injection of carbolic acid.

Kolbe was canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 10, 1982 in the presence of Franciszek Gajowniczek and declared Maximilian Kolbe a martyr of charity.
   
Maximilian Kolbe's beatification miracles include the cure of intestinal tuberculosis of Angela Testoni in July 1948 and the cure of calcification of the arteries/sclerosis of Francis Ranier in August 1950.

Patronage:

    drug addicts (against drug addiction)
    prisoners
    journalists
    pro-life movement
    families

Prayer to St Maximilian Kolbe:

"O Lord, we remember the courage and love of Saint Maximilian Kolbe. Grant us the strength to be selfless in service and steadfast in faith, as he was. May his life inspire us to hold firm in our beliefs and to offer compassion and aid to those in need. Help us to follow his example of sacrificial love, and may his intercession guide us on our spiritual journey. Amen."

Reflection: 

St. Maximilian Kolbe's life reminds us of the profound impact of faith, sacrifice, and love. His willingness to lay down his life for another reflects the highest form of Christian love – agape. In our daily lives, we can honor his legacy by showing selfless love and kindness to those around us, standing firm in our beliefs, and using our talents and resources for the greater good.

Saint Ines (Saint Agnes)

Feast Day: January 21


Saint Agnes who also goes by the name of Saint Ines (c. 291 – c. 304) was a member of the Roman nobility and raised in a Christian family. At age 12 or 13 year old Agnes suffered martyrdom in the time of the persecutions of Christians during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. She has a foster sister, Emerentiana, who like her became a saint.

The Prefect Sempronius wanted Agnes to marry his son but when Agnes refused, he reported her to the authorities as being a Christian. Ines/Agnes was condemned to death but as Roman law did not permit the
execution of virgins, they planned to rape her as a sacrifice to the gods they worshiped.  The authorities had the naked Agnes dragged through the streets to a brothel but her purity was miraculously preserved.

Legend has it that while walking the streets, she prayed to the Lord and this was answered by making her hair grow to cover up her body. Another legend says that the men who attempted to rape her were struck blind immediately.  There was also a story about one being struck dead but when Agnes prayed for him the man was revived.  Since none of them succeeded, they tried to burn St Agnes at the stake but the wood didn't burn even a slightest bit.  Because of this, a frustrated lieutenant decided to take matters into his own hands and ended up beheading Agnes with a sword.

She maybe too young to know of death, yet she bravely faced it than be offered to the pagan gods and lose her virginity by rape.  Being the good Christian that she was, she showed awesome virtue and gave up her life for her faith. Her virginity and heroism are renowned and has help bring an end to the persecutions.

One of Emperor Constantine's daughters built a church where Agnes was buried.

Patronage: 

Saint Ines is the patron saint of young girls, chastity, rape survivors, and gardeners. She is often invoked by those seeking guidance in maintaining their faith and purity.

Prayer to Saint Ines:

"O Saint Ines, pure and devoted servant of Christ, you who bravely faced persecution and martyrdom at a tender age for the love of your Divine Spouse, guide us in our journey. Help us to remain steadfast in faith and purity, standing courageously against the challenges of this world. May your example of virtue and your intercession lead us closer to Christ. Amen."

Reflection:

*Reflecting on Saint Ines's life, we are reminded of the virtues of faith, courage, and purity. Her story teaches us the value of standing firm in our beliefs, even in the face of great adversity. It encourages young people, especially, to stay true to their convictions and to trust in God's plan for their lives. Her unwavering commitment to her faith at such a young age is a testament to the strength that can be found in devotion and a deep relationship with God. In our daily lives, we can look to Saint Ines as a source of inspiration and guidance in maintaining our integrity and faith.

*St. Agnes' martyrdom inspire us to be pure, courageous and loyal to our God. Agnes had the courage and the faith to act as boldly as she did in standing up for the teachings of Christ. She trusted the Lord no matter what. We, too, must believe and trust God and pray in humility and patience especially when we are in most need of help.   Let us pray to gain that confidence to fight our own battles and to be courageous witnesses of God.