Raymond Kolbe was born 1-7-1894 in the small Polish village of
Zdunska-Wola. His parents, Angeline Kramer and Michael Kolbe, were
poor; they were hard workers, as well ad dedicated Catholics and
partiotic German Poles. As a child, Raymond was so mischievous that
one day his mother, in exasperation, asked him "Raymond, what is to
become of you?" The boy asked himself the same question, then went
to church to pray and repeat his question to the Blessed Mother.
Later, he confided to his mother that at this visit he had a
mystical experience in which he saw Our Lady. In her hands she held
two crowns: a white one for purity and red one for martyrdom. "Which
do you choose?" the apparition seemed to say. Raymond's heart leaped
as he answered, "I choose both." Silently Our Lady smiled approval
of the choice and faded from view.
Raymond had a special talent for mathematics and physics, and was
fascinated by astronomy and the prospects for space flight. He
sketched many plans for rocket ships, and while a student in Rome,
he actually designed a spacecraft and applied for a patent on it.
Raymond was invested in the Franciscan habit on Sept. 4, 1910, and
took the name of Maximilian. Ordained a priest in 1891. shortly
after his ordination, he wrote a letter to his brother:
"The most deadly poison of our times is indifference. Its victims
are found not only among worldly people, but in our own ranks as
well. And this happens, although the praise of God should know no
limits...Let us strive, therefore, to praise Him to the greatest
extent of our powers."
He had already recognized his mission--to combat religious
indifference. For this purpose, he founded the Knights of the
Immaculata. The program for the Knights was simple. the purpose was
to conquer all souls for Christ through mary. Each member was to
dedicate himself to Mary Immaculate and become a tool for her use.
Each Knight was charged to work for the salvation of all souls,
particularly the enemies of the Church. Each member wears the
Miraculous Medal and daily prays the simple prayer inscribed on
it -- O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recoures to
thee--adding the words, "especially for the enemies of the church
and those recommended to you." The group was given the status of a
Primary Union by Pope Pius XI in 1926, and has spread throughout the
world.
In 1920, chronic T.B. flared up, and Father Kolbe was confined to
a sanatorium for two years. At the end of his confinement, Father
Kolbe retuned to work in Krakow and the movement began to grow. he
started a printing office for the communication to the spreading the
glory of God and His Immaculate Mother.
In the early 1930's Father Maximilian traveled extensively to
promote the publishing apostolate. He began in Japan, and worked
there for some time. Always his own personality attracted volunteer
translators to aid him in translating the material into as many
languages as possible In 1939, Father Kolbe was recalled from Japan to Poland. He was
appointed superior at the city of the Immaculata, and intended to
continue with his work there. But World War II broke out, and almost
immediately after the German occupation, this Catholic Pulishing
apostolate became the target of bitter and increasing reprisal's.
He was arrested by the Gestapo, then released in Dec. of 1939. In
Feb. of 1941, he was arrested again and imprisoned in Warsaw, where
an inflammation of the lungs confined him to the infirmary. On May
28, 1941, Father Kolbe and 320 other prisoners where transferred to
Auschwitz.
Another prisoner in the infirmary recalled that he and several
others often crawled across the floor at night to be near the bed
of Father Kolbe, to make their confessions and ask for consolation.
Father Kolbe whispered, "Hate is not creative. Our sorrow is
necessary that those who live after us may be happy." He pleaded
with his fellow prisoners to forgive their persecutors and to
oveercome evil with good.
A Protestant Doctor who treated the patients in Block Twelve
testified that Fahter Kolbe waited until all the others had been
treated before asking for help. He constantly sacrificed himself
for the others. The doctor testified "From my observations...the
virtues in the Servant of God were no memoentary impulse such as are
often found in men, they sprang from a habitual practice, deeply
woven into his personality. In Auschwitz, I knew of other similar
case of such heroic love of neighbor."
Father Kolbe recovered enough to be transferred to Block 14 and
assigned to farm labor. At roll call one sultry night in July, one
of the prisoners were missing. According to the rules of the camp,
if a prisoner was not caught, 10 would die in reprisal. The next
morning the members of the cell block were stood in the broiling
sun all day. By roll call that evening, the escapee had not been
cuaght, and the commandant, Fritsch, imperiously went throgh the
ranks pointing out 10 victims who were then separated out,
screaming, by armed guards. One Polish soldier, Sergeant Francis
Gajowniczek, cried out, "What will happen to my family?" For the
extraordinary events which followed, we have the word of several
witnesses.
Father Kolbe silently slipped out of line, took off his cap, and
stood before the commandant. Astounded, Fritch asked, "What does
this Polish pig want?"
Father kolbe pointed with his hand to the condemned Polish
sergeant. "I am a Catholic priest from Poland; I would like to take
his place, because he has a wife and children."
Observers believed in horror that the commandant would be angered
and would refuse the request, or would order the death of both men.
The commandant remained silent for a moment. What his thoughts were
on being confronted by this brave priest we have no idea. Amazingly,
however, he acceded to the request. The sergeant was retuned to the
ranks, and the priest took his place.
With 9 companions, Father Kolbe entered the starvation bunker.
Before entering, the men were made to strip completely in the face
of the guard's cruel gibe: "You will come out like dried-up tulip
bulbs." from this time on, the unfortunate victims received neither
food or water. The secretary and interpreter for this underground
bunker was so impressed by the heroism of Father Kolbe they kept an
exact record of the last days, more detailed than his job required.
Daily the guards removed the bodies of those who had died. Instead
of continuous weeping and wailing, thousands that arose from the
bunker were the sounds of murmured prayer's, the Rosary led by
Father Kolbe, and hymns to Mary Immaculate. While the guards were
away the secretary would sneak in to converse with and console the
prisoners. At times the prisoners were so engrossed in prayer that
they failed to notice the return of the guards until rude shouts
interrupted them.
Reduced to the state of animals, some of the prisoners begged
the guards for food or drink, or attempted tro get close to the door
of the cell. Some were kicked away rudely, and died from the blows.
At all times, Father Kolbe remained constant, and neither whimpered
nor whined. He encouraged and comforted the others. Constantly the
guards found him praying, whispering his prayers when he could no
longer speak them aloud. They were amazed.
At the end of two weeks, only four of the ten were left alive. The
cell was needed for more victims, and the camp executioner came in
and injected a lethal dose of cabolic acid into the left arm of
each of the four. With a prayer on his lips, the last prisoner,
Father Kolbe, raised his arm for the executioner. It was Agusut 14,
the eve of the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven. The
next day, Falther Kolbe's remains were cremated.
Some time previously, at the death of one of his workers at the
City of the Immaculata, Father Kolbe had composed an eptiaph which
applies equally well to himself: "He has left nothing of himself,
for he gave everything to Mary Immaculate."
Father Maximillion Kolbe was beatified by Pope Pal VI on Oct. 17, 1971, as a confessor. On Oct. 10, 1982, Pope John Paul II canonized Fahter Kolbe--as a martyr! Thus did the apostolic authority of the pope fulfill in a marvelous, totally unexpected way the choice of the ten year old boy: all white crown for purity and red crown for martyrdom. LAST UPDATED: 8:54 AM 1/9/98 Click here to go back to SBS