(1894-1941) Nazi prisoner 16670 was born as Raymond to a poor Catholic family in Russian-occupied Poland, and took the name Maximilian when he joined the Conventual Franciscan Order. He founded the Immaculata Movement devoted to the conversion of sinners, opposition to Freemasonry, and spreading devotion to Our Lady and the Miraculous Medal. Maximilian worked in Poland, Japan, and India, founding monasteries and publishing the Knight of the Immaculate magazine. He was arrested by Nazis in Poland, and was executed in Auschwitz after voluntarily taking the place of another prisoner sentenced to die in the starvation bunker.

“‘Hail Mary!’ was the last prayer on the lips of Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe, as he offered his arm to the person who was about to kill him with an injection of phenolic acid. It is moving to note how humble and trusting recourse to Our Lady is always a source of courage and serenity” (Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience on August 13, 2008).

“Don’t you see that Satan and his agents take possession of all inventions and all achievements of progress to convert them to evil? All the more reason to finally wake up and get to work in order to reconquer the positions taken up by the enemy” (Saint Maximilian Kolbe).

Reflection by Brad Farmer