Posted on by Reason2bCatholic

Saints Alive! | St. Maximilian Kolbe

He was imprisoned and was sent to Auschwitz in 1941. There he endured special cruelty because he was a Catholic priest. St. Maximilian ministered to the prisoners, and offered his life in place of a father who had been condemned to death. After being starved for two weeks and still found alive, Maximilian was killed by lethal injection on August 14, 1941. He is the patron saint of families, drug addicts, prisoners, journalists, and the pro-life movement. For more about this saint, "Martyr of Charity," please click on the image. Peace be with you!

Posted on by Reason2bCatholic

Divine Office | We must sanctify the whole world

In today's Office of Readings we encounter a reading from a letter of St Maximilian Kolbe (1894 - 1941). In 1941 he was arrested and sent to the concentration camp at Auschwitz, where he helped and succoured the inmates. In August of that year a prisoner escaped, and in reprisal the authorities were choosing ten people to die by starvation. One of the men had a family, and Maximilian Kolbe offered to take his place. The offer was accepted, and he spent his last days comforting his fellow prisoners. After two weeks surviving the starvation isolation bunker, Kolbe was killed by lethal injection. The man he saved was present at his canonization. For a reflection, "We must sanctify the whole world," please click on the image. Peace be with you!