May

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St. Maximilian Kolbe

May 1, 2008 |

Raymond Kolbe was born in Poland on January 8, 1894, to Marianna Dabrowska and Julius Kolbe. While Raymond was still very young, Marianna instilled within him a deep love of the Blessed Virgin Mary and devotion to her by teaching him to pray the rosary and the Angelus.

One day, when Raymond was acting less than saintly, Marianna scolded him, wondering aloud what would ever become of him. A dejected young Raymond went to kneel before a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary to ask her opinion on the matter. In response, Mary appeared before him holding a red crown and a white crown. Looking down at Raymond, she asked him which he preferred. He chose both. The apparition symbolized the life he was to lead: chastity, symbolized by the white crown, and martyrdom, symbolized by the red one.

On November 1, 1914, Raymond took solemn vows as a Franciscan, taking the name Maximilian. The next few years of his life were spent studying in Rome, where he earned doctorates in philosophy and theology despite suffering from tuberculosis. On October 16, 1917, Maximilian and six other friars formed the Militia of the Immaculata (MI)—a group he envisioned would use every modern technique available to spread the Gospel message and encourage total consecration to Mary. He was ordained a priest on April 28, 1918.

In 1941, the Nazis imprisoned Father Maximilian in the Auschwitz death camp. There he offered his life for another prisoner and was condemned to slow death in a starvation bunker. On August 14, 1941, his impatient captors ended his life with a fatal injection. The following day, the Feast of Mary’s Assumption, he was cremated in one of the camp’s furnaces.

Pope John Paul II canonized Maximilian as a “martyr of charity” on October 10, 1982. St. Maximilian Kolbe is considered the patron of journalists, prisoners, families, the pro-life movement, and – because of his manner of death – those with eating disorders and chemical addictions.

Novena to the Holy Spirit Inspired by St. Maximilian Kolbe

Begin the novena each day with this prayer.
Prayer of St. Maximilian Kolbe

O my God, my only happiness—how can I come to know you more perfectly? I see your creatures and I am enchanted; I give thanks and I love you, but these do not suffice for me, as you know so well; but I do not see or hear you. I desire to become like you according to your will, but how? You are most pure Spirit, and I am flesh. Make known to me how I, a person of flesh, must perfect myself and become like you, most Holy Spirit, to be raised to the divine life.

Starting May 2nd we will post daily the Novena to the Holy Spirit Inspired by St. Maximilian Kolbe.


Comments

2 Comments so far

  1. Terese Trusso on May 23, 2008 10:39 pm

    Fr,
    Im hoping you can help me,
    I would like to locate the “consecration” to be an Instrument of the Holy Spirit “through Our Lady” as her power and title as “Spouse of the Holy Spirit” This “consecration: is the consecration of Saint Maximilian Kolbe of Poland.

    Can you locate it and get it too me?I have searched high and lo,to no avail.

    Great holy blessings,In the Immaculata, Bless you ,May God, who can never be outdone in generosity, bless and keep you
    and provide for your every need. in love,…..”Thank you with all my heart and soul.Terese

  2. Br. Michael Anthony on May 24, 2008 7:16 pm

    PAX!

    I myself am conscrated to Our Lord Jesus Christ through Our Blessed Lady. Here is the CONSECRATION PRAYER. If you wish to conscrate yourself according to Saint Louis De Montfort as Saint Maximilian Kolbe had it is easiest to use the book Preparation for total consecration according to Saint Louis De Montfort.

    Nos, cum Prole pia, benedicat Virgo Maria!

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