WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - Soldiers of Christ: St. Maximilian Kolbe

Episode Date: February 23, 2024

St. Maximilian Kolbe was a Polish martyr who gave up his life to save another man from execution in a Nazi concentration camp. His feast day is celebrated on August 14th and he is the patron of prisoners, the pro-life movement, families, and journalists.

Hi, I'm Faith Roy's and this is Soldiers of Christ on Radio Free Hillsdale, a feature where I highlight the life of Catholic and Orthodox saints. Today's saint is Maximilian Colby, a Polish martyr who gave up his life to save another man from execution. Raymond Colby was born in the Kingdom of Poland in 1894 to Polish and German parents. They lived a life of poverty, and in 1914 his father was captured by Russians and hanged for fighting for Poland's independence. From a young age, Colby had a desire to enter religious life. He recounted a vision he had of the Virgin Mary, saying, that night, I asked the mother of God what was to become of me, a child of faith. Then she came to me holding two crowns, one white, the other red. She asked me if I was willing to accept either of these crowns. The white one meant that I should persevere in purity, and the red that I

should become a martyr. I said that I would accept them both. From this day on, Colby knew that his path would be one of sanctity and martyrdom. At the age of 13, Colby left home with his older brother and enrolled in the Franciscan seminary in Laos, Austria-Hungary. In 1910, he received his religious name, Maximilian, and took his final vows as a monk four years later. He then went on to study at multiple universities, receiving his doctorate in philosophy and theology. After complete his studies and being ordained a priest, he returned to independent Poland in 1919, where he stayed at a monastery near Warsaw. He became quite ill, suffering from a bout of tuberculosis. From that day on, he suffered from poor health, but always saw this as an opportunity to suffer for Mary.

He became known for his work converting sinners in enemies of the Catholic Church. Maximilian had a strong devotion to the Virgin Mary and fought on her behalf to reinvigorate the work of the militiams. Eusha Immaculata or Army of Mary. In 1939, Poland was overrun by Nazi forces, and Colby was arrested under general suspicion, but later released. After this, his monastery housed thousands of Polish refugees and his newspaper published strong criticism of the Nazis. Shortly after, he was arrested by the Gestapo and sent to Auschwitz. Here he was forced to build a crematorium wall from large heavy blocks, and was frequently the victim of brutal treatment by a particular guard, which he calmly accepted. In July of 1941, three prisoners escaped from the camp. Because of this, ten men were

chosen to be starved to death in an underground bunker. When one man named Francis was selected, he cried out, my wife, my children. Then, Maximilian Colby courageously volunteered to take his place and sacrifice his own life for this stranger. The man he saved went on to survive the rest of the war and was present at the canonization of St. Colby. After Colby and the other men were placed in a bunker to be starved, they could be heard praying and singing hymns to marry. After two weeks, all the men but Colby and a few others had died. The remaining men were executed with a lethal injection. Those present say St. Maximilian Colby calmly accepted his death. death, lifting up his arm to receive the crown of martyrdom.

His feast day is celebrated on August 14th, and he is the patron saint of prisoners, the pro-life movement, families, and journalists. We can take inspiration from this brave saint, for he said, let us remember that love lives through sacrifice and is nourished by giving. Without sacrifice, there is no love. Thank you for listening to Soldiers of Christ. I'm Faith Roy's with Radio Freehillsdale 101.7 FM. he desisting us all