Feast Day of Saint Maximilian Kolbe

Today, August 14th, we celebrate the Feast Day of Saint Maximilian Kolbe. This courage man was born on January 8, 1894 in Zduńska Wola, Poland. At the age of 12, Saint Maximilian had a vision of the Virgin Mary, this vision influenced his great love for Mary. Saint Maximilian Kolbe and his brother joined the Conventual Franciscans and was given the name of Maximilian.

Saint Maximilian Kolbe was sent to Auschwitz for hiding Jews during World War II. During his time in there, Saint Maximilian volunteered to take the place of a man with a family who was chosen for death. During his last day, Saint Maximilian continued to pray to Mary. After two weeks of starvation and dehydration, he was still alive, the last of his group. He was then given a lethal injection of carbolic acid. The man whose life he saved attended Saint Maximilian Kolbe's canonization.

Saint Maximilian died August 14, 1941. He was beatified by Pope Paul VI on October 17, 1971 and

canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 10, 1982.

He is the patron saint of those fighting a drug addicts, prisoners, and the pro-life movement.