Prisoner 16670. Before Auschwitz, Maximilian Kolbe was a media mogul. He ran the largest printing press in Poland, publishing newspapers dedicated to the Immaculate Virgin Mary.
The Escape
In July 1941, a prisoner escaped from Block 14. The Nazi rule was simple: For every escapee, 10 men would be starved to death in the starvation bunker. The commandant walked down the line, picking men at random. He pointed to Franciszek Gajowniczek, a young father. Franciszek cried out: "My wife! My children!"
The Swap
Maximilian Kolbe stepped forward. He took off his cap. "I am a Catholic priest. I wish to die for that man. I am old; he has a wife and children."
The commandant was stunned but accepted the exchange.
The Bunker
Usually, the starvation bunker was a place of screaming and madness. Under Kolbe's leadership, it became a chapel. They sang hymns. They prayed the Rosary. After two weeks, only Kolbe was still alive. Impatient, the Nazis injected him with carbolic acid on August 14.
The Aftermath: Franciszek Gajowniczek survived the war. He lived to see Kolbe canonized in 1982 by Pope John Paul II.
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A Prayer for Grace
As you reflect on these spiritual truths, we invite you to join us in this prayer:
"Lord Jesus, we thank You for the wisdom of the Church and the witness of the saints. Grant us the grace to live out our faith with joy and perseverance. May our prayers be a sweet incense rising to Your throne, and may Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen."
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