Saint Maximilian Kolbe earned his Martyr's crown in a consecration camp in Auschwitz, Nazi Germany (German-occupied Poland). Kolbe was devoted to the Immaculate Virgin Mary and used mass media such as the radio and print publications to promote this cause.

Born Raymond Kolbe on January 8, 1894, he later changed his name to Maximillian when he entered religious life. Kolbe lived in the Kingdom of Poland which was under the control of the Russian Empire. His mother was Polish and his father was German. In 1914 his father was captured by the Russians for fighting for Poland's independence and he was hanged.

Mary Appears

Mary appeared to Kolbe when he was ten years old in a dream. She presented him with two crowns; a white one for purity and a red one for martyrdom. When asked to choose, Kolbe told her he wanted both.

Entering the Seminary

At the young age of 13, Kolbe and his older brother entered a seminary in Lviv, Ukraine. At the time, the city was part of Austria-Hungary, so they broke the law to get there.

Saint Maximilian Kolbe became a Franciscan initiate in 1910, he took the name "Maximillian." 1914 was the year he made his final vows as a monk and the next few years were dedicated to study in Rome and in Krakow.

After he was ordained a priest, he returned to the newly independent Poland in 1919. He became very ill but used it as an opportunity to "suffer for Mary." Kolbe endured much suffering but felt a strong conviction to work for the conversion of enemies of the Church and sinners.

The Militia Immaculata (The Army of Mary) was founded by Saint Maximilian Kolbe in 1917 to draw souls back to Mary and to protect against the Free-Masons who sought to destroy the Catholic Church. While working in "The Army of Mary" Kolbe helped the Firars publish pamphlets, books, and a daily newspaper. The even got a radio license and used it to broadcast the Gospel.

Poland was overrun by Nazi Germany in 1939 and Kolbe was arrested for the first time for general suspicion. After three months he was released but his habit of taking thousands of Jews into his monastery got him arrested again in 1941. He was taken to Auschwitz. When a prisoner escaped, the Nazi guards decided to choose ten men to starve to death. Kolbe offered to take the place of Franciszek Gajowniczek who had a wife and kids. Four of the men, including Kolbe, survived for 3 three weeks at which point they were murdered with injections of carbonic acid. Kolbe was beatified in 1971, and canonized by fellow Pole, Pope John Paul II in 1981.

The Militia Immaculata still exists! Read the Immaculata prayer, written by Maximilian Kolbe, here.