A Wednesday Saint

It's easy to believe that the progress of life and the contemporary belief that people should be allowed to do whatever they want makes it harder for us to lead saintly lives.  But, really men come to God in the same ways thoday that we always have--through prayer, thought, meditation, and learning.  This modern world of ours has created many people with the courage to lead saintly lives.

I've tried a couple times to begin a series highlighting modern saints.  I'm not sure quite what years to include in "modern" but I've already come up with a short list of saints and holy men and women to begin with.  If anyone can think of saints or holy people to include, please let me know.  I had a logo for this segment made up, but there were some problems with it, so give me a little time and I'll have that up here too.

So, here goes.  I've decided to start with my favorite saint.

St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe

January 8,1894-August 14,1941
Feast day--August 14

St. Maximilian was born in the Polish town of Zdunska Wola into a very devout family.  As a young boy he had a vision of Our Lady who presented him with two crowns, one red and one white.  She indicated the white crown symbolised purity and the other a martyr's death.  She asked the young saint which he would like.  He chose both. 

In 1907 he and his older brother Francis left for the Conventual Franciscan order in Lwow in modern Ukraine.  From there he was sent to Rome to study the faith and obtained doctorates in philosophy and theology.  Maximilian lived a life deeply devoted to the service of the Lord, Our Lady, and the Church.  While he was in Rome, he came across people protesting against the Church and the pope at the time, St. Pius X, and Benedict XV.  Out of compassion for these souls and with the help of other monks, he created an order known as  the Militia Immaculata, the Army of Mary.  The society works for the conversion of souls to the Church and greater devotion to Our Lady.

He founded a monestary at Niepokalanow in Poland, which become a large publishing house for religious newspapers and magazines.  There was also a radio channel, which St. Max used to broadcast his message to the world.  He also founded a monestary at Nagasaki, in Japan.  When the Nazis began their persecution of people who opposed them, and of Jews, the monestary at Niepokalanow sheltered the oppressed and published anti-Nazi materials.  For this, St. Max was taken captive by the Nazis and sent first to Pawiak prison and then transfered to Auschwitz.

A long-term tuburculosis patient, St. Max was in and out of the infirmary at Auschwitz while he was there.  He spent his time counseling people, having confessions in secret, and offering what comfort he could, even to the point of giving up his own food.

It was during one of his periods out of the infirmary when between one and three men escaped from his barrack and were not recovered.  In retaliation, the guards selected 10 people from his barrack to execute.  One of the men selected began saying "My wife, and my children, what will happen to them?"  St. Max heard this and walked to the officer making the selections.  He identified himself as a Polish priest and offered to die in place of the man with the family.  The official acqueised to the switch and St. Max was sent to the starvation bunker with the others selected.  He spent three weeks there leading people in prayers and songs.  He was the last survivor and eventually died by injection of carbolic acid. 

St. Max was canonized on October 10, 1982 by Bl. Pope John Paul II.  He is the patron saint against drug addictions, of drug addicts, families, imprisoned people, journalists, political prisoners, prisoners , pro-life movement, amateur radio. 

This is the Immacualta prayer, which St. Max composed.

O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven and earth, refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to you. I, (name), a repentant sinner, cast myself at your feet, humbly imploring you to take me with all that I am and have, wholly to yourself as your possession and property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most pleases you.

If it pleases you, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of you: "She will crush your head," and "You alone have destroyed all heresies in the whole world." Let me be a fit instrument in your immaculate and merciful hands for introducing and increasing your glory to the maximum in all the many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever you enter you obtain the grace of conversion and growth in holiness, since it is through your hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

V. Allow me to praise you, O Sacred Virgin

R. Give me strength against your enemies

Amen

 

Most information  comes from Wikipedia.