August 14 is the feast day of St. Maximilian Kolbe, a saint known as the Knight of the Immaculate Conception.
Saint Maximilian is an incredible saint in the Catholic Church. When he was only 10 years old, he had a vision of Our Lady. At 16, he joined the Conventual Franciscan Order and was sent to Rome to study, where he founded the Militia of the Immaculate (the “Army of the Immaculate”). He was then ordained as a priest and started a monthly magazine to reach more people and evangelize. After some time, Kolbe was arrested by the Nazis and taken to the Auschwitz concentration camp, where he offered his life so that another prisoner could survive. Kolbe was condemned to a slow death in a starvation bunker, and died in 1941 with an injection of carbolic acid.
You can use the Catholic Mass Times app to find the nearest Catholic church with Mass, Confession, and Adoration schedules. It will surely help you! Download it now.
What is Maximilian Kolbe known for?
Maximilian Kolbe was known for his devotion to Mary and his martyrdom. Now, he is the patron saint of drug addicts, people with eating disorders, families, journalists, radio operators, prisoners, and the pro-life movement.
There is a famous book about his life called“A Man for Others.” A well-known quote from this book is:
“God is love, and as every result must have resemblance to its cause, then everything created lives in love. Not only in pursuing our end, but also in every action and every moment of the day, the main motive should be — love. ” (140).
Today, Maximilian Kolbe is venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church, and I believe it is essential for all Catholics to know about him and his legacy!
Join me in prayer, asking Mary to help us follow the example of St. Maximilian Kolbe in evangelizing and spreading the Word of God through the Catholic Mass Times app:
Mary, Mother of the Church, I present myself before you in the spirit of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, who consecrated his life and Franciscan work to you without reservation. You accepted Maximilian’s dedication; accept me. You brought Maximilian to Christ; bring me. You formed Maximilian as a mirror of Christ; form me. Your union with Maximilian was the firm foundation for his works of evangelization and heroic acts of charity. Please grant us, through the intercession of Saint Maximilian, that I may fully collaborate with you and the Holy Spirit as an instrument for building Christ’s Church. Amen.
If you are inspired by the life of Maximilian Kolbe and his love for the Virgin Mary, why not deepen your faith further? Find Mass, Confession, and Adoration schedules at nearby churches with the Mass Times app.
You can use the Catholic Mass Times app to find the nearest Catholic church with Mass, Confession, and Adoration schedules. It will surely help you! Download it now.
What was the vision of the Virgin Mary that Maximilian Kolbe had?
When he was only 10 years old, Maximilian Kolbe had a vision of the Virgin Mary in which she offered him two crowns: a white one, symbolizing purity, and a red one, representing martyrdom. The Virgin asked him if he would accept both, and he responded yes. This experience profoundly marked his life and mission, leading him to consecrate himself completely to the Immaculate and to give himself without reservation to the service of God.
What is the Militia of the Immaculate and why did Maximilian Kolbe found it?
The Militia of the Immaculate (Militia Immaculatae) was founded in 1917 by Maximilian Kolbe with the purpose of winning souls for Christ through the intercession of the Virgin Mary. Its mission was to promote total consecration to the Immaculate, using all available means for evangelization, especially the press and communication. Its motto was clear: ‘Conquer the whole world for Christ through Mary!’
What importance does Maximilian Kolbe have in Marian devotion?
Saint Maximilian Kolbe was a fervent apostle of the Immaculate, convinced that the best way to reach Christ was through Mary. He taught that consecration to the Virgin was not just a personal devotion, but a sure path to holiness and evangelization. His love for the Immaculate led him to write, preach, and found communities dedicated to her service, leaving a legacy that still inspires millions of faithful.
What is the date of his feast and what is celebrated on that day?
The Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Saint Maximilian Kolbe on August 14, one day before the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. On this date, his total dedication to God, his martyrdom in Auschwitz, and his profound love for the Immaculate are remembered. It is a special day to ask for his intercession and renew the consecration to the Virgin Mary.
What Miracles Are Attributed to Maximilian Kolbe?
One of the miracles recognized for his canonization was the inexplicable healing of a man with advanced tuberculosis in 1948, after invoking the intercession of St. Maximilian Kolbe. Additionally, many faithful have experienced graces and conversions attributed to his intercession, especially related to liberation from addictions and protection in extreme situations.
