Saint Talk: St. Maximilian Kolbe

Today we celebrate the feast day of St. Maximlian Kolbe, who like St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross was martyred at Auschwitz. Kolbe was a Polish Franciscan who began the Militia Immaculata movement and helped spread devotion to Mary and promote the wearing of the Miraculous Medal.

In 1941, Maximilian was arrested by the Nazis and sent to Auschwitz. In July of that year, prisoners escaped from the concentration camp.  The commandant of the camp ordered that ten of the men be executed in place of those had escaped. One of the prisoners had a wife and family. Kolbe stepped up to the front and offered to take the man's place. The Nazis attempted to starve Maximilian to death. He last over two weeks without food. Finally, the guards injected him with a poison and he died. This is why he is the patron of drug addicts. He is also the patron of new ministries and the founders of Joe Catholic prayed a novena to St. Maximilian when they were discerning the creation of the group.

Watch the video for some lessons that we can learn from St. Maximilian Kolbe.