Maximilian Kolbe

Maximilian Kolbe ( (Church of St. Maximilian Kolbe))

Maximilian Kolbe, The Saint of Auschwitz "'If you want to survive, you must pray constantly. You will persevere to the end'" (Stone 92) During his time at Auschwitz, and even before, St. Maximilian Kolbe dedicated himself to his religion and being selfless and caring for others. Born on January 8th in Zdunska Wola, Poland (Webster's Biographical Dictionary) Kolbe dedicated his life to his religion, helping those in need before and during the Nazi regime. Eventually he was captured and sent to Auschwitz, where he gave hope to prisoners and eventually died from forced starvation, taking the place and saving another man from the cruel execution. Kolbe died on August 14th, 1941 in Auschwitz. He was later canonized as a saint by Pope John Paul II on October 10, 1982. A hero must possess selflessness and be an inspiration to those around them. Maximilian Kolbe lived his life putting others first and inspired those around him. Therefore, he is a perfect example of what heroes are and should be.

Maximilian Kolbe is a person highly deserving of the title 'hero' because of the selfless acts he did throughout his life. For example, "Upon his release [from Nazi detainment] he continued work at his monastery, where he and other monks provided shelter to refugees from Greater Poland, including 2,000 Jews whom he hid from German persecution in their friary in Niepokalanow." ("St. Maximilian Kolbe"). This displays how even after suffering harassment and risking further punishment from German forces, he continued to assist those seeking refuge. Even though he could have easily turned a blind eye, or even assisted the Germans, he decided to help those in need even though they were not part of his religion. Another way in which he displayed his selflessness was when he was captured and sent to the Auschwitz labor camp. He stepped in for a man chosen to be executed, "One man chosen was a Polish army sergeant, who cried out, "My poor wife and children!" Kolbe stepped out of line and walked slowly toward one of the officers. He could have been shot on the spot for this transgression alone. The commandant barked, "What does this Polish pig want? Who are you?" Kolbe replied that he was a Catholic priest, and wished "to die for that man. I am old; he has a wife and children." The officer made a remark to the effect that the extermination of those unfit for labor was indeed official camp policy, and changed the list." ("Maximilian Kolbe"). This demonstrates how Kolbe was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice: allow be executed by starvation to save another man's life who he had not even met. This, in my opinion, is why Kolbe perfectly defines the word hero and everything it stands for. Overall, Kolbe was exemplary at being selfless and giving his life for another.

An illustration of Kolbe while in Auschwitz (The cover page of Maximilian Kolbe book ())

Secondly, Maximilian Kolbe is an exemplary candidate to be a hero because of his power to inspire others and willingness to become a martyr. after he was condemned to Auschwitz, he risked his life and safety to provide Mass and religious peace to those suffering in the death camp, "It is said during the last days of his life Kolbe led prayers to Our Lady with the prisoners and remained calm. He was the last of the group to remain alive, after two weeks of dehydration and starvation. The guards gave him a lethal injection of carbolic acid" ("St. Maximilian Kolbe"). This shows how even until the end of his life, Kolbe maintained his faith, allowing him to give strength and inspiration to others. Previously, before being sent to Auschwitz, Kolbe showed his willingness to become a martyr when he received and followed a vision from the Holy Mary, "That night I asked the Mother of God what was to become of me. Then she came to me holding two crowns, one white, the other red. She asked me if I was willing to accept either of these crowns. The white one meant that I should persevere in purity, and the red that I should become a martyr. I said that I would accept them both." ("St. Maximilian Kolbe"). This displays Kolbe's willingness to inspire others not only through purity and peace, but through death and martyrdom as well.

Maximilian Kolby during his vision of Holy Mary ( ())

All in all, Maximilian Kolbe is a perfect display of heroism through selfless compassion and peaceful inspiration. Seeing how he lived his life helping others escape death camps, or even life through death camps, along with making the ultimate sacrifice and inspiring others through his religious faith and martyrdom. A full summary of this is, "Auschwitz became the killing centre during WWII where the largest numbers of the Jews were murdered. One Christian man who died here became a martyr to the truth of evils of Nazism - a true hero for our time, a saint who lived what he preached, total love toward God and man ." ("Maximilian Maria Kolbe"). Maximilian Kolbe inspires me personally because of his amazing role model figure. He personifies everything I aspire to be, showing amnesty not only to my friends, but to total strangers. Through his dedication to prayer and to helping others, Kolbe persevered through one of the darkest times in history.

Works Cited

"Maximilian Kolbe." Contemporary Heroes and Heroines, vol. 4, Gale, 2000. Biography in

Context,

link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1607000349/BIC1?u=powa9245&xid=3f13b4e0.

Accessed 17 Jan. 2017

"Maximilian Maria Kolbe." Merriam Webster's Biographical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster,

1995. Biography in Context,

link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1680151232/BIC1?u=powa9245&xid=06ff10cf.

Accessed 18 Jan. 2017."

Online, Catholic. "St. Maximilian Kolbe - Saints &Amp; Angels." Catholic Online,

www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=370.

Stone, Elaine Murray, and Patrick Kelley. Maximilian Kolbe: Saint of Auschwitz. New     York,

Paulist Press, 1997.