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Maximilian Kolbe: Saint of Auschwitz

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Maximilian Kolbe: Saint of Auschwitz

by Elaine Murray Stone

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1880 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	128 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

A Story of Love, Sacrifice, and Hope

Maximilian Kolbe was a Polish priest who volunteered to take the place of a stranger in the Auschwitz death camp. He was a shining example of love, sacrifice, and hope, and his story continues to inspire people around the world.

Kolbe was born in 1894 in Zdunska Wola, Poland. He was a devout Catholic from a young age, and he joined the Franciscan Free Download in 1910. After his ordination in 1918, Kolbe served as a missionary in Japan and India. In 1936, he returned to Poland and founded the Niepokalanów monastery, which became a center for Catholic publishing and spirituality.

When the Nazis invaded Poland in 1939, Kolbe and his fellow monks were arrested and sent to Auschwitz. In the camp, Kolbe witnessed the horrors of the Holocaust firsthand. He saw people being tortured, starved, and murdered. But he never lost his faith or his hope.

In July 1941, ten prisoners were selected for execution as punishment for the escape of another prisoner. One of the men selected was a young father named Franciszek Gajowniczek. Kolbe stepped forward and volunteered to take his place.

Kolbe was taken to the starvation bunker, where he was left to die with the other nine men. For two weeks, he prayed and sang hymns with his fellow prisoners. On August 14, 1941, Kolbe was the last man alive. The Nazis gave him a lethal injection, and he died peacefully.

Kolbe's sacrifice was a powerful witness to the power of love. He showed that even in the darkest of times, it is possible to choose hope over despair. His story continues to inspire people around the world to live a life of purpose and compassion.

Legacy

Kolbe was canonized a saint by Pope John Paul II in 1982. He is the patron saint of prisoners, journalists, and families. His feast day is celebrated on August 14.

The Niepokalanów monastery that Kolbe founded continues to be a center for Catholic publishing and spirituality. It is visited by thousands of pilgrims each year.

Kolbe's story is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, it is possible to find hope and meaning. His sacrifice continues to inspire people around the world to live a life of love and compassion.

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Maximilian Kolbe: Saint of Auschwitz is a powerful and inspiring book that tells the story of a man who lived a life of love and sacrifice. Free Download your copy today and be inspired to live a life of purpose and compassion.

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Maximilian Kolbe: Saint of Auschwitz

by Elaine Murray Stone

4.7 out of 5