St. Maximilian Kolbe: Franciscan, Evangelist, Martyr, Brother Felix Sztyk O.F.M. Conv. National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe, Marytown, Illinois.
Questions
-What symbols do you see in this painting? What do you think that they mean?
-Do you know who St. Maximilian Kolbe is? If you do, what do you remember about him the most? What sticks out to you about his life?
-What do you like about this painting? What don't you like? Why?
Reflection
St. Maximilian Kolbe is one of the only male saints that I really feel a connection to. Growing up with sisters, I never really had many male friends or those that I felt were brothers to me. It was not until college where I encountered authentic Catholic community that I started to understand the brother-sister relationship in its beauty and fullness. I was recently listening to a podcast about our innate brother/sister identity and relationship with those around us. The podcaster mentioned that he grew up with brothers and he only started to understand the brother/sister relationship when he became friends with a female saint. This really clicked with me, that St. Max is my brother. He has chased after me, protected me, and urged me to become more like Christ. His example and intercession in my life is incredibly strong and when I talk to him, I feel closer to God. Good siblings with protect, love, and lead you with a fierceness like no other. When I think of the love of a brother, I think of someone giving me a big bear hug. The warmth, protection, and envelopment of love is a place where you can be confident in your own strength and the greatness of your brother. St. Max really does this for me by the witness of his own love for God and Mary and his willingness to lay down his life for those around him.
A reason that I love St. Max so much is his deep devotion and love of Mary. She was a large part of my conversion and has been a solid rock and loving mother for me throughout these last few years of being Catholic. A quote from St. Max that I have hanging up in my house is this "Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did." Jesus has such a tender, deep love for his mother. This love for Mary was shared by St. Max and what he really stood for. He wanted everyone to be devoted to Mary and know of her power, might, love, and motherhood. In this painting, St. Max's eyes are striking in a way of looking with pure honesty, always seeing exactly what is in front of him. I like to think that this is how Mary sees us - she always sees us for who we are at that moment. There is an acceptance of where we are at but a deeper desire for our hearts to convert. Becoming more like Christ is the desire and goal of Mary and by extension St. Max. I would have no doubt that St. Max would say the reason why he was able to suffer well and endure Auschwitz was because of Mary. He became holy and the saint that he was supposed to because he followed in Our Lady's footsteps.
The rosary is such a powerful weapon against evil. In this painting, his hand can be seen coming out from underneath his prisoner uniform, holding onto the rosary. But even more than holding, it is in active use as he holds on to one singular bead. Underneath our own struggles, sufferings and crosses we should be actively praying to the Lord. The rosary can be the way to Mary and Jesus' heart by meditating on moments in their life. The Glorious, Sorrowful, Luminous and Joyful mysteries give a glimpse into how we can react in a holy and pure way to all that live has for us. When we are centered on Jesus and Mary, we learn what is true, good and beautiful. The virtues of Our Lady and Our Lord are endless, meeting us in every moment of our lives. We must choose to turn away from evil and turn towards good. To unceasingly pray is to be in constant dialogue with the Lord in every situation, emotion, and possible event. In Auschwitz, St. Max probably did not have a rosary to pray on. But did that stop him from praying "Hail Mary" and the "Our Father"? Surely not! Having the right "tools" or being in the right "space" should not stop us from praying and being in conversation with Our Lord and Our Lady.
Information
This painting is done by a Franciscan brother who lives in Niepokalanow, Poland. This is beautiful because this is the city that St. Max himself started. Niepokalanow means "City of the Immaculate Mother of God". St. Max desired to have a whole city dedicated to the Mother of God, the Immaculate. In 1927 he established a community of Franciscan Minor Conventuals to be wholly dedicated to the Mother of God, praying and working for the whole world to be converted through her to God. It was here that he created the Militia Immaculata - an army of people that did not fight with weapons, but fought against sin and evil in their own lives through prayer and holiness. This fight would be through praying the rosary and dedication to Mary, the Mother of God. It was at Niepokalanow that he published pamphlets, books, a daily newspaper, and a magazine that reached over 1 million people. He even began to broadcast on the radio to spread the message of devotion to Mary and the power of Christianity. St. Max was responding to Mary's call to be devoted to her and through this devotion and sharing of the gospel, over 700 men came to live and discern religious life at Niepokalanow at its height. World War II quickly came and affected life in Europe, but St. Max would not budge. Our Lady called him to that place at Niepokalanow and he continued to spread the gospel and devotion to Our Lady. The monastery began to be a shelter for soliders and refugees. It was because of this work and the identities of the friars, that St. Max was taken to Auschwitz concentration camp in 1941 with 4 other friars.
The title of this painting reminds us that St. Max is a Franciscan, evangelist, and martyr. He was a Conventual Franciscan meaning he took the vows of chastity, obedience, and poverty. He lived a life of service to those around him, whether it be at Niepokalanow (the community he started) or Japan (where he traveled) or Auschwitz (where he died). As an evangelist, he was sent where his community wanted him to be, which shows of his missionary work in Japan. But even more than that, he evangelized through the media. The two magazines that he is holding he started while at Niepokalanow. They are seen printed in both Polish and Japanese, where he did a majority of his evangelistic work. He brought countless people to Christ but even more he brought countless people to Our Lady. Mary was given to us by Christ on the cross when he said, "Behold your Mother." St. Max took this to heart and helped give her to souls across the world. Prisoner 16670. This was the number meant to strip him from all identity and make him less than a human. But instead it brought him deeper into his faith. St. Max said, "For Jesus Christ, I am prepared to suffer more still" and this came ever more true when at Auschwitz. He retained his dignity and faith in the face of suffering and hardship. Our faith and innate dignity may be trod upon by enemies, but when we cling to the truth of the Lord, we may never be defeated. St. Max held onto this until the end, when he offered himself up in exchange for a fellow prisoner. St. Max was killed by lethal injection and then cremated on August 15, 1941. The example of St. Max was astonishing to prisoners and Nazis alike, they were all in wonder of the man who gave himself up for his friend. Laying down our lives for those around us is heroic when done in charity, faith, and selflessness. St. Maximilian is known as the Martyr of Charity. He died because he loved so much and so deeply. I hope we all can do the same.
This painting was presented to the friars at the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe in Illinois. Here, Conventual Franciscan Friars (the same order as St. Max) live and serve through promoting Eucharistic adoration, Marian devotion, prison ministry, retreats, mass, confession, and devotion to St. Max. How many hearts are still being changed because of how St. Max lived his life? There are still Militia of the Immaculata groups for lay people and religious that are devoted to Mary and living out the mission of St. Max. Great saints change the world because they allow Our Lord and Our Lady to tirelessly work through them. We are called to do the same, working each and everyday to let God have more say in our lives. May we all imitate Mary's fiat like St. Max, giving over our desires, gifts, and weaknesses to the Lord for His work.
“Let us not forget that Jesus not only suffered, but also rose in glory. So too, we go to the glory of the Resurrection by way of suffering and the Cross.”
More Questions
-How are you being called to lay down your life for those around you?
-Is there a saint who has reached out to you as a brother or a sister? How has this relationship helped you to understand brotherhood and sisterhood?
-How can you increase your devotion to Mary? How has she powerfully provided in your life?
-In what ways is God calling you to live a life of poverty, charity and obedience? Of evangelizing others? Of laying down our wants and desires and suffering in martyrdom?
Let us pray the Immaculata prayer that St. Maximilian wrote -
O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven and Earth, refuge of sinner and most Loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy on to you. I, (State you 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 posseession 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 the heresies in the 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.
Allow me to praise you, O Sacred Virgin.
Give me strength against your enemies.
St. Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us!
Amen.
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