August 14

Today is the feast day of St. Maximilian Kolbe, a Polish priest and Franciscan friar. Born in Poland in 1894, he earned two doctorates in Italy and did missionary work in China before returning to serve in his hometown of Krakow. Kolbe was one of the few priests and friars to remain in the area after the outbreak of World War 2. He set up a hospital in Krakow to nurse civilians injured by bombings before being arrested and imprisoned in Auschwitz. While imprisoned there, Kolbe volunteered to trade places with a man who was scheduled to be executed. The man whose place he took was later freed and lived another 40 years, reportedly offering a prayer of gratitude for Kolbe every day for the rest of his life. Kolbe is the patron saint of drug addicts, political prisoners, families, journalists, and prisoners.

Today also marks the death, in 1727, of William Croft, organist and composer who wrote, among other things, the tune for “O God Our Help in Ages Past” which, congratulations, is now stuck in your head, too.

 Reflection:

I usually try to include a quote in my reflection on the saints I write about. This one from Kolbe seems appropriate:

I disagree pretty strongly with Kolbe on his opinions about evolution and the immaculate conception, but I can’t “disagree” with the love demonstrated in his life. 

Prayer: Love, make our love real. Amen.