St Maximilian Kolbe. Day 8

It is hard to fathom the last year and month of the life of St. Maximillian Kolbe. He lived such a life of constant giving of self, or generosity, to others that he was willing to die for love, like Jesus. St. Maximilian Kolbe knew that sooner or later his publications, his radio show and harsh words against the crimes of Nazi's would lead them straight to his door. When they arrived, he was ready, with the best vestments he had to celebrate the Holy Mass. Vestments, are truly, symbols of the spiritual armor a priest internalizes as a priest of Christ. A prayer is said for each article of clothing as a priest clothes himself with vestments for mass. St Maximilian Kolbe's words when the Gestapo arrived were, "Praise be Jesus Christ!" He even gave them a tour of the monastery which ended in his arrest. 

"Loving one’s neighbor, he writes, not because he is ‘nice,’ worthwhile, wealthy, influential, or just because he is grateful. For such would be petty reasons, unworthy of a male or female Knight of the Immaculata. Genuine love rises above the creature and plunges into God. In Him, for Him and through Him it loves everyone, be they good or bad, friends or foes. It offers a helping hand, full of love to everyone; it prays for all, suffers for all, wishes good to all, wishes happiness to all, because that is God’s will!" - Maximilian Kolbe, The Collected Writings of St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe, Vol. 2: Various Writings, ed.  by Antonella Di Piazza, (Nerbini International: 2016)

The burning of Christ's love consumed the heart of St. Maximilian in a way that only hatred and indifference to life itself consumed the hearts of those believing the lies and working for the Gestapo. They had come to believe that certain humans were subhuman. In stripping St. Maximilian of his identity they branded him with the prison number 16670, but he knew who he truly was: a child of God and a knight priest for Mary Immaculate. The gaze of St Maximilian was so piercing to Nazi guards in Auschwitz that they couldn't bear him looking upon them as they removed murdered bodies and would yell at him, "Look at the ground, not at us!" 

While in Auschwitz, he shared his food with others, secretly heard confessions at night, and gave little talks to prisoners on how to live like saints and prepare to die and meet God in His beautiful glory. 

I ask myself, how do I encourage others when they feel desperate and turn to me? To I find something busy to do? Is it easier for me to make a quick remark to diminish the suffering they are in so that "they feel better?" Or do I give of my time and gift of self as St. Maximilian did for others every single day?

Today, I would like to pray for Catholic mothers, wives and women to practice the gift of justice which leads to generosity and charity. May women not fear to give too much of themselves in the way Mary did with her Fiat, and the way St. Maximilian did with his daily fiat.

The bravest woman alive is our example of living each day in faith. 

May we truly take Christ within us to each person: family, friend, and stranger we encounter in each encounter.

Day 8: for Catholic mothers, wives and women to practice the virtue of Holy Justice

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. St Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us and intercede for us.

Lord have mercy,

Christ have mercy,

Lord have mercy,

Christ hear us,

Christ graciously hear us. 

God the Father in Heaven,

Have mercy on us,

God the Son, Redeemer of the World, 

Have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit, Holy Trinity one God, 

Have mercy on us. 

St Maximilian Kolbe, intercede for us. Today I pray for all Catholic wives, mothers and women to practice the virtue of Holy Justice. May you intercede for them to be Holy women who see the sacredness of the lives that they are surrounded with in a supernatural way. May Catholic women strive to live daily in the way our Holy Mother lived, giving her Fiat, her Yes, to God almighty. May they hold Mary as their example of humility and gentleness in which great things were accomplished through the Holy Spirit. Please intercede for Catholic women to be filled with this burning love to say Fiat in the actions they choose for themselves, their families and especially those who turn for them for help. May Catholic women never be scared to love too freely, to give too much of themselves in love for others and to let the abundance of the love God gives to them as women flow freely giving life and love and courage to those around them. May they see that through Holy Justice they can be vessels for a sacrificial love like no other found on earth. I pray for an end to fear in women, an end to anxiety and for Catholic women to see that God has a plan for each of us from birth to death. I pray for the abundance of love to overflow from each Holy Mass into Catholic women to spread the Holy Justice in Catholic women to the world. May their hearts be firm in their faith. St. Maximilian, I pray for your intercession. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive those who debt against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, a world without end. Amen.