Feast: St. Maximilian Kolbe

The most deadly poison of our times is indifference. And this happens, although the praise of God should know no limits. Let us strive, therefore, to praise Him to the greatest extent of our powers.

– St. Maximilian Kolbe

St. Maximilian Kolbe (1894-1941) was the Polish Franciscan that began the Militia Immaculata movement. Tuberculosis made him frail throughout his life, although he set up the Militia Immaculata throughout the world (including making trips into Japan and China). In 1941 he was sent to Auschwitz -- a place I've visited once and don't think I could ever go back to -- where he offered his life in exchange for another prisoner who was a husband and father. After two weeks of starvation, he was killed by lethal injection. John Paul II canonized this martyr to charity on October 10, 1982.

Brikhead chose St. Maximilian as his confirmation patron -- may St. Max watch over Brikhead today as he starts on his first Fall Semester at LSU!

St. Maximilian Kolbe, martyr to charity, pray for us!