By Lynda MacFarland

 

St Maximilian Kolbe

 

Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr

In Gaudium et Spes, #24 we read: “For this reason, love for God and neighbor is the first and greatest commandment. Sacred Scripture, however, teaches us that man, who is the only creature on earth which God willed for itself, cannot fully find himself except through a sincere gift of himself.”

These words are perfect for the saint whose Memorial we celebrate today. St. Maximilian Kolbe was a man of great compassion and tremendous faith in the Lord. The sacrifice he made of himself to save the life of a fellow prisoner in that terrible concentration camp is the epitome of self-giving, “the sincere gift of himself.”

St. Maximilian would be tortured for a time before he was finally murdered with an injection of carbolic acid into his veins. The depravity and inhumanity that can do such a thing is beyond our comprehension, but it must not be avoided.

Living in a Fallen World

Humans are frail; humans are broken; humans are fallen. And some of the things we wish we had never heard about because they are so disturbing serve to remind us that our neighbors can be our friends or our enemies.

Loving in a Fallen World

And Jesus calls us to love them all. How do we love like this? How do we love someone who can inflict such suffering and death? I am here to tell you that I don’t know. But what I can share with you is a prayer I pray every day, several times a day.  And I believe it is meant for people such as the guards at Auschwitz, in other places at other times, and today.

It is called the Fatima prayer. “Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins. Save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy. Amen.”

Prayer:

Pray the Fatima Prayer today.  “Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins. Save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy. Amen.”

Call to Action:

Read the Word and know that Jesus asks nothing of us that He has not done Himself. Look to Christ crucified and call on Him for a love like that in our own hearts.

 

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