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Max's Name Day
14th August |
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Historically Famous MaxsThe Second World War witnessed the death of many Christians, some of whom showed a depth of faith which still inspires people today. One of these was Maximilian Kolbe, who was executed in 1941 and canonized in 1983. Fr Maximilian Kolbe was a Polish Franciscan friar who became the head of a large friary at Niepokalonow. With great courage, the friars sheltered many refugees, many of whom were Jewish. Maximilian was arrested and taken to Auschwitz. He worked ceaselessly to encourage and. support his fellow friars and the other prisoners, and when one was arbitrarily chosen to suffer death by starvation as a reprisal for another prisoner's escape, Fr Kolbe offered to take his place. He remained as cheerful and calm as ever for a fortnight, always encouraging the men who were suffering and dying alongside him. Eventually, the Nazis lost patience and gave him a lethal injection on 14 August. |