By Mary Kizior
Where does the world need Jesus and Mary most?
This is the question St. Maximilian Kolbe answered with his worldwide evangelization efforts and use of the media, and eventually with his imprisonment in an Auschwitz concentration camp.
Like pro-lifers today, St. Maximilian Kolbe fought the culture of death in the government. With his brother friars at Niepokalanow, he used every available technology to further the gospel and devotion to Our Lady. In addition, they produced a Catholic magazine that had a circulation of over a million subscribers. The friars also published a daily newspaper, broadcasted their own radio station, and had plans to build a motion picture studio. Despite not being able to speak Japanese, St. Maximilian even travelled to Japan to start a Japanese version of the magazine.
In the darkness of the Auschwitz concentration camp during the Nazi Holocaust, St. Maximilian was a shining role model of Christian charity. When a man next to him was chosen for execution, Maximilian bravely stepped forward and said “Let me take the place of this man. I am a Catholic priest.” St. Maximilian understood that each human being has inherent value because we are all created in the image and likeness of God. For St. Maximilian’s sacrifice, Saint John Paul II called him “a martyr of charity” because he gave his life out of love for another person.
Like St. Maximilian Kolbe, we are called to give our lives in the service of others. As Maximilian’s example shows us, media, when used to give glory to God, can be a powerful tool to spread the gospel. The question is: Where does our broken world need Jesus and Mary the most? The answer is in the abortion industry. This is where we should shine the light of Jesus. We can do this by witnessing outside abortion clinics, praying for abortion clinic workers and expectant mothers, and exposing the corruption of Planned Parenthood. No matter how small an effort we make to end the culture of death, our actions will save lives.
The Culture of Life Studies Program’s 7th-8th grade lesson entitled No Greater Love: Saint Maximilian Kolbe challenges students to think of ways that they can use their talents to spread the gospel of life. Just as St. Maximilian brought light to the darkness of the Nazi concentration camp, students learn how they can be God’s instruments to shine light into the darkness of the abortion industry through prayer and evangelization efforts.
In celebration of St. Maximilian Kolbe’s feast day today, August 14, this engaging and inspiring lesson is on sale! Visit culture-of-life-studies.myshopify.com/products/no-greater-love-saint-maximilian-kolbe-printed-version.
Photo credit: missionimmaculata.com
Mary Kizior is the product development and marketing manager for the Culture of Life Studies Program. Her work has appeared on LifeSiteNews.com, Christ Is Our Hope magazine, Celebrate Life Magazine, Defend Life magazine, the Peanut Butter and Grace blog, and other blogs.
This article has been reprinted with permission and can be found at cultureoflifestudies.com/blog/st-maximilian-kolbe-a-pro-life-saint-for-our-times/#.XVQZWOhKjIU.
