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 * Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe**

Saint Maximilian was born on January 8, 1894 in Zduńska Wola, in the Kingdom of Poland, which was part of The Russian Empire. His name at birth was Raymund Kolbe. His father was ethnic German and his mother was Polish. He was the second son of Julius Kolbe and Maria Dabrowska. There were 4 other brothers named Francis, Joesph, Walenty (lived only a year), and Andrew (lived only for 4 years). The family moved to Pabianice, there his parents worked as basket weavers. In 1907, Raymund and Francis joined the Conventual Franciscans, but they illegally crossed the Russian and Austria-Hungary border in order to do so. In 1910, Raymund was allowed to enter the novitiate, which was when he was given the religious name Maximilian. In 1912, Maximilian was sent to Kraków, and then sent to the house of studies of the Order in Rome in the same year. He had gotten a doctorate in philosophy in 1915 at the Pontifical Gregorian University, and a doctorate in theology in 1919 in the Pontifical University of St. Bonaventure. During that time as a student, Maximilian witnessed the anniversary celebration of the Freemasons. Due to that celebration, Maximilian created the Militia Immaculata, or the Army of Mary. He died in August 14, 1941 in an Auschwitz concentration camp because he sacrificed his life for someone else so that they won't die. The Saint was beatified as a Confessor of the Faith by Pope Paul VI in 1971. Maximilian was Canonized in October 10, 1982 in St.Peter's Basilica, Vatican City by Pope John Paul Il.

During his life, St. Maximilian had demonstrated at least 2 marks of the Church. He has shown the marks One and Catholic. For the mark One, he has united some of the people in the concentration camps to keep faith and hope with them at all times. He has also united the Militia Immaculata, which was open to all catholics, to protest against the Pope by the Freemasons in Rome around 1915. For the mark Catholic, he was known by everybody. When he sacreficed himself for a Jew to not be killed, many people heard about him then. He showed a great act of kindness and respect that day he died. They had built a statue of Maximilian years later. They made a slave outfit built onto the statue, which then people knew what he did.

We can learn a lot from St.Maximilian. We can learn to show respect for others and not be selfish. We can help others and sacrefice ourselves for them. Maximilian is a great role model for young kids today. That is my opinion on Maximilian.