To Inspire:

Earlier this week, Catholic Christians all over the world celebrated the life and legacy of Maximilian Kolbe, a Polish priest who died at Auschwitz in 1941. His life can inspire all of us in many ways.

Father Kolbe is best known for the actions he took after being arrested by the Gestapo and taken to Auschwitz for his opposition to the German invasion of Poland and Nazi ideology. Despite the brutality of the infamous concentration camp, Father Kolbe lived out the spirit of Jesus. He shared his food, gave up his bunk to others who were sick, and prayed for his captors. He heard may confessions, helping men move past the hatred they had for their captors. He soon earned the nickname “the Saint of Auschwitz.”

The pinnacle of his self-giving love occurred when a prisoner escaped from the camp. The policy of the camp was that whenever this occurred, ten other prisoners would be selected at random and killed – as a deterrent for future escape attempts. So, it was this time – all the prisoners from the escapee’s building were ordered into the courtyard and ten names were randomly read aloud – a certain death sentence awaited. The tenth name called was Franciszek Gajowniczek; Francis began sobbing, crying out, “my wife and my children.” What happened next astounded everyone. The guards heard movement among the prisoners. They raised their rifles and their dogs tensed, anticipating a command to attack. A prisoner pushed his way to the front; it was Father Kolbe. He showed no fear on his face, no hesitancy in his step. The guard shouted at him to stop or be shot. “I want to talk to the commander,” he said calmly. Father Kolbe proceeded a few more paces till he was directly in front of the commander, removed his hat and looked the German officer right in the eye. “Herr Commandant, I wish to make a request. I want to die in the place of this prisoner, pointing to the sobbing Gajowniczek. I have no wife and children. Besides, I am old (he was only 47) and not good for anything.” “Who are you,” the commandant asked. “I am a Catholic priest,” Kolbe replied. The Commandant hesitated for a moment then barked, “request granted.”

Francis Gajowniczek later said, “prisoners were never allowed to speak. So, I could only thank him with my eyes. I could hardly grasp what was going on, the immensity of it. I, the condemned, was to live; and someone else willingly and voluntarily offered up his life for me, a complete stranger.”

Gajowniczek survived the Holocaust. After the war he made his way back to his hometown in Poland. In his backyard he placed a plaque, one he carved with his own hands. The plaque reads, “A tribute to Maximilian Kolbe – the man who died so I could live. Gajowniczek lived until 1995 and spent much of his lifetime traveling and sharing the amazing story of how his life was spared by the gift of another man’s life.

It is highly likely we will never be faced with an opportunity to give up our life for another. But in the very small matters of each day, we have an opportunity to give ourselves for others – to take the path of self-giving love. In fact, in every action, every conversation, every thought, we can focus on others and serving them. In doing so, we will find that we are truly living – and truly experiencing the joy that only giving of ourselves can provide.

What does living a great live mean to you? Perhaps Saint Maximilian’s story can inspire each of us to consider how to live our lives each day. Mother Theresa famously said, “most of us will not do great things, but we all can do little things with great love.” Happy living, giving, and loving!!

Written by Matt Palmer, Partner & Co-Founder