Greater Love: St Maximilian Kolbe and the Eucharist

Maximilian Kolbe(1894-1941) was a Polish Franciscan priest, missionary as well as martyr at Auschwitz.  Canonised by Pope John Paul II in 1982 he is often invoked as the patron saint of political prisoners, journalists, prisoners and the pro-life movement.  On his day of martyrdom, 14 August 1941, he volunteered to die in place of a man named Franciszek Gajowniczek. He was living proof of the truth of Christ's words ^‘No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends’ (John 15:13).  This was possible for Kolbe only because of the sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary, the fruits and effects of which were communicated to St. Maximilian through the sacrament of the Eucharist. For him, Holy Communion means not only receiving the Body and Blood of Christ but also participating in the mystery of self-giving love in our own time and place.

Fr Kolbe was active throughout his life in promoting the veneration of Immaculate Virgin Mary as well as in numerous apostolates and ministries.  In 1917, he founded the

Militia of the Immaculata (or Knights of the Immaculata).  In his life he witnessed to the love of God in the Eucharistic mystery.  He taught people about the Eucharist in his words and in his actions including his ultimate sacrifice.

Kolbe’s teachings on the Eucharist are well summarised in the following extract from his writings located in an online article Fr Maximilian Kolbe and the Eucharist by Fr. Jerzy Domanski:

“And from that moment,” concludes Father Kolbe, recalling the bi-millenary practice of the Church, “the sacrifice of the Holy Mass made its appearance on the earth. Ever more often, ever more widespread. At first underground in the catacombs, later in an ever-growing number of churches.” Every “priest, a successor of the Apostles,” obedient to the command of the God-man, repeats at Mass “in His memory the moving scene of the last supper”: the bread becomes “the living Body of Christ” and the wine “His most precious Blood.” Christ remains really present under the consecrated species, also after the Mass. He dwells in tabernacles, and on the solemnity of Corpus Christi during the Eucharistic procession, “He, the Creator of heaven and of earth and the Redeemer of souls” goes out “upon the streets and roads of His children, carried in the hands of the priest.”

Some direct quotations from St. Maximilian Kolbe are contained here:

"My aim is to institute perpetual adoration," spoke St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe, Franciscan priest and founder of the Knights of the Immaculata. For he said that this is "the most important activity," and "if half of the Brothers would work, and the other half pray, this would not require too much."

"Let us give ourselves to the Immaculata [Mary]. Let her prepare us, let her receive Him [Jesus] in Holy Communion. This is the manner most perfect and pleasing to the Lord Jesus and brings great fruit to us." Because "the Immaculata knows the secret, how to unite ourselves totally with the heart of the Lord Jesus... We do not limit ourselves in love. We want to love the Lord Jesus with her heart, or rather that she would love the Lord with our heart."

"You come to me and unite Yourself intimately to me under the form of nourishment. Your Blood now runs in mine, Your Soul, Incarnate God, compenetrates mine, giving courage and support. What miracles! Who would have ever imagined such!"

"He remains among us until the end of the world. He dwells on so many altars, though so often offended and profaned."

"God dwells in our midst, in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar."