Kolbe: Marian Devotion and Martyrdom – Aug 14 – Homily – Fr Matthias

 

Fr Matthias gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Aug 14, 2024, on how St. Maximilian Kolbe's life of Marian devotion and ultimate martyrdom teaches us to trust in Our Lady's guidance for true transformation in Christ.

The solemnity of St. Maximilian Kolbe, highlighting his significant Marian devotion, which builds on the charism of St. Francis of Assisi. St. Maximilian, deeply influenced by his mother's teachings, embraced a life dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, asking her what would become of him. He received a vision of Our Lady offering him two crowns: one of purity and one of martyrdom, which he accepted. This moment marked a profound change in his life, leading him to establish the Militia of the Immaculate in 1917, which now has millions of members. St. Maximilian's deep trust in Our Lady led to remarkable achievements, including the founding of the Marian friary Niepokalanów in Poland and the successful launch of the Catholic periodical "The Knight of the Immaculate." Even when he faced the ultimate test of faith in Auschwitz, where he offered his life in place of another, St. Maximilian's consecration to Mary brought him perfect conformity to Christ, emphasizing that Our Lady is not an obstacle but a channel of God's greatest graces. Father concludes by encouraging everyone to follow St. Maximilian's example, allowing Our Lady to transform their lives through her guidance.

John 19:27 - Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/19?27
Revelation 2:10 - "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/revelation/2?10
John 15:13 - "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/15?13
CCC 971 - "The Church's devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship." - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/971.htm
CCC 969 - "Mary's role in the Church is inseparable from her union with Christ and flows directly from it." - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/969.htm
CCC 2447 - "The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor." - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2447.htm

00:00 - Solemnity of St. Maximilian
00:29 - Marian Influence in Franciscan Order
01:31 - St. Maximilian's Vision of Crowns
03:29 - Embracing Martyrdom and Confession
05:01 - Founding Militia of the Immaculate
06:17 - Miraculous Growth of the Order
07:00 - Perfect Conformity to Christ
09:11 - St. Maximilian's Radiant Death

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Maximilian Kolbe - Solemnity - http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/081424.cfm
1st: wis 3:1-9
Resp: psa 116:10-17
2nd: 1jo 3:13-18
Gsp: joh 15:12-17

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1344

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