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Preface
Pope Paul VI, speaking on the occasion of the beatification of Father Maximilian Mary Kolbe on October 17, 1971, declared that Blessed Maximilian "made devotion to Christ's Mother, seen as clothed with the sun (cf. Apoc. 12:1), the focal point of his spirituality, of his apostolate, and of his theology." This important statement of the Holy Father finds clear expression in the whole life of Blessed Maximilian. And there is a leaflet that Blessed Maximilian printed in different languages under the title "Mary Immaculate - Our Ideal", with which we would like to introduce the pages of this little book; for it is a wonderful synthesis of the life and work of this holy man.
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Yes, our ideal and our aim is to radiate Mary Immaculate in our environment, to draw souls to Her, so that the hearts of our acquaintances may become open to Her influence and that She may rule in the hearts of all, everywhere, regardless of race, nationality, or tongue, even in the hearts of all men of every generation until the end of the world. Our aim is that Mary Immaculate's life become always more deeply rooted in us from day to day, from hour to hour, from moment to moment, and that there be no limit in this. It is our ideal and aim that Her life develop in the souls of all men alike who live now and who will live in every future age." As one reads the following pages he will see in the life of this holy man the fulfillment of this ideal. Human speech is quite handicapped in telling of this wonder, of this love so exceptional. May Blessed Maximilian nevertheless see fit to draw our readers close to Mary Immaculate. May he make them know something of that limitless beauty and grandeur of the Immaculate Virgin which made "his head spin." May he make them love the Immaculate Virgin as he did, with the same great love which led him to such heroic charity.
His Parents
Maximilian's mother and father were Julius Kolbe and Mary Dabroska, both from Zdunska-Wola. They came from good, humble families.
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From the time of her girlhood, Mary had hoped to become a religious sister "to enjoy paradise with the virgins," as she said; but she had to give that thought up when the rough poverty of the family made it impossible. However, Our Lord provided that she live out her last years in a convent and die in the company of Felician Sisters, who remember her as an example of heroic virtue. They recall, for example, how she used to rise at four in the morning to pray; how she had the practice of taking the discipline; how she used a bench covered with bed linens, for her bed; and as soon as she had any money, she would have a Mass said at once. Maximilian's father, an enterprising, hard-working young man, was a very fervent practicing Catholic, faithfully receiving the Sacraments every Sunday, and he was an officer in the Franciscan Third Order, of which his wife also was a member. This young couple were married on October 5, 1891, and made their home in a modest apartment, consisting of a single large room divided by curtains into a kitchen, a workshop with weaving equipment, a bedroom, and between two chests of drawers there was a small space for a little altar honoring the Madonna, the place where all the family would have their prayers and devotions. In these humble quarters Blessed Maximilian Mary Kolbe was born on January 8, 1894. He was the second of five brothers, the last two of whom were snatched away by Heaven soon after birth. He was baptized without delay as a child of God and of Mary. His mother did not want to kiss her baby until he was first freed from original sin. Something all parents should learn is to have their babies baptized as soon as possible in order to deliver them from the stain of original sin and make them children of God and of Mary at once.
To Pabianice
With children coming into the world, the poor one-room apartment at Zdunska-Wola proved inadequate and unsuitable for the family. Julius and Mary discussed the matter and decided to move to larger quarters in Pabianice, a village almost adjoining Zdunska-Wola. They also rented a bit of land and grew vegetables for the family table. After some years of many sacrifices, the family's economic condition improved Julius managed to start a small business and was able to rent a little farm. Mary did work in town as a midwife, assisted in the business, and managed the home. Meantime the boys had lessons to study as they attended the local elementary schools; but they also assisted in the housework. Their father felt an obligation to see that they grew up healthy and strong. He therefore accustomed them to rising early and in the winter he would have them go out at once to run in the snow barefooted. Above all, their parents took care especially to confide them to their own confessor and spiritual director, Father Vladimir Jakowski, so that they might receive accurate religious formation and instruction. It is something Christian parents need to give attention to, namely, to providing not only for children's physical growth, but also - and more importantly - for their spiritual development.
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Little Raymond
At baptism Blessed Maximilian received the name of Raymond. From early childhood he showed an earnest, ardent disposition. He did not lack the restless spirit of the liveliest children. He could assert himself so as to become bold and obstinate. He was full of a pep that gradually changed into sugar and honey, so that one day people would dub him "Jam", on account of his sweetness and meekness. Much of the successful formation of little Raymond was due both to the strict upbringing received from his observant parents and due to the poverty of the family, which exacted from all, sacrifices of every kind. Something very beautiful about this boy was his generous will to give himself over to serving others, to being useful. When his mother was away at work with his father, little Raymond did all the housework - the sweeping, the laundry, the scrubbing, tending the fire, the cooking. Being generous and enterprising, the boy found in the sacrifices of housework chores, an outlet for the store of energy that made his little body seem to vibrate from his growing-up process. His mother left us this pleasant record: "He was a very lively, fast-moving boy, and a little bit contrary. But his father and I found that, among our three sons, he was the most obedient. I had a real helper in him when my husband went off to work. Raymond used to take care of the kitchen, and to make the house spotlessly clean, and would finish all his chores quickly."
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He often used to go in the company of schoolmates, and saw some of them keeping pets that they enjoyed. One had a puppy, another a kitten, another had a little bird. Raymond, too, would have been happy to have a pet to play with. He gave vent to his feelings when he exclaimed to his friends, "How I wish I could talk to the birds like St. Francis did!" But how would he manage to get a pet? To buy one, people need money, and he could not have money. But somehow he managed one day to secretly buy an egg. To hatch it he took it to the hen-house of a friend's family. In this way, with small expense, he could have a pretty chick to pet. He had thought it out, just like a little boy with an affectionate nature. When his mother learned of it the reckoning came. To spend even a few coins needlessly was hard on the family". Raymond, don't you know that it costs hard work to earn every penny?" The little boy suffered; but he realized that his mother had a right to be concerned. He promised not to do such things again. He knew how to be generous in sacrificing even these innocent wishes.
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Providence Intervenes
But one day Raymond had to go to the drug store to buy some powder called Vencon greca. "Can you give me some Vencon greca?" he asked the druggist. The druggist was surprised to hear Vencon greca from the lips of this child, and asked him, "Where did you learn to pronounce Vencon greca?" "I know it is a Latin noun because I studied Latin with my brother Francis." "What school do you go to?" "I don't go to school any more. I can't go. We are poor, and mother and dad decided to send just my older brother Francis to school, who will go on for the priesthood." "And you?" ''I am helping my parents with the work at home." "What a pity for you not to go on with your studies!" the druggist exclaimed. And after a thoughtful pause he said, "Listen, lad. You come to me every day and I will give you your schooling free of charge. I will prepare you and you will pass the examinations with your brother at the end of the school year."
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Imagine Raymond's joy at this unexpected opportunity! It opened that pathway of his dreams that seemed to have been closed. At home he happily broke the news. At once he started classes with the providential druggist. He put all he had into his studies and was promoted with his brother in the State examinations.
(Continued next issue)
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