Roman Catholic (Franciscan) priest Maximillian Kolbe, born in Poland in 1894, and following taking his final vows in 1918, was ordained a priest, and in the 1930s he served in both China, and then Japan where he helped establish a Franciscan monastry. He returned to Poland in 1936. In 1939, Germany invaded Poland and occupied it. Kolbe refused to sign papers that would have granted him immunity as he was of German origin. He was, as were many Polish people, arrested. He was later released and allowed to return to work at the monastery where he managed large numbers of refugees, hiding and helping relocate many Jewish people, and writing anti-nazi propaganda. Eventually he came to the attention of the Gestapo and was arrested and imprisoned, eventually ending up in Auschwitz. He was regularly beaten and treated appalingly by the camp guards. In this he was no different to many inmates of Auschwitz. Where I think Kolbe defines what it is to be brave is where he one day stood in another person’s shoes.
At some point there was an escape from the camp, and the commandant ordered reprisals from among the prisoners. Ten were to be chosen at random. One young man cried out that he had a wife and children. Kolbe asked to stand in his place, and the commandant accepted his offer. The commandant ordered that the ten prisoners be starved to death in a cell, and as eye witnesses testified later, Kolbe was the last to die, and with dignity and calm.
I don’t know how you stand in the place of death for another, but Kolbe did. I have stood inside his cell at Auschwitz, an eerie place, and felt that a light had shone briefly here, that one person had been a beacon of hope for humanity in the midst of evil. For me Kolbe personifies what it is to be brave. He was powerless, yet he used his gift of life powerfully.
Paul,
pvcann.com
A powerful story. Bravery personified.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely, I’m in awe, not sure I’d make his standard though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know I wouldn’t.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Would it be OK if I cross-posted this article to WriterBeat.com? There is no fee; I’m simply trying to add more content divcersity for our community and thought this was insightful. I’ll be sure to give you complete credit as the author. If “OK” please let me know via email.
Autumn
AutumnCote@WriterBeat.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you don’t know how you would truly react until you have to react, until it happens. Thanks for posting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Moira, I think that’s so true, if you think about it in advance it’ll be a worry, but amazing things happen at the urgent moment.
LikeLike
That’s incredible and truly inspiring.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading. Amazing thing to do.
LikeLike
Pingback: Courage Under Fire | parallax
Pingback: Courage under fire. – Site Title
I have known of this for many years, and used this story often in talks that I have given. Never fails to move people. It is almost unimaginable, yet it happened. Bravery indeed!
LikeLike
Yes, it wasn’t premeditated, but he was pre-disposed in his faith to a selfless view. Yes I too have made so much use of this story. My view is that if continue to write and speak about him we are indeed re-membering him. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He needs speaking about. I learned of him many years ago when studying theology and remember being so moved by his story. I just cannot imagine being in that position and doing that, though I guess none of us really knows what we would do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I think it comes in the moment, if you try to figure it out it cannot happen, but as a reaction in the moment perhaps it is possible, I’m certain it would not be easy, I have been awed by his choice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike