Vigils Reading – St Maximilian Kolbe

A reading from Pope St John Paul II on the martyrdom of

ST MAXIMILIAN KOLBE

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The figure of Maximilian [Kolbe] remains as a testimony of the age and

belongs to the “signs of the times.” This difficult and tragic epoch, stigmatized

by horrible debasement of human dignity, has brought about at Oswiecim the

birth of its salvific sign. Love has shown itself more powerful than death, more

powerful than anti-human systems. Love for the person has achieved its victory

there where hatred and scorn for human beings seemed to triumph. In this

victory of love…the victory of Golgotha presented itself in a particular way.

Many saw the death of their prison companion not as still another defeat for

human beings, but a saving sign – the sign of our time, of our age.

The Church is rereading the meaning of such signs. It is in this that its

link with the history of humanity, of peoples and of nations, consists. Yesterday

she reread to the very end the meaning of the sign…that Maximilian Kolbe

established by his martyr’s death. The Church has reread this sign with

profound veneration and emotion in proclaiming the holiness of the Martyr of

Oswiecim. The Saints are in history in order to establish permanent points of

reference as a background for the future of humankind and the world. That

which shows through in them is lasting and unfailing. It bears witness to

eternity. From this testimony we always draw a renewed awareness of our

vocation and renewed assurance of all that awaits us. This is the direction in

which the Saints guide the Church and humanity.

Among these spiritual guides we include today St Maximilian, our fellow

countryman. In him the man of our times discovers a wonderful “synthesis” of

the sufferings and the hopes of our age. But in this synthesis there is also a

prophetic warning. It is a cry addressed to all, to society, to humanity, to the

systems responsible for our life and our societies. This modern-day Saint has

come forth from the very center of human beings humiliated by human beings,

of the humiliation of one’s dignity, of cruelty and of slaughter. This Saint cries

out therefore with all the synthesis of his martyrdom for a consistent respect for

the rights of all and also of nations since in fact he is the son of a nation whose

rights have been terribly violated.