Tuesday, March 19, AD 2024 5:58am

A Letter for Our Time from St. Maxmilian Kolbe

Today, 14 August, is the Memorial Day for St. Maxmilian Kolbe.   He is the patron saint of addicts, and I have a special affection for him for this and his sacrifice at Auschwitz to save a man who had a family.  (Go here to read about his life.)  In the Office of Readings for today was an excerpt from one of his letters, a letter about “indifferentism” that seems appropriate for our times.   Here’s the first part:

“The burning zeal for God’s glory that motivates you fills my heart with joy. It is sad for us to see in our own time that indifferentism in its many forms is spreading like an epidemic not only among the laity but also among religious. [emphasis added] But God is worthy of glory beyond measure, and therefore it is of absolute and supreme importance to seek that glory with all the power of our feeble resources. Since we are mere creatures we can never return to him all that is his due. The most resplendent manifestation of God’s glory is the salvation of souls, whom Christ redeemed by shedding his blood. To work for the salvation and sanctification of as many souls as possible, therefore, is the preeminent purpose of the apostolic life. Let me, then, say a few words that may show the way toward achieving God’s glory and the sanctification of many souls.”

Go here for the rest.

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Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus
Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus
Tuesday, August 14, AD 2018 6:32pm

Thank God for AA, NA and St Maximilian Kolbe! Otherwise I’d have long ago been found dead underneath a railroad bridge with a heroin needle in my veins. That’s a fact.

Ezabelle
Ezabelle
Wednesday, August 15, AD 2018 1:44pm

LQC, God Bless You. I hope you know your value because of what you’ve overcome. That your witness is desperately needed by so many others who don’t have the Faith and strength you have. I hope you know this.

T. Shaw
T. Shaw
Wednesday, August 15, AD 2018 3:42pm

I kept (clipped) the New York Times’, March 15, 1995 obituary of Franciszek Gajowniczek, the man Father Kolbe saved. It is the bookmark for Bill Bennett’s Book of Virtues “Faith” Section entry for Father Kolbe, “The Volunteer at Auschwitz.” by Chuck Colson.

Philip Nachazel
Philip Nachazel
Wednesday, August 15, AD 2018 7:01pm

I owe so much to P16670.
His gift of life wasn’t only for Franciszek Gajowniczek. His life sacrifice has helped sinners like me to have a new life.
Thank God for His Angels and His Saints.

PM
PM
Thursday, August 16, AD 2018 4:20pm

St. Kolbe used the word sad then. It seems today that the constant obfuscation, politicization and degradation of the Word, and blasphemous behaviors and events, ( somewhat like the act of beating the faithful senseless), from the Vatican’s powerbrokers is intentional persecution of hearts and souls. This upcoming next hurrah in Ireland for ‘families’ and youth being covered by EWTN will be a personal miss. The country just voted to institute abortion without Vatican dismay – maybe the market for the victims parts is some reason. What is so hard about teaching God’s Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer to put things into perspective? Will it happen in Ireland? Not without the twists.
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There are countless reasons to muster up strength for prayer. Here is an important article to read.
Wherein Fr. Z offers one of the hardest posts he has ever written
Posted on 16 August 2018
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“The burning zeal for God’s glory that motivates you fills my heart with joy. It is sad for us to see in our own time that indifferentism in its many forms is spreading like an epidemic not only among the laity but also among religious. …”

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