Commemorations: Kaj Munk and Maximilian Kolbe

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Commemorations

Kaj Munk, Martyr, d. 1944

Maximilian Kolbe, Priest, Martyr, d. 1941

Reflection

Kaj Munk, Danish pastor, learned from his teacher in Copenhagen, Søren Kierkegaard, that the truths of Christianity can only be realized in action. After ordination, he was assigned to the parish of Vedersø, one of the smallest in Denmark, where he was greatly loved. He was also a playwright and employed his gifts to stage works critical of the Nazis. He wrote, “The cross is our flag—it is long since we realized that it stands for something . . . We thought we were Christians when we sat in Church and sang Amen. But No, No! We are Christians only when we go out into the world and say No to the devil, renounce all his works and all his ways, and say Yes to the Holy Spirit.” He was shot through the head by the Nazis January 4, 1944, with his Bible not far from his body.

Maximilian Kolbe was a Polish Roman Catholic priest of the Franciscan Order. He taught Church history in seminary and built a friary west of Warsaw that eventually housed 762 Franciscans and later sheltered 3000 Poles and 1500 Jews after the Nazi invasion of 1939. In 1941 he was taken to Auschwitz, where he continued priestly work “under the radar.” After a man escaped from Kolbe’s bunker, ten prisoners were chosen at random to die, one a married man with a family. Kolbe volunteered to take his place.

Prayer

God of peace, You lift up servants in every age to defy the forces of evil and to live out the truth of your Gospel. Inspire us by the witness of Kaj Munk and Maximilian Kolbe to be faithful followers of our Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.