Maksymilian Maria Kolbe (1894 - 1941)
Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe OFM Conv. ( Polish : Maksymilian Maria Kolbe [maksɨˌmʲilʲjan ˌmarʲja ˈkɔlbɛ] ; 8 January 1894 – 14 August 1941) was a Polish Conventual Franciscan friar who volunteered to die in place of a stranger in the German death camp of Auschwitz , located in German-occupied Poland during World War II . He was active in promoting the veneration of the Immaculate Virgin Mary , founding and supervising the monastery of Niepokalanów near Warsaw , operating an amateur radio station (SP3RN), and founding or running several other organizations and publications. Kolbe was canonized on 10 October 1982 by Pope John Paul II , and declared a Martyr of charity . He is the patron saint of amateur radio operators, drug addicts, political prisoners , families, journalists, prisoners, and the pro-life movement . [2] John P...
