Saint of the Day
Daily reflections on the lives of the saints
St. Maximilian Kolbe
Friday, August 14, 2026
Saint Maximilian Kolbe was a Polish Franciscan priest whose extraordinary devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary ultimately led him to make the greatest sacrifice of all—giving his life for another man. Long before Auschwitz, Kolbe founded the Militia Immaculata and used the modern media of his time—printing presses, publications, and radio—to bring souls to Jesus Christ through Mary. After being imprisoned at Auschwitz, Kolbe volunteered to take the place of a fellow prisoner condemned to starvation. For nearly two weeks, he led the condemned men in prayer and hymns until he was finally killed by lethal injection on August 14, 1941. Saint Maximilian Kolbe reminds us what Christian love truly means: to give ourselves completely for God and for others. Subscribe to Catholic Voices and Prayers for more powerful stories of the saints and the Catholic faith.
