Auschwitz
- ksmarekk
- Aug 14, 2020
- 2 min read
You are probably surprised to find that I am talking about a place that could be called - the definition of hate. Today we have the memorial of St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe, a Franciscan martyr, who was killed in the Concentration/Death Camp of Auschwitz.
Auschwitz is one of those places where there are no words to express what happened there. When you are about to walk through the main gate you can read "Arbeit macht frei" - Work sets you free. It is a promise that in its sarcastic way expresses the reality of a totalitarian system. Work will make you free through your own death.
Today those words sound to me like a bell. My family lived in two "full of promises" systems. The first was Nazis and the second was Communism. Both of them offered the best social ideas. Prosperity, equality within the country, security, opportunities, etc. The only thing you had to do was to be faithful to the system and report to the government those that had different ideas. Following all of the rules gave you better social status.
Both of those systems had a common enemy - the Church and her moral rules. Both of them targeted priests and religious orders as an obstacle to the new world. We have so many martyrs that came as a fruit of the new order of the world.
I grew up surrounded by people who were victims of both system. I heard stories of their lives, their doubts and sacrifices, their faith and trust in God. Today all of them came back to me and I got scared. I am looking at the world of my time and something gives me the impression that it is going to happen again. It comes to us very quietly, friendly-- equality for everyone, full of promises of a new wonderful world - an ideal world.
St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe had seen in Rome a march of black shirts with satanic symbols. He understood that only with the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary could we reject the powerful evil. In 1915 he started Militia Immaculatea, a group that by prayers and an example of life was fighting the power of Satan. I think it is time to bring this Militia Immaculatea back to our homes. It is the only way we can win over the evil of our time. The new and ideal world that is promoted now will end as will every other world that is based on man. Only a world rooted in God can give us a better life.
Thank you, Father! I am so glad that you are willing to share these things. It is too easy to forget the sacrifices made by others, but we cannot allow ourselves to forget the atrocities of Auschwitz nor WWII nor the communist work camps anymore than we should forget those who laid their lives down to fight against totalitarianism. My grandparents were only children during WWII, but they spoke often of those family members who enlisted. For them, it was a story that needed to be told; a story of a terrible war and a great victory that cost the world dearly. As I grew up though, I realized that the fight against socialism and totalitarianism wasn't over. I was…
When are we starting the "Militia Immaculatea" in the Diocese of Colorado Springs? This could be a joint effort between our parishes (it could start between deaneries). Plus we have to also pray for the Church, saintly priests, laity (families and youth), and priestly vocations. This would be awesome! Just a thought.
Thank you Father for sharing your personal experiences; they are powerful.
I am going to share with others, especially my children.
Thank you Father! St. Maximilian Marie Kolbe pray for us 🙏🏻