St. Maximilian Kolbe

Today marks the Feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe, one of the Churches more recent living Saints and one that I have found strength in reading about. Amongst other things, he is the Patron Saint against drug addiction, and for those whom battle with a drug addiction. Quite fitting for me!

Born in Russian occupied Poland in 1894 as Raymond Kolbe, to a poor yet pious family, his parents were both Franciscan lay tertiaries. His father was hanged by the Russians whilst fighting for Polish independence, after which his mother became a Benedictine nun. Raymond's brother also became a priest.

At a young age when receiving his First Holy Communion, he had a vision of the Virgin Mary which changed his life: "I asked the Mother of God what was to become of me. Then she came ti me holding two crowns, one white, the other red. She asked if I was willing ti accept either of these crowns. The white one meant that I should persevere in purity, and the red that I should become a martyr. I said I would accept them both." - St. Maximilian Kolbe.

He founded the Immaculata Movement "Militia Immaculatae" and spread devotion to the "Miraculous Medal". He also started a magazine, "Knight of the Immaculate" which had a big publication rate for its time, and also founded a new monastery, "City of the Immaculate" near Warsaw with land given to him by the Prince of Poland. This monastery eventually started its own radio station, had a religious community of about 800 men, the largest in the world of its day, and was fully self sufficient including medical services and fire brigade. Obviously Maximilian had a great devotion to Our Lady!

He did a great number of other things in his time, but when he was arrested by the Nazi's in their invasion of Poland, eventually ending up in Auschwitz, his love of God and his fellow man didn't diminish. There he would hear confessions and celebrate Mass (with bread and wine smuggled in).

Some prisoners escaped from the camp, and Nazi retribution meant they had to kill ten prisoners for every one prisoner who escaped. The man the Nazi's chose to kill was married, and had young children. Maximilian took that mans place and was to die by starvation. Whilst fellow prisoners died, Maximilian was still fighting on, eventually having to be "killed off" with a lethal injection, dying the way he always wished - in service.

St. Stanislaus Kostka

Stanislaus Kostka was only 18 years old when he died, and had been a Jesuit novice for less than a year.  He is one of the popular saints of Poland and many religious institutions have chosen him as the protector of their novitiates.

He was born in 1550 at the family estate in east-central Poland.  His father was a local governor and military administrator, and a senator of the Kingdom of Poland.  His mother was the sister and niece of Polish dukes.  According to the standards of those times, all this meant Stanislaus was a Polish noble destined for public life.

When he was 14, his father enrolled him and his older brother Paul in a new Jesuit college in Vienna that was especially favored by the nobility.  Paul, who always had an eye for comfort, found them rooms in the house of an Austrian senator.

Stanislaus was a serious and quiet person.  He avoided all unnecessary contact with visitors, applied himself to his studies, dressed plainly for a noble, and spent so much time in prayer that Paul derisively nicknamed him “the Jesuit.”  Paul interpreted Stanislaus’ natural meekness and humility as a reproach to his own worldly and carefree way of life.  Whatever Stanislaus did either offended or irritated him. So, he harassed his younger brother, abusing him physically and verbally.  Stanislaus didn’t crack under pressure.  He just became more virtuous and determined to become a Jesuit.

In December 1565, Stanislaus received some heavenly help.  Feeling ill and close to death, he asked to receive Holy Communion.  Paul kept putting him off, saying the illness wasn’t life-threatening.  (Their landlord was a staunch Lutheran and wouldn’t allow a priest into the house).  Stanislaus prayed to St. Barbara to somehow receive Communion, and soon Barbara and two angels appeared to him in his room, bringing him Communion.  They left, and then Our Lady carrying the baby Jesus appeared, and told him he was to enter the Society of Jesus.  Stanislaus regained his health and returned to college.

Now really resolved to be a Jesuit, Stanislaus asked the Jesuit provincial of Vienna for admittance, only to be told he needed his parents’ consent.  Stanislaus knew they wouldn’t give it, and decided to ask further away from home.  In August 1567, he walked the 450 miles to Augsburg, Germany.  Paul heard of it and started after him.  Stanislaus was dressed as a simple pilgrim, and the angry Paul went right past him on the road without recognizing him and gave up the chase.

Stanislaus reached the Augsburg provincial, Fr. Peter Canasis, S.J., and together they agreed that Stanislaus ought to get even further away from his father’s political influence.  They decided on Rome.  In September 1567, he and two Jesuits went on foot, south through Germany and over the Alps to Italy.  It took a month to reach Rome.

There Stanislaus presented himself to the head of the Society of Jesus, Father General Francis Borgia, S.J., and entered the Jesuit novititate.  For the next ten months, his prayer was purified and his union with God grew more intense.

In early August 1568, Stanislaus had a premonition that he would die on August 15.  He took sick on the 10th, and on the 14th he told the infirmarian that he would die the next day, but this Jesuit shrugged it off; the patient didn’t seem critically ill.  Then suddenly he worsened.  After receiving Holy Communion and the Last Rites, he chatted cheerfully with his fellow novices until nightfall.  After they left, he prayed often, “My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready!”  About 3:00 a.m. his face lit up joyfully.  He said Our Lady was approaching with her court of angels and saints to take him to heaven.  Then he died — on August 15, the feast of Our Lady’s own assumption into heaven.

Only 36 years after his death, he was beatified.  He was canonized on December 31, 1726 by Pope Benedict XIII.  His feast day is November 13. 

–  Excerpted and edited from Jesuit Saints & Martyrs: Short Biographies of the Saints, Blessed, Venerables, and Servants of God of the Society of Jesus by Joseph N. Tylenda, S.J., Second edition, © 1998 Ignatius Press, Chicago.

BELIEF: The ULTIMATE Question

It has been a while since I've had a good old rant, and at the moment, I have plenty on my mind. From examining my life, the way I live: what's right, what's wrong; why am I here, what is my purpose. PLENTY is going on upstairs, though that in itself is a miracle after enduring a serious car accident nine years ago, receiving a brain injury amongst other injuries... but more-so after having a brain hemorrage just over one-year ago. In reality, I should be a vegetable. But I'm not. I guess I'm a thinker - always have been, always will be. From childhood, through my youth, into adulthood.

I always have plenty on my mind regarding spirituality and religion, thinking of things from the minute I wake up to the second I fall asleep at night. My problem is I don't have anyone to really discuss my spirituality and beliefs with. Here I am, feeling alone in the world, as I am surrounded by people with very little, if any, faith at all. Those I am around who may have a spiritual belief certainly don't share the same depth of passion for it, or hold the same beliefs as myself. They are usually the ones to jump on the anti-Catholic bandwagon, if they themselves aren't actually driving it!

I'm one of the most tolerant of people around. I may not agree with another persons beliefs or lifestyle, but I won't try to push my beliefs on them. I hold true that the one true faith is Catholicism: if it weren't, then I could go to any denomination and still be at peace. However, if others choose to accept a different denomination, or a different world-religion all together, that is their choice and they shouldn't be questioned. I'm not God - He can judge them on the last days!

How would I feel if someone tries to push their faith on me? Even after learning I am a Catholic, they will still try, telling me all the faults and errors in Catholicism. Why can't they be like me, realise I believe in SOMETHING and be happy for me, as opposed to trying to push their particular denomination onto me? Generally the most hate filled people in the world can be people of faith, which really is quite sad.

Other times, I will encounter people who question my beliefs, why I go to church, what's the point of it all? To say simply: I don't have to answer them. They're not God. Only recently have I come to this  conclusion. As Jesus said to his own friend, St. Peter: "Go behind me, Satan!" - Matthew 16:23.

People such as these will fill my head with such thoughts that I am wasting my time believing in something that's simply not there. I used to debate these things with people until either they turned to my faith, I turned to theirs, or we agreed to disagree (which was usually the case). Then one word would be said: REGRET. When I die and realise I was wrong, won't I regret all those hours wasted going to Mass? All the books of spiritual nature I've read? All for... what?

If that were to be the case (which I don't believe at all!) then; No. I wouldn't regret having believed in something. I would be dead, I wouldn't exist, so how could I have regrets? I would however regret if I die and found myself in hell. That would undoubtedly be the biggest regret of my life, having to spend eternity in pain and suffering on a scale much more severe than the pains and suffering I endured whilst on earth.

I will go with a more comforting belief, give myself a better chance of getting to Heaven, and actually BELIEVE. Having beliefs I may be limited in what I can do on earth, for many things the body wants can be a sin. But to spend eternity in Heaven is a much better option, than to do whatever I want on earth and spend eternity in Hell.

Many scientific/medical tests will show that people of faith are happier people. So if we live, we die, end of story - at least having faith made me a happier person.

NEW Catholic iPhone App

In my news feed today on FaceBook I found a video from "Rome Reports" about a new Catholic iPhone App, created by Emanuel Estrada who is just sixteen years old. Naturally I do a search for it on my iPad and download it. I'm quite impressed! Though it's not the most technical app out there, it has enough features and information, especially given someone so young made it.

You can read the daily Mass readings, find nearby Churches, read the Bible (NRSV) as well as pray the Rosary (and other prayers!) and read a bit of Catholic news. Best of all, it's free and less than 5MB in size!

It's called "Eucharist and Truth" and though it's only available on iPhone/iPad, an Android version is coming. A website is also available @ EucharistAndTruth.com

Well done Emanuel, and keep the great work up!

Morning Offering

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,

I offer you my prayers, works, joys, sufferings of this day,

in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world.

I offer them for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart;

the salvation of souls, the reparation for sin, the reunion of all Christians;

I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and of all members of the Apostleship of Prayer,

and in particular for those recommended by the Holy Father this month.

Amen.

Apocalypse 14:13

This was the First Reading I read at my Grandmothers Funeral.

Elizabeth "Maree" Dalton born 27 July 1929, died 22 April 2009 age 79.

I, John, heard a voice from heaven say to me, "Write down:
Happy are those who die in the Lord! Happy indeed, the Spirit says;
now they can rest for ever after their work,
since their good deeds go with them."