St Maximilian Kolbe (Feast - 14th August)

This holy Franciscan friar worked strenuously to promote the faith in the early 20th century, from his native Poland to the Far East. His total consecration to Mary could be seen in all aspects of his life, as he trusted everything to her.
When he was arrested for subversion by the Nazi authorities in Poland, he was sent to the labour camp at Auschwitz. Here he secretly ministered to the other inmates. When one inmate of his barracks escaped, ten men were chosen to die in the starvation bunker. St Maximilian took the place of one of these men.
For two weeks with no food or water he consoled the men, sang hymns, recited prayers and lead them to forgive their captors, and to have trust in Jesus and Mary. He was given a lethal injection of carbolic acid on 14th August, and his body was cremated.
"A single act of love, restores the soul to life."