Raymond, son of Julius Kolbe and Marianna Dabrowska was born on 7th January 1894 in Zdunska Wola, Poland. He entered the Conventual Franciscans in 1910 taking the name, Maximilian. Following his ordination in 1918, he worked in Poland and later in Japan (1930-1936), spreading devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary (B.V.M.). Imprisoned in Oswiecim (Auschwitz) on 28th May 1941, he took the place of another prisoner condemned to death. Surviving starvation, Maximilian was eventually killed through lethal injection administered to him on 14th August 1941. He was canonised as a martyr in 1982 by John Paul II.
First Reading: 1 John 3: 13-18; Gospel: John 15: 12-17
