Pencil sketch of an anti Nazi by Dr K Prabhakar Rao

MAXMILIAN KOLBE

Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe OFM Conv. (Polish: Maksymilian Maria Kolbe [maksɨˌmʲilʲjan ˌmarʲja ˈkɔlbɛ]; 8 January 1894 – 14 August 1941) was a Polish Conventual Franciscan friar, who volunteered to die in place of a stranger in the German death camp of Auschwitz, located in German-occupied Poland during World War II. He was active in promoting the veneration of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, founding and supervising the monastery of Niepokalanów near Warsaw, operating a radio station, and founding or running several other organizations and publications. He was arrested by Nazis and sent to Auschwitz concentration Camp where he volunteered to die in place of another who was to die and was crying for his wife and child. He was given a lethal carbolic injection. He was declared Martyr and was canonized on 10 October 1982 by Pope John Paul II, and declared a Martyr of charity. He is the patron saint of drug addicts, political prisoners, families, journalists, prisoners, and the pro-life movement.John Paul II declared him "The Patron Saint of Our Difficult Century".