• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Father Maximilian Kolbe is pictured in an undated black-and-white file photo. The Polish priest, who gave his life in place of a young father condemned to execution, was declared a saint by then-Pope John Paul II. (CNS file photo)

A saint’s two crowns

January 21, 2021
By Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
Syndicated Columnist
Filed Under: Commentary, Light One Candle, Saints

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

 In his writings, St. Maximilian Kolbe recounts an incident from his childhood. He was 12 years old and had recently been scolded by his mother for some bit of mischief he had gotten into. Later, he was prompted to reflect upon his actions and turned to the Blessed Mother in prayer. He writes: “That night I asked the Mother of God what was to become of me. Then she came to me holding two crowns, one white, the other red. She asked me if I was willing to 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 that I would accept them both.” 

This vision not only foreshadowed St. Maximilian’s martyrdom at the hands of the Nazis, but it also revealed his character. It was in this moment of humbling himself before God that Maximilian realized the courage to rise to the occasion of whatever life would bring — and learned that the virtue of humility leads to authentic courage. Humility led Maximilian to answer the call to the priesthood and a life devoted to heroic service to God and others, and humility led to courageous acts throughout his life. 

While studying in Rome to become a priest, Maximilian witnessed angry and hateful demonstrations by the Freemasons against the pope, which prompted him to start the Knights of the Immaculata, an organization dedicated to the conversion of sinners through prayer for Mary’s intercession. What a productive response that was! Rather than cowering before the Church’s enemies or being consumed by hatred for them, Maximilian responded by martialing Catholics to storm heaven and the Blessed Mother with prayers for their conversion.  

As a young priest, Maximilian served for several years in Asia, founding two monasteries, one of which remains an important church in Japan to this day. He was called back to Poland a few years before the outbreak of World War II and found himself in the crosshairs of the Nazis when he refused to declare his allegiance to Germany. After being arrested and then released, Maximilian continued to help run the Franciscan monastery of Niepokalanów, Poland, where he opened a temporary hospital and published religious works, including anti-Nazi literature. He also helped 2,000 Jews hide at the monastery from the Nazis.  

In 1941, the Niepokalanów monastery was shut down and Kolbe was arrested and imprisoned, eventually being transferred to Auschwitz. There, he offered his life in place of another man who had been sentenced to death. In his final days, Kolbe ceaselessly led the other prisoners in prayer. Credited with miracles and intercessions after his death, Maximilian was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1982. Today, he is venerated as the patron saint of prisoners, families, journalists, the pro-life movemen, and those suffering from drug addiction. 

Many people falsely believe that human strength is at the heart of heroism, but Maximilian Kolbe’s life demonstrates that the path to true heroism begins with humility. Only God can inspire us to do what is right in the most difficult circumstances, and it is only through humility that we are able to find the strength of God within ourselves. Let us pray that we continue to learn from St. Maximilian Kolbe’s story and live out the call to humility before God so that we can find the strength to make the sacrifices we are called to make in order to give witness to our faith. 

For free copies of the Christopher News Note DISCERNING GOD’S STILL SMALL VOICE, write: The Christophers, 5 Hanover Square, New York, NY 10004; or e-mail: mail@christophers.org    

More on the saints

Who is St. Augustine, the father of Pope Leo XIV’s order?

Pope Leo’s motto, coat of arms pay homage to St. Augustine

Besides Leo XIII, 12 other popes have shared that name with new pontiff; 5 are saints

French town near city with papal history to mark 100 years since Martyrs of Orange beatification

St. Thérèse of Lisieux and her trust in God’s merciful love still resonate with faithful

St. Carlo and timing

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.

View all posts from this author

| Recent Commentary |

Our unexpected pope

The choices of our new pope

Gift of grace 

Yellow and white cloth hangs over the doors of Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in honor of the papal election

Who is our new pope, Pope Leo XIV?

Question Corner: Without a pope, how do we fulfill the indulgence requirement of praying for the pope’s intentions?

| Recent Local News |

Bankruptcy court judge gives victim-survivors temporary window to file civil suits

Radio Interview: Meet the Mount St. Mary’s graduate who served as a lector at papal funeral

At St. Mary’s School in Hagerstown, vision takes shape to save a school

Catholic school students ‘elect’ pope in their own ‘conclave’

Baltimore-area Catholics pray for new pope, express excitement for his leadership

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Planned Parenthood annual report shows abortions, public funding up after Dobbs
  • Pope pledges strengthened dialogue with Jews
  • ‘He’s always been a brother to us’: Villanova Augustinian prior reflects on future Pope Leo XIV
  • Who is St. Augustine, the father of Pope Leo XIV’s order?
  • Report: Catholic Church’s economic benefit to Minnesota is more than $5 billion annually
  • Catholic Charities tasked with Afrikaner refugees as Trump administration keeps others in limbo
  • Trump signs executive order demanding drug manufacturers lower U.S. prices
  • Who are the Augustinians, Pope Leo XIV’s order?
  • ‘I felt heard’: Catholic school teacher recalls life-changing talk with future pope

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED