Bishop Greger: Attempts to marginalize the figure of St Maximilian rise concern

– In view of specified temptations, which are manifestations of historical and spiritual ignorance, we must not be silent. Saint Maximilian and what he has done in the name of his love for his fellow brother must not be ashamed or concealed. The voluntary decision to give his life for another man cannot be marginalized or taken in any brackets," emphasized Bishop Peter Greger during the Sunday celebrations of Fr Maximilian Kolbe's 42nd anniversary. Hierarch thus referred to the scandalous changes to be made to the planet War II Museum.

The bishop recalled that the museum authorities planned to remove St. Maximilian Kolbe from the fresh exhibition project. The priest explained that this decision had met with many protests which yet led to the withdrawal of the decision not to mention St Maximilian, although, as the bishop acknowledged, the list of martyrs of the concentration camp in Dachau, including priests, was not reinstated.

At the Memorial site, the auxiliary bishop together with the dean of the Oświęcim dean Fr. Mariusz Kiszczak, assistant of the Immaculate Knighthood (MI) of the Diocese of Bielsko-Żywiec and vice president of the global Board of MI in Rome Fr. Arkadiusz Bąek OFMConv, manager of the global Center for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust Andrzej Kacorzyk and a group of secular parishioners passed through the gate with inscription Arbeit Macht Frei. They placed flowers in front of the plaque commemorating the camp appeal, during which Fr Maximilian sacrificed his life for a fellow prisoner. They besides visited the cell in Block 11, where the Franciscan of Niepokalanów died in martyrdom. They prayed in silence and put flowers under the Wall of failure and in the cell.

Bishop Greger then presided over ceremonies at St Maximilian Martyr Church in the center of Auschwitz. In the homily, the clergy spoke of 2 things: Jesus ’ teaching about the inextricability of matrimony and the heroic evidence of St Maximilian.

Referring to the Gospel of Mark (Mk 10:2b), where Jesus answers the Pharisees' question of divorce, referring to God's eternal intent of creating man and woman, the bishop stressed that matrimony was God's purpose, not human invention, and his insolence was established "in the beginning."

He warned that man would never be fulfilled in life if he tried to plan his life against nature. – We request to return to paying attention to what God has to say about man and life. This is besides the task of the Church, which, in the interests of all man, cannot stay silent about the foundations of our identity. Therefore, the constant reminder of God’s commandments, all the principles of moral life, service to make man live according to what God has written in his heart from the beginning. Can we afford to do this, or do we want to go back to the beginning? – he asked.

The Preacher referred to St. Maximilian Kolbe, who gave his life for fellow prisoner Franciszek Gajowniczka in the Auschwitz camp. The bishop noted that Maximilian, even though he was a monk surviving in celibacy, understood the value of matrimony and family. He stressed that Maximilian was a protector of human dignity and a symbol of the durability and holiness of matrimony as God’s purpose.

– The experience of love in the household gave birth to the request to search ways to reconcile. Maximilian was aware that only love can man overcome all divisions and only on it can 1 build something meaningful – he added.

Hierarch expressed his deep concern at fresh attempts to marginalize the figure of St Maximilian and another manifestations of historical and spiritual ignorance.

– We were amazed to learn that the planet War II Museum authorities had decided that the memory of Saint Maximilian would vanish in the fresh exhibition project. It's like 1 minute to forget or worse to deny what happened behind the concentration camp wall in 1941. It was an incomprehensible idea, not uncovering any reasonable argument. Fortunately, after many and courageous protests, the thought was withdrawn, although the list of martyrs of the concentration camp in Dachau – among them were many priests – did not return – he noted.

As the bishop pointed out, specified actions are not only an assassination of St Maximilian, but besides an effort to distort the historical fact about the martyrdom of Poles, including clergymen, during the Second planet War.

– In view of specified temptations, which are manifestations of historical and spiritual ignorance, we must not be silent. Saint Maximilian and what he has done in the name of his love for his fellow brother must not be ashamed or concealed. A voluntary decision to give your life for another cannot be marginalized or taken in any bracket. The sacrifice of life for a husband and father of a family, in the name of the Gospel truth, that there is no greater love than that erstwhile 1 gives his life for his friends is simply a fact, entering into Polish past in the golden letters of holiness, whether 1 likes it or not He said.

– The events that took place in the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp request due respect based on a message of full truth, consistent with facts, not treated fragmentaryly or selectively. We must not let – in front of the planet – the achievements, including the spiritual, Polish martyrdom, to be destroyed. – he said.

Hierarch yet recalled that the 42nd anniversary of Fr Maximilian's canonization is an chance to thank God for the gift of his life as a Franciscan monk, who was sealed with an act of voluntary martyrdom expressing boundless love.

– The martyr of Oświęcim is God's light on the modern request for permanent, holy, Polish families who love God, Fatherland and another man He stressed at the end.

Priests from the diocesan decanate took part in the liturgy, with the dean and parish priest Fr Mariusz Kiszczak, including Franciscans from the St Maximilian Centre in Harmages, Salesians and Seraphite Sisters. The leaders of the seminary in Krakow prayed – including the rector Fr Michał Kania and the vice-president Fr Jacek Moskal – together with the clerics.

Franciscan St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe went to Auschwitz in May 1941. In August 1941 he voluntarily gave his life for fellow prisoner Franciszek Gajownik. Fr. Kolbe died on 14 August 1941 in a hunger bunker, struck by Germans with an injection of phenol. In 1971 he was beatified by Pope Paul VI. On 10 October 1982, John Paul II performed the canonization of the “marriage of reconciliation”.

Source: KAI

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