The Roman Catholic Church commemorates tomorrow, August 14, the feast of Polish Catholic priest and Conventual Franciscan Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe, the revered founder of the Militia of the Immaculata (Army of Mary) and the patron saint of  journalists, families, prisoners, and pro-life advocates.

In his native Poland, pilgrims and devotees traditionally gather on his feast day at his major shrine, the Basilica of the Immaculate Mediatrix of Grace to offer special prayers and light candles.

St. Maximilian was known as the “Apostle of Consecration to Mary” and a martyr of  charity. He founded the Militia of the Immaculata in 1917 to work for the conversion of sinners and the enemies of the Catholic Church through the intercession of the Blessed Mother. 

His main apostolate was to help spread devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In 1941, he volunteered to die in place of a stranger in the German death camp of Auschwitz, located in German-occupied Poland during World War II.

On October 10, 1982 Pope John Paul II canonized Father Kolbe and declared  him a martyr of charity. The Catholic Church venerates him as the patron saint of amateur-radio operators, of drug addicts, of political prisoners, of families, of journalists, of prisoners, and of the pro-life movement. 

St. John Paul II declared him "The Patron Saint of Our Difficult Century."