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Conventual Franciscan

In Honor of Saint Maximilian Kolbe,
 Patron of Prisoners, Priests, and Bloggers

by Fr. Gordon J. MacRae on April 28, 2010 · 15 comments

Alphonse Ratisbonne, Andre Frossard, Auschwitz, Bishop John McCormack, Catholic Church, Catholic scandal, Charlene Duline, Concentration Camp, Conventual Franciscan, Deacon James Daly, Divine Mercy Sunday, Father Anthony Kuzia, Father Kolbe, Father Kuzia, Father Maximilian, Fr Gordon MacRae, Francis, Gajowniczek, george weigel, Hermann Langbein, Koji Goto, MI's, Militia of the Immaculata, Miraculous Medal, Nazi Germany, Patron of Prisoners, pope john paul ii, Pope Pius XI, Pornchai Moontri, Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Simon of Cyrene, Solemnity of the Assumption, St. Maximilian Kolbe, These Stone Walls

. . . On Saturday, April 10, 2010, our friend, Pornchai Moontri was welcomed into the Church when he received the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. Father Anthony Kuzia, C.M., conferred the Sacraments in the prison Chapel. The Prison Chaplain, Deacon James Daly and I were witnesses. It was both a joyous and solemn event, but something very special occurred during the Sacrament of Confirmation. When Pornchai stated that “Maximilian” was to be his Confirmation name, Father Kuzia shared with us that just before his ordination to priesthood; he visited and prayed in the cell in Auschwitz where Saint Maximilian was martyred. . . .

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St. Maximilian Kolbe and the Man in the Mirror

by Fr. Gordon J. MacRae on July 23, 2009 · 1 comment

Gordon MacRae, Falsely Accused Priest, Maximilian Kolbe, Mirror, James McCurry, Conventual Franciscan

. . . I begin each day at the break of dawn in prison by shaving in front of that mirror. This morning ritual has repeated 5,412 times. I seldom cut myself shaving — a minor miracle as I can see very little of me in that mirror. I often think of St. Paul’s cryptic image in his first letter to the Church in Corinth (13:12): “For now I see dimly, as in a mirror, but then I shall see face to face.” It is a hopeful image. . . .

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