Today is the 76th anniversary of the death of St. Maximilian. We publish short text about a few days before died of St. Maximilian and testimony by Bruno Borgowiec, a prisoner who served as interpreter in the dungeon.

One day there one of the prisoners had escaped from Block 14. Maximilian belonged to that block. If the prisoner did not return the next day, ten other prisoners of his block would be condemned to a painful death — a death from starvation and thirst in the dark "starvation dungeon." The prisoners had to stand in a courtyard many hours. The escaped prisoner did not come back. Toward sunset the Commandant, Fritsch, came to pick the ten men who were to die. The Commandant, a scoffing cynic, picked apparently at random the ten men from the rows of men lined up before him: Kolbe was not chosen. But he heart the painful out-cries of the ones who were chosen. "Farewell, friends. We will meet where there is true justice." "Long live Poland! I offer my life for her." "Farewell! Oh my poor wife! My poor children! From now on you are fatherless!" At this last outcry, uttered amid sobs by Sergeant Gajowniczek, Maximilian's heart could stand no more. The most incredible event in the history of the camp then happened. Kolbe moved in a decisive way out of his line and stood before the Commandant, Fritsch. Frail and slender, but noble in his manner, he said firmly, "I ask to die in place of that father of a family." The Commandant was bewildered for some minutes. A request of this kind was unthinkable. "And why?" he asked Kolbe. "Because I am old and feeble, and he has a wife and children." Only heroic charity makes one speak that way, showing how love, when it is true, does not care about death, and moreover avails itself of death to become the highest kind of love. "Who are you?" the Commandant asked. "I am a Catholic priest," answered the martyr. This answer helped the Commandant to make his decision. Maximilian's answer was a witness of his faith that earned his doom. It was evident that then he was a martyr of charity as well as a martyr for the faith. "I accept," said the Commandant.

With nine companions Saint Maximilian was taken to the starvation dungeon. The new group of ten were put in cell 21, which was quite empty and dark. Bruno Borgowiec, a prisoner who served as interpreter in the dungeon, gives the following account:

"Each day when the guards made their routine visits they ordered prisoners to carry off the bodies of the men who had died during the night. I was always present during these visits because I had to write the names of the dead into the records and translate what the prisoners had to say or request.

From the cell where the unfortunate men were, one heard prayers being said aloud. These included the Rosary and hymns. Prisoners in other cells joined the activities. During moments when the guards were away I went down into the dungeon to say something and console the companions. Fervent prayers and hymns to the Blessed Virgin resounded throughout the dungeon. I felt like I was in church. Father Maximilian Kolbe led the prayers and all the others gave the response. Sometimes they were so ingrossed in prayer that they did not notice the approach of the guards for the routine visit. At a shout from them, the voices would hush...

At length, as they were getting weak. They said the prayers softly. When all were lying on the floor, one would see on every visit Father Maximilian Kolbe on his feet or on his knees in their midst, peacefully watching for the approach of the guards. The guards knew he had offered to die, and they knew all those who were with him were dying innocently. Therefore they felt respect for Father Kolbe and said to one another: 'That priest is certainly a good man. We have not had anyone here like him up to now'."

Two weeks passed this way. During that time the prisoners were dying one after another. And so at the end of the third week only four of them remained, among whom was Father Kolbe. The authorities thought that they were surviving too long. The cell was needed for other victims. Therefore one day (August 14) they brought down the director of the infirmary, the vicious German named Boch, who gave each one injections of poisonous acid in the left arm. With a prayer on his lips, Father Kolbe extended his arm to the executioner. As I could not stand what my eyes beheld, I withdrew on the pretext that I had to work in the office. When the guard and executioner had left, I returned to the cell, where I found Father Maximilian Kolbe with eyes opened, seated, leaning against the wall and head bowed to his left (his habitual posture). His serene features beamed forth light...

His body was very clean and luminously glowing. Any-one would have been impressed by his appearance and would have thought himself to be in the presence of a Saint. His face beamed with peace, in contrast to the other dead, whose bodies, stretched out on the floor, were soiled and whose faces showed suffering."

In another statement the same witness adds this moving account: "When I opened the door he was no longer alive. But he appeared to me as though he were. His face was glowing with light in an unusual manner. His eyes were wide open and concentrated on one point. His whole appearance was one in ecstasy. It was a sight I shall never forget."

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Maximilian Maria Kolbe in year 1941, before his arrest

The gate of the camp in Auschwitz

Pictures of staying of St. Maximilian in the camp (II)

Pictures of staying of St. Maximilian in the camp (III)

The cell death, in which died St. Maximilian