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Sunday, October 10, 2010

28th anniversary of Kolbe's Canonization

Excerpt from Pope John Paul II's Homily:

"Before the eloquence of the life and death of blessed Maximilian, it is impossible not to recognize what seems to constitute the main and essential element of the sign given by God to the Church and the world in his death.

Is not his death, spontaneously confronted for love of man, a particular fulfillment of the words of Christ?

Does not this death make Maximilian particularly like Christ, the Model of all Martyrs, who gives His own life on the Cross for his brethren?

Does not this death possess a particular, penetrating eloquence for our age?

Is not this death a particularly authentic witness of the Church in the modern world?

And so, in virtue of my apostolic authority, I have decreed that Maximilian Maria Kolbe-who after his Beatification was venerated as a Confessor-shall henceforth be venerated also as a Martyr!

"Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones!" Amen

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