It\'s July 1941 in the Auschwitz concentration camp in German-occupied Poland.
In the decades leading up to his generous self-sac.
On the contrary -- and as these moving pages show -- his voluntary sacrifice of his life was, in fact, the crowning achievement of nearly forty years of Christian love, devotion, and, yes, even martyrdom that he had freely and deliberately agreed to accept when he was only twelve years old.
Kolbe may dismiss this as an impulsive act, soon regretted.
Those who know little of Fr.
Kolbe laid down his life not for his friends -- as some might do -- but for a complete stranger.
By means of this singular deed, Fr.
Let me take this man\'s place, he says, thereby volunteering to die in the place of a stranger who had just been condemned to death by his Nazi captors.
Franciscan priest Maximilian Kolbe steps forward.
It\'s July 1941 in the Auschwitz concentration camp in German-occupied Poland
