St. Max, Mother Mary, the Pro-life Movement, and Me
Today is the feast day of St. Maximilian Kolbe, one of my favorite saints. As a Conventual Franciscan, he willingly assisted me during one of the most difficult times in my life and in my marriage - a dark night of the senses - approximately seven and a half years ago. The Lord led me to seek counseling from a Conventual Franciscan (much like St. Maxilian Kolbe) who guided me on the spiritual path and recovery home to a world of hope when the place I existed seemed so bleak. At the time, family members, who lived thousands of miles away were seriously ill, my husband was unexpectedly laid off (for a six month period) and we were facing serious financial difficulties, (having exhausted our savings as well as our retirement funds). I was chronically ill and unable to work outside our home, although I made attempts at doing so. The Lord was showing me the meaning of true humility and total dependence on Him. This is when St. Maximilian Kolbe entered into my life. St. Maximilian Kolbe was...