1) THE SAINT OF AUSCHWITZ! When the Nazis invaded Poland, Father Maximilian Kolbe was one of the few priests who remained in his monastery and denounced Nazi activities. He was later arrested by the Gestapo and transferred to Auschwitz.

2) From the day he arrived at the camp, Father Kolbe spent all his time looking after fellow inmates. No matter how hungry he was, he always shared his small food ration with starving prisoners, and whenever he was beaten by the SS guards, he never showed any fear or anger.

3) Instead, he would pray for the guards. At the end of July 1941, a prisoner escaped from the camp, leading the SS Commandant Karl Fritsch to select ten men that would be starved to death in an underground bunker. Among the selected men was Franciszek Gajowniczek.

4) He starting crying and saying, "My poor wife...my poor children...what will they do?." Father Kolbe suddenly stepped forward and said to the Commandant, "I am a Catholic priest. Let me take his place." Amazingly, the German officer accepted his request.

5) According to Bruno Borgowiec, one of the few Poles who were assigned to the starvation bunker, Father Kolbe led the prisoners in prayer. At every inspection, he stood in the middle of the cell and calmly looked at the guards.

6) Two weeks later, only Father Kolbe was still alive, so the Germans decided to give the priest a lethal injection of carbolic acid. Father Kolbe peacefully gave his arm to the guard and died while praying.

7) Franciszek Gajowniczek survived the war and was reunited with his wife and children. Until his death in 1995, every year on August 14th, he went back to Auschwitz to honor the man who died on his behalf.

8) On October 10th, 1982, Pope John Paul II canonized Father Kolbe. Saint Maximilian Kolbe is now celebrated on August 14th, the day of his death.