St. Maximilian Kolbe and the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Patron Saint of prisoners, families, and drug addicts

Feast Day: August 14

If you’ve ever wondered what heroic love looks like, look no further than St. Maximilian Kolbe. A Polish Franciscan friar, missionary, and martyr, Kolbe is best known for his self-sacrificial love in the hellish confines of Auschwitz. But long before that moment, he was already living a life deeply devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

From a young age, Kolbe had a vision of Mary offering him two crowns: one white for purity, and one red for martyrdom. He accepted both. That dual devotion marked his life. As a priest, he spread Marian devotion around the world, especially through the Militia Immaculatae, a movement he founded to bring souls to Jesus through Mary.

His love for Mary wasn’t generic. He had a particular devotion to her Immaculate Heart, which he saw as the surest way to grow in holiness. For Kolbe, Mary wasn’t a side devotion. She was the path. He once wrote, "Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did."

St. Maximilian Kolbe reminds us that Marian devotion isn’t just sentimental. It’s powerful. It transforms hearts. It prepares us for whatever God asks of us—even laying down our lives.

To honor this incredible saint and his love for Our Lady, we created the St. Maximilian Kolbe and Immaculate Heart of Mary Necklace. It pairs his medal with the symbol of Mary’s Immaculate Heart—a tangible reminder to follow her guidance, just like he did.