<p>Franciszek Gajowniczek. Don’t try to spell his name but remember, he was a Polish army sergeant and Auschwitz prisoner and survivor, who was present at the Vatican in 1971 when Pope Paul VI began the process of declaring Catholic Priest Maximilian Kolbe a Saint. </p>.<p>Fr Maximilian Kolbe was arrested on February 17, 1941, for sheltering refugees (including 2,000 Jews) at his Niepokalanów monastery. He was deported from Pawiak prison in Warsaw to Auschwitz. Franciszek Gajowniczek was spared his life because Fr Maximilian Kolbe volunteered to die in his place at the horrendous concentration camp. </p><p>After hearing Gajowniczek’s plea for his wife and children to be saved from hunger and death. Fr Kolbe stepped forward and offered to take his place, stating, “I am a Catholic priest from Poland; I would like to take his place because he has a wife and children.” The Nazi commander, surprised, permitted the switch.</p>.<p>After two weeks, most prisoners had died of starvation and dehydration, but Kolbe remained alive. To clear the cell, the Nazis executed Fr Kolbe.</p>.<p>Pope John Paul II Canonised Kolbe in 1982 and met Gajowniczek discussing events related to Kolbe’s canonization.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The international Media was rife with Franciszek’s testimony of how a Priest sacrificed his life for him and his family. Franciszek Gajowniczek from then-on testified in every effort to reveal what true love is. True love demands great sacrifice. It requires commitment. It requires putting others first.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Jesus said “No greater love than this that one lays down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Jesus did what he preached. Love today has become such a common word but in most cases, attached with subtle suggestions and invisible strings.</p>.<p class="bodytext">When you want to ‘gain’ something from someone you love, even if you don’t say it, it ceases to be love. We all love and want to be loved.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But for a true Christian, Love goes beyond. You don’t expect returns. People can be hurting, unpredictable and even ungrateful, but you conquer, when you rise above these human concerns.</p>.<p class="bodytext"> Jesus in his dying moments on the cross, said “Father, forgive them for they know-not what they do”. To a criminal beside him he said “Today you will be with me in Paradise”.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Great Love requires Great Courage, Courage to see even people who hurt you, in need of Love.</p>.<p class="bodytext">How courageous are you to love?</p>
<p>Franciszek Gajowniczek. Don’t try to spell his name but remember, he was a Polish army sergeant and Auschwitz prisoner and survivor, who was present at the Vatican in 1971 when Pope Paul VI began the process of declaring Catholic Priest Maximilian Kolbe a Saint. </p>.<p>Fr Maximilian Kolbe was arrested on February 17, 1941, for sheltering refugees (including 2,000 Jews) at his Niepokalanów monastery. He was deported from Pawiak prison in Warsaw to Auschwitz. Franciszek Gajowniczek was spared his life because Fr Maximilian Kolbe volunteered to die in his place at the horrendous concentration camp. </p><p>After hearing Gajowniczek’s plea for his wife and children to be saved from hunger and death. Fr Kolbe stepped forward and offered to take his place, stating, “I am a Catholic priest from Poland; I would like to take his place because he has a wife and children.” The Nazi commander, surprised, permitted the switch.</p>.<p>After two weeks, most prisoners had died of starvation and dehydration, but Kolbe remained alive. To clear the cell, the Nazis executed Fr Kolbe.</p>.<p>Pope John Paul II Canonised Kolbe in 1982 and met Gajowniczek discussing events related to Kolbe’s canonization.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The international Media was rife with Franciszek’s testimony of how a Priest sacrificed his life for him and his family. Franciszek Gajowniczek from then-on testified in every effort to reveal what true love is. True love demands great sacrifice. It requires commitment. It requires putting others first.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Jesus said “No greater love than this that one lays down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Jesus did what he preached. Love today has become such a common word but in most cases, attached with subtle suggestions and invisible strings.</p>.<p class="bodytext">When you want to ‘gain’ something from someone you love, even if you don’t say it, it ceases to be love. We all love and want to be loved.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But for a true Christian, Love goes beyond. You don’t expect returns. People can be hurting, unpredictable and even ungrateful, but you conquer, when you rise above these human concerns.</p>.<p class="bodytext"> Jesus in his dying moments on the cross, said “Father, forgive them for they know-not what they do”. To a criminal beside him he said “Today you will be with me in Paradise”.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Great Love requires Great Courage, Courage to see even people who hurt you, in need of Love.</p>.<p class="bodytext">How courageous are you to love?</p>
