Saint Maximilian Kolbe Martyr of Charity

A powerful and deeply moving portrayal of Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe (1894–1941), the Polish Conventual Franciscan friar whose heroic sacrifice in Auschwitz made him a universal symbol of Christian charity. According to Wikipedia, he was born 8 January 1894 in Zduńska Wola and entered the Conventual Franciscans as a young man, taking the name Maximilian. Catholic Online notes that he founded the Militia Immaculatae (Army of the Immaculate) and became a pioneering Catholic publisher, establishing the large monastic center Niepokalanów, dedicated to evangelization through media. During World War II, he was arrested by the Nazis and sent to Auschwitz. Britannica recounts the defining moment of his martyrdom: when a prisoner was condemned to death, Kolbe stepped forward and volunteered to die in his place, offering his life out of pure charity. He was killed on 14 August 1941. Canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1982, he is venerated as the patron of prisoners, families, journalists, amateur radio operators, and those struggling with addiction. His feast is celebrated on 14 August. Ideal for sacred art prints, martyrdom‑themed designs, educational materials, and devotional publications.