The charism of "mercy" helps one to channel God’s love in practical ways through deeds of compassion which reduce distress in suffering persons and enable them to experience God’s love.

While Jesus was on earth He was limited in time and space. He lived only 33 years and His travels covered only a few square miles. Jesus physically touched only a few persons; His message was heard by only a few. But before He returned to His Father, He bade the apostles and disciples to go to the whole world to spread the Good News and continue His mission of mercy. He wanted them to be His hands, His feet, His voice, His touch.

Through the help of the Holy Spirit, all Christians are mandated in one way or another to be Jesus to the world. A contemporary who was an expert in being like Christ in His mercy was St. Maximilian Kolbe. Born into a poor family in a small Polish town in 1894 and baptized "Ray-mond," he grew up with a great desire to become a priest. At an early age, Ray-mond joined the Franciscan Order, later was ordained and known as Father Maximilian. After many years of study, he was awarded a doctorate in philosophy, and another in theology.

But the long years of study took a toll on his health and he contracted tuberculosis. Besides that, it was a sad time to be living in Poland, and it was terribly dangerous to be a priest during Hitler’s regime. Living dangerously and bravely, Father Maximilian, who had a great love for Our Lady, spread her devotion by personal contacts and numerous publications even in Japan. He sheltered many of Hitler’s victims in a town dedicated to her.

Eventually he was captured by the Nazis and sent to one horrible prison after another. When they came to take him to the prison camp in Pawiak, they were greeted with "Praised be Jesus Christ." Here he was abused and beaten for wearing a crucifix. Later he was sent to Auschwitz where he was given many opportunities to show mercy, especially to the Jewish prisoners. "He loved us," they said.

On July 30, 1941, a prisoner escaped from Auschwitz. In retaliation, the officer in charge lined up the inmates of cellblock 11 and ordered that 10 be selected for punishment. They would be consigned to an underground bunker and starved to death. One of the 10 selected, Francis Gajowniczek, had a wife and children. In his place, Maximilian stepped forth, and prompted by the mercy of Jesus, asked to take the place of the young man. The officer in charge accepted the offer.

Father Kolbe entered the death bunker where he often led his nine companions in prayer and helped them prepare for death. On August 14, Kolbe and three of the original 10 were still alive. These four were injected with carbolic acid and their bodies cremated in the camp ovens.

Canonized in 1982 by Pope John Paul II for the moral and spiritual strength he instilled in people—especially his fellow prisoners—St. Maximilian will long be remembered as a man who portrayed a masculine endurance of suffering and a highly feminine, almost a motherly heart of mercy. Present for the canonization ceremony was Francis whose life St. Maxmilian had saved.