Why Poland?

So, Poland was awesome! I cannot tell you how wonderful my experience was. I want to share with you the reason I went to Poland to begin with. I am sure that you have guessed that it has something to do with Maximilian Kolbe. Many of you know that I am a convert. I was baptized when I was 19 years old. Some of the first people I met on my journey of faith were the Father Kolbe Missionaries. They are a secular institute founded in Italy by a Conventual Franciscan by the name of Fr. Luigi Faccenda. Those women, the Fr. Kolbe Missionaries in West Covina, California, prepared me for my sacraments. Before doing that, they gave me the gift of love for Our Lady. They live in the spirit of St. Maximilian Kolbe and total consecration to Mary, the Immaculata. I learned to love Mary and the Miraculous Medal because of these great women and St. Maximilan Kolbe. St. Max believed that the Miraculous Medal was like a silver bullet that could win souls for heaven. That was my introduction to the Church – to my faith – to my life as a Christian.
I am a Daughter of Charity today because of the Miraculous Medal and St. Maximilian Kolbe. That’s how God brought me to this amazing life I get to live. The Daughters of Charity Motherhouse is the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal! St. Catherine Laboure, visionary of the Medal, was a Daughter of Charity. At this very moment, I am writing this blog from that very place. I am here in Paris, where St. Catherine once lived as a young sister, where Mary appeared to her and asked her to have the medal made. That’s how God can work!
I stopped by Poland to thank a very special person in my life. I went to Auschwitz to thank St. Maximilian Kolbe for my faith and for my vocation. I went to Auschwitz to honor all of the people who perished there and in all of the camps of World War II. I went to Poland because I have a great life and I am so grateful!
St. Maximilian Kolbe – Pray for us!
O, Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you!

Thank you Antonella, Fr. Kolbe Missionary, for making my trip so special!

Stunning - For Aug. 27, 2010

St. Maximilian Kolbe is known as the great Martyr of Charity. Unlike many other known martyrs, Max did not die defending his faith, so to speak. He offered to die in the place of another man.
The previous post included a picture of the cell in which Maximilian breathed his last breath. This post includes a picture of a different spot in Auschwitz. This plaque is on the corner of a block in the camp. This particular block is located where the roll call area of the camp was. This plaque tells us that this is the place where Maximilian stepped out of the roll call line to approach the officer and ask to take the place of a husband and father who had been chosen along with nine others to die in the starvation bunker – the consequence/lesson/price to be paid for a fellow prisoner who escaped.
Father Kolbe Missionary, Antonella, helped me to contemplate this important location.
Maximilian Kolbe died in a cell in Block 11. However, it was at this site, where this plaque is, that he offered his life.
I think back to the life of Christ. The miracle was not in his birth or death for that matter. We all are born and will die. (This is not to lessen the miracle that life is.) The miracle, the awesome thing about God is that he became flesh! He then offered his life in human form to show his love for us. Then.,,,,,,,,he resurrected! That’s the miracle! That’s why we are Christians!
St. Maximilan Kolbe stepped out of line - an action deserving of being shot on the spot. He walked to the front of the roll call yard to the officer. Asked to take the place of a man he did not know. And it was accepted. That’s amazing! This act of charity was accepted in a place where so many other acts of charity or humanity were punished. Witnesses say that they feel the guards and other prisoners were just so stunned that they did not act according to protocol. They were just so shocked.
Ultimate love – ultimate charity – is stunning!

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Location:Poland

St. Maximillian Kolbe - Pray for us!

It's about 6:30 am on Friday, August 27th. I am in a little town called Harmeze - outside of Oswiecim - the town where Auschwitz I is located. It's true that I have been in Poland for almost two days now. It is also true that I spent my first night in Krakow with the wonderful Daughters of Charity there. Somehow, it is more true and right that my Polish journey really began here at the Kolbe Center where I am staying. It began yesterday as I visited Auschwitz I. Where so many lives were stolen, and people's humanity stripped away.

I had the privilege of my own personal tour guide. Antonella is a Father Kolbe Missionary. I have known her for almost 20 years. And it was in her care and with her help that I took a very long walk through Auschwitz. I don't know how to share with you the power of such a dark place. I don't know that it is possible. I also don't know how to share with you the stories of the little specks of light that people found from time to time.

St. Maximillian Kolbe was one of those lights. Yesterday, on the Feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Queen of Poland, I stood at the spot where he offered his life - where he stepped out of line to offer his life for another man's. I stood at the cell where he breathed his last breath as a guard injected him with carbolic acid. I stood in the place where the gas chamber once claimed the lives of thousands and thousands of people. And I saw the hanging block where Commandant Hoss was hanged after the Nuremburg trials.

I have more to share. I think right now, this is more enough.

I will update when I can. The connection his quite unpredictable.

Time to Fly!

HI Friends!
The day is finally here. In just a few hours I will be on a plane headed for Frankfurt and then on to Krakow, Poland. I am packed, excited and a bit nervous. Pray for me and know that you are most definitely in my prayers. I will be checking in from the other side of the world as soon as I am able.
Peace!
Sr. Lisa

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Location:Los Altos Hills

Europe Here I Come!!!!

Hi Friends!
Yes! That's right! I am off to Europe in one week. I am very excited about all of the wonderful experiences that are waiting there for me to share with you. Please follow and post when you desire. I will try my best to update as often as possible. Thanks and talk to you from Europe.
Sr. Lisa