St. Maximilian Kolbe Has A Must-See Shrine in Illinois
St. Maximilian Kolbe is one of the most beloved saints of the 20th Century - and for a very good reason:
St. Maximilian Kolbe was a Polish Franciscan priest born in 1894 in Zdunska Wola, Poland. From a young age, he felt called to religious life and joined the Franciscans, eventually becoming a priest and a passionate promoter of devotion to the Immaculate Virgin Mary. He founded the Militia Immaculatae, an organization dedicated to spreading the Catholic faith and devotion to Mary through publications and media.
During World War II, Kolbe was arrested by the Nazis and sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp. In July 1941, after a prisoner escaped, the Nazis chose ten men to die by starvation in retaliation. Kolbe volunteered to take the place of a fellow prisoner, a husband and father. He survived two weeks in the starvation bunker before being executed by lethal injection.
His feast day on August 14th is the perfect time to honor this great man of God, and we know just the place to go: the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe.
Tucked away in Libertyville, Illinois, the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe is THE place to go to learn about and venerate this well-known saint.
Featuring everything from a beautiful chapel to a retreat center complete with 30 comfortable rooms, the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe promises a life-changing experience for all who visit.
Unlike other Shrines, St. Maximilian Kolbe is home to three different chapels for prayer and reflection, plus outdoor shrines, a Stations of the Cross, and a beautiful landscape for walking and praying.
Mass at the Chapel is celebrated Monday through Saturday at noon and Sunday at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
In addition to mass, pilgrims are invited to partake in 24/7 adoration, confession, prayers, and other devotions and sacraments.
Don't forget to visit the on-site gift shop!
Please note: If scheduled in advance, you can customize your group tour to include a spiritual talk by a Friar, special mid-day prayer, a historical video presentation, and more!
To schedule your tour, please call (847) 367-7800, ext. 225.
To learn more about the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe, please visit their website.