If you can travel to another place beyond your usual routine, somewhere that takes you into unfamiliar beauty, I think you should. It's a worthy expense that you will never regret. Immersing yourself in holy places connects you with the universality of our faith. Walking in the actual footsteps of the saints is an experience of integration of the body and soul. We move our bodies through a tangible course of sacred places, and our hearts and souls open in new and profound ways.
Of course, who has resources for a pilgrimage when a dozen eggs costs $17? And of course, God is everywhere, and you can find Him anywhere you happen to be.
To that end, I’ve invented the term "still-grimage": you know, like "stay-cation," but make it holy. You can set aside a designated day, afternoon, or even just a few hours to make a still-grimage in your home, or maybe at a nearby park, or a local chapel.
What do we need to enter into the sacred, either at home or abroad? Pilgrimages are punctuated with beautiful art and writing for contemplation and prayer. They also offer contact with the saints in their own homes, convents, towns, and in their own words. Here are some resources for a still-grimage with St Maximilian Kolbe, plus a roundup of Kolbe pilgrimage destinations around the world.
Reflection + music
You can read my brief Kolbe biography and reflection on a particular detail of his death here. Other Marian reflections are here and here.
Listen to my “not your typical” Marian playlist here. Featuring songs from Lauryn Hill, Patty Griffith, Ben Harper, and a breathtaking Ave Maria from Alicia Keys.
Art
I was commissioned to paint this Our Lady of the Immaculate Heart as a birthday gift for the patron’s wife. You can see my artwork and commission me here.
Rule
In the days of preparation before his ordination in 1918, St Maximilian Kolbe wrote the following rule for himself in his journal. It offers a tender insight into his heart. You can read the full context here.
Follow your daily schedule very faithfully and you will be saved.
Start serving God this very day.
This may be the last day of your life. Live as if this day were your last.
Tomorrow is uncertain, yesterday no longer belongs to you, only the present is yours.
There is an ear that listens to all things, an eye that peruses all the most secret emotions of your heart, a hand that notes down each thing.
Not being punished is the worst of punishments.
Be in love with the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Each of your actions will be recorded forever.
Choose the worst things in eating, dressing, and in tasks, and you will be dear to Jesus.
Silence.
Souls in purgatory. For sinners, for the Holy Church: pray and work.
Make up for wasted time with fervor.
Maximilian, be holy; if others have managed, why could you not do it as well? If you believe it, if you desire it, with God’s help you may still become a saint. Yes, you can, you can.
Be a man, be a Christian, be a friar.
Do not be ashamed of your convictions.
Do unto others what you wish were done unto yourself.
Have a sense of duty, perform it well, without worrying that someone is watching (with noble ambition).
Do not worry about the evil that is in others. Be a Catholic. When you kneel before the altar, let people know that you are aware of Whom you are kneeling before. Be a religious. Good intention in work is like the number “1” in front of zeroes. Men deprive themselves of great treasures when they work without good intention. As you rise up, so you will spend the whole day. Your every action is recorded. Nothing is left without punishment or reward. You could die even today! Be collected; he who breaks away soon loses the graces he as acquired. A full drawer is always closed. Humility.
Reading
St. Maximilian Kolbe: The Collected Essays of Peter Damian Fehlner, OFM Conv: In the 1980s, fellow Conventual Franciscan Fehlner served as editor of Kolbe's Militia Immaculata journal; these are his collected essays on the saint and martyr.
A Man for Others: This biography is often considered one of the best; it chronicles Kolbe's life in the words of those who knew him.
Mothers of the Saints: You know by now that this is one of my favorite books. One of the chapters focuses on the biography of Maria Kolbe, Maximilian's mother; studying her story offers a lot of insight into his personality and choices. It is now out of print, but no worries—you can usually find used copies. The true gem in this book are each chapter's "For Your Life" practical application bullets drawn from these women's lives.
Pray
St Maximilian Kolbe composed this Act of Consecration to Mary:
O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven and earth, refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to you. I, (name), a repentant sinner, cast myself at your feet humbly imploring you to take me with all that I am and have, wholly to yourself as your possession and property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most pleases you.
If it pleases you, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of you: "She will crush your head," and, "You alone have destroyed all heresies in the world." Let me be a fit instrument in your immaculate and merciful hands for introducing and increasing your glory to the maximum in all the many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever you enter, you obtain the grace of conversion and growth in holiness, since it is through your hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
V. Allow me to praise you, O sacred Virgin.
R. Give me strength against your enemies. Amen.
Visit
There are several places around the world where you can connect with St Maximilian Kolbe.
Niepokalanow, Poland: The Conventual Franciscan monastery that Kolbe founded in Poland is still an active place of prayer, work, and community. You can tour the original buildings, see his publishing house and radio station, and make retreats.
Memorial and Museum of Auschwitz-Birkenau, Poland: The site of this concentration camp has become a sobering memorial museum where you can pray at Kolbe's cell and other locations around the site. If you are traveling anywhere within a few hours, it's profoundly worth making a day trip (Krakow is about an hour away; Warsaw, about 4 hours; Prague, about 5 hours).
Nagasaki, Japan: The mission Kolbe and his brother friars established near Nagasaki still remains open to visitors and pilgrims. You can also read about its miraculous survival during the atomic bomb here.
National Shrine of St Maximilian Kolbe at Marytown: In Libertyville, Illinois, this shrine features a beautiful perpetual adoration chapel, a Kolbe/Holocaust exhibit, a retreat and conference center, Marian consecration classes, and a huge gift shop. It's about an hour north of Chicago.
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