"Forget Not Love": The Passion of Maximilian Kolbe

by André Frossard

The famous French author's unique writing style captivates the reader with the heroic story of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, a modern apostle of Catholic evangelization, Marian spirituality, and a martyr of charity. With the encouragement of Pope John Paul II and the help of documentation (some unpublished) given to him by the Vatican, Frossard chronicles the dramatic and moving life of this Polish Franciscan who volunteered to die in place of a fellow prisoner in Auschwitz. While his heroic martyr's death is well known, Frossard shows how Kolbe's whole life was one of extraordinary generosity in devotion to his ideal of "love without limits." Kolbe was that rare combination of mystic, intellectual genius, theologian, and down-to-earth practicality. His tremendous creative energies (despite constant bouts of tuberculosis and less than one lung) enhanced the lives of all those who knew him, the millions who read his publications, and the countless persons inspired by his example.  Forget Not Love  reveals the interesting and impressive details of Kolbe's childhood, vision of Mary, brilliance in his studies, his founding of the largest monastery in the world (700 Franciscans), massive printing apostolate, missionary journeys to Japan, and his final act of love in Auschwitz. Frossard has captured the heart of the man whom Pope John Paul II declared "the patron saint of this difficult century."

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Biography, Faith, World War II, War, Spirituality

199 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1991

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to one of last century’s most celebrated saints. Reading this account of the life of Father Maximilian Kolbe by André Frossard whetted my appetite to learn more about this unusual Marian mystic and martyr. Written in a familiar style unencumbered by footnotes, Forget Not Love speaks to the heart. Those looking for hard dates and facts will probably be disappointed. And yet I found Frossard’s informality refreshing. I especially liked when and how he interjected controversial information from Father Kolbe’s tribunal, the formal hearings from his cause for canonization.

The Devil's Advocate (who is supposed to raise arguments against the person being considered) pointed to Father Kolbe's emotionalism and excitability as a young priest and the fact that his death didn’t fit the traditional standard for Christian martyrdom. Both of these objections were acknowledged and yet time has taught counterarguments both illuminating and encouraging, or at least I found them to be so. To the concern about Father Kolbe’s lack of lifetime holiness, the author writes:

‘Sanctity comes with age, the combat, the laborious searching, and the agonized preference for perfection—that is, if it exists and if it is not just a form of pathological obsession that today we might rather tend to treat than to admire.’

As to the question of martyrdom, Providence saw fit to place a man at the head of the church who had lived under not one but two totalitarian regimes during the murderous 20th century, Pope John Paul II.

‘For him, the totalitarian systems are by nature and vocation “martyrogens”. They place Christians, and all free men, in the same situation as the early Christians, and all free men, enjoined to worship a deified Caesar. The Christian, or any free man, who does not consent and thus loses his life is a martyr. A believer dies for the Divine Person of Christ; a nonbeliever dies for the human person—which for him is similar. And when it was pointed out to Pope John Paul II that in that case all the victims of the Nazi camps would have been martyrs and could be venerated as such, he did not deny it.’

Fr. Kolbe is one of the four Marian advocates quoted extensively by 33 Days to Morning Glory which I read concurrently. It was because of doing this retreat that I wanted to learn more about him and his mystical devotion to Our Lady.

Kolbe was a modern day apostle, founding the largest monastery in the world (700 Franciscans) and working tirelessly right up to the minute he was executed to spread the Gospel by living it. A wonderful biography about an amazingly holy ‘on-fire’-with-love saint. Most highly recommended!

Finished this on the Feast of St. Kolbe, August 14th, 2013.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book about St. Maximilian Kolbe that I have read. His life is simply amazing, and I enjoyed learning about it, but the author's style wasn't as compelling for me.

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I obviously love St. Maximilian Kolbe (named one of my sons after him), but I have to hope there's a better biography about him out there.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very obviously written for a super-Catholic audience. A silver lining of that, however, is that if you are not Catholic, you will learn plenty of new words and terms -- so keep your dictionary handy and Google nearby!

The author includes plenty of his own opinions, but once you realize that he, too, was in a Nazi camp, it makes more sense, and I feel he earned the right to say absolutely whatever he wants. That being said, there was very little of the actual events that made him famous. I wish there had been more included on his time at Auschwitz.

Saint Max was clearly an incredible man who, though I am not Catholic, has been making an impact on me for many years. I'm grateful to have learned a little bit more about Father Kolbe, whom I consider to be my own saint of sorts. I look forward to meeting him someday.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frossard's biography of Maximilian Kolbe is eloquent and inspirational. He includes information from Kolbe's childhood, but the focus is certainly on his mission as a Franciscan priest serving primarily in Poland and Japan, his dedication to the Immaculata, and his death at Auschwitz. The story of Kolbe's life is not told in a linear fashion, which can make it a bit challenging, rather the author looks at Kolbe's life through the lens of the inquest exploring his cause for canonization.

[Marivi]

La humanidad de Jesús-“pienso en Aquel que en Caná cambiaba en vino el agua de seis enormes tinajas después de que la boda hubiera agotado la bodega, clara infracción de la templanza; o que proponía a sus discípulos como ejemplo los lirios Del Valle que «ni hilan ni traba-jan», imprudencia manifiesta. Y me pregunto si hoy, ante el austero tribunal en que se debaten las causas de los santos se conseguiría canonizar a Jesucristo”

[Sarah S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provided excellent insight into St. Maximilian Kolbe's life and the process of his canonization. While other books and resources may provide simply the facts, this book provided a deeper understanding of his personality and what drove him in his work. This is a beautiful work for anyone seeking to learn more about St. Maximilian Kolbe.

[Justine R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a bit surreal to finish reading this shortly after visiting the place where he died. I learned a lot from this book about St. Maximilian Kolbe's pre-Auschwitz life and his intense Marian devotion.

[LaKaramazov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy bella biografía. Es una lástima que el autor no se haya extendido (aún más) en anécdotas del santo y en su vida (en más detalle). Si bien al principio la novela no es muy atrapante, luego se pone bueníma, no podía parar de leer.

[Jonathan Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine introduction to an important saint of the twentieth century. Poetically written, though sporadic in construction, this book provides a concise overview of St. Maximilian Kolbe without much depth; a good starting point for those interested in learning about the martyr of Auschwitz.

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aunque me costó el primer capítulo, es una novela breve que enamora en el testimonio escondido y del enamorado de María entregado hasta el final como fidelísimo caballero de Ella y de su Hijo.
¡Gracias Maximiliano Kolbe!
Ruega por nosotros.

[Mary Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, a good read, but the translation was a little clumsy in places. The story of St. Kolbe illustrates how we are pilgrims on earth, journeying to our final reward. St. Kolbe is in heaven now, enjoying the beatific vision. St. Kolbe, pray for us.

[Chris Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of Saint Maximillian Kolbe is amazing!!! However, I did not particularly enjoy the writing style of the author. I felt it tried to get to fancy and more complicated than it needed to be. Perhaps others enjoy this type of style but it wasn’t for me. I’m more of a meat and potatoes guy…

[Trinity Vinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most powerful books ever written about one of the most powerful saints to have humbly trod the earth. A must read!

[Manuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy reading and a nice way to know who Kolbe was.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written, I love the author's style of writing, thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I learned so much more about St. Maximilian Kolbe from this book than I previously knew.

[Marie Zahnle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Portrait of intense belief and humble heroism. “For suffering alone teaches love.”

[Michael Hermann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read a few biographies on Maximillian Kolbe, and by all rights his life is quite interesting and very inspiring, but for me, this book did virtually nothing to show this. I was not a fan of Frossard's writing style, it seemed to flowery and very forced. He seemed to want to explain more of the details of events happening at the time Kolbe was alive than he did of the actual events that happened to Kolbe while he was alive. I was extremely disappointed that Frossard didn't go into more detail of the time Kolbe spent in the concentration camps. He literally covered that part of his life in about 2 chapters and the total number of pages was not nearly enough to explain all of the things Kolbe did in the camp to help other people in their struggles while totally overlooking his needs, and then to only take about 5 total pages to go through the sequence that lead to Kolbe voluntarily giving his life so that someone else could live just doesn't seem right. There are plenty of better books out there on the life of Maximillian Kolbe and I hope if you are interested in his story, you read one of those books first because if you read this one first, you might not come away very impressed with Kolbe and look at his life in any more detail. If you are interested in Maximillian Kolbe and his life, I would recommend this book: Maximilian Kolbe: Saint of Auschwitz before I would recommend Forget Not Love.

[J.T. Therrien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forget Not Love was a lovely, heartbreaking story of an incredible saint-in-the-making.

I knew practically nothing of St. Maximilian Kolbe and this book explained much about this tireless Franciscan priest's life leading to his tragic death at Auschwitz concentration camp.

The author's (Frossard) main objective was to illustrate the reasons why the Devil's Advocate had difficulty discerning whether or not Maximilian Kolbe should be considered a martyr for the Church. Frossard accomplished this aim quite well by going over the saint's works into detail, quoting at length from Kolbe's correspondence.

The only problem I had with the book was the horrible translation of the flowery, poetic French passages. I look forward to one day reading the original text in French, since this translation does not do service to Kolbe's life.

This book remains, nonetheless, a must-read for anyone wanting to learn how a truly humble servant of God lived his life.

[Jessen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love St Maximilian Kolbe, but I couldn't finish this book. I don't see how it encourages devotion, and wouldn't recommend it. As an example, here is one of the quotes I had a problem with:
"Sanctity comes with age, the combat, the laborious searching, and the agonized preference for perfection – that is, if it exists and if it is not just a form of pathological obsession that today we might rather tend to treat than to admire."

[Juan · Rating 4 out of 5]

"No olvidéis el amor" es la recomendación que Maximiliano Kolbe pronuncia a los seiscientos franciscanos que dirigia como superior de, luego de que Hitler cruza la frontera polaca, y le indican que debe dispersar su comunidad. Un libro que demuestra la entrega desinteresada y amorosa por el otro, hasta el don de la vida misma, a ejemplo de nuestro Señor Jesucristo.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast read and an inspiring life. This is about a saint and Franciscan martyred at Auschwitz. Yet this is not a sad story. In his love of the blessed Mother Mary, he is a beautiful model of giving his life for others. I gave it three stars because I wanted it to be longer and include more of the saint's writings, which are always deeply moving when included.