Upon returning from Poland, many people have asked me questions about my experience and what I took away from the class and the trip. Some questions that always seems to pop up from time to time are questions about if the trip was sad or if it was depressing to see Auschwitz. At first it was difficult to answer these questions, not because I did not know what to say, but because of the shear amount of information and history that is behind each word, picture, and thought about the Holocaust. Although our time spent in Poland was physically and emotionally draining at points, I left our experience with a new outlook and understanding on the Shoah and the importance of seeing the hope that could be found amidst the tragedy.
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| A statue of Saint Pope John Paul II, located between his childhood home and the church he was baptized in. |
During our time abroad we had opportunities to see the beautiful parts of Poland such as Wadowice. We visited Saint Pope John Paul II’s childhood home where I couldn’t help but be inspired by his life and his faith in God. As I reflect on the experiences now, after returning it is easy to overlook the inspiration that has come from Saint Pope John Paul II.
“I plead with you--never, ever give up on hope, never doubt, never tire, and never become discouraged. Be not afraid.” These words spoken by Saint Pope John Paul II hold incredible truth to his advocacy towards those who were murdered just miles away from his childhood home at Auschwitz. As part of his attempt to commemorate and remember the deaths of those who were murdered in the Shoah, he gave a speech at Yad Vashem, the official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, located in Jerusalem. His speech mirrored the points made in the Nostra Aetate about promoting unity and honoring the memory of the Shoah. The theme of remembrance is found throughout both writings as well as the explanation of Jewish- Christian relations post World War II. Saint Pope John Paul II, used his platform to effectively advocate and be aware of the destruction that occurred in his home land. He is someone who brought goodness to the most awful of situations.
Our time in Poland consisted of 2 days walking the ground of Auschwitz I. I must admit the first day was very overwhelming, it didn’t feel real to walk on ground where millions were tortured and killed mainly due to what they believed. Religion has always been a large part of my life, which is why I was interested in the story of Maksymilian Kolbe, a Polish, Franciscan priest who fell victim to the Holocaust and was killed at Auschwitz. Kolbe was a Catholic friar who made the conscious choice to remain in the monastery after the war started. At the monastery, which was used as a make-shift hospital he continued to publish religious works for citizens during the war until he was arrested in 1941. During his time spent at Auschwitz (as prisoner number 16670) he was tortured and beaten for staying true to his faith.
During role call one morning the SS officers realized that a prisoner was missing. Due to the prisoner’s collective responsibility, they were punished and ten innocent people were sentenced to death by starvation. One of the people was a man named Franciszek Gajowniczek, who upon being called out began to cry out to his family. Immediately Kolbe, approached the SS officers and asked to take the man’s place. Kolbe was sentenced to death in place of the man, who ended up surviving Auschwitz and the Holocaust.
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| A plaque located on Block 14, the location where Maksymilian Kolbe stood up to the Nazi’s to take the place of a prisoner who was sentenced to death. |
Kolbe demonstrated incredible faith and goodness up until his death in July 1941. We had the opportunity to visit the cell that Maximilian Kolbe was prisoner in for the 2 weeks with no food. Still during the most difficult points of his life, he managed to comfort fellow prisoners and hold mass and pray the rosary with others. Even at the moment of his death he exhibited grace and compassion, which is why Pope John Paul II canonized him as a saint. In the words of Father Manfred, “The Nazis may have killed him, but they could not kill his love.” He is someone who has allowed me to see the goodness of people throughout the worst of what humanity can bring.
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| This cell is where Maksymilian Kolbe spent 2 weeks suffering from dehydration and starvation until he was eventually killed by lethal injection. |
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