St. Maximilian Kolbe (Feast Day August 14)

January 8, 1894 – August 14, 1941

Maximilian Kolbe was a Polish Conventual Franciscan friar. He actively promoted the veneration of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, founding and supervising the monastery of Niepokalanów near Warsaw, operating an amateur-radio station (SP3RN), and establishing several other organizations and publications. During World War II, he was arrested and taken to Auschwitz. During his imprisonment, a prisoner escaped, and, as a result, the commandant announced that ten men would die. As these men were being marched away to the starvation bunkers, Kolbe stepped forward and volunteered to take the place of a man who had a wife and children. Those in charge were dumbfounded, kicked Sergeant Francis Gajowniczek out of line and ordered Father Kolbe to go with the nine. In the “block of death,” they were ordered to strip naked, and their slow starvation began in darkness. But there was no screaming—the prisoners sang. By the eve of the Assumption, four were left alive. The jailer came to finish Kolbe off as he sat in a corner praying. He lifted his fleshless arm to receive the bite of the hypodermic needle filled with carbolic acid. They burned his body with all the others. Fr. Kolbe was beatified in 1971 and canonized in 1982.

·   Peter had to trust Jesus to get out of the boat. Do you trust Jesus? Explain your answer.

·      What is it like to get out of your comfort zone and try something new?

·      Do you think Peter was scared? If so, why?

·      St. Maximilian Kolbe sacrificed his life in the place of another man. In what way is St. Maximilian Kolbe like Jesus?

Water Park

Hopefully, this Sunday’s weather is better than the weather described in today’s Gospel! If so, consider taking your family to a water park or a nearby park with fountains. Kids of all ages love playing in water! This activity can also be an opportunity to reflect on how Peter was able to do by grace what he could never do by nature!

Sunflower Seed Bread

The sunflower, which blooms in August, is a symbol of Christ. It also symbolizes man turning towards Christ because of the way the sunflower turns toward the sun. This recipe is fitting for this week as it reminds us of how St. Maximilian Kolbe’s whole life was oriented toward Christ.

2/3 cup warm milk

1 Tbsp honey

½ Tbsp active dry yeast

2 Tbsp vegetable oil

1 large egg

2 cups bread flour

1 tsp salt

1/3 cup sunflower seeds

In a bowl of a stand mixer, using your paddle attachment, combine milk, honey, and yeast. Allow to bloom for 5 minutes. Add the oil and the egg; mix to combine. Switch attachment to the dough hook. Add in the flour, salt, and most of the sunflower seeds. Reserve a handful to sprinkle over the top. Mix just until dough starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl, about 5 minutes. Pour dough into a lightly greased bowl and allow to rise for about 2 hours. Dough should be doubled in size. Knock the dough down and shape into an oval shape. Place into a lightly greased loaf pan. Cover and allow to rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 F. Brush the top of the loaf with a little oil and sprinkle the remaining sunflower seeds over the top. Bake loaf for about 30 to 40 minutes. Allow to cool before slicing.

From: http://mycatholickitchen.com/2015/03/sunflower-seed-bread-breadbakers.html

Salve Regina

Learn and sing the Salve Regina to celebrate the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15. After reciting the prayer, listen to a recording of the Salve Regina chant in Latin, which can be easily found on YouTube. During the chant, invite your family to close their eyes and simply listen and meditate in silence.

English

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life,

our sweetness and our hope.

To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.

To thee do we send up our sighs,

mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn, then, most gracious advocate,

thine eyes of mercy toward us,

and after this, our exile,

show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.   

Latin

Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae;

vita, dulcedo et spes nostra, salve.

Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevae.

Ad te suspiramus gementes et flentes

in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia ergo, advocata nostra,

illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte.

Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,

nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.

O clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo Maria.

Listen to the themes in the songs sung at Mass today. Which ones are related to today’s Gospel?

Peter had to trust Jesus to get out of the boat and walk on water. Make an intentional decision to trust God this week.

The Dead Sea is one of the most interesting lakes in the world. It is south of the Sea of Galilee (the scene of today’s Gospel) and connected by the Jordan River. The Dead Sea is located at the lowest point on Earth. It is eight times saltier than the oceans and has the highest salt concentration of any body of water in the world. As a result, visitors who enter the water are more buoyant. It is impossible to sink in the Dead Sea!