Childhood

Maxiliam Kolbe was born as Raymond Kolbe on the 7^th January 1894 in Zdunska Wola, Poland, and baptised shortly after in the parish church of the Assumption of Our Lady.   While young, he was bright and energetic, however he often let this out in the form of pranks and general wildness. 

One day, however, his mother, Maryanne, was delighted and confused at the same time to see a sudden change that took place in him around the age of twelve.  Raymond became more sensible, prayerful and serious.  Upon questioning, he revealed that he had received a vision from the Virgin Mary.  In his vision Mary offered him one of two crowns: a white one symbolising purity or a red one symbolising martyrdom.  Kolbe responded that he would take both.

A year later, he entered the Franciscan junior seminary in Lwow with his older brother, Francis.