Early Life Up To 1920s 

While in the Franciscan seminary, Kolbe greatly impressed his superiors, showing interest in areas such as mathematics, physics and even space travel.  During this time, he was still not sure he was heading for, and seriously considered becoming a military leader of Poland.  However, after much deliberation on his part, he finally decided he would continue life as a Franciscan friar.  Aged 16, he became a novice in the Conventual Franciscan Order, taking the name Maximilian Maria. 

Afterwards, he was sent to continue his studies in philosophy and theology in Rome.  His time spent in Rome greatly broadened his horizons and showed to him the suffering that existed throughout the world. 

While still a student, he and six of his friends founded the Immaculata movement, dedicated to opposing the Freemasons (a secretive fraternal organization which in Kolbe’s time was very anti-Catholic), converting sinners and showing devotion to Mary.  Kolbe was obsessed with Mary and the role that she played in the world.  During this time he had a vision of her as Queen of the Universe.  He also wrote of her as "the Queen of Society" and described the 20th century as "the age of the Blessed Virgin".  He believed that Christ, through Mary, would continue to heal the world.

He was finally ordained in 1918 shortly after being struck by tuberculosis, which for the rest of his life would leave him in a weak condition.  A year later, he was sent to teach philosophy and Church history in Krakow.  Here he continued to spread the Immaculata movement.

Seeing the potential for technology to spread his message, Maximilian Kolbe began publishing his magazine, “Knight of the Immaculate” in January 1922.   Although his superiors intially were sceptical of the idea, he managed to overcome the debt that was incurred to him from the purchase of printing equipment, through the generous donation of nearby parish priest and money he found in an envelope on an altar after praying to Mary.  His superiors were astonished as his monthly magazine became popular for its thoughtful insights on Christianity, the current situation in Poland and the world, and Marian theology. 

After a while, Kolbe was moved to Grodno (on Poland's eastern border), where two friars were assigned to help him with the magazine.  By this point, doctors told Kolbe that he couldn't expect to live more than a few months.  But this tragic ailment would not end up being the cause of his death.