This homily was given by Pope John Paul II during Holy Mass at the former Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland. In it, he reflects on the victory of faith and love over hatred that was demonstrated by Saint Maximilian Kolbe who voluntarily died in place of another prisoner. He also honors the millions of victims from various nations who lost their lives there and calls the audience to work to prevent wars and protect human dignity for all.

1. APOSTOLIC PILGRIMAGE TO POLAND
HOLY MASS AT THE CONCENTRATION CAMP
HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II
Auschwitz-Bierkenau, 7 June 1979

3. "This is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith" (1 Jn 5:4).

4. A victory, therefore, through love enlivened by faith
to the extreme point of the final definitive witness.

5. This victory through faith and love was won in this place by a man
whose first name is Maximilian Mary. Surname: Kolbe.

6. The victory through faith and love was won by him in this place, which was built
for the negation of faith—faith in God and faith in man—and to trample
radically not only on love but on all signs of human dignity, of humanity.

7. In this site of the terrible slaughter that brought death to four
million people of different nations, Father Maximilian voluntarily
offered himself for death in the starvation bunker for a brother,
and so won a spiritual victory like that of Christ himself.

8. I am thinking, for example, of the death in the gas chamber of the
concentration camp of the Carmelite Sister Benedicta of the Cross

9. In the place of terrible devastation of humanity
and human dignity – there is victory of humanity

10. "Redemptor Hominis – I have dedicated it as a whole to the cause of man,
to the dignity of man„ to the threats to him, and finally to his inalienable
rights that can so easily be trampled on and annihilated by his fellowmen?

11. Is it enough to impose on him an ideology in which human rights
are subjected to the demands of the system,
completely subjected to them, so as in practice not to exist at all?

12. I have come then to this special shrine,
the birthplace, I can say, of the patron
of our difficult century, just as nine
centuries ago Skałka was the place of
the birth under the sword of Saint
Stanislaus, Patron of the Poles.

13. Christ wishes that I who have become the Successor of Peter should
give witness before the world to what constitutes the greatness and
the misery of contemporary man, to what is his defeat and his victory.

14. This inscription awakens the memory of the People whose sons and daughters
were intended for total extermination. This People draws its origin from Abraham,
our father in faith (cf. Rom 4:12), as was expressed by Paul of Tarsus.

15. Six million Poles lost their lives during the second world war: a fifth of
the nation. Yet another stage in the centuries-old fight of this nation,
my nation, for its fundamental rights among the peoples of Europe

16. Auschwitz is such a reckoning through these plaques which remind us of
the sacrifices the nations suffered. It is impossible merely to visit it. It is
necessary on this occasion to think with fear of how far hatred can go.

17. Auschwitz is a testimony of war. War brings with it a
disproportionate growth of hatred, destruction and cruelty.

18. Not only those who directly bring about wars are responsible
for them, but also those who fail to do all they can to prevent them.

19. "It is enough to remember that the blood of millions of men, numberless and
unprecedented sufferings, useless slaughter and frightful ruin, are the sanction
of the covenant which unites you in a solemn pledge which must change
the future history of the world: No more war, war never again. It is peace,
peace which must guide the destinies of peoples and of all mankind"

20. "Pacem in Terris".
For the Declaration
is a solemn
recognition of the
personal dignity of
every human being;
an assertion of
everyone's right to
be free to seek out
the truth, to follow
moral principles,
discharge the
duties imposed by
justice, and lead a
fully human life.

21. ... All the kinds of law are against those who threaten people wishing to live in
peace: against them is the civil law... the canon law... the natural law, expressed
in the principle 'Do to others what you would have done to you'. Against them
is the divine law, in that... the commandment 'Thou shalt not steal' forbids
all robbery, and the commandment 'Thou shalt not kill' forbids all violence

22. Love of neighbour which expresses and gives a voice to the love of God, the love
which Christ proclaimed in his commandment and that every man has written in
his heart - the commandment which God the Creator carved in the heart.

23. This commandment is concretized in respect for the other, respect for his personality,
his conscience; is concretized in dialogue with others, in the ability to search and
acknowledge what can be good and positive also in someone who represents
ideas different from ours, even in someone who in good will errs.

24. We want to think that every nation and every person is a brother.
And if in what I said was bitter - my dear brothers and sisters –
I did not say that to accuse anyone. I said it in order to remember.

25. I speak not only because of
those who died, the four
million victims of this vast field,
I say it in the name of all the
nations whose rights are being
violated and forgotten.
I speak, because it obliges me,
obliges all of us – to the truth.
I speak, because it obliges me,
it obliges all of us,
to care for humanity.
Prague 1968
Martial law Poland 1982
Budapest 1956

26. Holy is God! Holy and strong! Holy Immortal
One! From plague, from famine, from fire and
from war ... and from war, deliver us, Lord.

29. LIST OF PRESENTATIONS IN ENGLISH
Revised 27-5-2020
Advent and Christmas – time of hope and peace
Amoris Laetitia – ch 1 – In the Light of the Word
Amoris Laetitia – ch 2 – The Experiences and Challenges of Families
Amoris Laetitia – ch 3 - Looking to Jesus, the Vocation of the Family
Amoris Laetitia – ch 4 - Love in Marriage
Amoris Laetitia – ch 5 – Love made Fruitfuol
Amoris Laetitia – ch 6 – Some Pastoral Perspectives
Amoris Laetitia – ch 7 – Towards a better education of children
Amoris Laetitia – ch 8 – Accompanying, discerning and integrating weaknwss
Amoris Laetitia – ch 9 – The Spirituality of Marriage and the Family
Beloved Amazon 1ª – A Social Dream
Beloved Amazon 2 - A Cultural Dream
Beloved Amazon 3 – An Ecological Dream
Beloved Amazon 4 - An Ecclesiastical Dream
Carnival
Christ is Alive
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 1 – Church and Family today
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 2 - God’s plan for the family
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 1 – family as a Community
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 2 – serving life and education
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 3 – mission of the family in society
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 4 - Family in the Church
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 4 Pastoral familiar
Football in Spain
Haurietis aquas – devotion to the Sacred Heart by Pius XII
Holidays and Holy Days
Holy Spirit
Holy Week – drawings for children
Holy Week – glmjpses of the last hours of JC
Inauguration of President Donald Trump
Juno explores Jupiter
Laudato si 1 – care for the common home
Laudato si 2 – Gospel of creation
Laudato si 3 – Human roots of the ecological crisis
Laudato si 4 – integral ecology
Laudato si 5 – lines of approach and action
Laudato si 6 – Education y Ecological Spirituality
Love and Marriage 1-
Love and Marriage 2 – growing up to sexual maturity
Love and Marriage 3 – psychological differences and complimentarity
Love and Marriage 4- causes of sexual attraction
Love and Marriage 5- freedom and intimacy
Love and Marriage 6 - human love
Love and Marriage 7 - destiny of human love
Love and Marriage 8- marriage between Christian believers
Love and Marriage 9 – sacrament of marriage
Lumen Fidei – ch 1,2,3,4
Medjugore Pilgrimage
Misericordiae Vultus in English
Mother Teresa of Calcuta – Saint
Pope Francis in America
Pope Francis in Egypt
Pope Francis in Japan
Pope Francis in Sweden
Pope Franciss in Thailand
Pope Francis in the Holy Land – Jordan, Palestine, Israel
Pope Francis in the WYD Cologne, Germany
Pope Francis in the WYD in Poland 2016
Querida Amazonia
Resurrection of Jesus Christ –according to the Gospels
Russian Revolution and Communismo 3 civil war 1918.1921
Russian Revolution and Communism 1
Russian Revolution and Communismo 2
Saint Joseph
Saint Patrick and Ireland
Sunday – day of the Lord
Thanksgiving – History and Customs
The Body, the cult – (Eucharist)
Valentine
Vocation – mconnor@legionaries.org
Way of the Cross – drawings for children
For commentaries – email – mflynn@legionaries.org
Fb – Martin M Flynn
Donations to - Congregación Legionarios de Cristo
IBAN: ES3700491749852910000635
Swift Code (BIC): BSCHESMMXXX
Dirección banco: Plaza de Parma, 8, Montequinto. CP 41700 Dos Hermanas,
Sevilla. España.

30. LISTA DE PRESENTACIONES EN ESPAÑOL
Revisado 27-5-2020
Abuelos
Adviento y Navidad, tiempo de esperanza
Amor y Matrimonio 1 - 9
Amoris Laetitia – ch 1 – A la luz de la Palabre
Amoris Laetitia – ch 2 – Realidad y Desafíos de las Familias
Amoris Laetitia – ch 3 La mirada puesta en Jesús: Vocación de la Familia
Amoris Laetitia – ch 4 - El Amor en el Matrimonio
Amoris Laetitia – ch 5 – Amor que se vuelve fecundo
Amoris Laetitia – ch 6 – Algunas Perspectivas Pastorales
Amoris Laetitia – ch 7 – Fortalecer la educacion de los hijos
Amoris Laetitia – ch 8 – Acompañar, discernir e integrar la fragilidad
Amoris Laetitia – ch 9 – Espiritualidad Matrimonial y Familiar
Carnaval
Cristo Vive
Domingo – día del Señor
El camino de la cruz de JC en dibujos para niños
El Cuerpo, el culto – (eucarisía)
Espíritu Santo
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 1 – iglesia y familia hoy
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 2 - el plan de Dios para la familia
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 1 – familia como comunidad
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 2 – servicio a la vida y educación
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 3 – misión de la familia en la sociedad
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 4 - participación de la familia en la iglesia
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 4 Pastoral familiar
Fátima – Historia de las Apariciones de la Virgen
Feria de Sevilla
Haurietis aquas – el culto al Sagrado Corazón
Hermandades y cofradías
Hispanidad
Laudato si 1 – cuidado del hogar común
Laudato si 2 – evangelio de creación
Laudato si 3 – La raíz de la crisis ecológica
Laudato si 4 – ecología integral
Laudato si 5 – líneas de acción
Laudato si 6 – Educación y Espiritualidad Ecológica
Lumen Fidei – cap 1,2,3,4
Madre Teresa de Calcuta – Santa
María y la Biblia
Medjugore peregrinación
Misericordiae Vultus en Español
Papa Francisco en Bulgaria
Papa Francisco en Rumania
Papa Francisco en Marruecos
Papa Francisco en México
Papa Francisco – mensaje para la Jornada Mundial Juventud 2016
Papa Francisco – visita a Chile
Papa Francisco – visita a Perú
Papa Francisco en Colombia 1 + 2
Papa Francisco en Cuba
Papa Francisco en Fátima
Papa Francisco en la JMJ 2016 – Polonia
Queridas Amazoznia 1 un sueños social
Queridas Amazoznia 2 un suepo cultural
Queridas Amazoznia 3 un seuños ecologico
Queridas Amazoznia 4 un sueño eclesial
Resurrección de Jesucristo – según los Evangelios
Revolución Rusa y Comunismo 1
Revolución Rusa y comunismo 2
Revolución Rusa y Comunismo 3
San José
Santiago Apóstol
Semana santa – Vistas de las últimas horas de JC
Vacaciones Cristianas
Valentín
Vocación – www.vocación.org
Para comentarios – email – mflynn@lcegionaries.org
fb – martin m. flynn
Donativos a - Congregación Legionarios de Cristo
IBAN: ES3700491749852910000635
Swift Code (BIC): BSCHESMMXXX
Dirección banco: Plaza de Parma, 8, Montequinto. CP 41700 Dos
Hermanas, Sevilla. España.