The Bible in the Life and Writings of St Maximilian Maria Kolbe WT-FN-BZPMM

The course aims to explore the biblical spirituality of St Maximilian Maria Kolbe through a critical analysis of the use of the Holy Scriptures in his writings. Particular attention will be paid to the way of interpreting and understanding individual biblical passages that the Polish Franciscan cites or alludes to in his speeches, articles, meditations and in his personal diary. Such a thorough exploration proves that the Word of God is among the foundations of the spiritual life of Father Kolbe and his fruitful apostolate.

THE COURSE PLAN

I. Introduction

a. Purpose and nature of the course, bibliography.
b. Notes on the human-spiritual profile of St. Maximilian
c. General observations on the quotations and biblical allusions in the Writings
i. Introductory notes on literary genres in the Writings and their hierarchy of importance
ii. Statistics of quotations and biblical allusions
d. Exegetical and theological-spiritual approaches to the Writings

II. The Bible in the formation and in the life of St. Maximilian

a. The Bible in the life of the Church in the early twentieth century
b. The biblical influence in the formation of St. Maximilian before the priestly ordination
the. Spiritual exercises
ii. Personal meditations
iii. Diary
iv. Observations on the Kolbian biblical interpretation
c. The Bible in St. Maximilian’s self-formation

III. The Bible in the Kolbian apostolate

to. The use of Scripture in teaching
b. Articles
c. Project "For a book"
d. Letters
c. A Franciscan exegesis in St. Maximilian?

IV. Conclusion

a. Biblical Spirituality of St. Maximilian?
b. Application