Editing Maximilian Kolbe (section)

==Franciscan friar==
In 1907, Kolbe and his elder brother Francis joined the [[Conventual Franciscans]].<ref name=catholic-pages/> They enrolled at the Conventual Franciscan minor seminary in [[Lviv|Lwów]] later that year. In 1910, Kolbe was allowed to enter the [[novitiate]], where he chose a religious name Maximilian. He professed his [[first vows]] in 1911, and [[final vows]] in 1914,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dewar |first=Diana |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=39hsAAAAIAAJ |title=Saint of Auschwitz: The Story of Maximilian Kolbe |date=1982 |publisher=Harper & Row |isbn=978-0-06-061901-5 |pages=36 |language=en}}</ref> adopting the additional name of Maria (Mary).<ref name="psb296"/>

===World War I===
Kolbe was sent to [[Rome]] in 1912, where he attended the [[Pontifical Gregorian University]]. He earned a [[doctor of philosophy|doctorate in philosophy]] in 1915 there. From 1915 he continued his studies at the [[Pontifical University of St. Bonaventure]], where he earned a [[doctor of theology|doctorate in theology]] in 1919<ref name="psb296"/> or 1922<ref name="Patron"/> (sources vary). He was active in the [[consecration and entrustment to Mary]].

In the midst of these studies, [[World War I]] broke out. Maximilian's father, Julius Kolbe, joined [[Józef Piłsudski]]'s [[Polish Legions in World War I|Polish Legions]] fighting against the Russians for an independent Poland, still subjugated and still [[Partitions of Poland|divided among Prussia, Russia, and Austria]]. Julius Kolbe was caught and hanged as a traitor by the Russians at the age of 43, a traumatic event for young Maximilian.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://livingspace.sacredspace.ie/f0814s/ |title=St Maximilian M Kolbe | access-date=18 January 2021}}</ref>

During his time as a student, he witnessed vehement demonstrations against Popes [[Pope Pius X|Pius X]] and [[Benedict XV]] in Rome during an anniversary celebration by the [[Freemasons]]. According to Kolbe:

<blockquote>They placed the black standard of the "[[Giordano Bruno|Giordano Brunisti]]" under the windows of the [[Vatican City|Vatican]]. On this standard the archangel, [[Michael (archangel)|Michael]], was depicted lying under the feet of the triumphant Lucifer. At the same time, countless pamphlets were distributed to the people in which the Holy Father (i.e., the Pope) was attacked shamefully.<ref name="biosummary"/><ref name="anniversary"/></blockquote>

Soon afterward, on 16 October 1917, Kolbe organized the [[Militia Immaculatae]] (Army of the Immaculate One), to work for conversion of sinners and enemies of the Catholic Church, specifically the [[Freemason]]s, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary.<ref>''Mention Your Request Here: The Church's Most Powerful Novenas'' by Michael Dubruiel 2000 {{ISBN|0-87973-341-1}} page 63</ref><ref name="Patron"/> So serious was Kolbe about this goal that he added to the [[Miraculous Medal]] prayer:

<blockquote>O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. ''And for all those who do not have recourse to thee; especially the Freemasons and all those recommended to thee''.<ref name="Daily Prayers"/></blockquote>

Kolbe wanted the entire [[Franciscan Order]] consecrated to the Immaculate by an additional vow. The idea was well received, but faced the hurdles of approval by the hierarchy of the order and the lawyers, so it was never formally adopted during his life and was no longer pursued after his death.<ref>''Forget not love: the passion of Maximilian Kolbe'' by André Frossard 1991 {{ISBN|0-89870-275-5}} page 127</ref>