The conversion of Rudolph Hoess

One

One of the most powerful stories of conversion through the prayer and sacrifice of another is to be found in St. Maximillian Kolbe. I’m going to share a story from his life that I bet you’ve never heard – but first just a little on Kolbe. 

On May 28, 1941, Fr. Maximilian was taken to Auschwitz.

In Auschwitz, the rule was every man for himself – survival of the fittest, but Kolbe lived sacrificial love. Kolbe seemed never to think of himself.

When food was brought in everyone struggled to get his place, to be sure of a share, but Fr. Maximilian stood aside so that frequently there was none left for him.

He was once asked whether such self-denial made sense in a place where every man was engaged in a struggle for survival, and he answered: "Every man has an aim in life. For most men, it is to return home to their wives and families, or to their mothers. For my part, I give my life for the good of all men."

Prisoners recounted that they would come to Kolbe with their fears, saying, “Father, I can’t endure this place any longer.”

He would answer, “Place yourself under the protection of Mary just as a child trustingly holds his mother’s hand, so you, too, must be calm and peaceful, for the Virgin Mary has you under her protection.”

Kolbe had to urge his fellow prisoners to ward off hatred, “Hatred is not a creative force. Love alone creates. Suffering will not prevail over us, it will only melt us down and strengthen us.”

Then in July of 1941 a prisoner escaped.

As a deterrent to further escape attempts, the commandant ordered that for every escapee, ten co-prisoners would die. The guard Fritsch lined up all of the prisoners and picked ten men at random to be placed in the starvation bunker.

Kolbe was not chosen. The last man was picked for execution, he began to cry, "Oh, my poor wife, my poor children. I shall never see them again."

It was then that the unexpected happened. Kolbe stepped out of the ranks, approached the guard, and requested to take the place of the married man, Franciszek Gajowniczek.

“Why?”

“I am a Catholic Priest.”

The guard consented gladly to the exchange for the opportunity to kill a priest and so Kolbe joined the others in the starvation bunker.

As each day passed Kolbe encouraged and consoled his dying comrades. Finally, on August 14th, they gave him a lethal injection and he died.

The next day he was cremated and his ashes ascended to heaven on August 15th, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary.

Two

The Commandant of Auschwitz was a man named Rudolph Hoess, a fallen away Catholic who became personally responsible for 3.4 million murders in Auschwitz.

In his youth, Rudolph was an altar boy full of faith and zeal, his father and mother spoke to him of a priestly vocation. But WWI erupted during his teenage years and he was forced to fight in some of the most inhumane theatres of war which hardened his soul. With the rise of Hitler, he joined the SS and was ultimately placed as Commandant of Auschwitz.

At one point the Jesuit priests from Krakow were arrested and brought to Auschwitz, but one of their fellow priests was sick and in the hospital so he escaped the arrest. This Jesuit priest, Fr. Lohn, felt so guilty that his brother priests had been taken and he had escaped, that he went to Auschwitz and presented himself to the Commandant Hoess, requesting to be imprisoned with his friends. Completely uncharacteristic to the hardened Hoess, he told the young priest to get out of there as quickly as he could. That he would not let him enter Auschwitz. Baffled, Fr. Lohn left and went back to Krakow.

Three

Maximilian Kolbe told his fellow prisoners he was offering his prayer, his suffering and even his death for the conversion of those who rejected God, especially for Rudolph Hoess.

After WWII, Hoess was captured and sentenced to death by hanging. While awaiting his death he was placed in solitary confinement for an extended period time.

There he reflected upon his life; he reflected on the way the Polish prison guards, some who had even been prisoners in Auschwitz, how they treated Hoess not with hatred or like and animal, but how they treated him with as a fellow human being and with love; and he reflected on his monstrous crimes.

Up to this time, Hoess did not show remorse for his crimes and in fact blamed the authorities above him. Finally, on April 12 Rudolph Hoess wrote this formal declaration: In the isolation of prison I have reached the bitter understanding of the terrible crimes I have committed against humanity. A Commandant of the extermination camp at Auschwitz, I have realized my part in the monstrous genocide of the Third Reich. By this means I caused humanity the greatest harm and I brought unspeakable suffering to the Polish nation. For my responsibility, I am now praying with my life. Oh, that God would forgive me my deeds. People of Poland, I beg you to forgive me!”

Four

Rudolph Hoess begged the prison guards to find him a priest who would hear is confession. But no priest wanted to meet with the monster who murdered their family and friends. Finally, Hoess remembered the name of the Jesuit priest who he would not let enter Auschwitz, Fr. Lohn. This priest was found in Krakow and brought to the prison. Hoess made a very, very, very long confession, and received the Eucharist on his knees with tears streaming down his face. Shortly after he was taken to Auschwitz and hanged next to the spot where the cremation ovens stood.

At some point, God only knows when, he will be reunited with Kolbe. I am sure they will embrace and Hoess will thank Kolbe for his prayer and sacrifice that brought the grace to Hoess’ frozen soul to bring about his conversion, repentance and restoration to friendship with God.

Five

Maximilian Kolbe had prayed and offered his suffering and his life in sacrifice for the conversion of all those who shared the horrors of Auschwitz, all his fellow prisoners who were in danger of despairing and cursing God for their plight. And Kolbe had offered his prayer and sacrifice for the Commandant.

Kolbe often spoke of the special reward given to those who “burn with the desire to save souls, that God would reward them with the possibility and even facility of catching souls in the most effective way possible even after death.”

The miraculous repentance of Rudolph Hoess is a sign from Heaven that God rewarded Kolbe for his prayer and sacrifice.

God will reward you for your prayer and sacrifice.