Reference response

I apologise for making the assumption that his story is well known. She is also correct in saying that many ministers are guilty of this kind of supposition.

Ms Blackie also says that she would like to learn more about this remarkable man.

Briefly, he was a Polish Roman Catholic priest who was imprisoned at the Auschwitz Concentration Camp. In retaliation for the escape of a prisoner from the camp, ten men were selected to be starved to death as a deterrence to others planning to do the same.

One of the ten, Franciszek Gajownicek (see my “Big Question” piece), emotionally begged to be spared for the sake of his beloved wife and children. Fr Kolbe selflessly offered to take his place.

He and the nine others shared a cell for two weeks, deprived of food and water. Fr Kolbe prayed for them and tried to give spiritual support.

He was the last to die, and even then the guards had to euthanise him with a lethal injection of carbolic acid. He died on August 14 1941.

For a full account of his life, may I suggest that she borrows from her local library the book “Maximilian Kolbe: Saint of Auschwitz” by Elaine Murray Stone.

And again I apologise for my reference assumption

. Sandy Strachan (Rev), Dumfries.