The History of Saint Maximilian

Maximilian premiered at the 1993 World Youth Day in Denver before an audience of 2500. In honor of the opening, Actor Leonardo Defilippis was given a special plaque of St. Maximilian signed by Francis Gajowniczek, the very man for whom Fr. Maximilian offered his life at the infamous death camp of Auschwitz. At a special World Youth Day 2000 performance, several thousand witnessed the production at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels and Martyrs in Rome, Italy.

Countless audience members of many faiths and those from a variety of walks of life have seen this production, including numerous survivors of Auschwitz, soldiers of Hitler's army, and several who were in the very same lineup with Fr. Kolbe that fateful day. Brother Jerome, the personal secretary to Fr. Maximilian, experienced Maximilian at age 83, and several seminarians who worked directly with Fr. Maximilian have also witnessed this live drama.

Over the years, Leonardo Defilippis has had the privilege of performing in a wide spectrum of venues including for Mother Angelica of EWTN and her Poor Clare Sisters in a private performance at their monastery. Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta gave her personal blessing upon this show and wanted her religious sisters to experience it.

Perhaps most notable is that many vocations to the priesthood and religious life have been inspired by this timeless production.

Maximilian and its positive reception was the precursor to the 1995 film version by the same title. The DVD is available here.