Why St. Maximilian Kolbe wanted to make movies and TV shows

St. Maximilian Kolbe believed modern media had great potential to deliver the Gospel message.

Before the onset of World War II, St. Maximilian Kolbe had big plans for evangelization.

This started with the intention of broadcasting a radio program. Kolbe applied for a radio license in 1930 and when he was traveling in Japan, his interest in using modern communication was rekindled.

Then in 1938 construction of a radio station began, and St. Maximilian Kolbe said these words to his friars.

Remember, the purpose of every effort is to disseminate the faith by the written word, the spoken word, and perhaps someday through producing films.
St. Maximilian Kolbe

The radio station was completed on December 8, 1938, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

His station “Radio Niepokalanow” became the first Catholic radio station in Poland.

Kolbe had big plans for his evangelization efforts and was already thinking of how to use television and film, though the technology was still new and in an experimental phase.

In addition to his plans to use radio and TV, he also wanted his friars to write recreational literature, including good novels.

Unfortunately, Nazi Germany invaded Poland and all of Kolbe’s plans would never be realized.

Kolbe was a strong advocate of using modern media to promote the Gospel, and if he had been given the chance, might have been the first friar to create religious films and TV shows.