Born in Poland when it was still a part of the Russian empire, Raymund Kolbe was the son of a German father and a Polish mother. As a youngster, locals knew him for both his astute intellect and his profound piety. He also seemed inclined to follow a religious vocation, which was certainly underscored by his devout love for the Blessed Mother the Virgin Mary. All that shaped his devotion to God and his decision to serve God.
