Mr. Leonardo Defilippis is well known in some circles but rarely heard of in others. To those of you to whom the name is not familiar, Mr. Defilippis is a man that uses his theatrical gifts for God. He is probably most recognizable for producing the movie "Thérèse", but he is also known for his one-man dramas, such as “The Passion According to Luke” and “St. Francis: Troubador of God's Peace”.

Over the past week Mr. Defilippis has been touring the area around Detroit, performing “Maximilian: Saint of Auschwitz” at various churches such as the National Shrine of the Little Flower and Assumption Grotto. 

When he was a child, praying, St. Maximilian saw the Blessed Mother. She held out to him two crowns: one white, for purity, and one red, for martyrdom. She explained their meaning to the boy and asked which one he desired from her. The boy  replied, “Both!”.  Throughout his life he strived to be her servant and to spread knowledge of her throughout his country, Poland. In one scene he told the fellow Franciscans helping him publish a newsletter about Our Lady never to fear or feel that they are unloved by the Mother of God--The Immaculata, as he calls her, loves them at every moment without exception.

The Gestapo had conquered Maximilian's country, and did not find such things to their liking. The saint was sent to a concentration camp that still causes people to shudder at the mention of it today: Auschwitz. Fr. Maximilian was not afraid, however­­--he had been preparing and hoping for martyrdom his entire life. He did all he could for the people there, blessing the dead and those about to die, giving courage and strength to the frail, and never backing down from his faith even when it caused him a severe beating. 

Somehow a man escaped from Auschwitz. To punish the prisoners for the one man's freedom the guards sentenced ten men to die of starvation in the escapee's place. One of the condemned men broke down; he had a wife and children that he would never see again. Nobody comforted or said anything to the hysterical man--except Maximilian. He stepped forward out of the line and offered to take his place. Nothing like it had ever happened before, but the Nazis found no reason to stop him and accepted the trade.

Fr. Maximilian took care of his little flock and prepared them for their death with love and peace. Eventually he became so weak that he  could no longer stand, or even kneel, so he sat against the wall and prayed. After about two weeks the the Nazis would not wait any longer and injected the four remaining prisoners, including Fr. Maximilian, with deadly carbolic acid. St. Maximilian held out his left arm to the executioner for the injection and died saying softly “Love the Imaculata”. His body was burned in a furnace and his ashes scattered to the four winds, but his soul remains in heaven with the Queen he loved so much. 

Spreading Maximilian's amazing story is just one of the things Leonardo has done in this town.

On December 2nd Mr. Defilippis put on a theater workshop for young adults. To the fifty or so teens that went Leonardo gave critical tips on theater. He illustrated the difference between film acting and acting on stage. Not only did he give simple tips on acting, but Mr. Defilippis stressed how important and rewarding it was to spread God's message and to work for the Lord. He gave the youth there the opportunity to perform parts from his own plays and scripts and encouraged them to use their talent for God. 

As of Dec. 4th-7th Mr. Leonardo Defilippis is still performing “Maximilian: Saint of Auschwitz”. If anyone want to go to see this amazing play, the remaining show times are:

Dec. 4, 7:30pm: Davidson Middle School Auditorium (Southgate)

Dec. 5, 7:00pm: St. John Neumann (Canton)

Dec. 6, 7:00pm: Spiritus Sanctus Academy (Plymouth)

Dec. 7, 7:00pm: Holy Spirit (Highland) 

Tickets are $8 each or $25 for a family. Tickets are available at the door or send a self-addressed stamped envelope with check payable to St. Luke Production to: Maximilian Drama, c/o Debbie Bloomfield, 1811 Superior, Wyandotte, MI 48192. For detailed info, call Suzanne at 248-217-0844 or e-mail maxdramadetroit@gmail.com.