Mad Max: Our "Crazy" Father Kolbe

By Jillian Cooke, MTh, MAPM
Fr. Kolbe Missionary of the Immaculata

The Dumb Ox

Many of us have heard that St. Thomas Aquinas was called the "dumb ox." He was large, mild mannered, and appeared stupid to his fellow classmates. He was willing to believe anything he was told (pig's fly!), never doubting that someone told the truth. He was tenacious about the truth, but apparently lax in just about everything else. The dumb ox, in kinder terms, was really a gentle giant. So well known is this name-calling, that there are now publishing houses, coffee shops, and books with the title. It has become an honor, indeed, for any theologian to be called a dumb ox. Thank you.

Less well known, and more pertinent to our blog, is the name-calling that went on in Krakow and Rome, and followed him all the way to Niepokolanow. Our own Father Kolbe was ridiculed like all the saints. Unlike St. Thomas Aquinas, his confreres knew he was genius and just couldn't take it (I speak generally of course), and therefore resorted to calling him crazy. Brilliant, isn't it? I don't understand the genius you are displaying - I got it - you're crazy! Happily for us this translates to Mad Max. (zwariowany Maksymilian just doesn't have the same ring to it, though if you remove some letters you can get zany Mak, and that's fun.)

Marmalade

Mad Max was feverish with zeal... and tuberculosis. This made for an intense soul in a failing body. Overtime, due to his difficulty breathing, he learned to move slowly and methodically, speak evenly and quietly, and hold his temper. Yelling literally took his breath away. The result? A "crazy" smart man, with zeal for souls lighting a fire in his eyes, moving and speaking like an old man of 30 years old. Wasn't he sweet? Sweet as marmalade? Nothing like a little slow moving sweetness to add some enjoyment to your life!



Our dear Father Kolbe must have thoroughly disliked being called crazy. After all, calling him crazy was calling his IDEAS and IDEALS crazy. He was slow, yes. Sweet, alright if you insist. But, crazy? The Immaculata crazy? The patient acceptance of being rejected at such an intimate level - the level of the intellect - must have cut this idealistic, passionate, genius to the heart. However, with the support of this passion, caring superiors, and simple, humble friars who labored and prayed alongside him, Father Kolbe accepted criticism and obstacles with increasing grace and growing efficacy.

After all, it is accepting our daily struggles and fulfilling our daily duties that brings the greatest joy to the heart
of God, and allows the Immaculata to conquer the greatest number of souls for her beloved Son. (cf. KW)