Living in a Time Requiring Humor
In his Summa Theologiae, St. Thomas Aquinas affirmed what the pagan philosopher Seneca said about humor: “Bear yourself wit, lest you will be regarded as sour or despised as dull.”
Aquinas is critical of those who lack “playfulness.” On the other hand, he praises those who say things with a smile. Humor for Aquinas, is not only important, it is necessary.
The present times we live in are certainly a time that could use a dose of humor…and we can certainly use a dose these days. Laughter may not only be our best medicine, but may also be the best antidote in times when there is no alternative to laughter.
Here’s some Catholic humor that may just bring a smile to your face…
A man, who just bought a lottery ticket for a Lamborghini, asks a Franciscan to say a novena that he might win this highly praised automobile. The Franciscan said. “What’s a Lamborghini?” He then put the same question to a Dominican and received the same answer. Undaunted he went to a Jesuit, who had a different response” “What’s a novena?”
A Franciscan, a Dominican, and a Jesuit were in a hospice and near death. The angel of death appeared before them and offered to grant any wish they desired before leaving the world. The Franciscan asked to touch the wounds of Christ before he died; the Dominican asked to gaze upon the face of our Savior. The Jesuit asked for a second opinion.
Four Catholic women are having coffee together. The first said, “My son is a priest and when he enters the room people refer to him as Father.” The second says her son is a bishop and when he enters a room, people hail him as “Your Grace.” The third woman says that her son is a cardinal and when he enters a room, people honor him as “His Eminence. After an embarrassing pause, the fourth woman says, my son is fabulously handsome and when he enters the room people say, “Oh, my God.”
My Catholic school was very conservative. When the football team needed encouragement, the cheerleaders broke out into a Gregorian chant.
The distinguished theologian Roman Guardini regarded humor as an expression of kindness… “It helps is endure things more easily…We must have an eye to endure things…it helps us to be kind, for after a good laugh it is easier to be serious again.”
Bring a smile to others…give them a cause to laugh.
God bless...Deacon Loris