Pope praises work of humorists as promoters of peaceInterview with Fabio Colagrande. Humor, a spiritual virtueJoaquín Antonio Peñalosa. Love with humor is writtenOn June 14, 2024, Pope Francis met with comedians from all over the world. During the meeting, the Pontiff highlighted the work of these professionals, whose "precious gift" "allows us to share and is the best antidote to selfishness and individualism".
The Holy Father is not the only one aware of the importance of joy. Throughout history, many saints have emphasized that good humor is a great virtue, characteristic of the Christian.
So much so that St. Thomas More wrote a prayer to ask the Lord to grant him the habit of taking things well: "Grant me, O Lord, a good digestion, and also something to digest. Grant me health of body, with the good humor necessary to maintain it. Give me, Lord, a holy soul that knows how to make the most of what is good and pure, so that it will not be frightened by sin, but will find a way to put things back in order. Grant me a soul that does not know boredom, murmuring, sighing and lamenting, and do not allow it to suffer excessively because of that overbearing being called: 'I'. Give me, Lord, a sense of humor. Grant me the grace to understand jokes, so that I may know in life a little joy and be able to communicate it to others."
Good humor and evangelization
St. Josemaría Escrivá knew well that communication is essential for evangelization. For this reason, in point 661 of The Way, he wrote: "Long faces..., brusque manners..., ridiculous appearance..., an unpleasant air: is this how you hope to encourage others to follow Christ? A difficult task, indeed. The same is the opinion of Pope Francis, who affirms that "a sad Christian is a sad Christian".
However, it is important to note that good humor does not equal naivety. This is something Gilbert Keith Chesterton knew well, as his texts demonstrate. The English author's writings are full of common sense, a fine irony and good humor that overwhelm the reader. Defending the faith? Of course, but without losing the smile.
Another great example of this is St. John Paul II, who loved to laugh. Joaquín Navarro-Valls, who was very close to him, often emphasized the Pope's good humor, not in spite of everything, but with everything. The Polish Pontiff also emphasized in a general audience "the ability to turn into a joyful smile, in the right measure and in the right way, the things heard and seen", as St. Thomas Aquinas preached.
Good humor, a thing of saints
Pope Francis, in the encyclical "Gaudete et exsultate"The saint is able to live with joy and a sense of humor. Without losing realism, he enlightens others with a positive and hopeful spirit".
It can be said, therefore, that good humor is a thing of saints, a virtue that brings us a little closer to Heaven and allows us to realize the words of St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians: "Rejoice in the Lord always; I tell you again, rejoice".
