It’s sometimes rather difficult for a celibate man--a priest no less--to figure out what types of books, articles, essays, and blogposts might appeal to mothers and fathers, but this one, I feel, has a good shot of doing so, since it was recommended by not only The New York Times (in an article on evangelical Christian humor) but also my sister, a proud mother of two sons. You would have to have a fairly stony heart not to find this funny. It is the creation of Anita Renfroe, said evangelical comedian(enne). What does her video have to do with a Catholic blog? Well, if you think that neither (a) parenting nor (b) humor have anything to do with Catholicism, then you might want to talk to (a) Mary and Joseph, and (b) saints like St. Philip Neri and St. Teresa of Avila, who understood the value of humor and even laughter in the religious life. Anyway, enjoy this. James Martin, S.J.
For all you mothers, sons and daughters
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17 years 2 months ago
Thanks to Father Martin for remembering St Philip Neri, the founder of the Oratory and as we Oratorians call him the "Saint of joy." In a nation and a church so bitterly divided, I believe that humor can help to both tone down rhetoric and warm cold hearts to help people see the intrinsic goodness of one another, despite our differences of opinion.
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