Father James Martin, S.J.
Being a faithful Catholic doesn’t mean you have to be a joyless one.
New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan knows that. When Archbishop Dolan was installed to his post in the Big Apple, an enterprising reporter asked the newcomer if there was anything he would like to condemn. Archbishop Dolan responded in the affirmative.
“I condemn instant mashed potatoes and light beer,” he deadpanned.
A few years ago, when Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl visited a Catholic bookstore, the owner approached him and said, “Oh! You’re looking for a book, Father. You must be a Jesuit!”
“No,” Cardinal Wuerl replied, “but I’m literate.”
Back when Blessed Pope John XXIII enjoyed making surprise visits to Catholic institutions in Rome, he once stopped at a hospital run by the Sisters of the Holy Spirit. The superior of the religious community ran up to the Holy Father and announced that she was “the superior of the Holy Spirit.”
Without skipping a beat, the pope countered with: “Well, you outrank me. I’m only the vicar of Christ!”
Those were just a few of many stories of faith and good humor shared by Jesuit Father James Martin during last night’s Ignatian Day Lecture at St. Ignatius in Baltimore. The Jesuit priest, a bestselling author and culture editor of America Magazine, spoke on the important role of humor in living a spiritual life.
Well-known for his amazingly funny appearances on Comedy Central’s Colbert Report, Father Martin is traveling the country to spread a message that might be summed up in two words: “Lighten up.”
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NJiEBwKn-U]
Along with Matt Palmer – my good friend and colleague at The Catholic Review, I had the honor of interviewing Father Martin at the end of his lecture. The priest was very generous with his time and gave us a lot of good insights into evangelization.
We will be sharing some of what he had to say in the next few days. I will also be posting some interesting observations from Father Martin on what it’s like to be on the Colbert Report.
For now, take a look at some of these three video clips from last night. Father Martin will have you laughing like you won’t believe. Stay tuned for much more to come and check out The Welcome Matt to see what Matt Palmer’s posting about Father Martin’s appearance last night.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsWAeidrRgs]
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxFfqMM-vQI]
7/31 UPDATE: Click here to hear Father Martin share some of his favorite Jesuit jokes.