Joyous Fools
“Oh God, seeing you are infinitely amiable, why have you given us one heart to love you, and this so little and narrow!” — St. Philip Neri
There are certain saints that whenever I hear their name I cannot help but smile. St. Philip Neri is one of those saints because he is often remembered for his humor. In a world that celebrates the crass and profane as humorous, it’s easy to believe St. Philip was a bit of a clown, but that idea is wildly mistaken.
St. Philip Neri, from an early age, was often referred to as “good Philip.” He was kind, mild, and had a tremendous devotion to holy purity and humility. In his devotion to virtue, he attracted many, even those who wished to see him stumble into vice. Through steadfast devotion to virtue, and an abundance of charity, St. Philip Neri’s goodness won hearts for Christ. He was exceedingly smart, but his humility prompted him to conceal the depths of his gift. It is believed that if God had not at times allowed St. Philip to enter into seasons of aridity, that he would have died from the consuming joy he felt of being so united to the love of God.
The humor of St. Philip Neri did not come from a place of “comedy,” but from profound humility. He was devoted to penance and mortification, and in this sense he became a fool for God. It reminds me of the quote by Mother Angelica, “unless you are willing to do the ridiculous, God will not do the miraculous.”
St. Philip Neri was an adviser to popes, kings, cardinals, and the poor. He was followed by a crowd of people wherever he would go, hearing confessions and giving of himself. He sought reform in the Church. He loved with the love of God.
“Charity and cheerfulness, or charity and humility, should be our motto.”
His joy and humor overflowed from a heart so on fire with a love for God that he ardently wished to think less of himself at all times. He would even do things like attend meetings with his beard half shaved off! He let the world laugh at him, and in doing so, allowed his ego to be conquered. Humility consumed him. From humility, joy flows freely and charity knows no bounds.
“A joyful heart is more easily made perfect than a downcast one.”
St. Philip Neri reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously. I know I sometimes feel a sense of dread when I pray for humility. Let’s face it, some unthinkablyembarrassing moment always seems to follow. There is absolutely no way of predicting what it is going to be! Yet, in those moments, what a joy it is to recall St. Philip and laugh as we find ourselves in the midst of a terribly awkward moment.
These are the precious gifts that remind us of our own littleness, highlight our own silliness at taking ourselves so seriously, and help quiet our egos to allow God’s goodness to come pouring in. It is a joyous thing to let go of our self importance and let the love of God take over.
Let us be fools, God! St. Philip Neri, show us the way!
“We are not saints yet, but we, too, should beware. Uprightness and virtue do have their rewards, in self-respect and in respect from others, and it is easy to find ourselves aiming for the result rather than the cause. Let us aim for joy, rather than respectability. Let us make fools of ourselves from time to time, and thus see ourselves, for a moment, as the all-wise God sees us.”
Ann Burns is the founder of The Feminine Project, an organization dedicated to restoring the joy of womanhood. She is a writer and speaker, and strives to uphold what is truly good and beautiful. Most of all, she is a wife and mother, and loves to share the joy in living each day well.