Jokes during Mass?

[PatriceA]

We had a priest a few years ago that tried to use jokes as a way to cut down on people leaving mass right after receiving communion. He’d set the joke up before he gave his homily but wouldn’t give the punch line until after the final blessing.

I think priests that use a little bit of humor in their homilies are great. I think God created the sense of humor for a reason and when used properly, it is very effective in delivering the gospel message for the week.

 

[sw85]

Almost on a weekly basis, the ordinary form of Sunday Mass at my local Church includes jokes from the Priest that have absolutely nothing to do with the Mass, the sermon, readings etc. I couldn’t find that in the rubrics… though I do find it rather inappropriate. Is this commonplace elsewhere?

Deo Gratias

We deal with it sometimes at our parish. It aggravates me immensely. It doesn’t help that, virtually without fail, I have never heard a good homily that had jokes. And while I’ve heard bad ones that had no jokes, a disproportionate number of them did. Which makes me wonder if the homilists crack jokes for good reasons (say, to illustrate a point) or just to get people listening.

Now as has been pointed out, some excellent homilies include jokes. Including Bp. Sheen. My attitude is that if you’re not a Sheen-caliber speaker, you shouldn’t be attempting jokes.

 

[Usbek_de_Perse]

Yes, but were they funny?

Almost on a weekly basis, the ordinary form of Sunday Mass at my local Church includes jokes from the Priest that have absolutely nothing to do with the Mass, the sermon, readings etc. I couldn’t find that in the rubrics… though I do find it rather inappropriate. Is this commonplace elsewhere?

Deo Gratias

 

[BettyBoop416]

We had a visiting priest a few months ago who was originally (and recently) from an Asian country. His English wasn’t the best but if you really concentrate on what he is saying you can get about 90% of it. Anyway…he was giving his homily…everyone was very intent on what he was saying, not sure if they were understanding where he was going with his homily…all of a sudden it all came together when he delivered what was the punch line. Everyone just kind of sat there with puzzled looks on their faces for about 2 seconds…then it finally sunk in. It was a joke - and a very funny one at that. The entire congregation exploded with laughter. The priest was so pleased with himself that he very much resembled a comedian who was leaving the stage after his best laugh of the night. He had a huge smile on his face as he went to sit down. Then it hit him…he hadn’t really summed up the message of his homily. All he did was tell a very good joke. So he began speaking again from his chair. Then he stood up. Then he took a few tentative steps back towards the pulpit. He finally made it all the way back to the pulpit and summed up his homily. I don’t know which was funnier - the joke or his embarrassing journey back to the pulpit.

 

[Edmundus1581]

<>
Then it hit him…he hadn’t really summed up the message of his homily. All he did was tell a very good joke. So he began speaking again from his chair. Then he stood up. Then he took a few tentative steps back towards the pulpit. He finally made it all the way back to the pulpit and summed up his homily. I don’t know which was funnier - the joke or his embarrassing journey back to the pulpit.

What a sweet story! As someone who struggles to get a laugh I can really relate to that feeling he must have had of “Oh, that went well”, and then realising that he had allowed his “performance” to get to his ego.

 

[superamazingman]

Yes, but were they funny?

Who cares? It’s the sacred liturgy, not a comedy stage.

 

[fastenatingguy]

At our town’s Memorial Day celebration (following a parade), we typically invite all the local clerics to come and participate on the dais. We are an old inner suburb of Chicago, so we have significant Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Lutheran, Jewish, and Muslim neighbors.

Last year, our recently retired pastor attended and was invited to give the opening greeting and prayer there along with the local rabbi and minister. So he began: “A priest, a rabbi, and a minister were at a parade…” and of course everyone had a good laugh.

By the way, this is the same priest who is beloved by all of the young men of our parish because of his love of sports (and Notre Dame especially). So he often finds a way to relate sports to his homily. That goes a long way in his relationship with the younger generation, and he can often be seen walking in the neighborhood past the park, watching the ballgames.

 

[Fan_of_Trent]

And just where, exactly, during the Mass is the priest joking?
And what exactly is he “joking” about?

Sometimes, I think that if a priest does anything that is not laid out specifically in the rubrics, there are people just ready to pounce on him.

Without details, I don’t think anyone here can tell you what is appropriate or not.

As background information, I’m in Canada…

The Joke

An older man was at the Stanley Cup Final hockey game, the biggest game of the year, sitting right in the center of the arena… The guy behind him wondered why this was since the game was sold out. He asked him "Why is the seat beside you empty, it’s such a prime spot.

The man replied “Oh, my wife sits there.”

The guy asked him, “Well why isn’t your wife with you?”

“Oh she died,” he replied.

“Well, surely you must have other family or friends you could have brought along.”

The old man said “Nope.”

The guy was curious. “Why not?”

“Well they’re all at the funeral.”

And that’s how you can identify a true Canadian.

[end joke]

It’s harmless enough and perhaps the priest can tell such jokes during the homily. The question for me personally becomes whether or not a priest should be making Holy Mass into a show. What’s the focus supposed to be? Is he on an altar or a stage?

My personal opinion is that jokes have no place anywhere during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, but that’s just me. I have no intention of complaining to anybody (other than those reading this thread of course. ). My question was simply how common this kind of thing is. I have my own view on the subject that’s not likely to change, but I appreciate the dialogue. It’s always interesting to hear what goes on elsewhere… I don’t generally hear jokes during the EF, which I most commonly attend. Interestingly, my traditional (older) guide for a good examination of conscience prior to Confession lists laughing in Church as a sin. Please don’t comment on the differences in the two forms as it almost always starts an argument… Let’s always remain charitable )

Peace

 

[tee_eff_em]

I don’t recall ever seeing Archbishop Fulton Sheen celebrating Mass and giving a sermon. It was usually lectures outside of Mass where humour is certainly appropriate.

One day when I was young, we got a phone call on the parish grape-vine: Archbishop Sheen was visiting our small town, and would be celebrating Mass at our parish that evening! (There had been no advance notice – Can you imagine?)

After the entrance procession, he looked out upon the SRO congregation and with that broad smile and a gleam in his eye asked: “Am I to understand this is your typical attendance for an unscheduled Tuesday night Mass?”


tee

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

Who cares? It’s the sacred liturgy, not a comedy stage.

Just because one joke is told during a homily does not make it a comedy stage…it can break the ice for a difficult subject. Seriously do we all have to sit in the pew all puckered up and sour?

A good example, while not at Mass but during the sacrement of reconciliation. When I came back to the Church…I did not remember having my first reconciliation…I must have had it but didn’t remember so when I went into reconciliation after 30 years or so…I said “bless me Father for I have sinned…this would be my first reconciliation” Father looked me square in the eyes and said “nerve racking isn’t it?”…which made me smile and took all (or most) of the nervousness away.

 

[zab]

As background information, I’m in Canada…

The Joke

An older man was at the Stanley Cup Final hockey game, the biggest game of the year, sitting right in the center of the arena… The guy behind him wondered why this was since the game was sold out. He asked him "Why is the seat beside you empty, it’s such a prime spot.

The man replied “Oh, my wife sits there.”

The guy asked him, “Well why isn’t your wife with you?”

“Oh she died,” he replied.

“Well, surely you must have other family or friends you could have brought along.”

The old man said “Nope.”

The guy was curious. “Why not?”

“Well they’re all at the funeral.”

And that’s how you can identify a true Canadian.

[end joke]

It’s harmless enough and perhaps the priest can tell such jokes during the homily. The question for me personally becomes whether or not a priest should be making Holy Mass into a show. What’s the focus supposed to be? Is he on an altar or a stage?

My personal opinion is that jokes have no place anywhere during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, but that’s just me. I have no intention of complaining to anybody (other than those reading this thread of course. ). My question was simply how common this kind of thing is. I have my own view on the subject that’s not likely to change, but I appreciate the dialogue. It’s always interesting to hear what goes on elsewhere… I don’t generally hear jokes during the EF, which I most commonly attend. Interestingly, my traditional (older) guide for a good examination of conscience prior to Confession lists laughing in Church as a sin. Please don’t comment on the differences in the two forms as it almost always starts an argument… Let’s always remain charitable )

Peace

Well, it’s not uncommon. It really depends on the individual style of the homilist how much or how little humor he uses.

 

[Joe_5859]

Seriously do we all have to sit in the pew all puckered up and sour?

I prefer my priests to speak in as monotone a voice as possible. Any sort of inflection in their voice might insight me to feel something, and that can’t be good!

All joking aside (as difficult as that is for me to do in a thread about jokes! ), I can understand the OP’s unease. I have seen instances where it seems like a priest is trying too hard or telling jokes that make you wince rather than laugh. But I don’t think it is intrinsically irreverent to have a bit of humor even within the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

My pastor usually says things during his homily that make people laugh, but he’s not standing up there reading out of a joke book or anything. It just goes along with his normal jovial demeanor.

 

[BettyBoop416]

Seriously do we all have to sit in the pew all puckered up and sour?

That is a great description of a few of the folks who attend mass at my parish. They sit down and pucker up so hard that a tornado couldn’t overcome the suction holding them down on the pew.

 

[Daim3]

Here’s my take. A little humor is alright if it is actually connected to the theme of the homily which should be tied to the readings or to our Catholic Faith somehow in a substantial way. As it was previously stated, public speaking can be difficult and a little humor can establish a connection with the faithful. In my experience, I have seen jokes and humor at Mass misused more often than not (bathroom joke about the word ‘throne’ during a homily about the Kingship of Christ, NFL jokes, etc.). To me the questions are, does it add or detract from the message, does is fit with the fact Our Lord’s Sacrifice at Calvary is about to be present in a few moments on the altar and is that the best way to convey that particular point? I am fortunate to now go to a church where these questions don’t come up.

 

[LegoGE1947]

I prefer my priests to speak in as monotone a voice as possible. Any sort of inflection in their voice might insight me to feel something, and that can’t be good!

All joking aside (as difficult as that is for me to do in a thread about jokes! ), I can understand the OP’s unease. I have seen instances where it seems like a priest is trying too hard or telling jokes that make you wince rather than laugh. But I don’t think it is intrinsically irreverent to have a bit of humor even within the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

My pastor usually says things during his homily that make people laugh, but he’s not standing up there reading out of a joke book or anything. It just goes along with his normal jovial demeanor.

This was the point I was making when I mentioned the priest during Advent pointing out that his vestments were “rose” not “pink” on Gaudette Sunday. This was before the Mass actually began that he said this.

 

[Phemie]

I prefer my priests to speak in as monotone a voice as possible. Any sort of inflection in their voice might insight me to feel something, and that can’t be good!

All joking aside (as difficult as that is for me to do in a thread about jokes! ), I can understand the OP’s unease. I have seen instances where it seems like a priest is trying too hard or telling jokes that make you wince rather than laugh. But I don’t think it is intrinsically irreverent to have a bit of humor even within the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

My pastor usually says things during his homily that make people laugh, but he’s not standing up there reading out of a joke book or anything. It just goes along with his normal jovial demeanor.

It’s one thing during the homily but there are priests who just don’t seem to have any sense of decorum when it comes to these things.

Two come to mind right off the bat:

Our former Pastor who, as he was kneeling to wash feet on Holy Thursday, joked that if he’d known whose feet he’d be washing he’d have used ice water.

The Administrator who never genuflects during Mass. The Sunday after the new bishop’s visit, he genuflected at the Consecration of the bread, stopped, looked at the congregation and said, with a big grin, “Make sure to tell the Bishop”, provoking laughter between the Consecration of the bread and that of the wine. The same one who joked that if he wore a pink chasuble on Gaudete Sunday “Well, you know what people would say…”

 

[superamazingman]

It’s one thing during the homily but there are priests who just don’t seem to have any sense of decorum when it comes to these things.

Two come to mind right off the bat:

Our former Pastor who, as he was kneeling to wash feet on Holy Thursday, joked that if he’d known whose feet he’d be washing he’d have used ice water.

The Administrator who never genuflects during Mass. The Sunday after the new bishop’s visit, he genuflected at the Consecration of the bread, stopped, looked at the congregation and said, with a big grin, “Make sure to tell the Bishop”, provoking laughter between the Consecration of the bread and that of the wine. The same one who joked that if he wore a pink chasuble on Gaudete Sunday “Well, you know what people would say…”

Wow. That’s not even just irreverent, but almost socially unacceptable as well.

 

[curlycool89]

The Joke

An older man was at the Stanley Cup Final hockey game, the biggest game of the year, sitting right in the center of the arena… The guy behind him wondered why this was since the game was sold out. He asked him "Why is the seat beside you empty, it’s such a prime spot.

The man replied “Oh, my wife sits there.”

The guy asked him, “Well why isn’t your wife with you?”

“Oh she died,” he replied.

“Well, surely you must have other family or friends you could have brought along.”

The old man said “Nope.”

The guy was curious. “Why not?”

“Well they’re all at the funeral.”

And that’s how you can identify a true Canadian.

I admit it, I lol’d.

I’m guessing that this happened last weekend, right? On what would have been Canada Day? That gives it a little context at least.

Interestingly, my traditional (older) guide for a good examination of conscience prior to Confession lists laughing in Church as a sin.

I would throw away that guide because it’s overly-scrupulous. I suspect it’s not the only thing listed on there that’s clearly not a sin.

There’s nothing wrong with laughing in Church; there’s nothing wrong with laughing at all. It’s simply an emotional-physical reaction similar to smiling or crying.

A good example, while not at Mass but during the sacrement of reconciliation. When I came back to the Church…I did not remember having my first reconciliation…I must have had it but didn’t remember so when I went into reconciliation after 30 years or so…I said “bless me Father for I have sinned…this would be my first reconciliation” Father looked me square in the eyes and said “nerve racking isn’t it?”…which made me smile and took all (or most) of the nervousness away.

Now there’s a good and pastoral priest.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

Now there’s a good and pastoral priest.

Yes he is! He occasionally uses humour in his homilies to bring home a point. No one has given me more of a love for our Catholic faith then this priest!

 

[Daizies]

Whenever all our regular priests are busy, and the diocese’s Chancellor says the Mass he always tells a (clean) joke at the beginning of his homily. I think it gets people’s attention. Some of them are pretty funny too. Actually, one time the Archbishop got off a good joke (and he’s usually not the type to joke) when a Cardinal was visiting. So I guess if an Archbishop does it, it can’t be too bad right? (although this was before Mass began)