On June 14, 2024, Pope Francis met with comedians from all over the world. During the meeting, the Pope 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 who is aware of the importance of joy. Throughout history, many saints have emphasized that good humor is a great virtue proper to Christians.

So much so that Saint Thomas More wrote a prayer asking the Lord to give him the habit of taking things well: “Grant me, O Lord, a good digestion and also something to digest. Give me physical health and the good humor necessary to maintain it. Give me, Lord, a holy soul who knows how to appreciate what is good and pure, so that it will not be intimidated by sin but will find a way to put things right. Give me a soul that knows no boredom, no murmuring, no sighing and no lamentation, and do not allow it to suffer excessively from that presumptuous being called ‘I’. Give me, Lord, a sense of humor. Give me the grace to understand jokes, so that I may experience a little joy in life and be able to share it with others.”

Good mood and evangelization

Saint Josemaría Escrivá knew well that communication is essential for evangelization. For this reason, in point 661 of the Way, he wrote: “Long faces…, harsh manners…, ridiculous behavior…, an unpleasant demeanor: is this how you want to encourage others to follow Christ? A truly difficult task.” Pope Francis agrees when he says: “A sad Christian is a sad Christian.”

It is important to note, however, that good humor is not synonymous with naivety. Gilbert Keith Chesterton was well aware of this, as his texts show. The English author’s writings are full of common sense, subtle irony and good humor that overwhelm the reader. Defend the faith? Of course, but without losing the smile.

Another great example of this is Saint 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 transform the things heard and seen into a joyful smile, in the right measure and in the right way,” as Saint Thomas Aquinas preached.

Good humor, a matter of saints

Pope Francis writes 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.”

We can therefore say that good humor is a quality of the saints, a virtue that brings us closer to heaven and allows us to put into practice the words of Saint Paul in his letter to the Philippians: “Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I say to you, rejoice!”