I first posted the video at the bottom two years ago on this blog. I thought it was quite funny and a humorous look at the culture of Catholicism. In no way did I think the “deacon” in the video was ridiculing the faith. In fact it was really more a spoof on used car salesmen who will often do anything to sell a car.
But, when I published the video there were a number of strong reactions in the combox from readers who did not think the commercial funny at all, and offensive to boot. Here are a couple of examples:
- I’m sorry. I know the attempt at humor was well meant and may appeal to some. But I found it in bad taste and almost offensive. It was the use of sacred words and realities in such a flippant manner that I could not appreciate.
- Not funny and what is being promoted? Open on Sundays? What about keeping the Sabbath Day holy?
Others thought differently -
- I thought this was a brilliant way to connect…Sometimes we get just too uptight and try to keep our religion in a pretty box. Well done brother, I hope to see more.
- My favorite line is: “We’re on South Water Street, just before it turns into Wine” That’s funny and clever! Anyway, some here don’t agree. I see it as lighthearted humor and some of you clearly do not.
As I have said, I think the spoof is more on car salesman, and not that far from the truth either. I remember that, some years ago, in the Catholic Standard, our Archdiocesan Newspaper, a certain Deacon, who was also a car dealer, used to advertise each week. He loved to point out that he was a permanent Deacon at such-and-so a parish. There was more than a hint in his add that he had a special deal for practicing Catholics: “An outrageously low price for a new or used car! Just bring a Church Bulletin and get the discount!” Hey, why not. I think if I’d been in the market for a car I might of just paid him a visit!
But humor is clearly risky sort of a thing, for what often makes it funny is that goes out to the edges, sometimes engages in stereotyping, and usually has a element of truth wrapped up in hyperbole and histrionics. We human beings are often funny even when we’re doing serious stuff and a good laugh doesn’t always mean ridicule, sometimes it means appreciation of the traits we notice in others.
Finally, the word humor and humility are likely related. The Latin word “humus” means soil, earth or ground. Another root of the word is the Latin and Greek word “humor” referring to the water and other bodily fluids that make up our bodies. Either way, we are dust and water and unto dust we shall return. Recalling this is a way to remember, among other things, that we not take ourselves too seriously. Proper humor and laughter that is not ridiculing in intent, can help us to be more humble.
I am interested in what you think of the video below. Is the humor of it appropriate, as I think it is? Does some or all of it go too far? What’s the balance between being able to laugh at ourselves and being too uptight? Clearly some people, two years ago were offended. I was not. What do you think?
Anyway, enjoy this rather humorous and well done video.
If anyone hasn’t seen it, I would thoroughly recommend watching “The Divine Sense of Humour” by Grandpa Sheen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxLdrE7WTaA
Ah, thanks for this link
What a hoot! As a business man in the tent and party rental business for 30 + years I really enjoyed this along with all your articles. I do sometimes wish you would post your reflections on the upcoming Sunday readings before I have to preach :], but that would be cheating the Holy Spirit his time with me trying to get my thick head to understand them from a 21st century married man lived experience. Oh well, I do check back to see if I was somewhat on the same track as your post and more often than not I was which confirms what I spoke on. Keep up this important ministry you have going. I don’t know how you can do all this but we both know it’s “Him” that has your back. I don’t mean to put added pressure on you but there is probably many, and I mean many of us who look forward to “hearing” your words on the net. I do wonder one point though, “how does he ever find all those YouTube clips?” God Bless Padre and thank you. Deacon Jerry
Thanks for these encouraging words.
ok. I am crying I’m laughing so hard. That was awesome! if you don’t you’ll go to hell hahahahahahahaha. Msgr I needed that laugh thank you
Laughing with you
And on Sundays too!!! Well, I don’t think it was particularly funny, odd would be more like it. It does remind me of a young Black man who worked for me one time. Chewing the fat during lunch like we usually did he brought up somehing that happened over the week-end he thought really funny. Seems as though he was attending his neighborhood Baptist Church and it so happened that the Pastor owned a gas station close by. And before dismissing the congregation he reminded everyone to ” come in and get some of that Holy Gas. ” We all laughed and laughed at that because it was so odd that a Pastor would actually put the bite on folks. It was funny but it made sense too, after all his salary couldn’t have been much.
Well the “open Sunday’s too” has to be understood as comedy because of its irony. We are not supposed to take anything seriously in this “ad” which is a comedy routine, not a real ad. It’s funny because its odd that a “Catholic” dealership would push the “open Sundays too” thats what makes it funny.
This is HILARIOUS!!!!!!! Thank you so much for recognizing the need for humor! After, God created it!!!
Love the article and think the video is fun too. Such a great reminder about humor and humility going together in your 2nd last paragraph! Thanks! Soooo needed (personally!)!
Thanks. Humor is a fascinating human quality.
That was humerus.
I see the humor in your spelling!
I found it clever and funny. The only thing that bothered me was the ‘blessing’ at the end. While most of it was clever use of words, the ‘blessing’ felt mocking. Can’t quite put my finger on why yet, but will think about it.
perhaps the most edgy part to be sure. The “bishop” wearing a white overlay stole on a purple vestment was a hoot too.
This is interesting stuff, it wasn’t as easy to promote global amoral agenda’s back when local community programming and advertising had a much stronger influence and voice. It just occurred to me that local community advertising really doesn’t exist any longer. There’s a whole generation that no longer or has never experienced it. As irritating as some of it may have been it instilled a certain local sense of community pride and values. Who can forget these type of commercials during and in between episodes of Lost in Space, Ultra Man and The Munsters? (google em kids)
No, I don’t find this funny at all, as a matter of fact, it’s a little disturbing and sad. I suppose the much media maligned ‘local grassroots movements’ is the only thing left to fill the void?
I too remember a time when local advertising was more common. It was very homespun, and quite hokey but had a kind of flavor to it. Here in DC such advertising was more common on our local stations 5 and 20.
I am not sure I really understand your critique however and how a comedy routine like this relates to a global amoral agenda and local grassroots movements. Perhaps you can elaborate.
My comment wasn’t a critique on the commercial itself which I enjoyed and thought was funny. It just reminded me how local television stations used to rely much more on local business advertising dollars. Local businesses to a greater extent had to maintain a good name and relationship with their local television viewers. For this reason, the opinions of the local viewing audience had a much greater influence on not only TV programming in their local market but also on the businesses that advertised in their local communities. It seems to me that to a great extent the local viewing audience’s voice has been lost.
Just as one example, when I turn on my television today, much of the programming I see tempts me to think that 50% of the population is gay and that the whole population supports gay marriage. Back when the local viewing audience had a greater voice, I don’t think this kind of misrepresentation would have been possible or tolerated. The local Christian viewing audience used to have a de facto greater voice and influence. Sadly, somehow today, the Christian viewing audience’s voice has been lost. I suppose we’ve allowed cable companies to ignore or neglect the Christian voice in both advertising and programming content.
In hindsight, maybe I have this backwards. Maybe local television viewers have lost their correct sense of family. Families have lost their correct sense of community and communities are aptly reflected in today’s media?
I enjoyed it!
Me too.
The last line was the funniest: “If you do, you’ll pay to much . . . and you’ll go to hell.”
Yes, its pulled off very well.
*too
What was the name of that show on ABC, “Nothing Sacred”? As pointed out, using the sacred words, not to mention the sign of the cross, as some sort of punch line, simply isn’t funny, and rather inexcusable.
The fact is that our sense of humor, like everything else, needs to grow and mature. It needs cultivation and refinement. There was none of that here.
Perhaps, but I am not sure how the “cultivation and refinement” and “mature” argument doesn’t come across to some as arrogance. Some of the most cultivated and refined in our culture are some of the sharpest enemies of faith. This video was edgy but was in good fun, it seems to me. It wasn’t meant to ridicule or dismiss, just celebrate in a cheerful way Catholic optics. And thank God we still have a few optics left to celebrate, given how so many of us have wanted to blend into the culture and practically disappear.
Fair enough. If however the argument for cultivation, refinement and a sense of maturity come across as “arrogant” that is rather a large, and sad, problem for those who are not mature, and who have not taken an interest in cultivating and/or refining their sense of humor. And, yes, I realize that incorporates a very large swath of those who fall into the category we very liberally refer to as “adults”. I’m quite sure no exposition is needed here on the ever increasing problem of perpetual adolescence in our society.
In any case, I will simply disagree as I believe that in fact it does not celebrate Catholic optics as much as diminishes their sacredness and trivializes their seriousness by using them in what is arguably a not all that clever and more than a little juvenile attempt at comedy by someone not equal to the task.
If this had been done by a child it would have been funny, but not by a grown man, and not by a ordained deacon, and not while wearing clerics.
Thank you, Fr. Maximilian. for offering your opinion and objection to the humor of this commercial. I, too, felt uneasy viewing it, especially the blessing towards the end. I could be labeled as one without a sense of humor and too serious in outlook or too old-fashioned, but in this times where nothing seems to be held as sacred anymore, I felt offended by the use of the clerical theme to bring out such humor.
Good to have a sense of humor, I think God certainly has a sense of humor–look at the Platypus. Here is a funny clip from The Simpsons regarding Catholics, Protestants, and Heaven: http://www.gloria.tv/?media=93470
Yes, thanks. I had forgotten about this clip. It’s a hoot. Though I guess the Protestant franchise they have in mind is more the upper crust Episcopalian or high Church Lutheran sort. It reminds me of the old Belloc quote:
In Catholic countries the sun doth shine,
And there is music and good red wine.
At least I have always thought it so,
Benedicamus Domino.
Well, since you asked, I didn’t like it. Most especially, any joke about the Crucifixion strikes me as obviously inappropriate and misguided — but apparently what strikes me as something obvious isn’t even true at all to someone else! I guess I generally don’t think “edgy” is a good place for Christians to go for humor.
Well, my point is that most humor is edgy. It often takes what is serious. The crucifixion is not just the historical event, it is so fundamental to the Western and Christian experience that we can say it is archetypal. And so we will often say, “Man, they’re gonna crucify you for that!” Or we will say, that’s excruciating! (Meaning from the cross). We do not mean disrespect of the cross and but rather refer to its suffering as an archetype of suffer. At any rate, none of this may convince you but it’s obvious I am less prone to find offense in this matter and think I understand why you do. Humor is a complicated matter.
I found it moderately funny – the “Water St just before it turns into Wine” did make me chuckle – but, overall, I found it in dreadfully poor taste. I do take the points about humility; but I find nothing flippant in the crucificition or the Eucharist.
But part of the humor is that it is dreadful and a spoof on car dealer ads from the 1970s that were just like this: dreadful, and silly all at once. It is the shtick that makes it funny. In this area we once had a lot of ads just like this (though usually not clerical).
I can’t watch the video at the moment but I’m just so cautious with humor these days. Most modern humor is sinful, without the people even realizing they’re offending God.
Y’know I remember Bud Sr.’s speech on Marian Apparitions from ‘91 where he states, “God does not joke.”
I think of Michael O’Brien’s book “Father Elijah,” where the character Billy belives that God wears a secret smile. (In my opinion because He knows He wins)
Then I think of the recent book from the death experience of the Nebraska boy, Colton Burpo, “Heaven is for Real,” where at the age of 3, Jesus tells Colton that He died for the boy. That is a subject kept away from children of that age in nearly every church I know, because “modern man” thinks the kids can’t handle it.
This life is the unreality, the life to come is the eternal. As Dr. Hahn states, heaven is more real and substantial than that interstate down the street.
Saving souls is a serious business, to lose that soul is for them to spend eternity without God. That is why all of our actions have so much consequence, not just on ourselves but in who we surround ourself with every day through out our lives.
Humor has to be balanced.
Agreed, and that’s why I’m asking this question
Msg. Pope, The video you show is okay, it gave a smirk. But I think the one below used humor more diriectly for a purpose. God Bless, and let’s all laugh a little more often!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dpqi56EWnQ8
Ah yes, a great moment in Catholic humor, with a point. Sham Wow!
Hilarious!
Yes indeed
Msgr,
When reading the New Testament, one has little trouble imaging the twinkle in Our Savior’s eye as he delivered some very important messages. His humor was subtle and very spot-on.
One cannot survive a life of service to the church without possessing a divine (pun intended) and outrageous sense of humor. Among my fondest memories were moments spent with our parish rector and his assistant as we gleefully watched Don Novello in his role as Father Guido Sarducci.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbSZlqKxAE4
JMJ Mr. Ryland, (Everyone) What you direct others to see is Not humor/Comedy it’s an Insult to God,and a demeaning of his teaching, Mr. Novello may be a Comedian, (I didn’t hear anything funny, Mockery of Jesus’ teaching, Yes.) what he’s speaking about is Not comedy it’s Sinfulness nothing to laugh away nor do sinners (We) pay in money for their Sins, Repentance, confession, Penance, Retribution, (here on earth) or when we Die, Purgatory, Hell. Not in coin nor paper money. The audience being Led astray by a Not so funny man. He does tickle their ear, Jesus have Mercy on Us Sinners! Respectfully with Love, Joseph J. Pippet
Mr. Pippet,
The Church, Like the Trinity, transcends all the estates of being from the eternal to the very, very temporal. Finding humor in the “human machinations” we contrive in order to understand or interpret the divine is an ancient art. Even the Old Testament has its moments. Discerning the number of angels on the head of a pin or divining the exact moment of creation may have occupied some errant theologians but those exercises have little to do with the firm doctrine of our faith. Mark Twain took some of those common “wanderings” to task in his “Letters to the Earth”, humorously exposing our mythical folly to the light of reason with great humor.
The “art” in “divine comedy” comes, not from ridiculing the foundation of our faith, but from poking a little fun at our human views and practices, often with great cause.
Fr Guido! Great stuff, so understated at times. Some found him too out there as well. I also agree that there is more humor in the scripture than we first imagine. I have been wanting to write a post on the humor of Jesus.
I think it was St. Teresa that said, “Save me from sourpuss saints!” Relax a bit, folks.
Yes, I think it was she.
So I guess, in the end, the feedback makes it clear that humor is a rather personal experience. While we can all admit that there is stuff that goes too far (e.g.obscenities, ridicule, etc), there is a middle ground that is somewhat up for debate. I am personally of the school that says, lighten up a bit, but am respectful that some think this humor goes to far.
Msgr. Pope, thank you for understanding my position with regards to this comedy routine. I was before the Blessed Sacrament today meditating on Christ hanging from the Cross with his mother at the foot of that Cross. I could not contain the extent of the pains that they both bore on our behalf. It is for this reason that I could not and cannot accept, as part of lightening up, minimizing the sacredness of the symbol or sign of the Cross as part of a comedic routine. I love to laugh, too, but I go for tasteful humors.
Once when I was in the Army I was detailed with three other men to clean the base chapel. When we arrived, the sacred vessels had been left on the altar, and two of the men seeing the opportunity for a little humor, took them up, staggered around the altar as if they were drunk and made various humorous comments which they found hilarious.
I was completely taken aback and horrified, but had no idea where to begin to put a stop to it. However, since this was an ecumenical chapel, it happened that in front of me was an open Bible on a stand. Like a man looking for a plank in a shipwreck I looked into the scripture hoping to find words that would come to my aid. The first verse that my eyes struck was, “Woe to the man who does not reprove those who mishandle the sacred vessels.” It was enough to call the men over and point out the passages for them both to say, “Whoa!” and gingerly replace the sacred vessels on the altar.
A word to the wise is sufficient.
Some words are sacred vessels.
I see the humor in the piece. But to me that is not the issue. The issue is not what we think of it, but what God thinks of it. The sacraments are holy. This is profane treatment of consecrated persons, sacraments and sacramentals. In other words, it is sacrilege.
“God does not like sour-faced saints,” says one, and “We should not be afraid to laugh at ourselves,” says another, but that is all by the way. Is this a reverential treatment of the holy things of the Catholic Church or not?
In an ecclesiastical context, from there it is a small step, but a logical one, to feel free to make innocent jokes about the seminary rector or the Archbishop. Why not? If anyone objects, obviously they do not have a sense of humor. It’s all in good fun. Nothing was meant by it. It wasn’t malicious.
A few weeks later the seminary rector, whose name is Fr. Charles Smith becomes “Charlie.” Is that so wrong? The reason why this step is so easy to take is that the conscience has been hardened by the earlier light treatment which went unreproved. No one wants to be a wet blanket, to be thought humorless, nor to be excluded from the “with-it” crowd… This is known as human respect.
And so it comes that when the rector calls the seminarian in for a serious-as- a- heart-attack conference, the seminarian does not see Fr. Charles Smith sitting across the desk from him, the Lord’s representative in his life, but only “Charlie.” He no longer takes him seriously or respects him or obeys him.
I think something like this pattern has repeated like a noxious fractal throughout the Church in rectories, friaries, monasteries, convents and curial offices for decades. It is a pox on the Church.
Yes, I thought the ad was humorous. That said, I believe Brother Deacon Dan was in error by appearing in clerical garb advertisng for a profit-making organization in such a profane manner. The Diocese needs to respond to this action to insure the sanctity of the clerics is not diminished.
I did laugh….at first! But like many here, as I thought more about it…given the ridicule and mockery directed at
today’s Church, its priests, and its devout faithful…and seemingly little we can due to stem the tide…except pray and hope for a better day….I started laughing all over again. It beats cowering and crying in my beer! I just
hope these were both actors…in the video here…and not the real thing? That WOULD place a different twist to the whole scenario!
Oops! You mean the salesman IS A REAL DEACON? Well, perhaps he needs to be called out by his Bishop and his limited faculties removed and given the opportunity for deep prayer and reflection upon this most
serious vocation within the Church. This ,of course, would be for his spiritual benefit…a time for him to prove his calling is genuine through obedience to the hierarchy of Mother Church!
I think he’s just an actor.
Oh, you gave me a belly laugh! The other folks in my tenement apartment building must think I am crazy! But I am not – it was really funny! Thanks so much!
Wine and wafers? Really? I can laugh at a lot of things… but that is over the top. With vast amounts of Catholics in a fog about what they believe… to speak of the Eucharist in that fashion and laugh at it truly is offensive to me.