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THE ATHANASIAN
A publication of Traditional Catholics of America t Editor: Fr. Francis E. Fenton, STL t Volume IX, No. 2 t March 1, 1988
HUMOR AND THE SAINTS
John Kenneth Weiskittel
W hen we reflect on the countless valiant men and
women who are canonized saints, there is so much
that we can learn from them to strengthen us on the road
their reading of Scripture. They note that it is seldom
mentioned in the Bible (and, then, usually in a poor light),
that the life of Christ is presented therein as one of deep
to Heaven. We rightly recount their heroic virtue, read sobriety and that modern "pop" theology has attacked the
their writings, marvel at their miracles and react with ,Divine Person of Our Lord by attempting to turn Him into
hushed awe at their sufferings and martyrdoms. At Mass we a quipster or a "Laughing Jesus" (a painting with this title
sing their praises and pause prayerfully before their has been sold in recent years by religious supply shops). As
statues; at home we cherish their relics and prayer cards. far as they take this kind of thinking, they are correct.
All of this is what we, as faithful Catholics, do as a matter of Certainly there are passages in the Bible that take a dim
course and in no way would think of neglecting-nor view of those who are addicted to amusement. "Laughter I
should we. And yet our veneration of the saints usually is of counted error," writes Solomon, "and to mirth I said: Why
the sort that overlooks a facet of their personalities that art thou vainly deceived?" (Ecclesiastes 2:2) In the same
could bring them even closer to us, for the humor we book we read: "The heart of the wise is where there is
encounter in their lives shows them in one of the most mourning: and the heart of fools where there is mirth."
characteristic human activities. (7:5) Christ warns "… of every idle word men speak, they
shall give account on the day of judgment. For by thy words
Humor and the saints? Some Catholics want to place the thou wilt be justified, and by thy words thou wilt be con-
two in separate compartments, holding that, because demned." (Matthew 12:36-37) To the Ephesians (and to us)
humor tends to trivialize life, witticisms, practical jokes and the Apostle Paul instructs against "… obscenity or foolish
the like are beneath the dignity of God's servants. This atti- talk or scurrility, which are out of place." (Ephesians 5:4)
tude, however well-intentioned, does justice to neither And Saint James writes: "Be sorrowful and mourn, and
humor nor the saints but rather approximates attitudes ex- weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your
pressed in some of the more dour forms of Protestantism. joy into sadness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the
Lord, and He will exalt you." (Saint James 4:9-10; see also
In individuals we see a wide spectrum of outlooks on lif~ Proverbs 14:9, 13, Ecclesiasticus 27:14)
from the outgoing and lighthearted to the introspective and
serious. Is there one correct nature to have? No, our na- It is truly bizarre that Our Redeemer has been cast in the
tures are as different as our physical appearances and role of a Hebraic comedian (an entire book has been
Catholic philosophers and theologians have always taught written to show His purported humorous sayings). No-
that sanctity does not come from the destruction of our where in the gospels do we ever find Christ saying anything
nature but from its perfection. When nature is left un- purely in jest. True, He does make use of exaggerated illus-
checked it will lead to laxness and frivolity in the former trations in His discourses, such as "strain out the gnat but
types mentioned above or to despair and severity in the swallow the camel" (Matthew 23:23-24) and "easier for a
latter. So, humor does have its place if used properly, even camel to pass through the eye of a needle" (Mark 10:25),
in the pilgrimage of the saint. It is worth our while, then, to but the first instance comes in His stern and lengthy cen-
pause for a time to enjoy and 1eam from some of our sure of the hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees (verses
heavenly friends' lighter moments, not only because whole- 13-39), while the second treats the equally serious subject
some and edifying humor is in such short supply these days of the danger of riches. Possibly the incident where a short
but also because seeing this down-to-earth side of the tax collector named Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree in
saints can increase our familiarity with them and make order to see over a crowd as Christ passed by in the streets
them even more approachable for us in prayer. of Jericho (Luke 19:1-10) comes as close to humor as the
Evangelists ever get. But, again, a careful reading of the
The Bible On Humor passage dispels the slightest notion that the sacred writer
A good deal of the misconceptions certain Catholics and was trying to elicit laughter (though certainly a smile might
others have about humor in regard to piety comes from be a reasonable response). Of all the attributes of Our Lord
we find in the gospels, humor is one that is not in great while I work you may hang the cardinal's hat on that bush
evidence. Clearly He possessed it, for the Church teaches and take a walk in the garden.)
that He was like us in all ways except sin, but He chose to
keep it hidden as part of His divine mission. Two of the more amusing stories that appear in the Fioretti
(the Little Flowers of Saint Francis) involve episodes
For that mission was such-the salvation of the human featuring the saint's beloved friar, Brother Leo. Once, in the
race from eternal ruin by means of His passion and course of a long winter's walk to Our Lady of the Angels
death-that He was prophetically called "a man of Chapel, Francis told Leo to take down his words as they
sorrows" (Isaias 53:3) and He preached at the Sermon on went along. Perfect joy is not to be found in the performing
the Mount: "Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall of miracles, he observed, listing several from healing the sick
laugh … Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn to raising the dead. Neither is it to be found in living a life of
and weep." (Luke 6:21, 25) sanctity and edification nor in being a scholar of Scripture or
of all learning. This went on and on, with Francis supplying
Likewise, it is helpful to remember that the Bible's details in every case. Finally, becoming impatient, Leo
underlying message throughout is humanity's spiritual exclaimed, "Father, I beg you in the name of God, tell me
sickness and the consequent need for a divine remedy. We where perfect joy is to be found." Saint Francis' reply has a
would hardly expect a doctor to crack jokes with a patient bit of slapstick for, he told Leo, perfect joy would come if
who has a deadly illness and who must be carefully in- they reached their destination only to find that the door-
structed on what is to be done to regain health. And so it is keeper refused them, mistaking them for robbers, and when,
with Holy Writ, which calls us to a close examination of our after they continued to implore him to let them in from the
relationships to God and bids us to do what is required to freezing cold, he came out and worked them over with a
put them in order. And now, as we turn our attention to the club. If they could endure this with love and with thoughts
saints, we shall see how, by gently (and sometimes not so centered on Our Lord's sufferings they will have true
gently) tweaking the foibles of themselves and others, they happiness since, said he, "the highest gift and grace of the
help us to order our relationships in a delightful way. Holy Ghost that Christ concedes to his friends is to conquer
one's self and, out of love of Christ, to endure willingly
Franciscan Follies sufferings, injuries, insults and discomfort."
There surely can be no better place to begin our trip than
by taking a look at some of the madcap capers of Saint On another occasion, finding themselves in a place without
Francis of Assisi and members of his Order. Francis was breviaries, Francis suggested to Leo that for Matins he
called "court fool of the King of Paradise" by G. K. would speak and Leo was to respond by saying the same
Chesterton, and his simplicity, along with his renunciation thing. "O Brother Francis," our saint began, "you com-
of all earthly goods in order to serve God, helped form in mitted so many sins in the world that you are worthy of hell."
him a carefree spirit that has ever since been a prominent To which Leo replied: "Through you God will do so much
feature of the traditional Franciscan Order. good that you will go to Heaven." Each time Francis would
say a similar form of humble self-abasement, Leo would
Familiar to all Catholics are the tales of Saint Francis reply to the contrary. Finally, it was Francis' tum to be
preaching to the birds, and Saint Anthony of Padua to a exasperated and he questioned his friend on why he was
school of fish, after people refused to listen to them. Then being disobedient by answering directly opposite to the way
there was the time Francis and Brother Masseo came to he had been instructed. An embarrassed and confused Leo
crossroads leading to three cities and were uncertain whi<;h exclaimed: "God knows, my father, that each time I resolved
to take. Our saint solved the dilemma by instructing his in my heart to answer as you directed me but God made me
companion to spin around like a top until told to stop. speak as it pleased Him." They spent the remainder of their
Masseo obeyed, turning faster and faster until he fell from time in prayerful praise of God.
dizziness and, hearing no further command, staggered to
his feet and continued revolving, falling, regaining his feet, Even in his dealings with the devil, Saint Francis could strike
over and over until, finally, Francis cried "Stop!" Brother a humorous chord. When he was tempted to leave the
Masseo faced Siena and the two followed the road there, religious life in search of a bride, Francis, as Chesterton
where the preaching of Saint Francis ended a vicious fight mentions in his biography of the saint, "defied the devil by
in which two people had already died. making images in the snow and crying out that these sufficed
him for wife and family." When he had difficulty casting out
(When messengers of Pope Gregory X visited the Seraphic demons, Francis would threaten to get Brother Juniper, the
Doctor, Saint Bonaventure, to inform him that the pontiff most innocent and childlike friar, if they did not leave at
had made him a cardinal, the saint, who had hid himself in once. This method never seemed to fail, the fallen spirits
a convent of the Order near Florence to escape the dignity, having a horror of Juniper.
was washing dishes. What an odd sight it must have
seemed to them, finding one of the Church's loftiest Much could be written regarding Brother Juniper as well.
thinkers busy himself in a menial task but they must have When put in charge of things at the convent while the broth-
been even more surprised by his reply. Yes, the pope must ers were gone, Juniper decided to surprise them by prepar-
be obeyed, he sighed, but first I must finish these dishes; ing a big meal. Unfortunately, he didn't wash the vegetables
THE ATHANASIAN 2 MARCH 1, 1988
and he threw various game and fowl into one big pot, none to raise his allowance after he moved from home. Saint
of which was plucked. When some rich curiosity seekers Thomas would write witty poems in Latin to fellow students
came to meet him he joined some children playing on a at Oxford and could scarcely keep himself from adding some
teeter-totter, and continued to do so until they left, well-placed clowning to parts of Utopia. Erasmus, the
disappointed to see such an "uncouth" fellow-exactly the influential Dutch philosopher who was More's friend, wrote
response for which Juniper had hoped. And to defuse the that he had "from earliest childhood such a passion for
anger of a superior who had earlier in the day upbraided jokes, that one might almost suppose he had been born for
him for excessive almsgiving, Brother Juniper went that them." Paul Turner, in the introduction to his translation of
night to the superior's room with some hot porridge he had Utopia (from More's Latin), writes that More "even enjoyed
prepared. The scene, as retold by Johannes Jorgensen in jokes against himself." At his first meeting as a member of
his biography of Saint Francis, continues: the king's council, Saint Thomas heard the group's head,
Cardinal Wolsey, outline a certain plan. The council
"Father," said Brother Juniper as he stood before his members unanimously approved it-except More. Wolsey,
door with the plate of porridge in one hand and a flustered at the thought that anyone would challenge his
lighted candle in the other, "today when you repri- wisdom, upbraided him as a fool. "Sir," our saint calmly
manded me for my fault I noticed that you were very replied, "if His Grace, the King, has only one fool on his
hoarse from excitement. Now I have prepared this council he's very fortunate!" When his defense of the
porridge for you and beg you to eat it; it is good for Roman Catholic Church caused him to be thrown into the
the throat and the chest!" The superior, who Tower of London, More retained his sense of humor. In her
understood the meaning of this untimely attention, biography, Saint Thomas More of London, Elizabeth Ince, a
harshly told Brother Juniper to go away with his Catholic descendant of the saint, tells of the time the
foolish tricks. prison's lieutenant, a friend of the More family, apologized
to Thomas for not being able to give him better food, cell
"Well," said Brother Juniper, "the porridge is cooked and bedding. Smiling, More dismissed this, saying, "Well,
and has to be eaten, so you hold the light while I do I've got nothing to grumble about. If ever I do grumble, just
the eating." throw me out!" Even as he met the executioner his spirits
were high. "Cheer up, man," he told him, "and don't mind
This innocent boldness softened the superior so that he doing your job. My neck is short, so see you aim straight.
relented and, in true Franciscan fashion, sat down to share You wouldn't want to spoil your reputation." Then, as the ax
the meal with his guileless charge. Saint Francis said of was raised, Saint Thomas cried, "Stop! I must put my beard
Brother Juniper, "I wish we had a whole grove of such aside. It would be a shame to chop it off. After all, my poor
juniper trees," and the modern Franciscan, Father Justin beard is not accused of treason."
McCarthy, used him as a model for the chubby little friar in
the comic strip of the same name. Three Modern Saints
Saint Jean Vianney, Cure of Ars, patron saint of parish
Saints Philip Neri and Thomas More priests; Saint Bernadette Soubirous, the seer at Lourdes;
Two of the great saints of the sixteenth century also Pope Saint Pius X, defender of the Church against Modern-
provided some of the lighter moments of that troubled ism-each an important saint in modem times and each with
time. Saint Philip Neri, a devoted child of Mary, was a a flair for the comical as the occasion presented itself.
priest of the highest ability and bears the grand title of
Apostle of Rome. Saint Philip earned that title by his won- There was something close to the Franciscan in the simple,
drous conversion of many souls who had been trapped ill gentle humor of Saint Jean Vianney. As a boy growing up in
the snare of worldliness. This he did to a large degree by Napoleonic France, he often missed school to help on the
means of his sunny disposition through which his love of family farm. Once, boys from the village hid his tools while
God was so clear for all to see. It was said that he could lift he was at church to see whether they could anger him.
the hearts of men by simply tugging at their ear or hair. When he returned, he had only to look them in the eyes to
And, notes the Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, "(a) tell which of them had done the deed and, upon discovering
gentle jest would convey his rebukes and veil his miracles." the culprit's identity, thanked him in a kindly and amusing
manner for taking such good care of the tools. This eye for
Saint Thomas More was one of the greatest minds of his the ridiculous aided Saint Jean when he became pastor of
age and gained the crown of martyrdom by resisting the the church in the tiny town of Ars. In those days, many
Anglican heresy. Best known for his book, Utopia, Saint women wore hoop skirts known as crinolines to church. Of
Thomas was a prominent English statesman who became this the Cure remarked: "The Emperor has done some fine
his nation's lord chancellor during the turbulent reign of things but he's forgotten one. He should have enlarged all of
Henry VIII. His sense of humor manifested itself at an early the doors to let the crinolines pass." Biographer Margaret
age. As a teen Thomas thought he might have a religious Trouncer writes that "he could be sarcastic if he chose, yet
vocation. His father was angry when he revealed his plan to without breaking the laws of charity," and that his sennons
enter a Carthusian monastery but Thomas wryly noted an could make parishioners "blush by gentle ridicule." But his
obvious benefit: expenses would be much less than wit had bite when needed. Preaching on the rich who sought
ordinary lodgings and he certainly didn't expect his father even more land instead of helping the poor, he said: "You
THE ATHANASIAN 3 MARCH 1, 1988
are afraid you won't have enough land? Ah, my friend, Wait place in the Cure of Ars' life and, interestingly, both saints
until you have three or four feet of earth on your head, then also shared the art of mimicry. One sister, Elizabeth
you'll be satisfied." Meyrignac, who later became superior of an English con-
vent, recalled:
The Cure also had his surprises. When two devout parish
ladies chided him for never having them over for dinner, he Her mimicry was brilliant, full of delicate touches of wit
invited them to one they would not soon forget. They ar- and sometimes sly roguishness. But I must say that
rived to find a table spread with a basket of the bread of the there was never anything unkind. It was good genial
poor, a pail of water with a wooden cup and a volume of the fun that used to leave us under the charm of her
lives of the saints-Father Vianney's usual repast! To a saintliness … When recreation was ended, the dear
woman who brought him to the end of his patience with her Sister got up, bowed to us graciously and immediately
non-stop talking, he asked, "My daughter, in what month resumed her grave demeanor to bring home to us that
of the year do you talk the least?" Then he quickly we young novices had also to return to the silence that
answered his own question with a smile: "It must be Feb- was our rule.
ruary because there are three days less that month." As
often as not, however, the Cure's humor was aimed towards Julienne Capmartin, a sixteen-year-old postulant, had such
himself. He was known to describe his appearance as like a pangs of homesickness that she wept bitterly at her arrival.
Mardi Gras dummy or as a cross between a goose and a tur- Bernadette eased the crisis by saying that this was
key. Of the grotesque pictures of him sold in Ars, he ex- "watering" her vocation. Julienne, who also became a
claimed, "Do look! Wouldn't you say I was on my way out mother superior, remembered that "I even laughed so much
of a tavern?" or "Yes, it's me all right. See how stupid I afterwards that our Mistress told me several times: 'You'll
look!" Even illness didn't dampen his spirits. In 1843, at have to do some Purgatory later on, my dear; you're not
the age of 58, he had a collapse as a result of his .tireless serious enough."'
work for souls and was bedridden for a time. One day dur-
ing the recovery he whispered to an attendant: "I am When he wasn't defending the Faith, promoting frequent
engaged at this moment in a great combat." "Against Communion and reforming liturgical music (among many
whom, Monsieur le Cure?" "Against four doctors. If a fifth other things), Pope Saint Pius X found time, now and then,
one appears-I'm dead." Perhaps his funniest spoof came for a good joke. Young Giuseppe Sarto loved to mischie-
at the expense of his undeserved reputation as being nearly vously pull on the long tails of his grandfather's coat and,
feebleminded. Margaret Trouncer writes: after he grew up to become successor to Saint Peter, he still
enjoyed occasional fun. To lift the strain of his duties, Saint
Some priests who had wholly accepted the legend of Pius liked to gently tease children who had audiences with
his ignorance wrote to the bishop denouncing him for him. When a little boy with long curls named Giulio met
undertaking spiritual direction in cases where his him, the pope pretended not to understand. "What a pretty
theological training was inadequate. The letter came name-Giulia," he said. The boy grew indignant at suppos-
into the Cure's hands and he added his own signature edly being mistaken for a girl and corrected him but Pius
to the others in his best handwriting. patted his locks and continued, smiling, "It is really a very
pretty name-Giulia." With that the lad shouted, "Can't you
The examples of this wonderful saint's humor are so see I'm not a little girl? … Don't you see I have knickers on?"
plentiful that an article would be needed to cover them all. Many people were miraculously cured during audiences with
The biography cited here or others may be consulted to ful- Pius X and word of his holiness was passed on. One lady
ly appreciate SaintJean Vianney's rich store of wit and ~s rather tactlessly blurted, "They tell us that you are a saint."
truly angelic sanctity. "You have made a mistake in a consonant," he replied, "My
name is Sarto-not Santo." And to a man who asked that his
Saint Bernadette was something of a comedienne during friend be made a cardinal, he answered, "I cannot give him a
her years as Sister Marie-Bernard at Saint-Gildard convent hat. I am not a hatter. I am only a tailor." (A pun: Sarto
in Nevers, France. As an aide in the infirmary, writes means tailor in Italian. Examples taken from Katherine
Monsignor Francis Trochu in his biography of her, she Burton's biography of Pius, The Great Mantle.)
helped numerous patients with her skill at "finding a
friendly and often witty word to get them to take their Smiling With The Saints
medicines." A postulant looked all about the convent, try- Angels can fly, the saying goes, because they take
ing to discern which nun was the Lourdes seer. She ex- themselves lightly. If there is any common thread that runs
pected to find, in her own words, someone "with something throughout this article, it is that the humor of the saints is
solemn about her, a serious look, sedate movements, digni- built on humility. Dying to self (a trait of all saints), when
fied speech and a stature appropriate to great deeds." She blended with a certain personality, produces an irresistible
asked the mother superior, only to learn that that little, cheerfulness that brightens all those who open themselves to
unassuming Sister Marie-Bernard was standing next to her. its charms.
Shocked, the postulant cried, "What, that!" Bernadette
smiled, took her hand and merrily replied, "Yes, made- In contrast, the humor of the world is the offspring of pride.
moiselle, only that." An almost identical incident took (continued on page 8)
THE ATHANASIAN 4 l!Lf?.C'-! 1, _?.988
SAINT EDWARD THE CONFESSOR
Jill Wiesner
I n recent years Americans have been faced with the bad
example of candidates for public office who call
themselves Catholic, yet boast that they will not allow the
impressed his subjects most of all. He was gentle, quiet and
kind, and radiant purity shone from his face.
Church to influence their political decisions. Just as their Unlike his immediate predecessors, Edward had only one
rejection of the guidance of the Church brings America ever ambition: to serve God to the best of his ability. He met the
closer to the brink of disaster, the loyalty over the centuries crafty plots of the nobles with quiet determination and ruled
of true Catholic rulers to the one, true Faith has often saved the people with fairness. Though constant warfare had
their nations from a similar fate. greatly reduced the royal treasury, Edward abolished the
"Dane-geld," the onerous tax which had been imposed by
Saint Edward, King of England in the eleventh century, was the Danish kings. Some of the nobles, in an attempt to gain
born in a time of turmoil. Grasping nobles were too busy the king's favor, continued to collect the tax and presented it
conspiring against one another to defend England against to him to replenish the treasury. Edward commanded that
the rapacious Danes. Immorality and treachery were ram- the money be returned to the people.
pant and brutality was commonplace.
King Edward was generous to those in need but his dona-
Edward was born in I 003 and named after his martyred tions to the poor came from his personal funds, not from the
grandfather. His father, Ethelred II, was constantly at war, as royal treasury. His reputation for fairness caused some of his
England was divided into factions vying for power. Taking subjects to appeal to him directly when they had been
advantage of the disorder, Canute, the Danish invader, wronged. The king was always willing to give an impartial
launched a major assault and gained much English territory. hearing to anyone, regardless of rank. Often lepers crowded
When Edward was ten, the royal court itself having come about him, asking for his prayers. Miraculous cures were
under attack, he and his older brother Alfred were sent reported, which many attributed to the prayers of their
across the English channel to the care of their maternal saintly king.
uncle, the Duke of Normandy. Edward was not to see his
homeland again for 30 years. Though Edward was firm when necessary in his duties as
king, in his personal life he was always meek and gentle.
Growing up in exile, away from the worldly distractions of When he discovered a servant repeatedly stealing from his
the English court, Edward found solace in prayer. He sought private treasury, he allowed the man to escape, saying that
the company of religious and, under their influence, grew in the "poor fellow" needed the gold more than he did.
the virtues of prudence, humility and angelic purity. Assist-
ing at the holy sacrifice of the Mass was his greatest pleasure. As king, Edward also had to contend with a legal system in
shambles. The code of English law, established by King
Like his brother, Edward enjoyed the royal sport of falconry Alfred the Great in the tenth century, had become so disor-
as well as the hunt, but he never allowed his fondness for ganized during the years of warfare that there were three
sport to prevent him from being present at Mass each morn- systems of law operating in England instead of one. King
ing. Edward studied the three systems and then combined them
into one, to be binding throughout the kingdom. Because of
As the two young English princes lived in exile, the Dan~s the just laws promulgated by Edward, for hundreds of years
were successful in their conquest of England. Their leader, after his death the English people appealed to the "laws of
Canute, ruled as king until his death in 1036. Soon after the good Saint Edward" whenever they were oppressed by
death of Canute, a group of English nobles approached rulers.
Alfred and asked him to return home to claim the throne.
Persuaded that he had the support of the English people, Because King Edward did not allow himself to be drawn into
Alfred agreed. Upon arrival in England he was captured by a the factional quarrels of the nobles and did not enter into
faction of nobles who supported Harold, Canute's illegit- foreign wars for personal glory, for the first time in many
imate son, and Alfred was brutally murdered. years England was at peace. Only once did he send troops
onto foreign soil. At the request of Malcolm of Scotland,
The rivalry continued until 1042 when, the last of Canute's whose father, Duncan, had been murdered by Macbeth,
sons having died, the Danish settlers as well as the English Edward sent 40,000 men to defeat the usurper and to
people petitioned Edward to return as their king. Though restore the rightful king to the throne.
aware that his fate could be the same as his brother's,
Edward returned to England. The people were anxious to As a Christian ruler Edward constantly turned to the Church
see their new king whom they had not seen since childhood. for guidance. He sent a bishop and two abbots to Pope Leo
Though he was just forty years old, Edward's hair and beard IX to obtain the Pope's decrees "for the welfare of
were white. He was tall, with a ruddy complexion and regal Christendom." When a Council was held in Rome, Edward
bearing. His appearance inspired confidence but his manner sent two bishops to bring back the rulings of the Church.
THE; ATHANASIAN MARCH 1; 1988
Much of Edward's private treasury was used for the building Saint Edward the Confissor (he was called "Confessor"
of churches. In the year 1050, he introduced the Norman because of his piety) \estored order and prosperity to
Romanesque style of architecture into England with the England through his heroic devotion to God. Through his
church he built at Canterbury. His greatest project, however, intercession and his example, may we be inspired with equal
was the restoration of the abbey at Westminster which he love for God and led to heroic virtue. t
dedicated to Saint Peter.
The English people, happy under the rule of King Edward,
were concerned that their monarch had not married and so
they prevailed upon him to choose a wife. Edward, however,
had made a vow of virginity while in his youth. After much
prayer he decided that, if he could find a lady "like-minded NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION
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beautiful and virtuous Editha "whose mind was a school of scription to The Athanasian has been $8.00 for eight
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subscription rate, I have always been reluctant to do
In December of 1065, King Edward fell ill. Though he so. However, a recent check on the cost of producing a
continued in his duties he knew he was dying. By Holy single issue of The Athanasianhas convinced me that I
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January, surrounded by the queen, the archbishop of scription price.
Canterbury and Harold, his successor to the throne, he had
a prophetic vision in which he was told: While it is probably unnecessary, I would prefer to give
a few figures to explain why a subscription rate in-
The extreme corruption and wickedness of the English crease is in order. In round numbers we presently have
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paying out of the TCA over and above the income de-
The interpretation which was given to this prophecy was that rived from paid subscriptions. Such being the case, I
the "wicked spirits" were the "Protestant innovators who guess that I need not apologize for raising the sub-
pretended, in the sixteenth century, to reform the Catholic scription rate.
Church in England." For three hundred years the Churchm
England would be without a hierarchy but they would be re- And so, starting with the next (April, 1988) issue of
stored at the end of that time. The English people were The Athanasian, the annual subscription price for the
reminded of this prophecy at the reestablishment of the eight issues published each year will be $12.00 for the
Catholic hierarchy in England by Pope Pius IX in 1850. USA, Canada and Mexico and $16.00 (via Air Mail) for
all other countries. The cost for bulk orders of addi-
On January 5, 1066, King Edward died at the age of 63. In tional copies of particular issues will also be increased.
1161, he was canonized by Pope Alexander II and, on All the necessary newsletter price information is found
October 13, 1163, his incorrupt body was translated by elsewhere in these pages. Actually, even with this in-
Saint Thomas aBecket to a beautiful shrine in Westminster crease in the subscription price, the newsletter will still
Abbey. The anniversary of the translation of his relics, fall short of paying for itself. (In recent weeks, inci-
October 13, is the day fixed by the Church for Saint dentally, we have received a rather encouraging num-
Edward's feast. ber of new subscriptions.) While The Athanasian was
never intended to be a money-making project, it would
Throughout the years pilgrims have flocked to Saint be nice if it were one day to become financially self-
Edward's tomb, including Richard I of England after his re- sustaining. Fr. F. Fen ton
lease from captivity. After the depredations of Henry VIII the
relics of most of the English saints had been destroyed but
Saint Edward's were unharmed.
THE ATHANASIAN 6 MARCH 1, 1988
THE ROMAN,CATHOLIC CHURCH-WHY, OF COURSE!
Fr. Francis E. Fenton
T his newsletter is now in its ninth year of publication. Of
the numerous articles of mine which have appeared
therein during that period of time, so many of them have
element of surprise really, to me and to many, was the
forthright display of the American government's pro-
Communism. Apparently the powers that be no longer feel it
dealt with the Church and civil government and with various necessary to conceal the fact-and that's a very ominous
moral issues. For the most part these articles have been of sign indeed. The sellout of the USA to atheistic Communism
the negative, pessimistic, doom-and-gloom variety-and in- may now be moving into high gear with the "anti-Commu-
creasingly so with the passage of time. Certainly I do not nist" Ronald Reagan playing a leading role in that sellout.
write in this vein because I enjoy discussing how bad things And, if America goes down, freedom will perish for all
are but rather because .honesty compels me to do so. To ig- mankind.)
nore or to gloss over tragic realities of such magnitude as the
Conciliar Church and the state of the nation for whatever Surely our day is without parallel in history in the extent and
reason simply cannot be warranted on any score. While in the perversity of the immorality and amorality that are poi-
situations do occur from time to time wherein it is morally soning and destroying our nation. Because God has been
permissible to conceal the truth (though never by falsehood), abandoned and His moral law ignored by multitudes of
it is the height of folly and is playing into the hands of the Americans, the satanic forces of evil have been unleashed on
enemy to attempt to do so in the present circumstances. a massive scale and are bringing the USA to the brink of dis-
However unpleasant or distasteful, then, the truth may be as aster. Abortion, euthanasia, contraception, active homo-
it relates both to the Conciliar Church and the American sexuality, drug abuse, pornography, blasphemy, dishonesty-
government, that truth must be stated loud and clear. all of these and so much more have one thing in common: all
are violations of the divine law. But God will not be endlessly
It is impossible effectively to counteract and to oppose an mocked. There will come a day of reckoning. What form
enemy unless the identity of that enemy is first plainly that reckoning will take, I do not know. Could it be AIDS? I
recognized. But, you say, are not Communism and Freema- think it could well be. But whatever, there is but one answer
sonry the major threats to the survival of the USA and what's to the overwhelming evil that presently contaminates this
left of the free world? Yes they are and, hopefully, an in- country and the world-and that is the humble acknowledg-
creasing number of people are at least beginning to realize ment both by individuals and by nations of the absolute
that. But how many of the American people are even re- supremacy of God and their consequent unreserved submis-
motely aware of the vital part played in, say, the steady ad- sion to His will through the observance of His eternal law.
vance of Communism by the Conciliar Church and the
American government (the two principal allies, I firmly But, while the above is undoubtedly true, at this late date is it
believe, of the Communist conspiracy)? Yet such is the stark possible-in view of the rampant godlessness and unprece-
reality. (Bishop Thomas Gumbleton and his Pax Christi dented immorality of our day-is it possible of realization?
would be an example of the former.) With God, all things are possible. And how would this come
about? What would be, what alone can be, the instrument
While it is not a purpose of this article to prove this con- whereby this return to God can be achieved and the sinful
tention-nor is it possible in the space available-I would multitudes converted to virtue and holiness and to the way of
briefly discuss one case in point relating to the Americanr divine truth. Why, the Roman Catholic Church, of course.
government: What else? Founded by the Son of God to continue His work
of teaching and ruling and sanctifying mankind until the end
(It is a fact beyond dispute that the American government of time, the Roman Catholic Church (the real thing, that is,
has supported Communism in myriad and diverse ways for not the counterfeit Conciliar Church) is the one and only
the past several decades. Indeed, as one Robert Welch means on the face of this earth for the salvation of man.
declared a number of years ago (and often repeated in the Among all religious bodies, it is unique and not merely one
ensuing years), "the most powerful single force promoting of many. It alone possesses and teaches the entire body of
the worldwide advance of the Communist conspiracy is the divine truth and code of morality. It alone possesses the
government of the United States." While knowledge of this means established by Christ whereby God is properly wor-
support was kept from the rank and file of the American shiped (primarily the Mass) and whereby the individual may
people, it was no secret to those who made it their business live and progress in virtue and sanctity (primarily the
to ferret out the truth in such matters. And so the utterly Sacraments). It is the mystical Body of Christ, the ark of
repugnant spectacle of camaraderie some months ago salvation, the gateway to Heaven.
between the "conservative" Mr. Reagan and the head of the
"evil empire" of Communism, Mr. Gorbachev, was not parti- If, then, in the eternal and mysterious plan of God, the world
cularly surprising-and especially not to those of us who is to be saved from the darkness and devastation that ever
have long since been convinced that "our" president is not more threaten to engulf it, this can only come about through
at all (perhaps never was) what he has appeared to be. A su- the restoration of God to His rightful place of supremacy in
perb actor, yes. A patriotic American, by no means. The only the minds and hearts and souls of men and in the councils
THE ATHANASIAN 7 MARCH 1, 1988
and deliberations of the nations. Unless the Kingship of ''Humor and the Saints" continued from page 4
Christ is at long last acknowledged and proclaimed by man
and unless the divine law is respected and obeyed by him, It often makes sport of others with malice and bitterness and
the future is bleak indeed. And if, in tum, this is to be its practitioners are sometimes humorless when the gibes
accomplished, there is but one means on earth by and are directed at them. At the other end of the spectrum,
through which this is possible-and that is the Roman Cath- among the worldly we see those who take themselves so
olic Church. This I know beyond all shadow of doubt. In deadly serious that any jest their way is seen as an attack.
view of the seemingly forlorn human condition of that Humor is in short supply among fanatics of any sort and a
Church at the present time, my emphatic certainty here may hallmark of the totalitarian state is the banishment of jokes
appear to be but the consequence of wishful thinking. Not aimed at it…satirical humor must be done underground.
so. Either the Roman Catholic Church, through the sanctifi-
cation of the individual, will ultimately bring about the So let's put to rest the fallacy that sanctity is a gloomy affair.
salvation of the nations or else that salvation is but a pipe It needn't be. One thing, and one thing only, should make us
dream.t truly grieve-and that is sin. t
Pray Pray for me as I will pray for thee that we may merrily
meet in heaven.
(Saint Thomas More, Martyr)
the Rosary Humility is to the various virtues what the chain is to
the Rosary; take away the chain and the beads are
Daily scattered, remove humility and all virtues vanish.
(Saint Jean Vianney, Cure of Ars)
A good Religious complained one day: "O Lord, what
have I done to be treated thus?" Our Lord answered
him: "And I, what had I done when I was led to
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THE ATHANASIAN
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