Br. Innocent Smith, O.P., on Fulton Sheen, Humor, and the Gospel

". . . For St. Thomas Aquinas, the great master of Fulton Sheen and Ignatius Smith alike, the virtue of eutrapelia (playfulness or pleasantness) is necessary in order to have a proper balance in our lives and to avoid the soul becoming overburdened with seriousness. As Sheen writes in his autobiography, '[T]here is a close relationship between  faith and humor. We say of those who lack a sense of humor that they are 'too thick'; that means they are opaque like a brick wall. Humor, on the contrary, is 'seeing through' things like a windowpane. Materialists, humanists, and atheists all take this world very seriously because it is the only world they are ever going to have. He who possesses faith knows that this world is not the only one, and therefore can be regarded rather lightly.'"

In a recent commentary, Brother Innocent Smith, O.P., reflected on the humor of Archbishop Fulton Sheen and his proclaiming the Gospel message.

To access Br. Innocent's complete post, please visit:

Dominicana: Fulton Sheen and the Playfulness of the Gospel (14 APR 15)