It’s Funny How Humility Works

Leigh Ann Roman learns the value the value of laughing at herself.

When we travel, we attend Mass on the weekend no matter where we are. One of the great things about being Catholic is knowing that the Mass is the Mass wherever you go. But the flavor of the Mass can vary depending on the parish or the diocese. 

My home parish offers a reverent Mass with liturgical music, a good homily, and the option of receiving the Eucharist either kneeling or standing. That is what I am accustomed to. But I have learned that if I keep an open mind and a humble spirit, I can benefit from any Mass I attend. 

The Importance of a Sense of Humor 

On a recent trip, my heart sank at the beginning of Mass as I realized there was no tabernacle in the sanctuary. Then the homily began with a few jokes. I sighed. But as the priest went on, my interest was piqued. He was talking about how integral a sense of humor is to cultivating humility. 

The virtue of humility is the touchstone of a relationship with God because it is through our understanding of our human nature that we discover our need for God. And humor often is sparked by seeing the incongruity between the way life is and the way we might wish it to be. It was refreshing to consider that laughing at myself can be a starting point for humility.  

The priest’s homily, with its silly jokes about a Scandinavian couple named Ole and Lena, reminded me of the points made about humility in the book, The Shattering of Loneliness: On Christian Remembrance by Erik Varden. Dom Erik Varden OCSO is Abbot of Mount Saint Bernard Abbey in Leicestershire, England.   

Both the book and homily pointed out that the Hebrew word for soil is Adamah and that God named the first man Adam. The Latin word ‘humilis’ comes from ’humus,’ which has a meaning close to the Hebrew adamah. 

On the sixth day of creation, God bent down to this Adamah, took dust, and formed Adam, that is, man. He breathed into his nostrils, gracing his soil-creature with a soul. (Varden, p. 16) 

Thus, the Ash Wednesday reminder, “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return,” is not as foreboding as it sounds, Varden says. When we remember that we came from dust, we also remember that we were destined to be more. The way to more is humility. When we accept our origins, we also accept God’s ability to lift us up.  

Remaining Grounded is Vital to Spiritual Growth 

The desire to rise up through our own efforts is a deep-seated human desire. But we often fail to see how impossible it is and how silly it makes us look, Varden says.  

Saint Benedict prescribes the practice of humility as the antidote to this very human condition. Like Jacob’s ladder, the practice of humility helps us to reach heaven, Varden writes. “But it serves its purpose only as long as it stays fixed on earth, on the ‘humus’ or Adamah” (19). 

By practicing humility, we remain grounded, Varden says. Grounded in this knowledge of what we are and what we are not, we can turn to God without shame or fear, trusting in His love and strength. And we can learn to laugh at ourselves when we make mistakes or fall short of our own standards. Having a sense of humor about our own failings will allow us to do the same for our friends and family. 

When we don’t take ourselves so seriously, it lightens the load in life. Then we can become a little more like the angels. After all, as G.K. Chesterton wrote in Orthodoxy, “Angels fly because they take themselves lightly.” So today, try to find a reason to laugh at yourself and remember that it can draw you closer to God and to your fellow man. 

Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.

Copyright 2025 Leigh Ann Roman
Images: Canva