en is the word “fool” or its derivative mentioned in the Bible? Two verses that come to mind immediately are found in St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. In Chapter 1, verse 23, he states, “…we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.” Later, in Chapter 4, verse 10, of this same letter, Paul places this label upon himself (and us) by saying, “we are fools for Christ’s sake.”
In fact, there are 57 verses in the Bible that use the word fool. In addition to the Bible, Catholic liturgies refer to foolishness as well. For example, in the funeral liturgy we hear this said about our deceased loved ones: “They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace.”
While the exact origin of April Fools’ Day is unknown, some trace it back to as early as 1392 and Chaucer’s classic work, “The Canterbury Tales.” Others maintain that it goes all the way back to Noah, who “foolishly” sent out a dove from the ark too early and long before the flood waters had receded.
Some say it is a wonderful way to spread happiness, which is good for our well-being. After all, harmless pranks and hoaxes can result in belly laughs, which are beneficial to our health. Others characterize April Fools’ deceptions as bad-mannered and offensive because they are founded upon deceit. When exchanges intended as jokes are taken seriously, the victims can be justifiably upset and moved to anger rather than laughter.
That said, foolish decisions do exist. Are Catholics fools for deciding to believe in mysteries that cannot be proved? No. The very essence of having “faith” assumes that we cannot understand everything about God or miracles or why good people suffer while evil is permitted to exist and even celebrated by some.
When a first-time visitor enters a Catholic church, usually the most prominent display above the center aisle is Jesus hanging on a cross. Worshipping a crucified criminal as God certainly seems foolish. This is true for those who cannot see beyond the loathsome spectacle to the loving salvation it represents.
Holy Homework: If your home or office does not have a visible crucifix, take the foolish step of exhibiting Christ crucified for the entire month of April. When someone asks, explain that this is not an April Fools’ display but an April faith display and one that we foolish Catholics are proud to profess.
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