July 28, 2002

The vacation business is one of the biggest factors in the national economy. Having a good time need not be expensive if one understands what play really is. The best philosophers have long considered the human instinct for recreation. Such Catholic thinkers as Hugo Rahner and Joseph Pieper have written whole books on “eutrepalia,” or recreation in relation to spiritual happiness. Catholicism considers the depth of the commandment to keep the Sabbath, understanding that we do not keep it right unless we associate the worship of God with enjoyment. Vacations in the summer and all enjoyable leisure reflect our relationship to God as his sons and daughters: as he delights in his creation, so should we.

Playfulness is a moral obligation. St.Thomas Aquinas calls playfulness one of the virtues allied with temperance, and he treats it under the virtue of “modestia,” which is moderation in outward movements. Playing games and telling jokes are virtuous because such playfulness gives rest to the tired soul, mind, and body. The great Doctor of the Church says that a lack of mirth or playfulness is a sin:

“In human affairs whatever is against reason is a sin. Now it is against reason for a man to be burdensome to others, by offering no pleasure to others, and by hindering their enjoyment…Now a man who is without mirth, not only is lacking playful speech, but is also burdensome to others, since he is deaf to the moderate mirth of others. Consequently they are vicious, and are said to be boorish.” (STh. II.II. 168. a4.)

Having fun must be moderate to be virtuous. The Christian parts with the modern pagan who desperately spends money and wastes time to find the happiness that can only be found in the love of God. St. Thomas says that our playfulness and entertainment (1) should not be indecent or injurious (i.e., it is wrong to have fun at the expense of others; (2) should not be out of balance (i.e., doing stupid and extravagant things “to have a good time”); and (3) should not be out of place, (joking at funerals, acting silly at weddings, dressing slovenly in church, lacking respect for nature).

The Victorian professor of logic, Richard Whately, said, “Happiness is no laughing matter.” Those who laugh at him for saying that are ignorant because this early tutor of the future Cardinal Newman had latched on to the secret that happiness is more than a “happy hour.” It is prelude to the happiness of heaven. It demands that we see vacations, days off, attempts to find an hour’s rest in a hectic day, as clues that we are called to eternal happiness with God. The indiscrete joy of the saints has made this secret public. That is why we are never more at rest or happier than when we are with a saint.