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The fourteenth petition of the Litany of Humility asks us to face one of the most humiliating wounds of pride:
“From the fear of being ridiculed, deliver me, O Jesus.”
Ridicule is mockery — laughter at our expense. Few things sting more, especially when our pride longs for respect. Yet Christ Himself endured ridicule: soldiers dressed Him in a robe, crowned Him with thorns, and mocked, “Hail, King of the Jews!” (Mk 15:18). To follow Christ is to accept the laughter of the world.
St. Paul understood this when he wrote: “We are fools for Christ’s sake” (1 Cor 4:10). Aquinas echoes him:
“To deride a man is to show one’s contempt for him… Yet contempt borne for God’s sake is a virtue.” (ST II-II, q.72, a.2 ad 3)
To bear ridicule patiently transforms shame into a share in the mockery borne by Christ.
Eastern Witness: St. Andrew the Fool-for-Christ
St. Andrew (10th century), a Byzantine saint, lived as a “fool-for-Christ.” He feigned madness, dressed poorly, and acted foolishly in order to conceal his holiness and avoid worldly honor.
The crowds laughed at him, mocked him, and treated him as insane. Yet his seeming madness concealed deep wisdom. By enduring ridicule willingly, Andrew showed that holiness is not about appearances, but about being conformed to Christ, who was Himself mocked.
Western Witness: St. Philip Neri
St. Philip Neri (16th century), the “Apostle of Rome,” deliberately sought to deflate his own pride by embracing ridicule. He would shave half his beard, wear silly clothes, or play practical jokes on himself to ensure no one thought too highly of him.
Philip once said: “A joyful heart is more easily made perfect than a downcast one.” His use of humor, even at his own expense, taught his followers that ridicule can be embraced for the sake of humility and joy in Christ.
The Gift of Holy Foolishness
Andrew and Philip both reveal that ridicule loses its sting when we no longer fear it. By embracing mockery, they discovered freedom — for ridicule can no longer wound the humble.
Aquinas reminds us:
“Patience is that virtue which enables us to bear evils inflicted by others without sadness of mind.” (ST II-II, q.136, a.2)
Thus, to be delivered from the fear of ridicule is to be set free — free to laugh at ourselves, free to rejoice in Christ, free to follow Him who bore the world’s mockery.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, deliver me from the fear of ridicule. With Andrew, may I accept mockery as a hidden path to holiness. With Philip, may I even laugh at myself, rejoicing that all pride be stripped away. Teach me to embrace holy foolishness, so that I may be wise in Your eyes.
From the fear of being ridiculed, deliver me, O Jesus.
