Ship of Fools: The three Marys plan their vacation

Thread: The three Marys plan their vacation Board: The Laugh Judgment / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Simon (# 1) on :

Joke submitted by Roxanna:

Up in Heaven, the three Marys -- Mary Magdelene, Mary of Bethany and Mary, the Mother of our Lord -- are sharing a bottle of wine and planning their holidays.

Mary of Bethany says, "I fancy largin' it in Ibiza."

Mary Magdelene says, "No, let's go to Paris for a bit of culture."

Mary, the Mother of our Lord, says, "No, I want to go to Medjugorje. I've never been there."

[ 13. July 2005, 11:02: Message edited by: Simon ]

Posted by Papa Smurf (# 1654) on :

erm
[Confused]

i don't geddit [Help]

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :

I asusmed it was something to do with the various visions of the Virgin. Presumably Medjugorje is one place where such visions are supposed to have happened. It may work better with a more universally known place - Fatima or Lourdes, say.

Posted by Newman's Own (# 420) on :

Actually, it would not 'work' were Mary's reference to Lourdes or Fatima, because those are locations where the 'apparitions' were declared 'worthy of belief' by the Church. This joke is rather lame, but it seems to have its punchline based on that the apparitions at Medjudgorge are unapproved and much in question.

Part of why it is so lame is that, first, one would have to know both about the apparitions (...it's one of those locations where visitors find their rosary beads turn to gold) and that they've been quite controversial and devoid of church approval. Second, since even the most devout Catholic has no obligation to believe in Marian apparitions at all, there is no real impact.

I did not find this joke funny or offensive. I doubt that 99% of Christians, including Catholics, would even understand the reference.

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Newman's Own:
Actually, it would not 'work' were Mary's reference to Lourdes or Fatima, because those are locations where the 'apparitions' were declared 'worthy of belief' by the Church. This joke is rather lame, but it seems to have its punchline based on that the apparitions at Medjudgorge are unapproved and much in question.

I suppose that depends on the butt of the joke. If it's aimed at those who believe in unapproved apparitions (eg: Medjudgorge) then it works as it stands (to the extent that it works at all). If it's aimed at the whole apparitions of Mary thing then the more famous "worthy of belief" apparitions would work better. Of course, if it is aimed at the whole apparitions of the Virgin then it becomes more offensive as it takes a dig at the beliefs of a substantial number of Catholics. Assuming one can quantify "level of offense" in terms of the number of people attacked by a joke.

Posted by The Coot (# 220) on :

I really enjoyed this joke (didn't go all out with the mark out of 5, but can appreciate it as a cut above) - it works for me because of the crosspurposes of the BVM: minding her own business and out on a bit of a weekend getaway; and the faithful: seeing a vision and thinking it is something special, mystical and significant. If only they knew. [Smile]

The BVM as just an ordinary woman who likes to go on hols every now and again also tickled me in the sort of amusement that comes from letting one's mind contemplate all sort of absurd possibilities.

It's the same 'not what you think' element that I enjoyed in the Jesus meets carpenter at Pearly Gates joke.

Depending on your outlook/knowledge, this one can have a bit of a cynical flavour wrt the approved status of Medjugorje. The cynical flavour would be retained even if it was Lourdes, Fatima etc. with the implication that these visions were not real mystical events but just the BVM out holidaying.

Posted by Eliab (# 9153) on :

Aren't the first two Marys the wrong way around? Surely Mary of Bethany is the contemplative who would like to see Paris, and Mary Magdelene (by tradition at least) should be the good time girl who wants to go to Ibiza?

I guessed that Medjugorje was a site that Mary is supposed to have appeared at, but that wasn't enough to make the joke funny. The point is, that some little-known religious experience turns out not to be genuine. That's not funny. For it to amuse, or offend, there needs to be someone with a stake in the alleged appearance being real - it needs to matter whether Mary has ever been to Medjugorje.

Lourdes would be better - but even so as a non-Catholic I wouldn't really care enough to get the joke. I doubt that disproving the Lourdes appearance would make much difference to the faith of most Catholics, and it would make no difference at all to the rest of us.

Posted by The Coot (# 220) on :

quote:
Mary, the Mother of our Lord, says, "No, I want to go to Medjugorje. I've never been there.

Just read this joke again, and realised I missed some of the significance of the punch-line. ie. I was reading the joke from the perspective of the BVM contemplating going to Medjugorje before her apparition was witnessed.

Thus you'll understand why I found the the jarring of ppl ascribing mystical significance to the apparition of the BVM when she was actually only there on holiday amusing; when in actual fact, I can see now the point of the joke is that the apparitions occurred before the BVM made the visit - hence they are a cynical comment on their legitimacy.

I spose my response may be vaguely interesting in that it demonstrates the effect of the existing beliefs of the hearer on how the joke is received. BVM visions I consider legit until someone with spiritual authority says they are not (hey, I'm not holy or discerning about these things, so I'll leave that to someone that is), therefore it didn't occur to me that the BVM was not really there.

Posted by dj_ordinaire (# 4643) on :

Fraid not. Not offensive at all (but I'm coming to the conclusion that I'm unoffendable) - but requires too much thought to make it work. A shame, because it was a good set-up - perhaps a new punch line could be devised by some clever soul...

Posted by ACOL-ite (# 4991) on :

I didn't get the reference, but for those of you who did: was there not an "in-joke" bonus to it? I certainly felt that way with the one where the BVM throws the stone: the laughter was greater knowing that most people wouldn't get the joke, but I did.

Or maybe I'm just wierd like that.

Posted by ken (# 2460) on :

It made me smile.

I think I know a few people who would have possibly laughed out loud if it had been Walsingham - a bit nearer home.

Though even that requires inside information. I strongly suspect that the average worshipper in the CofE pew has never heard of Walsingham & wouldn't associate it with Mary if they had. And effectively no-one in the population at large would. For mass recognition you'd have to use Lourdes, which drops the in-joke inside the in-joke of course.

Posted by The Bede's American Successor (# 5042) on :

quote:
Originally posted by ken:
It made me smile.

I think I know a few people who would have possibly laughed out loud if it had been Walsingham - a bit nearer home.

Though even that requires inside information. I strongly suspect that the average worshipper in the CofE pew has never heard of Walsingham & wouldn't associate it with Mary if they had. And effectively no-one in the population at large would. For mass recognition you'd have to use Lourdes, which drops the in-joke inside the in-joke of course.

OK. So this is a joke (as writeen) for people of catholic (note small "c") learning. All professions, social groups, communities tell jokes best understood by the in-groups.

If you told it at a Legion of Mary meeting, you would get a reaction from everyone present, whether laughter or offense. Tell it to a bunch of Navigators (Never Daters) knocking on doors, and most of them will miss the point.

Big deal.

Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :

quote:
Originally posted by ken:
It made me smile.

I think I know a few people who would have possibly laughed out loud if it had been Walsingham - a bit nearer home.

I've heard of Walsingham. Dunno why.

Posted by Back-to-Front (# 5638) on :

I agree with Newman's Own. It would have to be Medjugorje and nowhere else, otherwise it just simply wouldn't work.

I also agree that it wasn;t hilarious, but it got a miniscule chuckle from me. Medjugorje is a butt of jokes. I've heard many a priest say, in jest, that Mary said very little in the Gospels but she's more than made up for it at Medjugorje. The difference is, as NO point out, that this is not given any credibility and she still keeps appearing there, apparently.

Posted by Fool of a Took (# 7412) on :

I heard a similar set-up with the three persons of the Trinity planning a holiday. The Father having seen it all, The Son not wanting to return to Jerusalem after a bad experience, and The Holy Spirit wanting to go to Rome, having never been...

Which, while more obvious to those not 'in the know' about the BVM's public appearances, is deeply anti-Catholic, and inherently more offensive without being any funnier.

Posted by Newman's Own (# 420) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Back-to-Front:
Medjugorje is a butt of jokes. I've heard many a priest say, in jest, that Mary said very little in the Gospels but she's more than made up for it at Medjugorje. The difference is, as NO point out, that this is not given any credibility and she still keeps appearing there, apparently.

Thank you, Back to Front, because you brought out a part I'd forgotten to mention. The apparitions at Lourdes, Fatima, and the like were brief, where those in Medjugorje allegedly went on and on and on... One priest friend of mine told me that, having stopped there, he only wishes as many people would come when he's holding the body and blood of Christ in his hands as those who travel a distance hoping to see rosaries turn to gold.

I cannot imagine this joke's being offensive -
except to devotees of Medjugorje - and they are a relatively small (by comparison with those who are not) but exceedingly fervent bunch.

Posted by Demas (# 7147) on :

I'm afraid that if anyone had told me this joke I would have stared in blank incomprehension. Too much inside knowledge needed!

Posted by Zeke (# 3271) on :

I thought this was quite funny, having seen some things rapturously describing Medjugorje, and about the apocalyptic messages Mary is said to have given, she apparently having had quite a bit to say this time. I thought it was kind of iffy at best, though not being RC I may have had a different perspective on it. I recognized the funny place name right away, but my mind is such as to remember odd facts I encounter (I am very good at Jeopardy). It is a little difficult to think of a good audience for this joke as it stands(perhaps a Knights of Columbus fish fry?), but as noted above, those who revere Mary would be ticked off to some degree or other if you insert a more accepted place.

Posted by jlg (# 98) on :

I read this as a poke at the overly fervent Medjugorje followers (there's a little gaggle of them at my church) in particular, but just at Marian apparitions in particular.

Oddly enough, I wasn't aware that the RCC hasn't decided whether this is a legitimate Marian apparition or not. So having now read Coot's interpretation that Mary might have just been there on holiday ... yeah, I like that version even better.

Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :

I found it hilarious--with an additional guilty laugh and wondering how Medjugore devotees would take it. I didn't realize that the Medj. appearances were in disrepute, but I knew the joke was saying that Mary had never appeared there.

Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Back-to-Front:
I agree with Newman's Own. It would have to be Medjugorje and nowhere else, otherwise it just simply wouldn't work.

I'd have found it more funny if the location had been Lourdes, or Walsingham, or [insert other confirmed location of Mary sighting], because then it's tearing down an established "truth". Choosing a location which isn't a confirmed sighting doesn't have the same impact.

Posted by maleveque (# 132) on :

I know the Medjugorje controversy inside and out, so this was a belly-laugh for me. You've never had fun until you've had Medjugorje fanatics calling you up on a daily basis and wanting to share their revelations with you. [Roll Eyes]

Many Catholics believe in it, and there's no rule against it, but the local bishop has not approved it, so it cannot be 'official'.
Anne L.

Posted by Ophthalmos (# 3256) on :

It's a rubbish joke because you have to be Catholic (or be bothered a tiny bit) by Catholicism to get it.

Also, you need to believe that Marys appear in visions in the first place...

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