Should the “Forbidden Fruit” have been a Durian? (Photo by Jonathan Kemper on Unsplash)
The Romans were a tough audience
By Guy Lee
Special to the Herald
You can Google it. Comedians have a patron saint. He is Genesius of Rome, a comedian and actor. His feast day is Aug. 25. He was martyred because, although details vary, he refused to renounce his faith after a performance. He is also the patron saint of lawyers, clowns, converts, dancers, epileptic patients, musicians, printers, stenographers, and victims of torture. A true multi-tasker.
For confirmation, Google again. There is a second patron saint of comedians, St. Lawrence. His feast is Aug. 10. Like Genesius, he lived during the third century in Rome and was martyred. While being burned on an iron grill, he reputedly jested he was ready to be turned over because he was done on one side. Not a standup but a laidback comedian. Was he the inspiration for the comic roast? Ironically, or not, he is also the patron saint of cooks and chefs.
The following bit is dedicated to these holy jesters on their August feast days.
The Bible did not specify that the Forbidden Fruit is an apple. (The Latin word for evil, malus, can also mean apple.) If it did, for the sake of factual detail, it should specify an apple of the Envy variety. Adam’s and Eve’s decision to follow God’s command would certainly have been much easier, and we would have a free pass to heaven without original sin, if God had made the Forbidden Fruit a durian. (Google it)
But through Baptism and Penance we have been given numerous second chances not to bite the apple. Each day of forgiveness is like the biblical version of Groundhog Day, starting over again and again with the grace of God.
There are many pairings of contradictory popular sayings. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” vs. “Out of sight, out of mind.” “Look before you leap.” vs. “He who hesitates is lost.” “You’re never too old to learn.” vs. “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
To this list of competing sayings, we can add another pair. “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” vs. “An unbitten apple keeps the devil away.”
Guy Lee is a parishioner of the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa.
