Jim Gaffigan reminds us that we all feel like ‘frauds’ in the spiritual life
by James Martin, S.J. September 16, 2025
Last year, I was happy to be asked by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Culture and Education to help arrange an audience with Pope Francis for a group of comics and comedians. At the beginning of this process, some friends at the dicastery sent me a list of possible comics in the United States, which I shared with my colleagues at America, who helped me winnow it down.
Then, along with the help of Stephen Colbert and his “bookers,” we were able to contact about 15 U.S. comedians, all of whom agreed to fly to Rome and spend a morning with the then-Holy Father, as well as over 100 comedians from 15 countries. (Not all the comics, by the way, were Catholic: It was both an ecumenical and interfaith gathering.) Among those at the audience were two comics who have appeared on “The Spiritual Life,” Stephen Colbert and Whoopi Goldberg.
Another comedian in the group was Jim Gaffigan. (His wife Jeannie and several of their children also made the trip to Rome.) It was a delight spending time with the Gaffigans, and I was moved by how deeply both take their Catholic faith. And given how publicly he has discussed his Catholic faith, Jim was a natural guest for “The Spiritual Life.”
Not surprisingly, Jim is very funny on the podcast. He’s also very deep. In our conversation, we discuss the development of his faith; his understanding of comedy as a spiritual tool (which helps to bring joy to others, a theme that Pope Francis touched upon in his moving remarks to the comedians); and the idea of God’s mercy as a sign of God “rooting for you,” an image I had never heard before but really liked.
He also spoke about the painful season in their family’s life when Jeannie was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent a series of painful medical treatments. Jim said that his faith did not provide easy answers but rather offered the “scaffolding” upon which he and his wife could lean. “It was also kind of this beautiful gift because it gave me an opportunity to show up for my wife. And as imperfect as I did it…I viewed it as this incredible gift because I did, in this trying difficult time, get an opportunity to do what I should have done,” he said.
But it was his labeling himself as a “fraud” that I thought might resonate most strongly with listeners (as it did with me). “I am a fraud,” he said bluntly. “I’ve been going to church off and on my entire life, and still to this day, I am following the crowd when it comes to kneeling or standing at church. I’m like, all right, we’re going down.”
Of course, Jim is not a fraud in his spiritual life; rather, he’s doing the best he can, as we all are.
But it is normal to feel that way: to look at other believers and think that they somehow have it all “wrapped up” when it comes to living a spiritual life. Now, on the one hand, it’s helpful to notice people who are acting more charitably and generously than you are and see that as a kind of goad in the Christian life. To take a homey example, if your coworker is much nicer to people in your office than you are, then maybe it’s time to change.
But all of us are “frauds” to some extent because we’re all sinners and therefore all falling short of what God asks of us. In the end, we have to strike a balance between humility (knowing that we are not perfect) and confidence (knowing that God gives us the grace to do the best that we can in our lives). Even after many years as a Jesuit, I look at some of my brother Jesuits and say, “Boy, he is way holier/kinder/more generous than I am!” But by the same token, there may be aspects of Christian discipleship where they may think that of me. (Maybe!)
It is good to return to the popular Jesuit phrase that is often used during the First Week of St. Ignatius Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises, when we see how much God has given us even though we are sinners. Often, a recognition of the blessings God has offered us makes us deeply aware of our sinfulness. During a spiritual direction practicum one summer, Bill Creed, S.J., an experienced spiritual master, expressed that idea with a memorable image: “In the sunshine of God’s love, we naturally see our shadows.”
And the phrase, beloved by Jesuits but not used specifically in the Exercises, sums this up: We are all “loved sinners.”
Jim Gaffigan is known to millions for his wry sense of humor and his often hilarious takes on everyday life. He feels like a bit of a “fraud” as a Catholic, but he’s not. Jim’s just a loved sinner, like the rest of us. But he’s especially fun to listen to and I know you’ll enjoy hearing his humor, his wisdom and his faith on the latest episode of “The Spiritual Life.”