Sister DePaul Stava, 88, offers a great Bible joke about constipation that has everyone in stitches! Religion is often seen as stuffy and stiff. However, just because you take your beliefs seriously does not exclude you from having fun. God desires that we have pleasure, happiness, and laughter. In fact, Proverbs 17:22 says that “a cheerful heart does good like medicine.”
Sister DePaul Stava demonstrates this by telling a comedy about constipation involving five guys from the Bible. Sister DePaul Stava is a Benedictine Sisters of the Sacred Heart member from Lisle, Illinois. There, the 88-year-old nun is described as having the talent of keeping things “lighthearted and amusing.” And it seems to be the case, based on a humorous video of the lady circulating on social media!
Sister DePaul says in the film, “Did you hear about the five constipated men of the Bible?” She then tells her amusing Bible joke, mentioning five different Bible characters as well as Scripture-based “proof” pointing to constipation. Cain, for example — “He wasn’t Able.” The nun presents four additional Biblical “examples” of constipation in the video below, which will make you chuckle! You can see that this lovely woman has a great sense of humour.
While her antics are amusing, God has given Sister DePaul’s lively personality a particular purpose! Sister DePaul Stava is one of several nuns and priests enrolled in a religious orders program co-sponsored by Rush University and Emory University. The goal of this 25-year research is to learn why some individuals “remain sharp till the end of life” while others begin to suffer from cognitive deterioration as early as their sixties.
Sister DePaul enjoys entertaining others by cracking jokes and playing the harp. According to the research, the nun’s sense of humor and optimistic perspective may be helping to prevent her against dementia. Doesn’t it seem like the beneficial medicine of a joyful heart found in Proverbs 17:22? So far, the study’s data suggests that lifestyle changes may help compensate, postpone, and prevent dementia.
Things include being socially and physically active, having a purpose in life, eating a nutritious diet, learning a new language (including music), and, of course, employing humor! Participants like Sister DePaul will contribute their brains to the study after death for additional research, in addition to participating to the study while living. When asked how she felt about brain donation, Sister DePaul said with a chuckle, “I’m dead, what do I care?”
Just as she has spent her life serving God’s purpose, she will continue to serve others once the Lord calls her soul home. But, in the meanwhile, this feisty, fascinating lady will continue to use comedy to fight off cognitive deterioration, such as her Bible joke about constipation.