"Ah, bless you, Sister, may all your sons be bishops"

Brendan Behan’s mischievous wit often masked deeper undercurrents of irony, and his statement, “Ah, bless you, Sister, may all your sons be bishops,” exemplifies this blend of humor and cultural commentary. On its surface, the remark appears to be a magnanimous blessing, a kind wish for prosperity and honor shown toward the addressee. However, the choice of words and the context, Behan addressing a nun (“Sister”), enfold multiple layers of irony.

Since Catholic nuns take vows of celibacy, it is biologically impossible for them to have biological sons, let alone raise them to the esteemed rank of bishop. Behan’s blessing, therefore, exposes the difference between literal meaning and social convention. Blessings like wishing for one’s sons to be bishops would have been a traditional sign of respect and goodwill in Irish Catholic society, a culture that held clergy in great esteem and honored families whose sons rose in religious ranks. By bestowing this conventional blessing on a nun, Behan subverts the expectation, delivering a jest that is at once affectionate, irreverent, and subversively sharp.

Beneath the humor lies a nuanced critique of institutional religion and the social systems surrounding it. Behan’s choice highlights the paradox faced by religious women, who are devoutly dedicated yet excluded from clerical authority and recognition in the Catholic hierarchy. The wish that “all your sons be bishops” underlines how leadership avenues and acclaim were historically the preserve of men, rendering women’s paths to influence indirect or blocked entirely.

His blessing also toys with the idea of ritual language losing meaning through rote repetition, especially when offered without reflection on context. By giving a nonsensical blessing, he gently mocks the tendency to offer hollow or thoughtless good wishes, encouraging a deeper awareness of language, tradition, and the subtle exclusions they can entail.