As Catholics we know we are meant to serve God and neighbour. Unfortunately, in society today the loss of God results in us serving other things, one of which is sports.
Father Bill Peckham says, “We have removed the transcendent and therefore the temporal takes on transcendent quality. This is (a main reason) why parents choose sports and leisure over worship and religious formation.”
The Catholic Church appreciates sport and teaches us that God created us with physical gifts for his glory in competition. The first-ever Vatican document on sports called Giving the Best of Yourself reminds us that “sports is to be used to enrich lives, evangelize and make the world better.”
Pope Francis himself has enthusiastically spoken about the tremendous joy and theatre that sports brings. He recently said, “Sports reminds us that beauty is one way that we can encounter God; it should be a great instrument of formation and sanctification.”
The problem often lies in the separation of the sporting event and God our creator, or in some cases having the sport itself replace God in our lives.
Look at your own personal decision-making when it comes to sports in our lives:
Are we missing Sunday Mass, despite the many parish and time options available to us, because of a sports tournament?
Are we willing to spend hours watching sports, but cannot find 10 minutes to pray?
Do we show great enthusiasm wearing our favourite team’s jersey around town, but we won’t wear a cross or hold a rosary?
Will you scream passionately when your team scores but express no emotion at Mass preparing to receive Jesus in the Eucharist.
Will you spend lots of money to buy season tickets but have nothing left to help the parish or archdiocese?
Those who compete in sports need to appreciate that the gift of athletic talent within them is because God gave it to them. Athletes have a strong desire to win, which is admirable. In fact, when I assess talent, one of the first qualities that stands out to me is an athlete’s ability to win, to finish the job.
Through desire, mental strength, and fortitude, the ability to achieve victory in sports is a quality any coach would want.
However, the “win at all cost” mentality is very different and is where lines are often crossed.
The desire to win at all cost can lead to “corruption, cheating, abuse, violence and a loss of human dignity,” says the Giving the Best of Yourself document.
It’s by no means easily to settle for a tie, but remember that any victory accomplished without virtue and honour is no victory at all.
Legendary basketball coach John Wooden once said, “Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation. Your character is what you really are, while your reputation is just what others think you are. What you are as a person is far more important than what you are as an athlete.”
Remember, you would have no competition (and therefore no victories) if you didn’t have opponents. Always respect them as fellow athletes who have followed the same path and worked as hard as you.
Sports is a passion, but sportsmanship is also a passion. The American organization Catholic Athletes for Christ has many illustrious athletes in its membership and lists seven core virtues, among which is sportsmanship. Its mission states, “Our behaviour should reflect at all times that of Christ.”
Catholic author and editor Tom Sheridan says, “Sports draws from faith and points back to faith.”
Pope Francis says “sports has the potential to be the seed of peace.”
Catholics in competition must be Christ-like. It is important to pray before competition and even training, that all we do is in Jesus’ name.
There is an incredible opportunity for us as Catholic athletes, parents, administrators, and fans to impact the culture of sports for the good of society.
