Each and every one of us Catholics, through our baptism and Confirmation, is called to be a saint. Perhaps we won’t be canonized—but then again, why not?
Certainly, we all need to live saintly, virtue-filled lives, maintaining the presence of God in every action and interaction of our daily lives. When we or our children participate in sports, the same message applies—there are no exceptions. As parents, the most important expectation you should have of your child in athletic competition is not wins and losses but that they perform as ambassadors for Christ.
Here is a brief look at some athletes in history who ultimately became canonized saints or blessed:
Benedict Daswa was a South African soccer player who was martyred for his faith. He formed his own soccer club after his previous team believed in using unethical means to win. In his impoverished village, he was “an advocate of athletics (especially soccer, volleyball and field hockey) to help keep youth out of trouble” (Aleteia, Jan. 11, 2020). After his father died, he took over responsibility for providing for the family. He was a convert to Catholicism and took the name Benedict after his baptism in 1963. While working as a teacher and catechist, Benedict also built a church and tirelessly worked for the poor. He and his wife had eight children. Elders in his village wanted to force residents to support magic in their efforts to end heavy storms, but Benedict spoke against this, saying that using magic goes against his Catholic faith. A gang of youths attacked and killed him soon after. He was beatified by Pope Francis in 2015.
Most Catholics know about the athletic prowess of St. Pope John Paul II. Throughout his life, Pope John Paul the Great excelled in soccer, skiing, and hiking. He was a goaltender during his days on the pitch. “Sports helps a person love life while teaching sacrifice, respect and responsibility” (Aleteia), he was quoted as saying during his pontificate. While a person needs to bring virtue to their sport, that individual will also learn virtues from sports, such as discipline and teamwork.
Blessed Chiara Badano was a strong tennis player as well as a skier and swimmer. Though cancer cut her life short, she was known for her positive attitude and luminous smile. After being diagnosed with her painful illness at age 16, she taught young people to embrace their suffering. “This is a very important moment for me; it is an encounter with Jesus forsaken.” She was beatified by Pope Benedict in 2010.
St. Philip Evans was a 17th-century Jesuit priest and tennis player. Legend has it that while he was awaiting his execution for being a priest in Wales, he was playing tennis. When the jailer told him he must return to his prison cell, he insisted on finishing the game. He was martyred for his faith the next day.
Venerable Teresita Quevedo was also a competitive tennis player (is there a pattern here?) and captain of her basketball team in 1940s Spain. After her First Communion, she consecrated herself to Mary, promising to offer up her temptation to temper tantrums. At 10, she wrote that she wanted to become a saint. Her faith and humility were so strong that when she was on the verge of winning a major championship, she worried about getting an inflated ego. She asked the Blessed Virgin which result would please Jesus more. It must be noted that Christians who pray before competition today are like Teresita—rarely, if ever, praying for victory but rather for good, fair competition; no injuries; gratitude for the opportunity to compete; and help to act in a sportsmanlike manner. At 17, Teresita entered the Carmelite order, but two years later, in 1950, she contracted tuberculosis and died. She suffered greatly but refused painkillers, offering up her suffering.
Pier Giorgio Frassati is beloved by many Catholics. He spent much of his youth as a prolific hiker, skier and swimmer in the Italian mountains. His charitable outreach for the sick and poor was extraordinary and played a role in his death at 24, as he caught polio from those he was assisting. He will be canonized on Aug. 3, 2025.
Other athletic saints include:
Blessed Michael McGivney, who not only founded the worldwide Knights of Columbus but also had a great love of baseball. While in seminary, he played on their baseball team against other seminarians. As a parish priest in New Haven, he organized baseball games. The Knights of Columbus are very connected to Major League Baseball, doing great evangelization through this relationship.
St. Teresa of the Andes was a swimmer, horse rider and tennis player. She also became a Carmelite nun.
St. Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe was a successful runner, wrestler and Ugandan martyr.
Though most of these individuals served others through service or religious orders, they also used their athletic prowess for apostolate.
Let us pray to St. Sebastian, patron saint of athletes, and all these saints, that we and our children will also use our time in sports to bring others closer to Jesus.
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