Being highly skilled in some activity or profession is good, but it will not satisfy us unless we aim for something greater still. It might make us famous, but it will not make us happy.
–Pope Benedict XVI to young people in England, Sept 17, 2010

True happiness is to be found in God. […] Only he can satisfy the deepest needs of our hearts.“
–Pope Benedict XVI, Sept 17, 2010

God wants your friendship. And once you enter into friendship with God, everything in your life begins to change. As you come to know him better, you find you want to reflect something of his infinite goodness in your own life.“
–Pope Benedict XVI, Sept 17, 2010

Dear athletes, you are models for your peers, and your example can be crucial to them in building their future positively. So be champions in sports and in life!“
–Pope Benedict XVI, August 5, 2009

Bible Blurbs

“My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges.”
Hebrew 12: 5-6, Proverbs 3: 11-12

“Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope“
1 Peter 3: 15

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear“
1 John 4: 18

“For whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.“
1 John 5: 4

Challenge Activity

Choose some way you are going to witness to your faith in a more active way over the next month, and follow through on it. It could be simply wearing a crucifix and trying to be a kinder person to others. It could be inviting some of your friends to Mass or to a youth group. It could be starting your own prayer group at school or at a friend’s house. It could be getting involved in a pro-life activity. But choose something and do it.

Debate

Most Christians only do good when things are easy. When things get tough they tend to give up just like anyone else. (Debate this statement) Is being a courageous and coherent Christian any more difficult than it was, say, fifty years ago, twenty years ago?

Discussion Questions

1. Do you think Christian athletes can handle defeat and success in sports better than those who do not have a strong faith? Why or why not?
2. Do you think that those who thank God for their success in sports or other things are hypocrites or showoffs? Why or why not?
3. Is there any passage of the Bible that helped you through a tough time?
4. Do you ever read the Bible? Talk about a couple of passages that are your favorites.
5. Sam Bradford says he likes to read the story of David and Goliath before each game, because being a quarterback in college and professional football can be a bit scary at times (Eleven huge guys trying to “kill” you every play). Do you have any favorite passage or passages in the Bible?

Chiara Badano was only 18 years old when she died in 1990. She was born in northern Italy. Her parents had always wanted children, but had been unable to conceive until Chiara, eleven years into their marriage. Chiara’s arrival brought them great joy. Her parents had a strong Catholic faith, and shared this with their daughter.

When Chiara was nine, a friend named Chicca invited her to take part in a Catholic youth program called GEN (New Generation). Chiara was an enthusiastic participant, and this new group helped her deepen her prayer life while it also gave her a new set of friends. Besides all her studies and sports, Chiara also tried to go to Mass every day.

Chiara was always a happy, optimistic girl. She loved to sing, dance, play tennis, and ice skate. She also loved excursions to the mountains and trips to the beach. Both mountains and beaches were in easy driving distance of her home.

One day, at age 17, while playing tennis, she felt an acute pain in her back and dropped the tennis racket. She went home, and when her mother saw how pale she was, she took her to the doctor. The doctors soon discovered Chiara had bone cancer. Chiara struggled to accept this news, but after a brief time of prayer she told her mother that she had said “yes” to whatever Jesus wanted.

Chiara faced repeated hospitalizations and increasing pain, yet everyone who dealt with her was amazed at her joy and serenity. Even some doctors who did not believe in God were drawn closer to God by Chiara’s example. She often repeated, “For you, Jesus. If you wish it, so do I.”

Her friend Chicca stayed close to her all this time. She was amazed as she witnessed the deepening of Chiara’s love for Christ during all the pain and unsuccessful treatments. Knowing that she was going to die, Chiara prepared her own funeral: the songs of the Mass, and the hairdo. Everything for her was a celebration.

Chicca recalled, “She told me she wanted to be buried in a white dress, as a bride that goes to meet Jesus.”

Chiara made one last request to her mother: “When you dress me, you must repeat three times: Now Chiara is seeing Jesus.” Chiara also asked that the cornea of her eyes be donated to some other young person who needed them.

She died on October 7, 1990. Her last words to her mother were: “Be happy, because I’m happy.” She was beatified this month, after a miracle due to her intercession was recognized by the Vatican.

So why was Patrick able to make so much progress? Indeed, why did his thirty-year missionary effort result in the wholesale conversion of all Ireland to the Catholic faith (as all historical witnesses concur)? If you read his “Confession” (a sort of autobiography and description of the work God had done in and through him), one characteristic stands out: his utter confidence in the love and the power of God. He wrote it in his later years (he died when he was about 70), but even just a couple sentences hint at the immense challenges that he constantly faced, as well as the secret to his inexhaustible determination and incomparable fecundity: “Daily I expect either a violent death or to be robbed and reduced to slavery or the occurrence of some such calamity… I have cast myself into the hands of the Almighty God, for he rules everything; as the Prophet says, ‘Cast your cares upon the Lord, and he himself will sustain you.’”

This wisdom had not come to him easily. Growing up in England, he had learned the basics of the faith, but had no interest in it. When he was 14, an Irish raiding party captured him and made him a slave. He spent the next six years of his life as a slave to a sheep owner in Ireland. He lived outdoors in the harsh mountains where he tended his master’s sheep. There, in solitude, he learned to pray and open his heart to God. He ran away from his slavery when he turned 20, and returned to England. God put it in his heart, however, to return Ireland in order to bring the Christian faith. It seems he went to France (called Gaul then) to study, learn to deepen his spiritual life, and become a priest. At about the age of forty he returned to the country that would ever after claim him as their own, sent by God to lead them into Christian light.

That is a Christian apostle. The growth of Christ’s kingdom won’t come from those who merely dream about changing people’s hearts while doing nothing, but it will come from saints, because only saints trust more in God than in themselves. (Source: Emails from Uncle Eddie: catholic.net)

Bible Blurbs

“More tortuous than all else is the human heart, beyond remedy; who can understand it? I, the LORD, alone probe the mind and test the heart“
Jeremiah 17:9-10

“The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor is the ear filled with hearing… Nothing is new under the sun. Even the thing of which we say, “See, this is new!” has already existed in the ages that preceded us.“
Ecclesiastes 1:8-10

“What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life?“
Matthew 16:26

“Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.“
Romans 12:2

Catechism Clips

1723:
The beatitude we are promised confronts us with decisive moral choices… It teaches us that true happiness is not found in riches or well-being, in human fame or power, or in any human achievement… but in God alone…
2501:
Arising from talent given by the Creator and from man’s own effort, ar t is a form of practical wisdom, uniting knowledge and skill,to give form to the truth of reality… To the extent that it is inspired by truth and love of beings, art bears a certain likeness to God’s activity in what he has created.
2513:
The fine arts, but above all sacred art, “of their nature are directed toward expressing in some way the infinite beauty of God in works made by human hands.

Pope Quotes

Society needs artists, just as it needs scientists, technicians, workers, professional people…, who ensure the growth of the person and the development of the community…“
–Pope John Paul II, Letter to Artists, April 1999

Artists… know, too, that they must labor without allowing themselves to be driven by the search for empty glory or the craving for cheap popularity; and still less by the calculation of some possible profit for themselves.“
–Pope John Paul II, Letter to Artists, April 1999

In the place of irrelevant or harmful shows, present pictures that are good, noble, beautiful, which undoubtedly can be made attractive and uplifting at the same time, and even reach a high artistic level. You will have the agreement and approval of everyone of upright mind and heart, and above all the approval of your own consciences.“
–Pope Pius XII, Address to the Cinema Industry, June 1955

Only through an encounter with God are we able to see in the other something more than just another creature, to recognize the divine image in the other, thus truly coming to discover him or her and to mature…“
–Pope Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate

Activity

Pick a Lady Gaga song. Rewrite some of the words so the song portrays a positive or hopeful message that values purity and dignity. If you can, post the new lyrics as a comment to this story on ourfaithinaction.com.

Debate

There is a famous saying from Lord Acton: Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Can the same be said for fame? Does fame corrupt like power? Divide in to two teams, and debate: one side argues that fame leads to compromise of one’s values and corruption, the other argues that one can be famous and maintain their morality. Find examples to back up your arguments.

Discussion Questions

1. Lady Gaga said that she is completely devoted to love and art. Yet, when asked about her zany shows and crazy public antics, she says that it’s all about putting on a show to become famous. She seems to have dedicated her career to fame. Is this a contradiction? Can someone be truly devoted to love and to their artistic expression, and at the same time be motivated by fame and money?
2. Lady Gaga is a very talented musician and songwriter. Do you think it is necessary for her to engage in outlandish behavior, wear scandalous costumes, or present herself in public wearing her underwear in order to be successful? Do you think she could do well in music without these things? Do you think there might be some other, hidden reason why she does these things?
3. Do you believe there is a point at which one person’s self expression crosses the line and starts to offend someone else’s rights? Does freedom of speech include indecent language, clothing, behavior, and obscene gestures? Who should get to decide what is proper for public behavior?
4. As extreme as some of Lady Gaga’s negative behavior is, we have seen that she can still say some really good things. Does this mean that God can still use and work through negative people and situations? Can God allow someone to do something that is for our good, and for His glory, without that person even intending to do something good?
5. Lady Gaga claims to be a feminist, and yet often times it appears as though she is allowing herself, and teaching other girls that it is ok, to have her body and sexuality used to get negative attention. Is this really in a woman’s best interest? Does this serve to make stereotypes stronger? Is there such a thing as truly good feminism? If so, what does it look like? Who are some examples of this?
6. Lady Gaga says she is spiritual, but not religious. What do you think that means? Is it possible? Can anyone just make up their own way to God? Didn’t God give us the ten commandments, and didn’t Jesus give us the Church? Why would he do this if we could just make it up on our own?

Definitions

1. faith - “the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) One of the Theological Virtues, a gift God gives to us which enables us to believe even without seeing
2. dignity - the value and respect due to every human person simply because they are created in the image and likeness of God.
3. self destructive - causing yourself harm or injury, whether physically, emotionally, spiritually, or mentally. This is a sure sign of evil, as God always builds and makes grow and evil always seeks to break down or destroy.
4. celibate - traditionally it meant unmarried; in modern usage it means, more specifically, abstaining from sexual relations.
5. doubts - ideas or thoughts which no longer make sense, or we have unanswered questions about. Things which cause us to question what we were taught or had previously believed.
6. religious - following a set of beliefs, behaviors, and rituals in order to communicate with or please God (or a god, or many gods in some cases).
7. marginalized - literally, pushed to the outside; a feeling of being excluded or left out.
8. humility - - willingness to be obedient to God, recognizing one’s need for Him; aware of both one’s strengths and weaknesses.
9. trust - - confidence and peace knowing that God (or another) is taking care of something we need.
10. chaos lack of order, structure, or routine; unpredictable and without any boundaries.
11. self discovery the journey of learning who we are, who God made us to be, and how we fit in to the world around us.

Lived her vocation, even after death

Zdislava lived in Lemberk, on the border of Europe and the territories occupied by the Mongols. During this time the Mongol Hordes were invading Europe, buring towns, pillaging and killing. Zdislava was married to the Duke of Lemberk, who was a fierce soldier. They lived in a castle fortress and her husband fought the Mongols. He was a rough man who loved to fight. He didn’t like to give to the poor or provide for the refugees of the war. He forced Zdislava to dress up in fancy gowns and sit through long, rowdy banquets with the soldiers.

Zdislava hated wearing the lavish clothes and the banquet feasts. She would have much rather lived simply and spent her time with their four children. Whenever she could get away with it, she gave food, money and medicine to the poor. She did her best to honor her husbands requests because it was her vocation, but she also did her best to do what was right even if he didn’t approve. Eventually, she convinced him to let her build a hostel for refugees and a house for religious.

Some of these religious told her of St Dominic and his Dominican order. She loved the idea of a religious community, but already had found her vocation as wife and mother. They permitted her to become what is called a “Third Order” Dominican, which means she would remain married and care for her family, while doing her best to live and pray like the Dominican sisters. She received communion nearly every day, which was uncommon at that time. During the day she would be a model wife and mother, but at night she would sneak out of the castle to build a new church on their estate with her own bare hands.

When she fell ill and died, thousands of poor and refugees came to her new church to mourn her. They grieved the loss of her help and generosity, but especially they were sad to lose her great example of balancing respect for her vocation of marriage and her family while still finding ways to do good works for others. When her husband the Duke saw this, he was greatly moved.

Zdislava knew that her primary vocation as a married woman was to get her husband and children to Heaven. So then, in one final act of love for her husband, she appeared to him in a vision in the glory of Heaven, to convince him to change his heart and follow God. He finally listened.

Her feast day is January 1.

“People haven’t always been there for me but music always has.”

“You can say that I love ‘Love’. It fascinates me.”

“Today Was a Fairytale”, a song Taylor wrote for the Valentine’s Day soundtrack, dropped the third week in January. It quickly became the most downloaded single for any female artist, shattering the record previously held by Brittany Spears.

But in spite of her amazing success, it seems that Taylor has remained a very down-to- earth girl. Recently, on January 26th, she tweeted: “I didn’t notice until now that the person who made my coffee today wrote ‘you’re wonderful’ on the cup. It made my day.”

Fearless Love

In 2008, Taylor Swift’s album “Fearless” topped the charts, selling more than 10 million copies. Swift has received more than 50 major music awards to date, including one at the Video Music Awards in 2009.

Everyone remembers that during that acceptance speech she was interrupted by Kanye West who felt a need to tell the world that he thought Beyonce Knowles actually deserved the award. In a moment of humility, the world saw Taylor show self control, kindness, and respect for the rapper who was saying humiliating things in what should have beenher shining moment.

Taylor Swift’s describes what was going through her mind during the encounter with Kanye West at the Video Music Awards:
“Wow I can’t believe I won… This is awesome… Don’t trip and fall…
I’m gonna get to thank the fans…This is so cool…
Oh, Kanye West is here… Cool haircut… What are ya doing there… Ouch…
I guess I’m not gonna get to thank the fans…”

After that moment, she went backstage and tried hard to hold back the tears, because she had to perform again. There was an outpouring of anger from other artists who called on Kanye to apologize for his behavior. Later on, Kanye personally called Taylor and apologize. She accepted.

“I think allowing yourself to cry on the bathroom floor is fearless. Letting go is fearless.
Then, moving on and being alright, that’s fearless, too.”

From a very early age Taylor has shown herself to be Fearless. Her pre-teen singing talents were discovered through performing karaoke songs locally at fairs and events. By the age of 10 she was an award-winning poet. At age 12 she started playing the guitar. She practiced for many hours every day. She learned to combine her talents for writing poetry with her passion for music.

Her family was very supportive of her talents and dreams. They even moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to provide more opporunities for their daughter’s singing career.

By the time she was 13, Taylor Swift had a contract with RCA Records but Taylor left when the company tried to force her into a predetermined stereotype of a teen singer.

Swift had a strong sense of self even as a young aspiring artist, and she wanted to sing and write her own songs. Scott Borchetta, of Big Machine Records, heard her singing at the Bluebird Café and sensed she could become a powerful artist . He gave her the chance to write her own music with his record company. At just 16 years old, Taylor’s debut song, Tim McGraw, vaulted her into the music spotlight.

Respect

Taylor Swift, like all teenagers, is learning to navigate the world of love. That can be even harder for Taylor because she is a celebrity. One tool that Taylor Swift uses to protect her heart is self respect. Taylor believes in herself. In her music you can hear that her heart is full of ideas, hopes, dreams and heartbreak. She understands what its like to feel like you are invisible, and she understands what it feels like to have her heart broken by unrequited love.
“When I was a little girl I used to read fairy tales. In fairy tales you meet Prince Charming and he’s everything you ever wanted. In fairy tales the bad guy is very easy to spot. The bad guy is always wearing a black cape so you always know who he is. Then you grow up and you realize that Prince Charming is not as easy to find as you thought. You realize the bad guy is not wearing a black cape and he’s not easy to spot; he’s really funny, and he makes you laugh, and he has perfect hair.“
— Taylor Swift,
Rolling Stone Magazine
And through her music Taylor is able to express these feelings to her fans. Rather than needing to express herself by wearing tight or ridiculously revealing clothes, putting up an over-sexed image, or getting into & staying in immoral relationships with guys who hurt her, she chooses to move on and let go. In her songs, we can often find something of ourselves to identify with.
“My goal is never to write songs that my fans can’t relate to.”
- Taylor Swift

Relationship Rebellion

Taylor Swift is leading a very special revolution. It’s not a rebellion based on fighting parents and injuring herself through the same old predictable Hollywood patterns of self-destruction. Instead, she’s revolting against Hollywood’s demand that she destroy her mind, body, and soul in order to fit in with all of the other celebrities. Swift tries to live out her belief in herself and takes care of herself.
“I rebelled against my record label when they wanted to shelve me, and I’ve rebelled against people trying to push me around in the recording studio. To me, that’s always been much more exciting than going out and getting drunk. I remember at high school trying to cheer up my girlfriends who were crying in the bathroom after some party when they couldn’t remember who they’d made out with the night before. You see, I don’t ever want to be that girl in the bathroom crying.”
– Taylor Swift to the Brittish magazine, Seven

Even though she rebels against the studio, Taylor hasn’t had the desire to rebel against her parents.
Taylor’s parents have worked hard to teach her about what is really important in life. On her 18th Birthday Taylor’s parents threw her a party in Nashville with 200 guests:
“This is our gift to her,” said Taylor’s mother, Andrea Swift. “She knows the real gifts in life are relationships.”
Taylor has written about the love she feels for her family in her music.
“I have an excellent father
His strength is making me stronger
God smiles on my little brother
Inside and out, he’s better than I am.”
– “The Best Day”
written and produced
by Taylor Smith
She also rebels through her music when she says that the guy who she’s dating and loves needs to treat her with respect. The idea of being a “princess” is frowned upon in our society at times. Women are told by modern society that being treated like a “princess” by a guy is a sign of weakness, and that they need to give that up if they want a success in their career. Taylor shows us that we can challenge those assumptions.
In her songs she says that she wants the fairy tale society tells her to reject:
“You’ll be the prince
and I’ll be the princess
It’s a love story
baby, just say yes”
– “Love Story”
written and produced
by Taylor Swift
Swift works hard to show through the way she lives her own life that a real fairytale is possible by choosing to respect herself and by rebelling against society’s demand for self-destruction.

Express yourself

Taylor Swift is an example of someone who reflects confidence and inner happiness. In her songs we see the many rejections, not being cool & not fitting in; she fearlessly shows vulnerability.
“When all you wanted was to be wanted
Wish you could go back and tell yourself what you know now
Back then I swore I was gonna marry him someday
But I realized some bigger dreams of mine
And Abigail gave everything she had to a boy
Who changed his mind and we both cried
‘cause when you’re fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
You’re gonna believe them”
- Taylor Swift, “Fifteen”
Taylor Swift wrote this song about her friend who let go of her self-respect to feel a moment of “love” from a boy and lived to regret it. Taylor saw her friend’s pain and vowed to herself that she wouldn’t let that happen to her. So instead of depending on others to make her feel loved, Taylor Swift has chosen to passionately pursue a music career and develop everything she has in her self – all of her talents.

What talents do you have? What are your passions?

“The lesson I’ve learned the most often in life is that you’re always going to know more in the future than you know now!” - Taylor Swift

So what have you done this week to build your fairytale future?