Every girl dreams of finding “the one,” “Mr. Right,” that special guy who looks into her eyes and makes her heart flutter… Every guy searches for that one girl who makes him feel like he’s king of the world. It turns out, no matter how famous or rich you get, that doesn’t change; at least so say the teen pop sensations, the Jonas Brothers. But these guys aren’t dating in typical Hollywood fashion.

Breaking Big

Even if you don’t like their music, there is no denying their success. Though their ages are only 16, 19, and 21, these three New Jersey brothers have already fulfilled a lifetime’s worth of dreams. They’ve sold millions of CD’s and mp3 downloads, starred in movies, and played to packed arenas worldwide. Their pictures and posters line the lockers of tens of thousands of girls, and their fans are so into them it’s almost creepy. So whether or not their latest songs are on your playlist, they must be doing something right to be so successful.

Nick, the youngest in the band, was in a Broadway show at a very young age. By 12, he was approached by Columbia Records and offered a deal to make Christian music. On some of the recordings, Nick’s two older brothers, Kevin and Joe, joined him. The record company loved the sound so much, they decided to market them as “the Jonas Brothers”. Their first album of Christian music didn’t sell well with Columbia Records. But because of both their raw talent and their wholesome family appeal, Disney and Hollywood Records picked them up immediately. Their second CD was almost sold out before it was released.

BB Good in Hollywood

Though they are not making religious music anymore, the same Christian values their parents raised them with still influence their music, lyrics, videos, and, most importantly, their lives. Nick told Fox Extra, “We believe that we are Christians in a pop-rock band. That’s just the way we do it. Our faith is really important to us and it’s a big thing in everything we do.”

Kevin tells Cross Rhymes, “With our music we’re trying to be successful. Our whole thing is to play mainstream music but to be a light in a dark world and to tell people that we are Christians when they ask, ‘What’s so different about you?’ We’re like, ‘Well, we’re Christians and we love the Lord.’ That’s our opportunity to witness to people. We just feel like this is where we belong - ‘This is who we are and let’s just go for it!’”

Lovebug

In spite of their fast-paced, star-studded careers, Nick, Joe, and Kevin seem to be looking for the same things that most teens are. “Like all people our age we are trying to find someone special that we can share time with in our busy lives,” they recently wrote on their MySpace. They admit it is hard to have relationships when they live life the way they do. Many times they find themselves on different continents than their friends. This makes it hard to take a girl they like to the mall, the movies, or a school dance.

The Girl

So what kind of girl does a international, teenage, millionaire, heart-throb date? Well, the list of girls linked to the Jonas Brothers includes famous starlets such as Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus, Camilla Belle, and Taylor Swift. But you will find a common trait among many of the girls that are seen hanging out with Nick, Joe, and Kevin: most of them have stated publicly that they are saving sex for marriage.

Why should this be important to these three TV, movie, and rock stars? Although they are rich, famous, and can date nearly anyone they would want, the boys have decided that chastity is the most important value to them; both personally and in dating relationships.

The Rings

Not too long ago, in an interview on the Disney Channel, the Jonas Brothers told the world that they wear “purity rings” (also called “promise rings”) to symbolize their commitment to living a chaste life until they are married.

Pushing Them Away

Almost immediately, the press began to make a huge stink about the rings. Some news reporters tried to discredit them. Others brought on experts saying that it is not possible to be a mentally healthy teen while making a promise like this to abstain from sex until marriage. Some people accused the boys of using this as a publicity stunt. It seems that the news media and gossip columnists can’t believe that three famous, wealthy, good-looking guys could possibly survive Hollywood careers while holding on to their virginity.

Holding On

But the boys defend their position. They do their best to keep their private lives private. They try to keep their relationships with young women on a friendly level. This is a very mature attitude, because it shows they realize that at their age, and with their busy schedules, it doesn’t make sense to let a relationship get too serious. Nick explained the rings in an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, “To us the [purity] rings are a constant reminder to live a life of values. It’s about being a gentleman, treating people with respect and being the best guys we can be.”

That’s Just the Way We Roll

Chastity and purity rings all of a sudden became very popular. From that point on, most of the press for the band consistently included discussions about the rings. A very famous journalist named Barbara Walters wanted to interview the boys. Walters did her best to get the boys to slip up or back down about their purity rings, but they would not break. There was one other thing that was very evident in their interview with Ms. Walters: these brothers stick together.

Band of Brothers

This is the secret to their success both musically, and morally. They rely on each other, protect each other, and find strength in knowing that they’re living chaste lives together. When one of them was offered a part in the movie Camp Rock, their father insisted that all three be included. Their father knows that if they stay together, they can survive the crazy rat-race that usually ruins teen stars.

Strength in family

Another source of strength these guys have is their parents. Dad and Mom are their best friends. And they not only give them advice, but they also know the ropes of performing in a band and going on tour. Their parents were performing Christian artists for many years. Dad is actually their manager and vocal coach. “There’s times when he’s Dad and times when he a manager,” explains Joe. “He’s a ‘dadager’… He’s awesome. We love our dad.” But what the brothers especially admire about their parents are their values. Their parents have dedicated their lives to standing up for Jesus and for Christian values (Dad is a Christian pastor and Mom is his #1 helper). They have also shown the boys that, in spite of the fact that they are not perfect, they can walk the talk, and help their sons walk it too.

“Our family is really close,” said Joe. “We kind of built our whole foundation on making sure that our family is really strong. They’ve always been there for us… That’s why we decided to go (on tour) with our own family bus.” Hanging out with Mom and Dad may not seem very cool to many teenagers and pop stars, but the Jonas Brothers have shown that family can give us strength to live up to our values, even when the attraction of easy, loose relationships seems so powerful.

Keeping All the Promises

The Jonas Brothers have shown us that the best way to keep a commitment to God and to their future spouses is to surround ourselves with brothers (and sisters) who share the same values and who are striving to live a life of faith in God. They acknowledge that despite all their wealth, fame, and good looks, the best gift they can give their future spouses is the complete gift of themselves.

Giving Hope

Nick, Joe, and Kevin also realize they have a responsibility, even in the midst of so much success. They can give hope to others. If they can live a life of purity and chastity amidst the glitz and glam of Hollywood and rock-stardom, they give hope to teenagers everywhere. Girls deserve to know they are worth waiting for. There’s no denying that this is a big part of the success of these brothers.

Attraction

Why are boys so attracted to girls? And why are girls so attracted to boys? Because we are made in the image of God. And God is love. God is relational. God, within his very being, lives in a relationship of love (He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.), and God lives in a relationship of love with his creatures. So, like him, God made us to love. We are made to love him, and we are made to love others.

Special Love

One of the most special ways to love like God is the love between a man and a woman. In married love, spouses dedicate their lives totally and exclusively to each other. In married love, a boy and a girl are called to be the living expression of God’s love for the other person.

Built on Friendship and Respect

But this type of love does not just happen by a physical relationship. It is built on friendship. It is sustained by respect, kindness, and patience. It only truly works when there is total commitment, after a sustained period of getting to know each other and respect each other. When we put the physical relationship before there is a solid friendship and respect, and before there is a total commitment, we find that love does not last. It simply ends in broken hearts.

Something We Can Learn

So, guys, show tenderness to the girls, but show respect. Show each girl you really can wait. You may find that it’s not just the Jonas Brothers that the girls are swooning about (although they might not admit it … until they really trust you.) And girls, continue to believe in that special someone. There are good guys out there, guys worth waiting for. Hold on, and God will bless your love.

God, our Father, we know that every good gift comes down from you. Teach us to always place the greatest importance on what matters most to you. Amen.

The Super bowl XLIII match-up between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburg Steelers showcased two players who have distinguished themselves as men who see the bigger game, beyond the hype. Though they were rivals on the field, off the field Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Kurt Warner of the Arizona Cardinals, share common ground in their Christian faith. In this lesson we will take a brief look at their faith and their values.

For Troy Polamalu, who plays safety for the Pittsburg Steelers, the 2009 Super Bowl was his second time playing in the “big game”. In 2006, Polamalu helped the Steelers beat the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL. He knows what it’s like to perform under pressure. He has achieved the kind of success that most amateur and even many pro football players will only dream about.

Polamalu normally deflects praise and attention, always reminding others that giving glory to God is more important. In a 2006 article for Catholic Online, Troy states that “success in football doesn’t matter. Success in anything doesn’t matter. As Mother Teresa said, God calls us not to be successful but to be faithful. My prayer is that I would glorify God no matter what, and not have success be the definition of it.”

Troy has dealt with adversity. He was the youngest of five children. Suila, his mother, had to raise all of them alone; on welfare, and in a rough section of Los Angeles. His older brother and sisters were already in a lot of real trouble in high school. “I was just a little hood-rat, walking around parks by myself, hanging out with homeless guys…”

When he was eight years old, Troy’s family visited their uncle and his family in Oregon. It seemed beautiful and serene there compared to the streets of L.A. Even though he was young, Troy saw a chance at a better life. At the end of the visit, he begged his mom to let him stay there. Realizing that this was a better environment for her child, she gave permission.

He loved living with his Uncle Salu, Aunt Shelley, and their three sons. From them he learned about his Polynesian culture; especially, their traditional reverence for family, faith, and personal responsibility. Troy attended Catholic school, and he discovered the power of prayer and dialogue with God at a young age. He developed a deep, personal relationship with God as his true Father. “The beautiful thing about the way I was raised is that I didn’t really have parents, and in that way I had to rely on God.”

Troy defines faith in one word: surrender. “It’s knowing in your heart that God will take care of you… We all have to struggle to overcome our adversities…When Jesus was on the cross, he didn’t say, ‘Father in heaven, He said ‘Daddy.’ This is an intimate relationship. This isn’t praying to the unknown.”

Theodora, Troy’s wife, belongs to the Greek Orthodox Christian church. While they were dating he asked her a lot of questions about her beliefs. As he fell in love with her, he fell in love with her faith. When they got married, Troy passionately embraced her practice of faith. They attend weekly Mass (they prefer to call it Divine Liturgy). He is described by others as a “soft-spoken, Christian family man.”

Troy prays daily, and he says that should be true of every Christian. He also prays during his games, both on the sidelines and after each play. Those who have watched him on TV may remember seeing him make the sign of the cross, a trademark he is happy to bear. To some of us it may seem he makes it backwards, but Eastern Catholics and Orthodox Christians still follow an old tradition of blessing their right shoulder first.

Troy does not spend his free time hanging out with his teammates, studying replay tapes, or watching games; he spends his time with his wife and their new son, Paisios. “Football is, for me, it’s something I do. It’s like [being] a reporter. It’s what you do, not who you are. Football does not define me. How I am with my faith and how I treat my wife is what truly defines [me] as a man. That is my goal in life: to live that way and believe in it.”

Many players and writers comment about how humble and unselfish Troy is. When he is not able to make a big play, he does whatever he can to help his teammates make one. In this particular Super Bowl game, Troy didn’t play the most outstanding game. He spent most of the game quietly helping to cover the Cardinals’ star receiver, Larry FItzgerald. This kept him out of the limelight and action; but he did his part humbly, and for the first three quarters of the game Fitzgerald had only one catch.

The Steelers won 27-23 in what turned out to be one of the most exciting Super Bowls in recent memory, and they set a new record as the only NFL team to win six Super Bowls.

During his post game interview, Troy had his son Paisios on his knee. “It’s a blessing,” he said about winning the game. “I don’t know how much he (his infant son) will remember, but he’ll have two rings in his vault, and, God willing, maybe more. He’s speechless right now as you can see.”

Troy has said he loves playing for the Steelers, because they are a hard working, family owned and family friendly team.

“I hope [winning the most Super Bowls] can be an example to people. It’s a legacy that’s not built on pride. It’s a legacy that’s built on humility and unselfishness.”

Just a few days before the Super Bowl, the teams met with the press for what is called media day. During his interview time, Troy took this opportunity to publicly acknowledge one of his opponents who also uses Super Bowl stardom to share his faith in Jesus:

Read the next article from this issue, about Kurt Warner.

Lord our God, help us to love you with all our hearts and to love all men as you love them. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Karen Gaffney is a thirty year old long-distance swimmer.  Her many accomplishments include swimming nine miles across Lake Tahoe, competing in the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, and being part of a relay team to swim the roughly thirty miles of sixty degree water in the English Channel.  An inspirational person to be sure, Karen Gaffney also shatters the myth that having Down Syndrome, a genetic chromosomal disorder, ruins a person’s life.  She states, “Yes, we are different…But we also are filled with potential and abilities and dreams…”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. How familiar are you with Down Syndrome? Do you know anyone who lives with this condition? Would you expect someone living with Down Syndrome to be able to do all of the things that Karen Gaffney accomplished?
2. What kinds of preparation does it take to do all of the things that Karen did? Are there things that you are involved in that require this kind of committed preparation?
3. Do you need help from others to accomplish important goals in your life? In what ways do people with disabilities remind us that we all have limitations? Is this a good thing for us to be reminded of?
4. How can helping others do great things also enrich our own life? Do you think Karen parents feel fulfilled seeing her accomplish these goals? What sort of things do people learn about life through parenthood? What sort of things do we learn by helping others?
5. Why do you think it was necessary for Senators Brownback and Kennedy to propose this bill? Should it be left up to the parents on both sides to organize their own support networks and seek out their own information? What role do you think the government should play in situations such as this? Why is it important to present the positive aspects of having a child with Down Syndrome?
6. Do you think our current culture and our current laws respect the principle stated in the Declaration of Independence by the phrase: “…they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”? In what ways can we promote a greater respect for this principle in our country today? Can you list any other initiatives that try to promote a greater understanding and living out of this principle? What things can you do in your own community to promote this more?
7. Read the Sports Illustrated article listed in the resources below. Do you think the NJ basketball coach did the right thing in allowing Brad to play ball? Why or why not? How did this opportunity impact Brad? His teammates? The members of the teams that he played against? How would this also impact the people in the stands just watching the game – would they have left with a different perspective?
8. Does society treat people with disabilities as inferior people? Can you name situations which support your response? Why do you think this is so? What can we do to change negative attitudes towards people with disabilities? Are there people in your school or your family that are treated differently for one reason or another?
9. How would you react in a situation where you would need to work with someone with a disability? Would that make you feel uncomfortable? What could be done to make you feel more comfortable in that situation? What motivations can we find to treat others with greater respect and charity when our first reaction might be one of distance or fear?
10. Is there any truth to the idea that people would begin to feel differently about Down Syndrome if they met families coping successfully with this situation? How could this be encouraged?
11. Why would God allow someone to be born with a disability of any kind? How would this change someone who knew them?

Partial answer to Question 11:
Through allowing disabilities to exist, God helps us all learn to be more humane, more focused on the deeper worth of each person, more empathetic, more loving, more like Christ. People with Down Syndrome also help us see that being a loving person is more a source of joy than being the most talented, most attractive, most intelligent, etc.

ACTIVITIES

• Determine the names of the acting Senators/Representatives for your district. Write them letters or emails in support of the Bill. You can state your concern that the right to life of every child be protected and promoted. Express your desire that women with difficult pregnancies be given the full support of the government to welcome their children with love and joy. Express your own thoughts on the dignity of each human life.
• Have a mock debate about this bill. Argue the reasons why it is important for the Brownback-Kennedy Bill to pass.

JOURNAL WRITING

Imagine that your parents came to you and told you they were having a baby and your new sibling would have Down Syndrome. How would this new situation impact your life right now? Write about your worries and your concerns. Do you seen any positive aspects of this possible situation after reading this article? Would you have enough room in your life for a sibling with special needs? How do you think your life would be changed?

FURTHER FORMATION

From The Gospel of Life (Pope John Paul II, 1995) “It is therefore a service of love which we are all committed to ensure to our neighbor, that his or her life may be always defended and promoted, especially when it is weak or threatened. It is not only a personal but a social concern which we must all foster: a concern to make unconditional respect for human life the foundation of a renewed society.
We are asked to love and honor the life of every man and woman and to work with perseverance and courage so that our time, marked by all too many signs of death, may at last witness the establishment of a new culture of life, the fruit of the culture of truth and of love.”

RESOURCES

Information on Karen Gaffney: www.karengaffneyfoundation.com

Catholic pro-life support groups for prenatal diagnosis:
www.prenatalpartnersforlife.org
www.benotafraid.net

Down Syndrome websites:
National Down Syndrome Society
Trisomy 21

Information on the Brownback/Kennedy bill:
Petition to support the Brownback/Kennedy bill

Brad Hennefer:
Story on Brad Hennefer
Brad Hennefer’s gallery
Brad Heffener Golf for Life Foundation

Story about Aidan Milligan: “The Joy of Aidan”

Interview with actress Eva Longoria about her sister Elizabeth

CNN interview of Representative Cathy McMorris-Rogers (Washington) about baby Cole born in 2007 with Down Syndrome:

• “People have just been tremendous, and when I returned after some maternity leave, I brought Cole with me that first night to the House floor.”

Interview with actor John C. McGinley – currently Dr. Cox of “Scrubs”

• His son, Max, has Down Syndrome (John was 2006 & 2007 National Buddy Walk Spokesman):

“A great blessing – Student with Down syndrome inspires school:” The Catholic Review October 13, 2006

A dream can be powerful. It can turn enthusiasm into success. For one, humble young man, his dream is gradually becoming his reality. Yet it would not have happened without his family, without their love and faith. In fact, his family saved his life. In this lesson we will look at how Tim Tebow’s family helped him put a solid foundation on his life, and how he has also found a model of faith and charity in someone else in his life.

Heisman History

Tim Tebow made football history at the end of this college season by becoming the first underclassman (freshman or sophomore) ever to win the Heisman trophy. After a solid start as a freshman, Tebow became a starting quarterback for the Florida Gators’ his sophomore year and has broken Southeastern Conference records for rushing touchdowns.  Tebow finished the regular season with 3,132 passing yards and 29 touchdowns.  He also ran for 838 yards and 22 touchdowns, becoming the first player in Division I-A football history to both pass and rush over 20 touchdowns in a season.

“It’s something I used to dream about,” Tebow says of his Heisman win on the Florida Gators’ website.  “For it to come true, it’s unbelievable.  It’s special.”

Character from the clan

Not only is his win special, the humble and soft-spoken Tebow brings character to the game. A solid family life and faith in God is what led a high-school-aged Tebow to proclaim in an interview with The Baptist Press, “Just because you play football you’re no more important than anyone else.”

The youngest of five children, Tebow could not recite his own stats during interviews when asked about his play.  Growing up in a family of homeschoolers, he was allowed to play ball with the local high school when the state of Florida passed a law allowing homeschoolers to play high school sports.

As a boy, he had always been very enthusiastic about sports. As his successes on the field mounted, his parents would remind him of a Bible verse to keep him humble: Proverbs 27:2 “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.”

Survivor, thanks to mom and dad

Tim began beating the odds long before he ever picked up a football. Before he was born, doctors strongly urged his parents to abort the pregnancy. The physicians believed the unborn baby had been severely, maybe even fatally, harmed in the womb by medications they’d given his mom to fight off an infection.

The details of the discussions between the doctors and Tim’s parents are an inspiring story all their own, and we’ve asked Pam and Bob to tell us exactly how everything happened. They were unavailable at press time, but have promised to fill us in for our next lesson.

In the meantime, suffice it to say that their courage to stand up to the doctors and trust in the Great Physician — Jesus — paid off: Timmy was born underweight but otherwise healthy.

“We were concerned at first because he was so malnourished,” recalls Pam, “but he definitely made up for it.”

And how. Today, Tim stands 6’3” and weighs 235 pounds.

“I really have a heart to encourage moms and women to trust the Lord with all their heart for all their lives,” says Pam about the challenges of motherhood.

Missionary man

Brought up with this solid faith, Tim Tebow heeds his call as an evangelizer and role model in society very seriously.  He regularly shares his Christian faith in talks to youth around the country.

Tim’s father, Bob, has spent years sharing his Christian faith with people in the Philippines, has helped to build an orphanage there and has also organized medical help for the poor. Every summer Bob brings young people from the United States to help him on his work there. His son Tim has been a regular participant in these youth missions and really loves it.

Says Tim, “Its been a great experience. We go into medical clinics, hospitals, prisons, market places and schools. You preach and help out. We go to the orphanage and a lot of things like that. It’s a great experience. I love going every year and I can’t wait until I go back. Every time you go you learn something different, and it changes your life even more.”

Tim Tebow acknowledges that working with people so disadvantaged has changed the way he looks at the world.

Finding family spirit

It is no wonder that Tim Tebow chose the University of Florida to pursue his career and football aspirations.  Majoring in Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Tebow has found another family of his own in his teammates and Gators’ coach, Urban Meyer.  Coach Meyer, a Catholic and another solid family man has said of Tim Tebow, “He’s such a positive influence.  He’s such an unselfish guy.”  Coach Meyer acknowledges that Tim Tebow is the kind of role model young people can look up to.

Coach’s favorite team

Coach Meyer and his wife, Shelley, maintain a strong family life.  Shelley credits her husband in part, for always keeping his family in the know about his schedule.  The schedule of a famous college football coach is demanding, but, like football, teamwork is the name of the game.  Shelley is a stay-at-home mother who spends her time attending to her three children and volunteering in the community.

For Coach Meyer, devoting time to his family is as important to him as it is to them. He once found himself with some time after his football commitments were completed, so he took advantage of a police escort to catch a few minutes of his son’s baseball game.    Coach Meyer makes time to spend weekends away with his son.  He also has set aside “date nights” to spend individual time with his teen daughters.

Faith: part of the program

Faith is an important aspect of the Meyers lives as well. “Spiritual health is very important to our kids and our players.  It’s very important to us,” Shelley Meyer said in an interview with The Gainsville Sun.  “Faith is the only thing that can get you through the hard times.”

The Meyers family attends Queen of Peace parish where their two teen daughters are preparing to make their confirmation.  Shelley herself was raised Protestant and she and her husband, have also taken their children to Protestant churches in the area so they can be familiar with their mother’s Christian background as well.

Fatherhood and football

Like Tim Tebow, Coach Urban Meyer takes his position as a role model very seriously.  Recruiting is one of the things any college coach must be good at.  Coach Meyer treats his recruits like family – they spend time at the Meyer family home and he has been known to text message them almost daily, just to check in and see how they are doing.

Relationship building is an important part of the coach’s recruiting process in that both the coach and his players see their Gators’ team as an extended family.  The difference that Coach Meyer brings to the lives of these athletes is his sincere concern for them.  Many recruits often comment that he truly makes himself available to them, and, when he wants to know how things are, it is because he means it.

Tim Tebow admires these qualities in his coach. As he said in an interview with The New York Times,”That’s one thing that’s so great about Coach Meyer is that he does realize that there’s things more important than football. Helping guys out, changing their lives. There’s countless guys on the team … that he’s totally changed their lives, did a 180. … He’s so much more than a football coach, he’s like a fatherto a lot of guys. He’s one of the best coaches in college football, but he’s more than that. He’s interested in helping people and doing the right thing.”

Success in selflessness

Shelley Meyer credits the team’s successes to this close-knit family feeling.  “That’s why they win,” she said.  “That’s exactly why they win.  Egos are left somewhere else.  That’s just a really special thing about our team.”  Sounds like a place called home for a young, humble football star named Tim Tebow.

Forming for fatherhood

There is always talk that successful collegiate athletes and coaches will one day find their way to the pros.  Perhaps that dream will also become a reality in the future for Tim Tebow or Coach Urban Meyer.  Shelley Meyer is quick to remark, “Urban’s calling is really to mentorand role model and teach these college guys how to be good dads and good husbands.”  That is the preparation for real life that Coach Urban Meyer brings to his team.

In the player of Tim Tebow, Coach Meyer’s example is just one more person modeling behavior that his family has instilled in him since he was a child.  For the world of football and for the world outside of football, these two men have become shining examples of what it means to live faith in every day life.

Bible Blurbs

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

“Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” (Proverbs 27:2)

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.” (Ephesians 3: 14-15)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Hoy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and Lo, I am with you always, until the close of the age.” (Matthew 28: 19-20)

“And the King will answer them, truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these brethren, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Pope Quotes

“The natural family, as an intimate communion of life and love, based on marriage between a man and a woman, constitutes “the primary place of ‘humanization’ for the person and society,” and a “cradle of life and love.”(Benedict XVI, Message for World Day of Peace 2008, no. 2)

“This point merits special reflection: everything that serves to weaken the family … constitutes an objective obstacle on the road to peace.”(Benedict XVI, Message for World Day of Peace 2008, no. 5)

“Today, too, there is a need for disciples of Christ who give unstintingly of their time and energy to serve the Gospel. There is a need for young people who will allow God’s love to burn within them and who will respond generously to his urgent call.” (Benedict XVI, July 20, 2007)

“Do not be afraid to become holy missionaries like Saint Francis Xavier …  or like Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus … Be prepared to put your life on the line in order to enlighten the world with the truth of Christ; to respond with love to hatred and disregard for life; to proclaim the hope of the risen Christ in every corner of the earth.”(Benedict XVI, July 20, 2007)

Catechism Clips

2205 The Christian family is a communion of persons, a sign and image of the communion of the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit.

2207 The family is the community in which, from childhood, one can learn moral values, begin to honor God, and make good use of freedom.

2210 The importance of the family for the life and well-being of society entails a particular responsibility for society to support and strengthen marriage and the family.

2472 The duty of Christians impels them to act as witness of the Gospel.  This witness is a transmission of the faith in words and deeds.

2272 The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy (by condemning abortion). Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society.

Saints and Heroes

Priest Dedicated to Educating Young People in the Philippines

Fr. Jesus Reynaldo Roda, OMI

(Gave his life on January 15, 2008)

Fr. Reynaldo Roda was a member of a Catholic missionary community, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He dedicated his life to helping the poor, youth, and families in the Philipines. For the past ten years he ran a missionary station and Notre Dame High School –which has about 30 students- on the island township of Tabawan, Philipines, in the southern part of the Philippine islands.

Most of the Philippines is generally peaceful, and is predominantly Catholic, but in the southern islands, about 650 miles from Manila, Muslim extremists have waged a decades-long insurgency. Priests and missionaries have often been the target of Muslim extremists.

Father Roda had received death threats from the al-Queda linked Abu Sayyaf group, which has gained notoriety for bomb attacks, kidnappings and hostage beheadings. However, Father refused to abandon the young people who attended his mission and school. On Tuesday, January 15, about 10 gunmen believed to be from the al-Qaeda-linked group seized Father Roda while he was praying in the chapel to take him captive and shot him dead when he resisted. According to a witness, Fr. Roda said that he preferred to be killed right there and then rather than be taken hostage and used for ransom. Father Roda was the third Catholic missionary killed in this southern area of the Philipines in recent years.

Pope Benedict XVI heard of the news and immediately sent a telegram to the bishops of the Philipines, praising the courage and faithfulness of Fr. Roda. The pope also commended Fr. Roda’s example to priests and people throughout the region, and especially to the young.  (Source: Associated Press January 18, 2008 and other sources)

From Self-fascination to Love for Others

St Maria de Mattias

Virgin and Foundress of the Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ
(entered heaven August 20th, 1866)

Maria was born in the early 1800’s in central Italy.  Her family was comfortable and aristocratic, and she spent her youth close to her father, who read to her from the Bible and even gave her the rudiments of an education (girls didn’t receive formal studies at that time in that place).  She developed sensitivity for spiritual things, and an appreciation for the Scriptures, but in her teenage years, living in the relative isolation that her social class required, she became self-absorbed.  She spent more and more time admiring her own beauty and fantasizing about the wonderful life it would bring her.  Somehow, though, when she was about 17, her daydreams turned sour.  She experienced a kind of existential crisis, which must have been the fruit of grace, because when she turned to prayer and to her dad in order to get out of it, seeking from those sources light and wisdom about the true meaning of life, God granted her a mystical vision of Christ crucified, in which she perceived the beauty of God’s love in the blood spilled by Our Savior.  She found in Christ the burning, higher love that her heart had been vainly searching for in worldly dreams, and she found it in the beauty of Christ’s blood.

That experience, matured in prayer, moved her to take to the streets of Italy, which were stained by the blood of countless feuds and civil wars in those years, to preach what she had experienced.  She wanted to help others see Christ’s love as he had helped her see it.  She received another boost that same year when a holy preacher (Saint Gaspar del Bufalo) led a mission in her home town.  He preached so effectively that she could see the change in the lives of her fellow townspeople.  This gave her confidence.  It showed her that God could use human words to do in others what he had done directly in her.

Soon her zeal made her known, and the bishop asked her to take over a house for poor girls, where she cared for them, taught them their faith and some trades, and even the basics of academics (she had taught herself to read and write).  Her teaching was amazingly effective.  Soon the mothers started coming to listen as well.  And then they brought their sons too (not just their daughters).  And even though the social mores forbade her to speak to men, groups of men started gathering outside the windows to listen in.  The local shepherds, dodging the rules of etiquette, sneaked into town at night and begged her to teach them about Christ.

She attracted a following and formed a religious Congregation of women dedicated to preaching the love of Christ, so as to transform every heart and thereby change all of society.  By the time of her death when she was 61, she had founded 70 communities, usually in small, out-of-the-way towns.  By the time of her beatification almost 100 years later, the number had soared to 400. Her feast day is February 4.
(Source:www.collegecompass.org)

Virtue Verification

Acceptance - approving reception; approval

Aspiration - strong desire or ambition

Calling - an inner urging toward some profession or activity; vocation

Character - moral strength; self-discipline, fortitude, determination

Concern - interest in or regard for a person or thing; charity

Evangelize - to preach the gospel (the good news)

Faith – belief and trust in God

Humility – being simple; honesty in recognizing that one’s good qualities come from God’s generosity; unpretentiousness; having or showing a consciousness of one’s defects or shortcomings; not proud; not self-assertive; modest

Love –1. a deep and tender attachment or devotion to a person or persons
2. God’s tender regard and concern for all human beings
3. devotion to and desire for God as the supreme good

Mentor - a wise, loyal advisor

Selflessness - devoted to others’ welfare or interests and not one’s own; unselfish; altruistic

Steadfastness - firm, fixed, settled, or established; not changing, fickle or wavering; constant

Strength - the power to resist strain, stress, etc.; toughness; durability

Support - to give courage, faith, or confidence to; help or comfort

Trust – 1. firm belief or confidence in the honesty, integrity, reliability, justice, etc. of another person or thing; faith 2. confident expectation, anticipation, or hope

Discussion Questions

1. Tim Tebow’s parents had to put their trust in God rather than in the doctors who advised abortion. Do you think this was an easy time in their life? Where do you think they found the strength to be steadfast in their love for God’s gift of life? Do you think their strength helps Tim today? In what ways might it help?
2. According to researchers, doctors are frequently telling women they should consider abortion when confronted with various medical situations affecting their health. Yet, as prominent researcher Joel Brind notes,  and as Tim Tebow’s story shows, doctors can successfully treat both mother and child without suggesting the baby be killed to spare the mother’s life. Why do you think this pressure for abortion is a common practice in society today? Can you think of any ways we can change this mentality? How can Tim Tebow’s story help to affect this change?
3. Why did Tim Tebow’s parents teach him to follow the verse from Proverbs 27:2 – Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips?
4. How might Tim Tebow be different if he was raised in a family without such strong values?
5. In what ways do good marriages and families help children become good members of society? What difficulties in life can strong families and strong marriages help children and young people overcome?
6. Do you think Tim Tebow’s effort to witness to his faith and share it with others is something worth imitating? Do you think this world would be a better place if more people knew and loved Jesus Christ? In what ways might it be better? Do you think Catholics do enough to share their faith with others?
7. Why does Coach Meyer’s personal attention make such a difference to his team both on and off the field? Can you give any other examples of professions where concern for others can be a key to success?
8. Coach Meyer spends individual time with his children.  Do you think this is important as children become teenagers?  If so, why?
9. Sports can help in the formation of character and virtue. List some virtues that can be lived in sports. List some that Tim Tebow has displayed.

Journal Writing

• List the talents that God has given you and write about which ones you might be able to develop into a career.  Are there talents that you have been given that make you uncomfortable but that you think God would like for you to work on?  (examples: public speaking, helping small children or the elderly, being a peacemaker)
• Write about a time that was difficult for you.  Looking back on it now, write about why you believe God allowed this difficulty to happen in your life.

Activities

• Have a debate about question two of the discussion questions: Are doctors too likely to advise abortion in difficult pregnancies? Why or why not is this so? Do you think this can be changed, and if so, how?
• Have a debate about this question: Should homeschooled students be allowed to play on high school sports teams?  Why or why not?
• Research your real life role models.  Is their public life a reflection of their personal convictions?
• Check out the Catholic organization Missionary Youth (www.youth4missions.com)  for the possibility of participating in a mission or organize your own mission:  break into small groups, list people that you would like to invite to church for Easter Sunday and then visit them together to invite them to Mass.

Resources

• Official Heisman website: www.heisman.com
• Unofficial Tim Tebow fansite: www.timtebowfans.org
• ESPN’s Tim Tebow profile: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=183484
• UF football website: www.gatorzone.com/football
• UF’s first lady of football: http://gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070409/SUNFRONT/704090328
• Top quarterback recruit aims to stay grounded in Christ: http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=22513

Christmas is a time of miracles and a time of gifts. As we celebrate the greatest of all miracles and gifts, that of God becoming a child to save us, it can also be a time to recognize modern miracles, especially the miracle of God’s love working in people’s hearts. In this lesson we will highlight two people who have contributed to some “modern miracles.” They have allowed God’s love to inspire and strengthen their efforts to defend the precious gift of human life.

Stephanie hoffmeier: adoleScent with an attitude … for life

Two-tone hair, black T-shirt with matching fingernails, adolescent attitude … this could describe any one of a million teenagers today. Who it describes in this instance is sixteen-year-old Stephanie Hoffmeier. The student from Colonial Forge High School in Stafford, Virginia, is not just another rebellious teen, however. She wants to do something for God, by helping to overcome the injustice of abortion.

What makes Stephanie so different from other teens her age is her unstoppable conviction. Last academic year, the practicing Baptist filled out the necessary paperwork to begin the first pro-life student organization in the local public high schools. Asked why she would take on such a task, Stephanie responded,“God has laid this on my heart….[Abortion] is a really relevant issue to teenagers today.”

making Space for life, deSpite the obStacleS

The Stafford school system initially denied Stephanie’s application, noting that a pro-life club was not connected to any school “curriculum.” However, Stephanie knew that the Key Club, the Young Republicans, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and other groups were already active in her school. She felt this denial by the school board was unfair, so she did what has often been done by people who think their rights have been ignored – she sought out a lawyer.

Her attorney, David Courtman, a lawyer for the Alliance Defense Fund, determined that the best way to get the school system to take Stephanie seriously was to threaten it with a lawsuit.

The Alliance Defense Fund believed that Stephaniehad a precedent-setting case. As stated on her application, the goal of her club was “to educate people about the biggest holocaust that is going on right here in the United States. To come together and pray to end abortion. To be a voice for my generation and a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.” Stephanie explained that hers would be a “Christcentered club” whose meetings would begin with prayer and devotion. Any student would be welcome to attend.

miSunderStanding of Separation of church and State

Pro-life issues are more than just religious issues. They are human rights issues. Nevertheless, when religion enters into a decision about public schools or government institutions it often leads to a common misrepresentation of the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution prohibits Congress from establishing a national religion or showing a preference for one religion over another, but it does not restrict the rights of citizens to express their faith and values in public. On the contrary, the Constitution upholds this right. In Stephanie’s instance, her lawsuit might protect the rights of others in the future. Catholics need to be prepared to work with leaders such as Stephanie to promote the common good of society, especially in regards to the rights of the unborn.

fruitS of faith and perSeverance

Stephanie’s persistence in this endeavor can be traced back to her faith.“I prayed for a really long time for God to use me in my school,” she said. The teen did not give up, even when facing opposition, because she knew she was not doing anything wrong. She stood her ground, knowing that the law was behind her. She worked against injustice in a mature way.

Faced with Stephanie’s legal challenge, the Stafford school system recently recognized her pro-life club. Her efforts are already paying off; fellow students are joining her club. Thus, Stephanie is helping to educate students around her. She is convincing others of the truth of human life. Through her club, Stephanie is making a difference. It is her small gift to Christ.

Dr. Markus Grompe: A scientist working for life

Recently another victory for life was won. The victory confirmed the efforts of a Catholic scientist who found himself almost alone among his peers in his insistence on respect for life.

Dr. Markus Grompe is in an elite class of about thirty of the most qualified experts in the world on stem cell research. He is director of the Oregon Stem Cell Center and a member of the board of the prestigiousInternational Society for Stem Cell Research. He has been consulted by such persons as President

Bush on stem cell research.

Dr. Grompe is also a fervent Catholic. His involvement in stem cell research comes from his love of children. He is a practicing pediatrician who decided to go into biochemical genetics and stem cell biology because he saw children who were suffering from genetic diseases.

tough going

As a Catholic and as a compassionate physician, Dr. Grompe has always been convinced that scientific research should never harm any human being, including tiny embryos. He wants to find cures for children’s diseases that can be done even at the initials stages of life. But he also knows that the ends do not justify the means; you cannot harm or kill an embryo so that other children can benefit. Unfortunately, few of his colleagues agreed with him.

Dr. Grompe admits that being a pro-life stem cell scientist has been“tough going.”He explains,“There aren’t many people [pro-life stem cell scientists] out there. The way to be heard is to be successful in science. That’s the only reason I have a voice. If I had my moral convictions but didn’t do prominent research in my area, I would have no impact.”

The doctor was often amazed that such intelligent people could show such moral blindness. While continuing to work with integrity and professionalism, Dr. Grompe published papers in prestigious scientific journals advocatingrespect for the human embryo.

a breakthrough reaffirmS life

Then, in November, it was announced that two of his colleagues, Professor Shinya Yamanaka at Kyoto University in Japan and Professor James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, found an ethical way to “reprogram”adult skin cells into “pluripotent” stem cells. This meant that scientists would not have to use or kill human embryos to get pluripotent stem cells.

Pluripotent cells hold the promise of delivering cures for many diseases. Up to this point, most scientists thought that the only way to produce such cells would be by dissecting and killing human embryos. This latest development is abreakthrough for pro-life researchers and very good news.

a fruit of perSiStence

If it hadn’t been for persistent voices such as those of Dr. Grompe, this method of stem cell research would not have been so aggressively pursued as a viable alternative to cloning. In fact, it was known among the top stem cell scientists that Dr. Grompe was already pursuing “reprogramming” adult stem cells in his lab at the Oregon Stem Cell Center.

Dr. Grompe was very happy about the research breakthrough. In newspapers and scientific journals, he drew attention to the news.“I think this is really what we have been dreaming about,” he told the National Catholic Register.

Asked by Our Faith In Action if his efforts had helped other stem cell scientists think more deeply about the dignity of human life,Dr.Grompe replied,“Definitely. But I haven’t converted anyone to the Catholic faith yet. Just made themthink.”

One of the scientists who led this breakthrough, Dr. James Thomson, recently admitted he always had ethical qualms about the destruction of human embryos, even though he had been doing it in the past.“If human embryonic stem cell research does not make you at least a little bit uncomfortable,” Dr. Thomson told The New York Times after his breakthrough,“you have not thought about it enough.”

much Still to be done

There is still much to be done to build respect for the dignity of life, and Christmas can be a special time to gain strength and confidence for our efforts. Christmas reminds us that God sees each human being, no matter how weak and small, as a great gift. As we kneel to adore the Christ Child in the manger this Christmas, let us renew our promise to love him and to love all our brothers and sisters in him. He has sacrificed himself to save us and bring us love. We can do nothing less. He is here to help us.

catechism clips

2271: God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception.

2294: Science and technology by their very nature require unconditional respect for fundamental moral criteria. They must be at the service of the human person, of his inalienable rights, of his true and integral good, in conformity with the plan and the will of God.

2044: In order that the message of salvation can show the power of its truth and radiance before men, it must be authenticated by the witness of the life of Christians.

Catholic Pioneer of Genetic Research

Like most young people today we tend to live our lives on fast forward, speeding frantically through our daily routine: school, work, sports, homework, friends, family, … and faith.
…Oh yeah, … faith…
As we live our fast-paced lives there is a danger that we can put faith at the end of the list. As long as everything is speeding nicely along, it doesn’t seem to be that much of a problem. But there are moments that reveal how deep our faith is, and sometimes these can be moments that call us to true heroism. This is the story of someone who had to make a decision of faith, a decision in which faith became heroic love.

Born to Fly
Speed is second nature in the life of a combat fighter pilot. Caroline Aigle, the first woman fighter pilot in France, knew all about speed. At the age of twenty-five, she was flying one of the fastest combat fighters in the French Air Force - the Mirage 2000-5.

Born in 1974 in Montauban France, Caroline lived as a daughter of the military. As a child, she spent some years in Africa; her father was a military doctor. At the age of fourteen, she entered the French military academy at Saint-Cyr. Caroline graduated valedictorian from the foremost engineering school in France. In May of 1999, she received the coveted fighter pilot wings, becoming the first woman fighter pilot in French history. She received a promotion to the rank of Commandant. (There is no U.S. rank equivalent to Commandant. It falls between the U.S. ranks for Captain and Major.) Always an athlete, Caroline also became the French and Military champion of the triathlon.

Mission Impossible
Heroism is a trait common to all fighter pilots, and Caroline was no exception. Uncommon however, was the opportunity that God provided for her to be a heroine – and it was not as a prisoner of war or because she received a commendation for being wounded in battle. Nothing, in fact, including her outstanding military education, had foreshadowed the plan that God had for her. In July of this year, Caroline was diagnosed with an advanced case of melanoma, a type of skin cancer. She was thirty-two years old. She was also five and a half months pregnant.

Caroline and her husband, Christophe Deketelaere — a fighter pilot himself — already had one healthy young son named Marc. At the time of her diagnosis, Caroline was encouraged to abort her baby so she could receive treatment for the cancer. With the support of her husband, she chose to postpone the treatment and carry her baby for as long as she could. According to her husband, Caroline wanted her baby to have “the maximum chance” for survival.

Believing in Love
Caroline’s son, Gabriel, was born three and a half months premature by cesarean section at the beginning of August. His birth came less than three weeks before her death. Caroline saw her son several times and was even able to hold him before she died. Gabriel’s prognosis is good; he should live a full life. In the most heroic of acts, Caroline secured the future of her son by placing his needs before her own.
The story of Caroline reminds us all how quickly the things of this world can change. The time from her diagnosis to her death was just over a month. She did not have the luxury of time to ponder her decision. Like a reflection of her fast flying days, the choice Caroline was forced to make needed to be done quickly. We can see by the outcome of this situation the strength of the woman that was Caroline. She believed in love; she hoped for her sons’ future; and she was heroically generous in thinking of the needs of another before herself.

Women as a Witness of love
There is something incredible about a woman’s love, a mother’s love. It’s a miracle that perhaps we become so accustomed to that it takes someone like Caroline to help us step back and appreciate the strength and totality of this kind of love. Here was a woman who seemed to have it all, and yet so gladly sacrificed everything for that little child. Her love gave him a chance, a chance to live, a chance to maybe experience some of the beautiful things Caroline had experienced.

Pope John Paul II talked often about the dignity of women. It was a theme very close to his heart. He reminded us that a woman’s dignity, her greatness, is shown especially by her capacity to love and to draw out love in others. A woman’s heart naturally makes room for others. A woman’s heart is a special sign of the love of God. It is also a reminder that we as human beings find our deepest fulfillment in love, in being loved, and in turn becoming a gift of love. Even though Caroline had reached so many exciting goals in life, she showed us that what is most fulfilling is love, even when it means total self-giving, or perhaps especially then. When Caroline held her little child in her arms she knew that the sacrifice of love was well worth it. Her heart had made room for another, even though it meant leaving the world herself.

Learning to Open Out to Others
Our Christian faith teaches us to love with generosity. Caroline Aigle was a Catholic. The priest who celebrated her funeral was the same priest who had celebrated the wedding Mass for her and her husband, Christophe, a few years earlier. He recalled that when Caroline and Christophe sought him out for marriage preparation, they asked him for a book that spoke not about the love of one for the other, “but rather about the love that opens us to love others.”

Beyond Security
Caroline Aigle chose love for an unborn child rather than choosing security for herself. As a woman, she answered the call of Christ who tells us: “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). We are also called to be this example of love in our every day lives. Our circumstances may not be as dire as those faced by Caroline and other women like her, but each day we have an opportunity to choose love of neighbor over ourselves – in the cafeteria when someone pushes past us in line, after dinner when our mother demands we finish our chores before calling our friends, perhaps with our little brother when he scribbles crayon all over our English paper. These may seem like small choices, but it is the small choices that get us ready for the more heroic ones. A hero is made in the day-to-day choices of love and generosity.
Another outstanding trait seen in Caroline’s choice is the hope she showed for her son’s future. Even in the most bleak of situations, the hope that this mother had for her child can be seen in the fact that she wanted him to have “the maximum chance” for survival.

Tough Questions
How is it that this child could survive while his mother did not? This is a hard question. Sometimes when pain enters our lives we are faced with a mystery we cannot quite comprehend. The deepest answer is trust. Hope also means trust. It means trust that the Father still loves us in spite of the pain. It means trusting that God can bring something very beautiful from the pain. Trust that, like Christ, the road to giving life also passes through the cross. Yes, love also means cross and sacrifice, but at the same time it means life. We must believe in the ability of God to bring good from all things, to bring life from the cross. Caroline’s example showed the power of hope. She believed in God’s power to bring good even from suffering and death.

Finding the Inner Strength
We naturally admire someone like Caroline, and wonder if we would have her strength faced with the tremendous decision she had to make. One of the best ways to learn to become a person like her, who can make the heroic choice when needed, is to learn to pray. Prayer is speaking with God. In a conversation, one talks and the other listens. Prayer is not just us talking to God – telling him what we want and how we want it. Prayer is also listening and learning more about the plan that God has for us. When we pray God does not magically spell out his plan for us but in prayer we learn to trust. We learn to see his providence. In prayer we learn that we are deeply loved by God, even when he allows the cross in our lives. And if we learn in prayer that we are loved, we will also feel the desire to let others know God’s love, the desire to become givers, not just takers, givers like Caroline. We must set aside time each day to talk and listen to God.

A Call to True Greatness
Many times, people today do not see the real importance of how faith fits into their busy lifestyle. Becoming people of faith will help us reach true greatness and true fulfillment. Love, hope, generosity, and prayer will help us to grow into people who will be able to make the heroic choices when we have the chance. We will become more like Caroline if we face even our toughest decisions thinking of others and not only ourselves.