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When the news broke last month that the captain of an American cargo ship had been captured by pirates, it is likely that many people didn’t realize how dangerous and terrifying that really was.

Johnny Depp as Capt. Jack Sparrow. CNS photo from Walt Disney.

Arrr… Danger ahoy!

From Peter Pan to the Pirates of the Caribbean, everyone loves a good pirate story. But real pirates aren’t silly swashbucklers like the romanticized treasure hunters we know from movies and books.

On Wednesday, April 8, 2009, four ordinary-looking Somali fisherman, all less than 20 years old, used grappling hooks and rope ladders to board the merchant vessel ship Maersk Alabama. Armed with AK-47 assault rifles, they were seeking to take control of the ship and its crew at gunpoint.

Some armed Somali pirates. US Navy photo - Public Domain.

The ship was off the coast of Somalia, carrying medical supplies and food destined for refugee camps. Some of these things belonged to Catholic Relief Services.

Violence breeds violence

Somalia is probably best remembered from the movie Black Hawk Down. Recently, however, this north-east African country has been in the news for many of these types of pirate attacks.

Years of civil war and unrest have left the country very poor, and so many people there turn to violent means of providing for themselves and their families.

A Map of Somalia

Somalia has hundreds of miles of coastline along very busy shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean. Ships here are an easy target for these pirates. Sometimes the pirates are interested in stealing the cargo on the ships. However, most of the time they are looking to get ransom money.

Walking the plank

When they learned that there were pirates on board, the crew went below deck and locked themselves in safe rooms. They had managed to capture one pirate. Only the captain and one other crew member stayed on deck to negotiate with the pirates. What happened next is what makes this particular story very different from the other cases of piracy in the news lately.

The captain of this ship, Captain Richard Phillips, was so concerned about the safety of his crew that he did something unthinkable… He asked the pirates to take him as their prisoner, and in return let his crew take the ship and go free. Once the ship and crew were at a safe distance, they would exchange Captain Phillips for the captured pirate.

The lifeboat on a crane. US Navy photo, Public Domain.

Tide turns against him

The three armed pirates liked the idea. Capt. Phillips led them to one of the ships small lifeboats, climbed in it, and had it lowered into the water. Captain Phillips was in close quarters with the men who could easily have killed him at any moment. He showed them how to operate the boat. And then the plan went horribly wrong.

The crew of the Alabama, as they had agreed, brought out the injured pirate for the trade. But now that the pirates had their friend, they didn’t release their prisoner. They kept Capt. Phillips as a hostage, and were holding him for ransom.

For five days these bandits held him under constant guard. There was water and food, but there were no bathrooms or showers. It was unbearably hot in the enclosed lifeboat; so much so that Capt. Phillips said he dreaded the sun coming up in the morning. The captain and his captors sat, waiting. The pirates weren’t sleeping and were becoming agitated.

Real Navy aerial surveillance photo. US Navy photo, Public Domain.

At one point, Capt. Phillips even tried to escape. He pushed one of the pirates guarding him overboard, and dove in the water and swam away. He swam towards a US Navy ship, the USS Bainbridge, that was following them. But it was nearly a half mile away. Before long, he was caught again; only now the pirates were very angry with him.

Real Navy aerial surveillance photo. USS Bainbridge keeps watch (above) over Capt. Phillips in the lifeboat (below). Public Domain.

Is Davey Jones comin’?

By this point, the outcome didn’t look too bright for Captain Phillips. “It was just settling everything. Getting ready to die and just settling everything. You know, saying my last thoughts. Andrea, the kids.” He no longer believed he would leave that boat alive. He wondered why the pirates were dragging things out when he was certain they would kill him in the end anyway.

He had known when he went with them that there was a chance he would die. But he had been willing to take that chance freely, to spare his crew. Now, faced with what seemed certain death, he was at peace with his decision.

Mrs. Phillips tries to stay strong as she holds a picture of her husband. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

Watching and waiting

Thousands of miles away, in a tiny town in Vermont, the Phillips family was experiencing the turmoil of wondering what was happening to their husband and father. “We did not know what Richard was enduring while being held hostage on the lifeboat, and that was really the hardest part… the wondering,” said Mrs. Andrea Phillips.

Fr. Danielson interviewed at St. Thomas Church. (Photo: Daria Bishop - dariabishop.com)

Mariah, the captain’s 19 year old daughter, expressed the shock of learning that this had actually happened to her family: “This is something that happens to other people. Obviously, I am other people.”

They received visits from Fr. Danielson, their parish priest, who prayed with them and told them not to lose hope.

Captain Phillips was unaware that there were other forces at work in his story. There was prayer power gathering and there was planning by the US Navy.

Living the mystery

Jim Caviezel as Jesus in the movie The Passion of the Christ. (CNS Photo)

These events came about at a very appropriate time of year. The day Capt. Phillips was captured was the Wednesday of Holy Week. The time he made his escape attempt was probably around the time we remember Jesus’ agony in the garden.

On Easter Sunday morning, Fr. Danielson told the Phillips’ friends and neighbors that they should pray more intensely for Capt. Phillips. Father said he believed Capt. Phillips’ story would serve as an example; just like Christ Jesus’ suffering led to His Resurrection, once again God and His goodness would triumph over evil in the end.

Members of USS Bainbridge's Visit, Board, Search and Seizure team. (US Navy Photo: Public Domain)

A Storm breaks loose

Later in the evening on Easter Sunday, things became extremely tense on the little life boat. One of the pirates had gone aboard the USS Bainbridge for medical treatment, and to try and arrange the ransom payment. When the other three pirates hadn’t heard from him in a while, they got restless.

They climbed out of the hatch of the life boat in plain view, and began firing warning shots in the air. The Bainbridge and the lifeboat were both moving, and the waves were bouncing them up and down in the darkness.

2 US Navy SEAL's. (US Navy photo, Public Domain)

Capt. Phillips had no idea what was going on. As he heard the shots, he dove to the deck and got as low as he could. He thought perhaps the pirates were fighting against each other. Or perhaps they were getting ready to kill him.

Salvation is from the SEAL’s

US Navy SEAL snipers took advantage of the opportunity, firing one perfect shot at each pirate. After what felt like a long time, but was only a few seconds later, Capt. Phillips heard the beautiful sound of a US Navy SEAL’s voice, asking him if he was alright. He was saved.

Daniel, Mariah and Andrea Phillips smile with joy and relief as they relay the good news at a press conference. (AP Photo, Toby Talbot)

Capt. Phillips hugs and kisses his wife Andrea after being reunited with her at the airport. CNS photo/Herb Swanson, Reuters.

“Hi, Honey…”

A short time later, back at home, Mrs. Phillips, their daughter Mariah, their son Daniel, and their whole family were relieved and elated to hear Captain Phillips himself, on the phone, telling them he was safe.

Mariah said, “You never know how strong your family can be when something like this happens.”

In a statement about how they survived the emotional torture of the five day ordeal, Mrs. Phillips said, “My family and closest friends held onto our faith knowing that Richard would come home.”

Capt. Phillips made the cover of People magazine.

The town made a welcome home sign. (Photo by Daria Bishop - dariabishop.com)

“I need a hero…”

What makes Captain Phillips a hero? Is it in conquering or strength? No. Like Jesus, his willingness to surrenderhimself as a prisoner, to suffer, and accept even death is where we find his true heroism.

Captain Richard Phillips is an example of love and respect for life. The lives of his shipmates meant so much to him, that he would offer up his own to save them. This is the ultimate sign of love and sacrifice. Whether he realized it at the time or not, Capt. Phillips was imitating Jesus Christ, at the very time when Jesus made the sacrifice that saves us all. He willingly offered himself to save others. He spent a few days in a little “tomb-like” capsule, and on Easter Sunday he got to taste a little bit of Jesus’ Easter victory.

Capt. Phillips is welcomed home by his wife Andrea, daughter Mariah, son Daniel, and mother Ginny. (CNS photo/Herb Swanson, Reuters.)

Just doing his job

Captain Phillips does not consider himself a hero. For him, what he did was just part of his job. He had accepted the job as a captain, and that meant putting the safety of his crew above his own. Yet there is something we admire about this attitude. When we see his example, we know we have met a real man, a man who puts others first.

True manhood is about service and sacrifice. These are qualities we also admire in so many women, especially our own moms (Happy Mother’s Day to all our moms!), but there is something we typically think of as particularly masculine about the willingness to face danger and take a huge risk for others. Men were designed by God to be protectors. They are called to protect their family and protect their communities. They are designed by God to overcome the fear of danger, because sometimes real life is dangerous. Sometimes risk is necessary for really important things.

Daniel Phillips follows as Mariah Phillips holds tightly to her father. (AP Photo/The Burlington Free Press, Alison Redlich)

Imitating Christ

Jesus Christ was a real man. He overcame his fear of danger. He put our safety above his own. Christ, by his life and death, helps men discover what it means to be a man. Let’s ask Christ to raise up more real men today.

For those of us who are guys, we can make a resolution to learn to love others so much that we are willing to sacrifice for them.

For girls, let’s start thanking some of the real men in our lives for what they do for us, starting with our own dads, or those other men who help keep us safe. And let’s show the guys that we also know how to sacrifice with courage, putting our hearts and lives at the service of goodness and love. The world will be a better, safer place.

Christ wants us to help him do this. It’s part of the call to love that he makes to each of us.

Bible Blurbs

“I am the good shepherd… and I will lay down my life for the sheep… No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.”
John 10:14,15, & 18

Jesus answered, “…if you are looking for me, let these men go.”
John 18:8

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 16:25

Catechism Clips

618: …He calls his disciples to “take up [their] cross and follow (him)”, for “Christ also suffered for (us), leaving (us) an example so that (we) should follow in his steps…”

616: It is love “to the end” that confers on Christ’s sacrifice its value… He knew and loved us all when he offered his life…

609: …Indeed, out of love for his Father and for men, whom the Father wants to save, Jesus freely accepted his Passion and death…

610: Jesus gave the supreme expression of his free offering of himself… [when he] transformed this Last Supper… into the memorial of his voluntary offering to the Father…

Pope Quotes

Every witness of faith lives this “greater love” and, after the example of the Divine Teacher, is ready to sacrifice his life for the Kingdom.
Pope Benedict XVI, April 7, 2008, St. Bartholomew’s, Rome

“Only the commandment of love, a love that becomes a total gift of life, is the secret of the Resurrection. “
Pope John Paul II, February 6, 1997

“No one can take [Jesus’] life from him: he lays it down by his own free decision… He gives his life and he takes it [up] again in the resurrection, so as to be able to share it for ever. “
Pope Benedict XVI, Holy Thursday, April 9, 2009

Saints and Heroes

willing to lose her head for her people…

Esther, Queen of Persia

(Lived and died around 500-450 BC)

The Jewish people had been captured and brought to Babylon as slaves. The Persians conquered Babylon and freed the Jews, but the Jews were still not treated as equals.

Xerxes. the Persian king, was a fierce man and demanded complete respect from all of his subjects, even his wife. The Persian people also had very strict laws about women’s roles in society which were very oppressive. In fact, Xerxes banished his own wife for not allowing him to use her and show her off like a trophy.

He demanded that all the most beautiful women in his kingdom be brought to him. If he liked one of them, he would make her his new queen.

Hadassah was brought to the king because she was beautiful. She told no one of her Jewish heritage, and changed her name to Esther, the Persian word for star. The king instantly fell in love with Esther because she was not only beautiful, but also intelligent and brave. He made her his new queen.

Not long after, Esther’s uncle Mordecai heard that someone was plotting to kill the king. He sent word to Esther to warn the king. The king made a record that Mordecai should be rewarded one day.

At this same time, one of the Persian princes who hated the Jews was gaining favor with Xerxes. His name was Haman. Xerxes liked Haman so much, he gave him complete rule to do whatever he wanted in the kingdom. Haman decided to plot with his friends and use this new authority to exterminate all the Jews in Babylon, and all of Persia.

Esther and her people were terrified. She wanted to ask the king for help. But she knew that because of the laws restricting women in this place and time, if she went to the king without being invited, she could be killed for disrespect.

The Jewish people all fasted and prayed. Three days later, even with the possibility of being executed, Esther went before the king. Xerxes was so happy to see her that he welcomed her instead of having her beheaded. She asked if she could prepare two banquets for the king and his friend Haman. The king accepted.

At the second banquet, Esther bravely spoke out of turn, announcing that she was a Jew, as was Mordecai, the man who saved the king. She also told Xerxes of Haman’s plan to execute them along with all of her people. Xerxes was outraged that Haman would plot against the queen and her uncle. He ordered Haman to be hanged on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.

Esther offered herself, her own life, to save her people out of love for them and love for God and his covenant with them. She is remembered by the Jewish people, as well as Catholics as a great heroine of the Old Testament.

(See the Bible for the Book of Esther. The picture is Tiffany Dumont playing Esther in the movie: “One Night with the King”)

The first saint with his own radio station

St. Maximillian Kolbe

(entered Heaven August 14,1941)

Baptized Raymond Kolbe in 1894, he was the second son of a very poor family.

In 1907, both Raymond and his brother entered studies at the Franciscan Junior Seminary. Here he would be taught and also have the possibility of becoming a priest. As he studied his professors found that he had a tremendous ability in science, military history, and strategy. He thought about leaving the seminary to join the army to fight for his country.

While Raymond knew how much his earthly mother wanted him to be a priest, he also realized he had a special call from his Heavenly mother to fight for her, and for her Son. So he decided to stay in the seminary and join the Franciscan Order. When he took his habit (the robe Franciscan Friars wear is called a habit) he also took a new name: Maximillian.

He always had an intense devotion to Mary, especially devoted to her under the name “The Immaculate”. He founded some of the largest friaries and seminaries in the world, both in Poland, and Japan. He published a magazine called “Knight of the Immaculate,” devoted to teaching people about truth and faith. He publicly denounced groups and societies that were attacking the beliefs of the Church. He founded radio stations dedicated to spreading the Gospel through words and music.

Even though he was still young his health failed; but he persisted in his rigorous work for the Church.

When the Nazis began to invade Poland, he spoke out against them, encouraging his readers and listeners to hold on to the truth. He helped Jewish refugees and others displaced by Nazi cruelty. Because of this, he was arrested and sent to a concentration camp.

While a prisoner, he was a shining light of hope in an otherwise dismal place. Every one who saw him in the prison camps was impressed by him, and he heard confessions and gave sacraments secretly.

This made his captors even more violent towards him, and they eventually moved him to one of the most infamous death camps: Auschwitz, Poland. Because of his faith, peace, love, and positive effect on the other prisoners, he was treated most harshly there.

Then one day three prisoners escaped. In retaliation, the Nazi commander decided that ten men would be starved to death. One of the men picked had a wife and family. Fr. Kolbe told the commander that he would go to the starvation bunker in this man’s place. The guards and commanders all hated Fr. Kolbe, so they were happy to make the switch to get rid of him.

From the bunker, the sounds of hymns being sung and the rosary being prayed were heard. After two weeks, Fr Kolbe was the only one left alive, so one of the criminal henchmen injected him with poison.

After his death, word of his herosim spread all over. He gave hope to a nation under siege and oppression.

(source: www.ewtn.org/saintsholy. The photo is L. Difilipis as St. Kolbe in the play: “Maximillian, Saint of Auschwitz”))

Study Guide

CNS photo/Disney)

Virtuous Verbiage Verification:

Holy Week – the week right before Easter, when we celebrate the time that Jesus gave us the Eucharist at the Last Supper, was betrayed, gave himself over to death, and brought the just souls waiting for Heaven into God’s presence.
Peace – a fruit of of the Holy Spirit. Inner peace is a calmness of soul and reliance on God. External or worldly peace, is both the absence of war or unrest AND the active pursuit of justice and charity for all.
Piracy – traditionally, hijacking a ship in the open sea by force, and stealing it or the goods on board. Often the passengers of the ship are harmed or killed. Piracy has always been considered one of the worst forms of robbery.
Ransom – the price paid to ensure someone’s life or safety.
Sacrifice – offering something one owns or holds dear to give honor to someone else, or for the good of someone else.
SEALs – stands for SEa Air Land… a group in the US Navy specializing in secret or dangerous operations. They have become well known for their rigorous training, near-perfect execution, and daring rescue mission.
Surrender – to give oneself freely and without a fight.

Discussion questions:

1. Do you think what Captain Phillips did was extraordinary? Is it something many people would have done? What might you have done differently?
2. Often times in today’s world we see leaders, in governments, companies, etc…, who are selfish and use their position for their own gain. Can you find any examples of this? How do you think these individuals might have done better if they acted like Capt. Phillips? Do you think Capt. Phillips’ example can help to change the hearts of leaders around the world?
3. The news media chooses to focus on Capt. Phillips’ courage rather than his self-sacrifice. Why is that? Does our society like to talk about sacrifice? Is it a popular idea? Do you think people in our society avoid sacrifice? Why? Why would people focus on one aspect, his bravery, but want to leave out focusing on his willingness to give of himself?

US Navy photo - Public Domain

Journal Writing:

Imagine there are pirates or kidnappers looking to capture you. Someone you know offers themselves to the kidnappers in your place. Write about what might be going through your mind at this time. What do you feel? What do you think about this person? How might this change you? Would you act any differently, or treat people any differently, now that you have been treated with such amazing love?

Debate:

Divide in two teams. One team argue that to be a real “man” Capt. Phillips should have attacked the pirates and started a brawl. The other team argue that what he did, peacefully surrendering himself, actually took more strength and courage. Email us at info@ourfaithinaction.net and tell us who wins and what their arguments were.

Activity:

Write a letter to someone who you feel has laid down their life for you or made sacrifices for you, especially someone like a father or grandfather. If you like, email it to info@ourfaithinaction.net and we may publish it on our website!

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.

Bible Blurbs

“I was on guard against sin. So the LORD rewarded my righteousness, the cleanness of my hands in his sight.” Psalm 18:24-25

“Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8

“A clean heart create for me, God; renew in me a steadfast spirit… Restore my joy in your salvation…   I will teach the wicked your ways, that sinners may return to you. Psalm 51:12,14-15

“The LORD loves the pure of heart…” Proverbs 22:11

Catechism Clips

2533: Purity of heart requires the modesty which is patience, decency, and discretion. Modesty protects the intimate center of the person.

2347: The virtue of chastity blossoms in friendship. Chastity is expressed notably in friendship with one’s neighbor… friendship represents a great good for all. It leads to spiritual communion.

2532: Purification of the heart demands prayer, the practice of chastity, purity of intention and of vision.

2395: Chastity means the integration of sexuality within the person. It includes an apprenticeship in self-mastery.

Pope Quotes

“Love is possible…; trust in a love that is true, faithful and strong; a love that generates peace and joy; a love that binds people together and allows them to feel free in respect for one another.”

“My dear young friends, I want to invite you to “dare to love”. Do not desire anything less for your life than a love that is strong and beautiful and that is capable of making the whole of your existence a joyful undertaking…”

“…God has a project of love for your future as a couple and as a family… The love of a man and woman is at the origin of the human family and the couple formed by a man and a woman has its foundation in God’s original plan.”

“Learning to love each other as a couple is a wonderful journey, yet it requires a demanding “apprenticeship”… It allows you to mature in love, in concern and in attention for each other; it helps you to practice self-control and to develop your respect for each other.”

Pope Benedict XVI, WYD 2007

Saints & Heroes

It takes a saintly family to raise a saint…

Blessed Louis Martin (1823-1894) & Blessed Zelie Guerin (1831-1877)
Louis Martin was born in Bordeaux, France on August 22, 1823. Everyone expected that after school he would have a a military career like his father. Louis wished to become a priest, instead. However, since he had trouble learning Latin, he determined perhaps God did not want him to be a priest after all. He went back home and became a watchmaker. He opened his own watch and jewelry store and was successful. Zelie Guerin was born at Gandelain, France, on December 23, 1831. Zelie received a very good education and training that made her a very skillful lacemaker. She attempted to enter the convent, but as she spoke with the nun in charge they concluded that it was not what God wanted for her. Zelie started her own lacemaking business, and she was very successful, too. Both Zelie and Martin each had good businesses and lived a comfortable life, making good money. But they still felt hungry inside for something more. They wanted to feel like they had found God’s plan for their lives. Until one day when they happened to pass each other on a bridge in town. As Zelie crossed, she passed a young man with a strong face, who carried himself with confidence and dignity. She felt like she heard a little voice in her heart say, “This is the one I have prepared for you.” Soon after, she found out who he was, and the two were introduced. The two young people quickly got to know each other. The common faith, values, and spirituality they shared allowed them to fall in love quickly. While many of their friends were marrying for social position, Louis and Zelie saw their marriage as a response to God’s will. Shortly after they got married, they took in a five-year-old boy whose mom had died and left his father with 11 children. They had thought they would live their lives like Mary and Joseph, being married but remaining virgins as a sacrifice to God. But now they learned how much joy they found in caring for this little boy. A priest friend talked to them about how married people can also practice chastity, by loving and being faithful to each other. They decided they would show their love for each other and for God by having as many children as they were able to care for. In the next several years, Zelie would give birth to 9 children. They wanted to have a boy so that he could become a priest. Sadly, 4 of their babies died as infants. But they never despaired, and were joyful and grateful to God for their 5 living daughters. Tragically, when their youngest daughter was only 4 & 1/2, Zelie died of breast cancer. Mr. and Mrs. Martin passed on to their children their deep love for God. They taught them a simple way of prayer and offering your whole life to God. As a result, all 5 daughters decided to become nuns. One by one, Louis gave his daughters to God. The youngest, named Therese, not only became a nun, but a saint; St. Therese of Lisieux! After Therese entered the convent, Louis became very sick, and eventually was paralyzed. He offered his sufferings to God and inspired everyone around him. Just this past year, Pope Benedict XVI studied evidence that a boy was cured by praying for the Martin’s intercession, and declared them Blessed. They are only the second married couple to receive this honor together. Soon, they will hopefully be made full-fledged saints! Their feast day is July 12.

Virtuous Verbiage Verification

Abstain – to deliberately keep from doing something or consuming something as a means of self-denial Chastity – a gift of the Holy Spirit, having control over your thoughts and actions, keeping your actions and intentions pure. Commitment – an agreement or pledge to do something. Purity – state of being free from any stain or sin; being as God made us to be. Purity of morals commonly refers to the virtue of chastity and therefore freedom from any wrongdoing in sexual activity. Respect – high regard, esteem, honor; to treat with special dignity Virginity – having had no sexual relations. Witness – one who gives evidence or testimony; one who offers their own story as proof.

Discussion questions:

1. If the Jonas brothers went to your school, how would they be treated? Would they be accepted for their values, or put down? What if they weren’t so famous or talented – Would people be less tolerant of their values if they were just “ordinary” guys?
2. Look at the Bible Blurb on page 4. It is one of the Beatitudes. Beatitude means complete happiness. Do you think following this Beatitude makes the Jonas Brothers more happy, or less happy? Are they closer to real happiness than their peers who don’t live these values?
3. What does the Church or the Pope think about falling in love? Is it OK for a Catholic to get romantically involved with someone? Does the Church think marriage is only for making babies and not about love?

Journal Writing

1. Imagine you have a friend who is struggling to keep his/her values. Maybe people at school, or a boyfriend/girlfriend are pressuring this friend to do something that is wrong. Write a letter explaining what you just learned about chastity, and living a life of values and purity, and how the Jonas brothers are an example of how to do it.
2. Write about a time when a friend or sibling or a groups of friends helped you stand up for what’s right or avoid a bad situation. How did it feel to have their support? Was it easier? How did you feel about yourself after? How did you feel about them?

A little while back, there was some controversy about Joe Jonas’ break up with Taylor Swift. Split into 2 teams. One team, present the case that Joe is immature and mean for breaking up with Taylor on the phone. The other side, argue that Joe wasn’t mean, that there is another side to the story, and that Taylor Swift was taking things too seriously. But remember, it is a debate… so you still have to be nice!

Activities:

1. Come up with a list of other celebrities you know who live these values; especially ones who also do something like wearing a purity ring.
2. Make a playlist of songs that you think are good, and are by musicians who live a life of good moral values. Write letters or emails to some or all of the artists or their record companies expressing your support for their lifestyle.

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:

“Kurt [Warner] (the Arizona Cardinals quarterback) has a platform to share just like every athlete and he is using it.” Daniel Sepulveda, one of Troy’s teammates added, “Every time I hear Kurt Warner talking about his faith… it inspires me to hear guys like that who are willing to share… He’s not on my team here, but we’re on the same team all the time.”

Like Polamalu, Kurt Warner seeks to live his life as an example of his Christian faith.  Warner had also been to the Super Bowl before this one. He led the St. Louis Rams in two Super Bowl games, winning one of them.  Kurt knows the pressure that comes with that kind of spotlight, especially as a starting quarterback.  Unlike Polamalu, however, Warner knows that life in the NFL can be pretty hard if you don’t win.

Some people are calling Warner’s 2009 return to the Super bowl with the Arizona Cardinals a “comeback”.  Kurt identifies the time between his glory days with the Rams and his 2005 arrival in Arizona as a dark time that led him to seek God.  Perhaps, instead of a comeback, this Super bowl visit was a reward for his fidelity.

Adversity has not been a stranger to Kurt. Warner began his career as a free agent, and had to prove himself in Arena football and European leagues before catching his first big break and becoming a Super bowl champion.

In his personal life, Kurt had to work hard to prove himself to his wife when he first met her, as well.  She had two children from a previous marriage, one of them  a son with special needs.  She tried to discourage his interest in her, but Kurt wouldn’t go away.

Today Kurt and his wife, Brenda, have seven children; he legally adopted the two she already had, and they have had five more together.  Their family also struggled when Brenda’s parents, who had retired and just moved to Arkansas, were both tragically killed in a tornado.  All of these events reminded Kurt that God is truly most important in life.

“If you ever really want to do a story about who I am, God’s got to be at the center of it. Every time I hear a piece or read a story that doesn’t have that, they’re missing the whole lesson of who I am.”  Kurt has told the Arizona Republic how much it pains him when reporters don’t take his faith seriously.

He explains that he feels responsible because of the “platform that football has given him”, to share the truth of his faith with others.  He doesn’t want to be “in your face” about it. It is just a very real part of who he is as a person.  It has helped him handle adversity, and it has helped him to handle success as well.

Before the 2009 Super Bowl began Kurt was given a special honor, the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. This award is given to a player who gives selflessly to his community. Kurt and Brenda have given more than $1.5 million and countless hours of their time to charities like Make a Wish, Habbitat for Humanity, the Special Olympics, and medical mercy missions with the US Armed Forces. Kurt responded,  “I am humbled the Lord has given me such an amazing life to impact others. Of all the awards given to NFL athletes, the Walter Payton Man of the Year is the one that stands out above the rest to me because of what it represents. When people look back at my career I want them to see a fierce competitor, but more importantly, I want to be remembered for my consistency of character and the legacy I hope to leave…”

Although Arizona didn’t win the Super Bowl, Kurt played a great game. He had the second highest passing yardage in Super Bowl history (Kurt also holds 1st and 3rd place in this category), and he broke the record for lifetime Super Bowl passing yards. Warner led his team in a fourth quarter comeback against the Steelers’ #1 rated defense, and nearly won the game if not for an amazing Pittsburgh drive in the final minutes. Kurt said he was proud of his teammates and all they had accomplished.

Fame, success, and football aren’t the driving forces in these two athletes’ lives.  Troy Polamalu and Kurt Warner use their fame, success, and football, as instruments to glorify what they know is the most important thing in life: living a Christian witness, both to the world of football and beyond.  They try to become men of character through football and their love of God, both on and off the field.

The Super Bowl is always the biggest game in football, but there is a bigger game. It’s the the game of becoming real men and women.  Examples like Troy and Kurt help us to examine our own lives nad ask ourselves, are we winning the game about the most important things in life?

Bible Blurbs

“Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy.”
Hebrews 10:23

“Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope…”
Romans 5:3-4

“…until we all attain to …mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ…”
Ephesians 4:13

“So they called Rebekah and asked her, ‘Do you wish to go with this man?’ She answered, ‘I do.’ … Then Isaac took Rebekah into his tent; he married her, and thus she became his wife. In his love for Rebekah Isaac found solace after the death of his mother Sarah.”
Genesis 24:58, 67

Look it up HERE: www.usccb.org/nab/bible

Catechism Clips

1656: In our own time, in a world often alien and even hostile to faith, believing families are of primary importance as centers of living, radiant faith….

1880:  By means of society, each man… receives certain “talents” that enrich his identity and whose fruits he must develop…

1937: … [God] wills that each receive what he needs from others, and that those endowed with particular “talents” share the benefits with those who need them.

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. ..

Look it up HERE: http://www.usccb.org/catechism

Pope Quotes

“…when sport is practiced in the right spirit, and with respect for dignity, it helps to promote the development of the person…
…Sport helps man to consider his own capacities as a talent and his life as a gift of God…
…Even when sport is practiced at high levels, it is important to maintain an inner harmony between body and spirit in order not to reduce it to a mere search for results…
… [these virtues] must always characterize sporting activity: tenacity, a spirit of sacrifice, interior and exterior discipline…
…as well as a sense of justice, awareness of ones own limits and a respect for others. All virtues for which you must train yourselves in daily life…
…In a period marked by a loss of values and a lack of orientation, athletes can provide powerful motivations to work in favor of good in the various areas of life, from the family to the workplace…”

Pope Benedict XVI
October 6, 2007
Message to the Austrian Alpine Ski Team

Saints and Heroes:

Princess with a heart of Gold:

St. Elizabeth of Hungary (entered heaven in 1231 AD, her feast day is November 17)
As an infant, Elizabeth was promised to marry Count Ludwig of Thuringia (Central Germany), and she was sent to live in his father’s castle when she was four years old and he was ten.  As they grew up together, Ludwig fell more and more in love with her and they got married when he turned 21.

She was strikingly beautiful, with the kind of looks that really stood out in a crowd.  She was also extremely kind and generous. Her husband (the Count) was also very handsome, as well as patient and honest. Everyone loved him, subjects and nobles included.

After they were married Elizabeth passionately served the poor and sick. She fed at least 900 hungry poor people at her own castle every day, and had a hospital built at the foot of their castle-mountain where she would personally go and care for the sick and dying. Ludwig, unlike many other nobleman of that time, never tried to stop or discourage his wife from giving away his money.  He was confident that her virtue would bring God’s blessings upon his family and his people, and they grew closer as their marriage matured.  It seemed they had the perfect marriage.

But when Elizabeth was expecting their third child, Ludwig heard the Pope was sending the Emperor Frederick II on a crusade to the Holy Land. Ludwig joined the crusade and while he was away he died of the plague.  When Elizabeth heard the news she sobbed, “The world is dead to me, and all that was joyous in the world.” She was so devastated that she would run around the castle screaming and crying with grief.  Her in-laws could not deal with her in her grief-stricken state, so they cruelly kicked her out of the castle.

Elizabeth left her children at a relative’s house, joined an  order of Franciscans, and spent the remainder of her life in the full time service of Christ in his poor.  St. Elizabeth never thought of God’s gifts of royalty and wealth as something for herself, but rather as an opportunity for her to be more like Christ. Many other nobleman offered to marry her, but she refused.  She worked so hard for the sick and the poor that she wore herself out and died before turning 24. Immediately, people in her native Hungary began venerating her as a saint.

(source: www.catholic.net/saints)

in Faith & fortitude, he faced a firing squad, and lived…

St. Sebastion (entered heaven in 283 AD, his feast day is January 20)
We don’t really know how many thousands of Christians were put to death simply for believing in Jesus in the first few centuries after his resurrection. Sebastian was one of them. He was born into a noble family from Milan, Italy, and that is where he grew up.

Though he didn’t really like the idea of being in the Roman Army, he knew his physical abilities would enable him to have success as soldier, and that would help him conceal his identity as a Christian.  He was such a great soldier and had such success that he was selected to a very special military position: the emperors own guards.

He had a great amount of passion and burning love for Jesus. That was so obvious to everyone who heard him speak of his faith, and so he led many, many people to become Christians, including many Roman officials and nobles. He often encouraged condemned Christians not to give up their faith and to embrace the martyr’s death with grace. He sometimes healed people’s diseases as a sign of encouragement for them to accept the faith.

When it was finally discovered that Sebastian was a Christian, the emperor ordered that he be tied to a post and shot with arrows. But the story goes that when St. Irene came to bury him, he was still alive. As soon as he was healthy, he put on his uniform and went back to guarding the emperor. But the next time Sebastian saw him, he tried to convince the emperor to become Christian, too. This time the emperor had him beaten to death.

St. Sebastian was like a team captain for the early Catholics, because his strong speeches and coaching helped rally them around their faith. Career and ambition never mattered as much to to him as his his faith. He is the patron saint of athletes, soldiers, and archery.

(source: http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/)

Discussion questions:

Journal Writing

Debate

Some people say public figures like pro athletes should keep their beliefs to themselves and not push them on others. Split into two teams. One team, argues that Troy and Kurt should keep their beliefs to themselves and not push their ideas on others. The other team argues that Kurt and Troy have a right to free speech, and freedom of religion, and are doing a good thing by publicly professing their faith.

Activities:

1. Recently, Troy has become friends with a 12 year old girl named Heather who is very sick with Cancer. When he visits her, he never talks about himself or football, he just plays games with her and listens to her. Visit someone who is sick or elderly, or spend some time with someone who is old or sick in your family, and spend the whole time talking about them, what they think, what they feel, and try not to talk about yourself at all.
2. Some time in the next week, when your friends want you to hang out with them, decide instead to spend that time with your mom or dad, one of your brothers or sisters, or another family member. Practice putting family first!

Virtuous Verbiage Verification

Adversity – a state, condition, or instance of serious or continued difficulty

Character – moral or ethical strength; the principles and motives that control ones decisions and life

Faith – 1. Trust in God; 2. Personal relationship with God; 3. Belief in what God has revealed;  4. Faith is a supernatural virtue (a supernatural power). It is a power or virtue given to us in baptism.

Family – the most basic, primary, social structure, naturally consisting of a father, mother, and their children, where we learn first and most about life. For those whose families are tragically broken, their family may be a single parent or relatives. In a supernatural way, God makes a family out of a community, the Church, and even the human family.

Fidelity – constancy in keeping one’s given word. (CCC 2365)

Free Agent – A player who does not have a contract with a specific team for the next season

Greek Orthodox Christians – Christians who follow the beliefs, traditions, and rituals of the Eastern, or Byzantine, Catholic Church but are not in union with the Pope.

Humility – virtue which consists of knowing one’s own bounds and limits.

Legacy – something one leaves to a successor when they leave or die.

Responsibility – a form of trustworthiness; the trait of being answerable to someone for one’s conduct

Success – 1. the favorable or prosperous result of attempts or endeavors. 2. the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like.

Surrender – to give oneself up into the power of another

Sometimes life brings tragedy. Pain and loss can surprise us, coming out of nowhere.  In this lesson we will look at one tragedy that happened this past August.  Even though this story is sad, it is a story that can help us.  It can teach us joy and hope, even in the midst of suffering and tears.

A trip they were loving

It was a trip the girls had really been looking forward to, and were thoroughly enjoying. It was a week of being together as friends and seeing a different part of the country together. The trip was a big tradition in their high school, the Cumbres Institute in Santiago, Chile. Their favorite teachers came with them. They were on their last day.

They were returning to their hotel after spending the day at a national park. Since Chile has many mountains, the country roads can be dangerous and winding. This road was no exception.

Tragedy strikes

Fr. Juan Aburto, a local priest who had happened to meet the girls at lunch, was driving home on the same road. He came around a bend and saw a big column of dust ahead of him. As he drew closer he realized that one of the buses carrying the girls had just gone off the road. What he found was tragic.

Apparently, the bus driver of that particular bus had tried to take a curve with too much speed. The bus had flipped over and was lying on its side on a steep hill. There had been 27 girls in the bus. Many of them had been thrown from the bus. Now some of them were strewn around the road or the hill. Some were crushed under the bus. Some were already dead. Some were dying. Some were trying to get up.

Fr. Juan immediately got out of the car and began ministering to the girls. He was in shock, yet he had to help them. He gave the sacrament of the anointing of the sick to the girls who had died and to those who were injured. He prayed with all the girls and consoled them. He was the first one on the scene and the last one to leave.

Faith amid tears

Yet, even Fr. Juan was impressed by what he saw in these girls. They all seemed more concerned about the others than about themselves. They were in tears and in pain, but they prayed and did all they could to help each other. They even managed to sing, in order to keep the more seriously injured girls from falling into unconsciousness before medical help arrived.

The news spreads

Nine girls died in the accident. All the other 18 girls on the bus were injured, some seriously.

News of the accident soon reached the families of the girls. The parents and the directors of the school, including the priest who was the school chaplain, immediately headed north to the place of the accident.  Within hours they were there.

It was a tremendous tragedy for the families and the school, even for the country. These were girls in the prime of life. They were girls who were deeply loved by all around them, and were looking forward to a beautiful future.

Option to trust God

Yet, what began to surface was faith. As the parents and the directors of the school fought back tears, they drew closer together. They all shared a strong Catholic faith. They knew that somehow God could bring good out of this. They knew he was with them in this tremendously sad moment.

A human error caused this tragedy, yet instead of becoming bitter and vengeful the parents announced that they forgave the driver and did not want him to be burdened with their anger.

Help from high places

As news of the tragedy reached the President of the country, she decided to offer the presidential plane to fly both the parents and the bodies of the girls who had died back to Santiago, their home city.

At the airport

Early the next morning (5:00am) the parents met at the airport to receive the coffins containing their daughters’ bodies. The parents cried deeply as they received the coffins.  One mother, as she stooped to kiss the coffin containing her daughter’s body, began to pray the Hail Mary out loud.  This caused all the others to join in. As they waited for the plane to be prepared, they cried and prayed, and even sang several of their favorite hymns from Mass in the midst of their tears.

The journey home

At 7:00am the plane departed for Santiago. The pilot and crew were amazed at what they witnessed. Instead of despair and hysteria, there was tremendous peace.

When they arrived to Santiago, the whole city seemed to be waiting for them. Thousands of people were sharing their sorrow. As the procession of cars made its way through the city, people came out on the street to wave handkerchiefs and accompany them. There were billboards and posters that read: “May they rest in peace.”

Receiving their friends

Back at the school, the students, relatives and friends had been holding a prayer vigil since the previous afternoon.  Students from many other schools came to join them.

At 7:00pm there was a Mass at the school in honor of the girls. It was held outside in the patio, since there were so many people. As the coffin containing the body of each girl was brought to the patio before Mass, a teacher described each girl and invited all those present to receive her. Everyone joined in applause for each girl. Joy mixed with sorrow. The joy came from knowing what wonderful girls had lived among them. The sorrow came from losing these good friends.

Heroic Mass

The official funeral Mass was held the next day, also at the school. More than six thousand people attended the Mass, including 59 priests and several bishops.

During the Mass two girls who had been in the accident read letters to their departed friends. They explained how sad they felt to have lost their friends, but in the midst of their sadness they were very happy, because they knew their friends had reached the greatest happiness. They were with God. They had arrived at their true goal.

Then they described the party that they imagined God was holding for each girl, a party tailored to the personality of each one of them.

Several of the girls present in the Mass were survivors of the accident and had literally postponed important operations on their own injuries in order to accompany their friends in their funeral Mass.

Saying goodbye

Friends and families also accompanied the girls to the cemetery.  As the body of each girl was laid to rest, a small choir sang. The families knew they were not alone. Many others shared in their sorrow.

Some reflections

As the days pass, people continue to be touched by the story of these girls. We hope that this testimony can help all of us. Our faith does not take away pain and sorrow. But it does help us to see that God can draw good even out of sadness and evil. It helps us see that God accompanies us in our sorrow.

God knows and feels our sorrow. Jesus, true God and true man, has given his life to free us from sorrow. But this freedom is not yet complete in this life. Sorrow still accompanies us on our pilgrimage. But it is a sorrow filled with hope. Christ has brought us hope. He has opened up heaven for us. He has brought God to accompany us.

Who were the Chilean girls who died?

Bernardita Barros Vial

Bernardita was 16. She was from a large family: she had 12 brothers and sisters. She was a happygirl, known for being very spiritual and having a great desire to learn. She greatly enjoyed being with her friends, and also directed a group of younger girls who met regularly to discuss their faith and have fun together.

Along with several other friends, she had dedicated her past summer vacation to do missionary work: her two month mission trip was to Barcelona, Spain where she shared her faith with other teens and preteens. Her father is a famous lawyer in Chile.

Magdalena Echeverria

Magdalena was 16. She had four brothers and sisters. She was known by all as being warm and spontaneous.

She had been very excited about this trip and had told her family many times how much she was looking forward to it. She was a top student whose favorite subject was history. She was planning on studying law in college. She had a strong faith and greatly liked participating in retreats, discussions, and faith activities with her friends.

Eloisa Garreud Sutil

Eloisa was 16. She especially enjoyed helping a group of younger girls in their faith. She called them her “little angels” and was sincerely committed to them. She often told those closest to her that she wanted so much to help her “little angels”get to heaven. She had spent her last school vacation in Mexico as a youth missionary.

She was active in student government and often ended up with the top academic rating in her class. She loved skiing, a favorite sport in Chile.  According to those closest to her, Eloisa was seriously considering consecrating her whole life to God.

Elisa Contreras Searle

Elisa was 16. Elisa loved music and dancing. She had several relatives who are famous artists in Chile. She was also known by friends to be a generous person who was good at getting others to reconcile after a disagreement or discussion. She helped everyone to feel united and appreciated.

Trinidad De La Carrera Bezanilla

Trinidad was 16. She was from a large, sports-loving family. She was active in track and field and also competed in tennis on a national level. Those who knew “Trini” say she was a natural leader, active in her faith, exceptionally intelligent and passionate about everything she did.

Valentina Errazuriz Gandolini

Valentina was 15. She was class president. She loved skiing and track and field. She was an excellent student and had an A+ average. Everyone who knew her said she had a deep and lively faith. Like several other girls in her class, she ran a faith group for younger girls. She greatly enjoyed being with her friends, and, like her mom, had a great enthusiasm for art.

Maria De Los Angeles Costa Arteaga

Maria was 16. She She had four brothers and sisters. According to those who knew her, Maria was always more interested in others than herself. She was an energetic girl who greatly enjoyed art and was active in helping others through service projects and faith sharing.

Bernardita Valenzuela Prado

Bernardita was 15. Those closest to her describe her as fun to be around, sincere, and uncomplicated. “Berni” was a member of the Schoenstatt movement, a Catholic organization that promotes growth in the spiritual life, especially through devotion to Mary.

Magdalena Rodriguez Hermosilla

Magdalena was 16. She was the oldest of four children. She loved her parents very much, and especially admired her mom, who is an engineer. Magdalena was an excellent student, with a special talent for math. She wanted to be an engineer like her mom.

Bible Blurbs

When Jesus saw her weeping, he became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Sir, come and see.” And Jesus wept. (John 11:33-35)

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live. (John 11:25)

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

Pope Quotes

Enlightened by faith, we look upon the human enigma of death with serenity and hope. Indeed, according to Scripture, it is more than an end; it is a new birth. (Benedict XVI, November 2, 2005)

Faith, brothers and sisters, invites us to raise our heads and look beyond, to look on high! And thus, today, while we mourn the departure of those who have left us, let us open our hearts to the vision of our eternal destiny. (Benedict XVI, April 3, 2005)

Catechism Clips

1002:  Christ will raise us up “on the last day”; but it is also true that, in a certain way, we have already risen with Christ. For, by virtue of the Holy Spirit, Christian life is already now on earth a participation in the death and resurrection of Christ.

1007: Remembering our mortality helps us realize that we have only a limited time in which to bring our lives to fulfillment:  “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth…” (Ecclesiastes 12:1)

1008: Death was contrary to the plans of God and entered the world on account of man’s sin. Bodily death is thus “the last enemy” of man left to be conquered.

1010: Because of Christ, Christian death has a positive meaning: “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)

Saints & Heroes

Talking to Jesus about the hard things

St. Martha (entered heaven in the first century)

Martha was the sister of Lazarus and Mary of Bethany (the Lazarus whom Jesus raised from the dead – check out John Chapter 11 if you need to refresh your memory).  She was the busy one who prepared the dinner while her sister sat lovingly at the feet of the Lord.

It’s a pity she is remembered almost solely for that incident, since she has much more to teach us.  When Jesus came to speak with her after the death and burial of Lazarus, they had a conversation that shows how real, how human, how positively normal their friendship was.

Martha comes to him and expresses her regret that Jesus didn’t come in time to heal him.  Then Jesus questions her, trying to stimulate her faith.  She answers so simply, so honestly, so matter-of-factly, and yet her every word evinces reverence and respect.

Finally, our Lord elicits from her one of the most beautiful acts of trust in the entire Gospel.  He tells her that he is the “resurrection and the life” and asks if she really believes it.  She answers, “Yes, Lord, I have learned to believe that you are the Christ, you are the Son of the living God; it is for your coming the world has waited.”

Then her sister Mary has her own conversation with Jesus (in which he breaks down and cries for empathy with their sorrow): equally intimate, familiar, real, human.

Eventually, they take him to the tomb, and he orders the stone sealing the tomb to be removed, whereupon Martha whispers in his ear, “Lord, the air is foul by now; he has been four days dead.”

But Jesus gets his way, and ends up bringing Lazarus back to life.

The point here is not just the miracle, but the relationship that Martha had with Jesus.  It was not abstract.  It was not distant.  It was not “saying the right thing” in order to impress him.  They knew each other, respected each other, and interacted as true friends (though she never failed to show him the respect he deserved).  She trusted him, could (and did) talk to him about anything – their conversation was heart to heart.

And that’s how your prayer needs to be: a personal, sincere, real conversation with the Lord.  Therein lies your key to spiritual growth.

(Source: College Compass)

Winning hearts for Christ through suffering and generosity

St Martin de Porres (entered heaven November 3, 1639)

Martin was born in Peru, the son of a Spanish knight and a black woman (a former slave).  From his childhood he was scorned for being mulatto.

Perhaps it was this experience that made him so sensitive to the message of Christ.  He used to contemplate the crucifix with extraordinary love and devotion, deeply sorrowful at the suffering Christ had to endure, but deeply joyful that Christ had thereby penetrated our miserable lives with his grace and his love.

The only earthly thing Martin loved more than the crucifix was the Blessed Sacrament, which he tried to receive as frequently as possible, and which he often accompanied in prayer for hours on end, even entire nights. He was helped in this endeavor once he became a Dominican lay brother, where he served as community nurse and general caretaker of the Friary of Dominican priests in Lima

This deep appreciation for the sufferings and generosity of Christ was the motor of his own remarkable life.  He spent every waking (and non-praying) hour caring for people in need, seeing in them the needy Christ, the souls for whom Christ had died.  He cared for the sick Dominicans with the gentleness of a mother, and extended that service throughout the city.

He founded orphanages and hospitals, raised money to feed the poor, tended the maltreated slaves, and even took care of stray animals (he kept a “cats’ and dogs’ home” at his sister’s house) – though his Dominican brothers considered his attentions towards the rats and mice a bit exaggerated.

He truly considered others to be God’s children, and himself to be their less worthy brother.  It was with this absolute humility, which overflowed in tireless and selfless service, that he won countless hearts to God – and that was his greatest joy.

(Source: College Compass)

Discussion questions:

1. Have you ever been scared that sad things will happen to you or to those you love? What does your faith tell you about sadness and tragedy? 
2. Does sadness have the last word in the life of a Christian? If not, what has the last word?
3. Where do you think the girls in the accident found the strength to avoid getting hysterical and to help each other when the accident happened? Is it easy to be strong when tragedy strikes? How does our faith help us to handle these moments? 
4. What virtues did these girls exercise in those moments? Do you think it came naturally to them? What things in their lives might have prepared them to handle this well?
5. What do you think about the parents of the girls who died? Do you think it was right for them to forgive the driver? Do you think this was easy to do? What does it show about looking for true healing when tragedy strikes?
6. Are Christians better at healing from tragedy than those who do not know the love of Jesus? Why or why not? How does knowing Christ help Christians to handle tragedy?
7. Do you think Jesus really rose from the dead? Do you think you will rise from the dead at the end of history? Where will you be between the end of your earthly life and the end of history? 
8. Have you ever had any moments where you are really looking forward to heaven? What do you think the best thing about heaven will be? Do you know how Jesus describes heaven? Do you think heaven will be exciting?

Activities:

• Visit someone who is sick or who has few friends during the Christmas season. Bring a small gift. Spend time talking with him or her and listening. Find something fun or entertaining to do with that person during your visit. Ask for some of that person’s prayer intentions and promise to pray for these. Afterwards, send a short note thanking that person for his or her time and mentioning something you learned about him or her during the visit. 
• Visit a cemetery and pray a decade of the rosary for the souls who have died. Find the tomb of a young person and put a flower or something symbolic of your prayers there. (Note: There is a plenary indulgence for visiting a cemetery and praying for those who have died!)

Journal Writing

1. Write about the party God will have when someone you really love arrives to heaven. What favorite things of that person will be there? What friends of that person should be there in a special way? What would you like to say to that person at that party? Think of something funny that you will give that person at that party.
2. Think about what you would like people to say about you at your funeral. Make a list of virtues you would like to work on in order to become a person who shows your faith and values more in life.
3. Write a list of things that remind you about the resurrection. These can be any happy things that have happened in your life, any beautiful circumstances you have experienced, any special moments with God or friends and family, or anything else you can think of. Write a letter to God thanking him for these moments and committing yourself to show a happier face to others, to have the face of someone who believes in the resurrection and believes that the good things in life don’t have to end. Make a resolution about something you will do each day to increase your faith in the resurrection and in heaven.

Debate (Choose one theme)

• Heaven is just a myth invented by people who can’t deal with reality.
• Christians are weak when it comes to suffering.
• This world would be better if people did not believe in God.
• God does not exist, because there is so much suffering in the world.   

Virtue Verification

Accompany – go or be together with. As Christians, we know that Christ always accompanies us: “behold, I am with you always, even until the end of time.” (28:20).

Appreciate – to recognize and be grateful for; be thankful for. Appreciation and thankfulness are key characteristics of Christian faith.

Committed – bind as by a promise; pledge; to give in charge or trust

Faith – 1. Trust in God; 2. Personal relationship with God; 3. Belief in what God has revealed;  4. Faith is a supernatural virtue (a supernatural power). It is a power or virtue given to us in baptism.

Forgiveness – , pardon, mercy. A Christian forgives because he or she knows that Jesus has first forgiven him or her.

Freedom – 1) or liberation from the control of some other person or some arbitrary power 2) a being able to act, move, use, etc. without hindrance or restraint.

Goal – object or end that one strives to attain; aim. Our true goal as Christians is to know, love, and serve God, and to be happy with him forever in heaven.

Happiness – Any contentment in possession of a good. The deepest happiness is found in possessing God and being loved by God. God has put the desire for happiness in the human heart in order to draw man to himself, the source of all love. God alone can fulfill man’s deepest desire for happiness.

Heaven – 1. Heaven is our true home. It is where we were meant to be, after this pilgrimage on earth. 2. Heaven is the place and state where we are totally united to God and completely experience the goodness and wonder of his love. It is where “he will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, (for) the old order has passed away.” (21:4)

Hope – 1. Trust in God; 2. Trust in God’s gift of heaven; 3. Trust in God’s mercy and forgiveness; 4. Trust that God wants the best for us, even in difficult circumstances.

Joy – 1. A state of happiness or fulfillment; 2. One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. It is the result of seeing things from God’s perspective and doing things the way Christ would do things; 3. The highest and most complete joy of which we are capable is the joy of seeing and being with God.

Missionary – A person who is sent (by God and the Church) with the special task of telling others about God’s love. A missionary can go to another country, but all of us are called to be missionaries. We are called to be missionaries to our own friends, in our own schools, neighborhoods, and families.

Peace – One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Peace is tranquility of soul, flowing from awareness of God’s love and friendship.

Pilgrimage – 1. A long journey; 2. A journey made to a holy place or a journey made to draw closer to God.

Prayer – the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.

Reconcile – 1. To bring back together; 2. To win over again to a friendly attitude.

Sincere – without deceit, pretense, or hypocrisy; truthful; straightforward; honest

Sorrow – suffering caused by loss, disappointment, etc.; sadness, grief, or regret

Unite – 1. put or bring together so as to make one; 2. To bring together in a common cause

A doubt can be powerful. The devil used it against Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. He tried to make them doubt that God loved them. It worked. We’re paying for it. The Da Vinci Code, written by Dan Brown, may not be as smart a hoax as the devil’s lie in the garden, but it has confused many people. Now the novel is coming out as a movie. The good thing is that many Christians are uniting in a strategy to respond: education on what our faith in Christ is really about. In this lesson we present a few ideas you can use to educate others about some of the The Da Vinci Code’s mixed-up ideas.

THE CONSPIRACY PLOT

Everyone loves a conspiracy story, and the book immediately captures the reader by opening with a mysterious murder. The clues to this puzzle are hidden in the paintings of the Renaissance artist Leonardo Da Vinci, and are revealed little by little to keep the reader’s interest. In the meantime, an explanation unfolds of a secret plot by the Catholic Church to cover up the “true” story of Jesus through murder and deceit. Ultimately, Brown uses this story to present his idea of the “real Jesus”. This Jesus was a prophet, but not God, and was married to Mary Magdalene. He wanted to start a new religion dedicated to appreciating the “sacred feminine” in the world, and he intended Mary to head it up. Brown claims that Jesus never rose from the dead, and that he could do nothing when Peter stole the power from Mary Magdalene, and forced her to flee. Thus, the apostles built the Church on their own ideas, making up a story about Jesus’ divinity and covering up the marriage. Da Vinci was one of the few who passed on Mary’s secret through the ages through codes in his paintings.

FACT OR FICTION?

Dan Brown’s book has a strong effect, because the opening page of the book claims that all of the descriptions are true. The main characters, Robert Langdon (played by Tom Hanks in the movie) and Dr. Leigh Teabing (played by Sir Ian McKellan) , use phrases throughout the book such as “historians have always known …” and “scholars know …” to make the reader think that the ideas are the fruit of serious research. Yet, many of the “facts” are actually disproved by scholars in art, history, architecture and theology. Some “facts” are so easily disproved that you hardly have to be a scholar at all to fi nd the fl aw. For example, the story claims that Jesus does not have a cup (chalice) in Leonardo’s painting of the Last Sup per. But if you count the chalices in the painting you will see that Jesus does have a cup. However, the average reader is not going to spend time looking up the details, and Dan Brown banks on this. Brown did use sources for his research, but they are mostly make-believe stories which twist the truth in an inaccurate or hypothetical way.

IS JESUS REALLY GOD?

The Da Vinci Code claims that early Christians saw Jesus as only a mortal, but they voted 300 years later to call him God, only for the sake of political unity under Emperor Constantine. Not true. Look at the Gospels. The Gospels were written between AD 50-100, shortly after the death and resurrection of Jesus (approximately AD 30). They show in many different verses that Christians always believed Christ was the Son of God, equal to God. One central example is Peter’s profession of faith in Jesus: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God,” (Mt 16:16) Christ confi rms that Peter has understood correctly when he says “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For fl esh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father” (Mt 16:17) The Council of Nicea was actually called in AD 325 by Constantine in response to Arius, one man who was creating turmoil by proposing his own idea that Jesus was not really equal to God. He had a clever way of phrasing things that confused some people. But he was going against what the Church already believed. 

Brown claims that it was a close vote. In fact only two bishops voted for Arius, while at least 218 voted to affirm what Christians had always believed. Close? Check your facts, Mr. Brown.

The fruit of the Council was the “Nicene Creed” which Catholics recite every Sunday, professing that Jesus is “God from God, light from light, true God from true God.” The Council simply clarified what the New Testament teaches and the Church always believed. The Council didn’t invent anything.

CAN WE TRUST THE SCRIPTURES?

Another claim that The DaVinci Code makes is that Constantine destroyed “thousands” of other reliable texts that show the human Jesus, and that there were 80 other Gospels that showed a different truth about Christ. In other words, our New Testament is not the truth about Christ, but rather someone’s personal opinion in a sea of other opinions.

It is easy to conjecture. But The DaVinci Code “scholars” don’t seem to have studied very seriously. Over 200 years before Constantine, Christians were already referring to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John as the only reliable ones. They were the ones used in Mass, and they were the ones quoted by the bishops and saints. 

One element in the Gospels that inspires trust is their honesty about the weakness of the apostles. They show clearly how the apostles abandoned Christ during his suffering. If the apostles were going to fake their authority they would not have said this. Yet the Gospels are honest in telling the story as it really happened.

OTHER GOSPELS?

The other texts that The DaVinci Code calls gospels were writings produced by groups that did not believe what the Christians believed or mixed Christian ideas with non-Christian ones. They were heretical texts. Many were produced much later than the Gospels. Recently some of these texts have made publicity again, such as the “Gospel of Judas.” They do not show the true Jesus, and they are being used again today to confuse people about Christianity. 

MARY MAGDALENE 

The DaVinci Code claims that Mary Magdalene was hated by the Church, and was therefore thwarted in her mission to begin a different religion to honor the “sacred feminine”. In fact, the book proposes that we should abandon Christianity and adopt a more pagan worship of the creature rather than the Creator.

But it is hard to say that Mary Magdalene is hated by the Church if she is honored as a saint. She has her own feast day. She has inspired devotion throughout the centuries. She is mentioned in the Gospels as the first person to see the risen Christ. She is sent to tell the apostles about the resurrection. She has a prominent place. She is not hated.

WAS JESUS MARRIED?

Although he has no real evidence, Brown concludes that Jesus must have been married because Jews and Jewish rabbis had the custom of always marrying.

A real Scripture scholar would be able to name several men in the Bible who did not marry in order to dedicate themselves to God: Jeremiah, John the Baptist, St. Paul. A Scripture scholar would also tell you that around the time of Jesus there was a Jewish group called the Essenes whose members did not get married. Celibacy (not getting married) did exist, and gained more popularity throughout the history of Christianity. 

It is in the example of Christ that a priest takes the solemn promise of celibacy, to be fully dedicated to God’s work and to serving others as he was. 

IS THE CHURCH TRUSTWORTHY?

The DaVinci Code accuses the Catholic Church of being a type of murderous mafia that despises women and sexuality and is only concerned with keeping its power.

It is one thing to accuse a human organization of being corrupt, but in accusing the Church as a whole, Brown is forgetting the millions of martyrs who gave their lives for others, the history of female leaders and saints, and the status given to the sacrament of matrimony. The Church has an amazing history. Becoming familiar with Church history and doctrine can inspire a sense of awe at its greatness, and can be a convincing testimony of God’s hand working within it.

And it is hard to say that the Church despises women if Mary the mother of Jesus has such a strong role in the Church. She is already present in the Gospels. She had to say “yes” in order for Jesus to become a man. She and Mary Magdalene are among the few brave souls that do not abandon Christ when he is captured and condemned to death. She is treated with tremendous veneration by every Christian generation throughout history.

DECODING DA VINCI

The real-life conspiracy of The Da Vinci Code is a plot to challenge Christianity, make some people lose their faith, and confuse many who do not know otherwise. 

For those who can decode it, who can pick out the important details and the inaccurate half-truths, it is a chance to evangelize. It is a chance to start up a conversation around a hot issue and talk about Christ and his Church. It is a chance to educate ourselves so as to educate others. People need to know what the Gospels teach. They need to know about Christ, the real Christ. 

We can start by reading the Gospels. We can continue by reading some of the other resources available. We can be especially effective by trying to be like Christ: both bold and humble, loving yet courageous.

He is here to help us. With him on our side, we have nothing to fear.

Bible Blurbs

“I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, … so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.” (Luke 1:3-4)
“Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her.” (John 20:18)
“Now I am reminding you, brothers, of the Gospel I preached to you… Through it you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.” (1Corinthians 15: 1-2)
“I am amazed that you are so quickly forsaking the one who called you by the grace of Christ for a different Gospel (not that there is another). But there are some who are disturbing you and wish to pervert the Gospel of Christ. (Galatians 1:6-7) 

Pope Quotes 

“Jesus yes, Church no”, is totally irreconcilable with the intention of Christ. This individualistically chosen Jesus is an imaginary Jesus. We cannot have Jesus without the reality he created and in which he communicates himself. (Pope Benedict XVI, March 15, 2006)

“The Jesus of the Gospels is quite different, demanding, bold. The Jesus who makes everything okay for everyone is a phantom, a dream, not a real figure. The Jesus of the Gospels is certainly not convenient for us. But it is precisely in this way that he answers the deepest question of our existence…” (Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI), On the Way to Jesus Christ, p. 8) 

Catechism Quotes 

“The Church holds firmly that the four Gospels, whose historicity she unhesitatingly affirms, faithfully hand on what Jesus, the Son of God, while he lived among men, really did and taught for their eternal salvation, until the day when he was taken up.” (n. 126) 

“What Christ entrusted to the apostles, they in turn handed on by their preaching and writing, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to all generations, until Christ returns in glory.” (n.96)

Saints and Heros

ST. MARY MAGDALENE: 

Contrary to Dan Brown’s claims that she is despised, Mary Magdalene is honored as a saint. Her feast day is celebrated on July 22. She was healed of seven demons by Christ, and stayed close to Christ during his crucifixion, when almost all the apostles abandoned him. She was the first one to see Jesus after he rose from the dead and was then sent to tell the the apostles. Tradition has it that she lived with Mary, Jesus’ mother, in Ephesus until she died. Centuries later her relics (her bones) were apparently brought to France. 

ST. PETER CANISIUS: 

(1521-1597) St. Peter lived in a time of controversy. He helped bring back much of southern Germany to Roman Catholicism after the spread of Protestantism He was born into an important family in Holland. While he was doing university studies in Belgium he went on a retreat directed by St. Peter Fabre, a Jesuit priest, and decided to become a Jesuit himself. He gave everything to the poor and dedicated himself totally to his vocation. During his lifetime he traveled constantly, preached many retreats, founded Catholic schools and colleges, participated in many debates with Protestants, and wrote a very large number of books. His most influential book was a Catechism which was very highly read and was reprinted numerous times. He is often called “the Second Apostle of Germany.” He was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1925.

Vocabulary:

Celibacy – Not having sexual relations; usually done in order to dedicate oneself more completely to God and others

Clarify – Make more clear and explicit

Devotion – Reliance on or invocation of a saint or holy person

Doctrine – Official teaching

Educate – Teach; instruct; develop the knowledge

Evangelize – To teach and spread the good news of Christ to others.

Heretical – Religious teaching that is incorrect or opposed to Church doctrine

Hoax – Deceit, deception, lie

Honesty – Speaking and acting in the truth

Hypothetical – Only in theory; make-believe

Matrimony – Marriage; sacrament in which a man and a woman give themselves to each other out of love.

Pagan – Non-Christian; ungodly 

“Sacred feminine” – Worship of women as goddesses 

Discussion Questions

1. Where would you fi nd sources of fact, fi ction, or something in between? How do you know, for example, if something you read on the internet is fact or fi ction?

a. First we need to ask ourselves if the author/source is claiming to be fact or fi ction. In the case of the book the Da Vinci Code, you will fi nd the book in the “fi ction” section of libraries and books—although on one of the 1st pages of the book, Dan Brown presents a “facts” page, which itself has untruths. The devil can take a kernel of truth and spin/manipulate it as a tool of deception.

b. As for how do we know if something we read- whether it be on the internet, newspaper, etc. is actually true and not a slanted version/half truth, here are several tools to decipher a writing’s credibility:

i. Is it a trustworthy source? If you don’t know for sure yourself, ask someone who you trust and who has in depth knowledge on the topic

ii. Cross check the information with other reliable sources

iii. If possible, go to original docu ments/sources (in this case the Bible and Catechism, for example) to fi nd the raw data, or original material-not someone else’s reporting/interpreta tion of the material iv. Don’t assume just because you read something, that it is true.

2. How can you say that Jesus is really God?

• a. He did miracles
• b. He taught with authority. He claimed to be God.
• c. He forgave sins, which only God can do.
• d. He was totally unselfi sh, dying for us on a cross
• e. He was holy, not committing any sin f. Death could not defeat him. He rose from the dead. He has power over life and death, which only God has.

3. How do we know that we can trust the Scriptures?

• a. Because God guarantees their truthfulness through the Church
• b. Because the Gospels are honest about the failings of the apostles.
• c. Because the teachings of the Bible, especially the New Testament, help to make us the best human beings possible: more compassionate, unselfish, holy, courageous, centered on God and the important things, generous, etc.

4. What kind of a person was Mary Magdalene, and what kind of relationship did she have to Christ?

a. Mary Magdalene was cured of seven demons by Christ. After that she followed him wherever he went. (Luke 8: 1-3) She was constantly learning from Christ and she was faithful to him even when he was abandoned by the others. (Matthew 27: 55-61; Mark 14: 40-47; Luke 23: 49-56)

b. Some saints thought she might have been the same woman in the Gospels who was caught in adultery (John 8:1-11) or who cleansed Jesus´ feet with her tears. (Luke 7:36-50) Some thought she might also be Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha.(Luke 10:38-42) This is possible, but the Gospels don’t explicitly say these women were Mary Magdalene, so one is free to think either way. The Christian tradition from the Middle East and from the Orthodox Church does not identify her with the adulteress or the woman who cleansed his feet with her tears. 

c. Mary Magdalene is called “the apostle to the apostles.” She was given the task of telling the apostles about Christ’s resurrection before the apostles actually saw the risen Jesus.(Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-11; Luke 24:1-11; John 20:1-18)

d. Her relationship with Christ was one of faith. She believed in him. She loved him in a spiritual way, not a physical way, since she understood that he was holy, the Son of God.

5. How can we really say that Jesus was not married?

a. Because he was totally dedicated to his Father and to the spiritual good of souls.

b. He taught clearly that some people can choose to remain celibate for the sake of God and for dedicating all their heart and soul to save souls. It is clear by his lifestyle that he chose this.

c. If he were married, the Gospels would have said this. They tell about the other people who were close and important to him. They never talk about a spouse because his spouse was the Church.

d. He needed to be totally open to everyone, so he did not have an exclusive relationship.

6. How do we know that the Church is trustworthy?

a. Because so many martyrs have given their blood to defend the truth she teaches.

b. Because so many saints have given such tremendous examples of charity and holiness

c. Because the Church has not been afraid to proclaim the truth even when this has brought her misunderstandings and persecutions.

d. Because the Church has preserved its doctrine down through the centuries without changing.

JOURNAL WRITING:

1. Nobody likes to be lied to and to be seen as gullible. Describe a time when someone took advantage of your ignorance, and how you felt afterwards. Or, describe a time when a movie you saw affected your life and the way you thought about things.

2. Imagine that you are in the Gospel scene with Jesus when he asks his Apostles “Who do you say that I am?” Write about who Jesus is for you. Do you know the real person of Jesus? Write at least one way you can get to know him better.

ACTIVITIES:

1. Plan a movie night as an alternative to The DaVinci Code. Take a group of friends to see another movie, and go out for pizza to discuss it. (Over the Hedge is a good one).

2. Put together a classroom special reserve collection of books in the school library related to these topics: Constantine, the Council of Nicea, Lives of the Saints (with Mary Magdalene, etc.) Offer extra credit for the students who read one of these books and present a short summary report to the class.

3. Invite a visiting speaker to the class to bring a copy of Leonardo DaVinci’s painting of “The Last Supper” and to talk about the artistic significance of it. Or, have someone bring the painting in, and present the facts from the USCCB website (below) about the artist and his intentions behind the painting.

4. Establish a weekly time in which students can ask questions about the faith and receive answers. Encourage the students to bring up the questions that others may have asked them, even if they think that they gave a sufficient response, so that the rest of the class can benefit from knowing the answers. The teacher can invite a guest speaker or the pastor to answer the questions, or correspond by email to other scholars if necessary.

FURTHER FORMATION

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church 

126 “We can distinguish three stages in the formation of the Gospels: 

1. The life and teaching of Jesus. the Church holds firmly that the four Gospels, “whose historicity she unhesitatingly affirms, faithfully hand on what Jesus, the Son of God, while he lived among men, really did and taught for their eternal salvation, until the day when he was taken up.”99 

2. The oral tradition. “For, after the ascension of the Lord, the apostles handed on to their hearers what he had said and done, but with that fuller understanding which they, instructed by the glorious events of Christ and enlightened by the Spirit of truth, now enjoyed.”100 

3. The written Gospels. “The sacred authors, in writing the four Gospels, selected certain of the many elements which had been handed on, either orally or already in written form; others they synthesized or explained with an eye to the situation of the churches, the while sustaining the form of preaching, but always in such a fashion that they have told us the honest truth about Jesus.”101 

RESOURCES:

• Amy Welborn, 

- De-Coding Da Vinci: The Facts Behind the Fiction of the Da Vinci Code 

- De-Coding Mary Magdalene: Truth, Legend and Lies, 

- The Da Vinci Code Mysteries: What the Movie Doesn’t Tell You

all from Our Sunday Visitor Publications.

• Steven Kellmeyer, Fact and Fiction in the Da Vinci Code, Bridegroom Press

• Carl Olson and Sandra Miesel, The Da Vinci Hoax, Ignatius Press

• Mark Shea and Ted Sri, The Da Vinci Deception: 100 Questions About the Facts and Fiction of The Da Vinci Code, Ascension Press. (www.DavinciAntidote.com) 

• www.JesusDecoded.com (USCCB website about the book and movie)

You may have noticed all the buzz after all the votes were counted in our recent election. News reporters wanted to know what factors had turned the tide in President Bush’s favor. So they turned to the exit pollsters, the people who question voters about their views once they leave the voting area.

The news people expected voters’ top priority to be either the war against terrorism or the job market. Instead — to nearly everyone’s surprise — it was “moral values” that topped the exit polls as “the issue that mattered most” in the election.

What Was Different This Time?

There have been serious moral issues at stake in other elections, but this time many more people took this into account. The high turn-out of voters in this election also seems to suggest that more people were concerned about the issues involved.

One reason seemed to be the concern many people have about preserving the sanctity of marriage. Protection of marriage was on the ballot in eleven states, and in every one of these states it won by a vast majority. This issue surely gave the voters another reason to pause and consider each candidate’s positions on moral issues.

Another moral issue that people seemed to notice more this time was the attitude of the candidates toward pro-life issues.

A Chance to Help

Nevertheless, the issue of moral values was only a relative winner among the five priorities polled, not an absolute winner. 22% said it was the decisive factor, not 51%. If we are concerned about moral values, it is clear we still have much work to do. Young people have a key role in this work, since so much of popular culture is addressed to them, but we need to understand better what is at stake in order to take a stand ourselves.

What are moral values, really? And, when two people disagree on what makes one choice moral and another immoral — as so many did disagree in the presidential election — how can we know whose values are truly the most moral?

Right vs. Wrong

One definition of the word morality is “in accord with the principles of right and wrong.”

Another way to state that thought might be: Moral values are the deeply held beliefs that guide us when we need to decide whether it would be right or wrong to do something —or not do something.

It might help to illustrate the difference between a moral act and an immoral act by comparing two incidents that were recently in the news.

Morality Rocks

Last spring, a young lady from Redmond, Washington, wrote a short letter to the business executives who run Nordstrom department stores. Her name is Ella Gunderson, and she was concerned because she had a hard time finding modest clothing choices in their stores.

Ella wrote: “I am an eleven-year-old girl who has tried shopping at your store for clothes (in particular jeans), but all of them ride way under my hips, and the next size up is too big and falls down. I see all of these girls who walk around with pants that show their belly button and underwear. Your clerks suggest that there is only one look. If that is true, then girls are supposed to walk around half-naked. I think you should change that.”

A lot of local and even national publicity followed, including an appearance on NBC’s “Today Show” with Katie Couric. The most exciting development came when the Nordstrom executives promised to offer more modest clothing than in years past —leading other large retail-store chains to make the same pledge.

That’s a pretty impressive accomplishment for an 11-year-old girl.

From Ella’s experience, it’s easy to identify two ways her moral values made a positive difference in her life.

First, she said “No” to the immodest clothing choices she found when she went to the store. Simply by refusing to purchase the clothes, she made a moral choice.

Then she said “Yes” to doing something to change the situation. It might not have seemed like much to write a short letter, but just look at the results that followed from that one small, morality-based decision.

Immorality Rankles

Contrast Ella’s choices in a tricky situation with a choice made by Terrell Owens, the talented wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles who has become one of the most popular stars in the National Football League.

On Monday, November 15, just before the start of ABC’s Monday Night Football game between the Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys, Terrell appeared in a promotional advertisement for ABC’s racy soap opera “Desperate Housewives.”

In the ad, Terrell is in the locker room in his Eagles uniform, about to run out for the start of the game. Suddenly Nicollette Sheridan, an actress on the “Desperate Housewives” show, approaches him. Wearing only a bath towel, she tries to talk him into staying there with her rather than joining his team on the field. When he explains that he has a duty to his team, she jumps into his arms. With that, Owens changes his mind. “The team’s going to have to win one without me,” he says with a smirk.

Time to Speak Up

In the days after the ad ran, there was quite an outcry from the general public and from some influential people in the NFL. “When we turn on ‘Monday Night Football,’ you’re expecting to see football,” said Tony Dungy, head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. “I want my boys to watch football. I don’t want them to see what they saw.”

Lovie Smith, head coach of the Chicago Bears, added: “I’m a father. I have young kids at home, too. I’m a Christian man. I think it goes without saying that what happened was totally inappropriate.”

And Art Rooney, president of the Pittsburgh Steelers, called the promotion an “out and out disgrace. This is NFL football. We don’t do those things.”

Did he miss something?

For his part, Terrell seemed surprised at the moral outrage the ad provoked. He apologized — but not because he agreed that the ad was morally wrong. He said he was sorry only because some people felt upset about it. “I felt like it was clean,” he said. “I think it just really got taken out of context with a lot of people and I apologize for that.”

In other words, he believed the problem lay not in what he had done, but only in how people had reacted to it. This would be like smashing a neighbor’s window, on purpose — and then, when the neighbor came out and yelled at you, you say you were sorry about upsetting him even though you saw nothing wrong in what you did to his window.

You could say that this attitude points out that Terrell’s moral compass is malfunctioning. He doesn’t have a clear understanding of what is right and wrong. His moral values are not consistent with the full truth about God and man.

Tough Enough

Standing up for moral values takes courage. To clarify the morality (or lack thereof) of the choice Terrell made, let’s imagine he refused to make the ad or insisted on making the ad in a different way. Imagine if he insisted on telling Nicollette:

“I’m sorry, Nicollette, but I can’t do that. First, you are not my wife. Second, I have a job to do. Third, many kids who look up to me are watching.”

In other words

“It is morally wrong for two people to be intimate when they are not married to one another.

“I have a duty to my coach, my teammates, our fans and everyone tuning in on TV. It’s morally wrong to shirk my duties to others in order to satisfy my selfish desires.

“Being a man implies a responsibility. I have a duty to encourage people, especially young people, to be the best they can be — not to live an immoral and destructive lifestyle.”

Imagine if, after saying that, he turned away from Nicollette and ran out to the field to join his teammates. The ABC network would still have been morally wrong to show a scantily clad woman on TV, especially one who acted the way Nicollette acted with Terrell, but at least Terrell could have held his head high.

Terrell and ABC, you just lost a chance to help people.

The Conscience Clause

Have you ever heard a car alarm go off? It buzzes, it whistles, it screeches like a fire alarm. Your conscience is like that. It should go off when you are about to do something you know to be wrong in all circumstances (such as vote for a political candidate who strongly supports the right of people to destroy unborn babies).

But your conscience does not decide all by itself what is right or wrong. In order for it to guide you to doing the right thing, it has to be formed, because sometimes we can make mistakes, even big ones, especially when things get confusing. Only when your conscience has learned objective right from wrong will it be able to function as a reliable moral compass.

Proclaiming Morality

God does not leave us alone to be fooled by our selfishness or the passing fads. He puts his natural moral law into our consciences, and he further helps us with his teaching and grace.

Ever since God became man in the person of Jesus Christ, He has called on the Catholic Church to courageously stand up for what is moral and right in human society — and stand against what is immoral and wrong.

What a tremendous privilege it is to be a part of that Church — and what an awesome responsibility.

Of course, championing morality while challenging immorality won’t always make us popular. But it will always be the right thing to do, and it will always help our friends and our world find the way to real fulfillment.

It’s 2004. Do you know where your moral compass is?

Vocabulary

Duty – Conduct based on faithfulness to one’s responsibility.

Conscience — knowledge of right and wrong and the conviction that one should do what is right.

Modest — clean and proper in thought, conduct and dress.

Moral compass — a metaphor for the “internal pointer” in our heart that shows us the way to go in a situation with moral implications.

Moral values — the deeply held beliefs that guide us when we need to decide whether it would be right or wrong to do something — or not do something.

Natural moral law — the standard of right and wrong that can be discerned using human reason and logic, even by people without religious faith or beliefs.

Priority —something coming before another in importance.

Privilege — a right or liberty granted as a favor or benefit.

Responsibility — the force that binds a person to his or her obligations; accountability.

Bible Blurbs

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

“Let no one disregard you because you are young, but be an example to all the believers in the way you speak and behave, and in your love, your faith and your purity.” (1Timothy 4:14)

“Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. (Matthew 10:16)

Catechism Quotes

1798 A well-formed conscience is upright and truthful. It formulates its judgments according to reason, in conformity with the true good willed by the wisdom of the Creator. Everyone must avail himself of the means to form his conscience.

1802 The Word of God is a light for our path. We must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice. This is how moral conscience is formed.

Saints and Heroes

St. Maria Goretti was just 12 years old in 1902, when she was attacked by a 19-year-old farm-hand named Alessandro Serenelli. He tried to rape her, but she refused to submit to his advances. She told him what he was trying to do was a sin and warned him that he would go to hell if he did not call off the attack. He stabbed her 14 times. She survived for two days in the hospital, where she forgave Alessandro and asked God to forgive him. She died holding a crucifix and a medal of the Blessed Mother. Eventually Alessandro repented of his sin and even testified at her cause for beatification.  (Note: the picture is from a movie about the life of Maria Goretti made by RAI, an Italian television network. The movie broke all records for audience numbers in Italy.)

Bishop Clemens Augustus von Galen (1878-1946).

Better known as the “Lion of Munster”. During the whole Nazi period in Germany, Bishop von Galen raised his voice in defense of the rights of the Jews, the poor, the sick, and the Church . He energetically opposed the spread of Nazi paganism.

His homilies of the summer of 1941 became famous, which brought him to the brink of being arrested and condemned to death. He will soon be beatified by the Holy Father.

Von Galen’s resistance to the Nazi euthanasia programs was kept up by other priests, among them the priest in charge of the Berlin Cathedral, Father Bernhard Lichtenberg.

Fr. Lichtenberg was arrested, tried and condemned in October 1941. He died in 1943 on the way to Dachau. John Paul II raised him to the honor of the altar on June 23, 1996.

Discussion Questions

Do you tend to view the popular culture through the eyes of the Church — or are you prone to viewing the Church through the eyes of the popular culture?

In what areas does the popular culture tend to agree with the morality of the Church? In what areas does it disagree?

What are the potential costs of “going with the flow” of the popular culture in deciding what values to live by? What are the benefits of standing with the Church’s values even when those choices make you unpopular?

Personal Reflection/Writing

One of the ways to consider the basis of our own moral values is to think about those times when it would be wrong not to do something. For example, if you came across a lost toddler in the city, it would be wrong not to help the child in whatever way you could — trying to find his mother, calling the police or whatever seemed most helpful and appropriate to the particular circumstance. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where it would have been wrong not to take some kind of action? Describe the situation. Tell what you did then, or what you now wish you had done, looking back.

Write a letter to Terrell Davis. Tell him why you think his appearance in the ABC promotion for “Desperate Wives” was wrong. Explain why it was wrong regardless of how he feels about it. Also tell about how morally loose behavior by admired sports celebrities encourages many young people to make bad decisions that can affect their lives in negative ways for years to come.

Resolution Idea

Go through your music and movie collections. See which of the recordings celebrate immorality as though it’s “cool” or “inevitable.” Consider getting rid of such recordings. With friends develop a collection of music and videos that promote courageous moral or Christian values.

Consider the TV shows you like to watch on a regular basis.  Review the programs from the eyes of morality.  (For example, does the program show non-married people in bed with each other?  If so, consider not watching this program again.

Further Formation: Catechism Tips

Conscience is man’s most secret core, and his sanctuary. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths.

Conscience is a judgment of reason by which the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act.

For the man who has committed evil, the verdict of his conscience remains a pledge of conversion and of hope.

Faced with a moral choice, conscience can make either a right judgment in accordance with reason and the divine law or, on the contrary, an erroneous judgment that departs from them.

A human being must always obey the certain judgment of his conscience.

Conscience can remain in ignorance or make erroneous judgments. Such ignorance and errors are not always free of guilt.

Quotable Quotes

“The talking heads are rushing to interpret the 2004 election as the year of the ‘values voter.’ A little skepticism is in order. Twenty-two percent of the electorate identified “moral values” as the “most important issue” shaping his or her vote. No other single issue garnered an equal or higher percentage. But that hardly yields the interpretation that values were the most important election issue. Even if we assume that the exit polls were completely accurate, the numbers do not add up to a moral-values election.

“I’d love to see the American people say with one voice that they are disgusted with the trash-mouth Hollywood types, the porn industry that invades our computers and our cable channels, the unethical businessmen, the foul reality shows, the abortion mills, kids killing kids over sneakers, the drugs, the child abuse, the shock jocks … well, I have only 750 words so I’ll stop there.

“The point is: We’ve got a long way to go before that day dawns.”

Related Websites

http://www.catholiceducation.org/ The Catholic Educator’s Resource Center, a resource clearinghouse for Catholic teachers and school administrators

http://www.heritage.org/ The Heritage Foundation, a research and education institute (a

“think tank”) stressing the principles of traditional American values

http://www.catholicyouth.org/ The Catholic Youth Foundation, a Catholic source of youth-ministry

resources

http://www.catholics-in-action.org/ Catholics In Action, a group based in Louisville, Ky., that works to restore the primacy of traditional family values:

http://www.sexnot4letters.com/ Sex Is Not A Four-Letter Word, a site of articles, testimonies and links all aimed at encouraging teens to reach for the beauty and rightness of chastity.

This past summer the Olympics gave us the opportunity to watch some of the greatest athletes in the world achieve success in a wide variety of sports. Many stood in the spotlight for their extraordinary athletic talents, and shone for the virtues they exhibited under pressure. One of these men, Jason Read of the United States men’s rowing team, had already demonstrated a great confidence and faith in himself in the September 11th rescue squad. However, the Olympics challenged him to take a step higher, to a deeper faith and confidence in God rather than himself.

The greatest day of this athlete’s life was not the day he lead his eight-man rowing team to win the Olympic gold. He had already celebrated a golden day in the Easter Vigil Mass of 2002 when he became Catholic. As the pacesetter at the head of the first-place team, Jason Read not only crossed the finish line first, but set an example of faith for all to follow.

The beginning of the training

In eighth grade, Read became interested in the powerful sport of rowing, and worked hard to play even though everyone thought he was too small to be a competitive rower. As an adult, he is only 6’1″, and weighs 180 lbs, while most rowers are bigger and heavier, but he has faith in himself: “I hate to lose, no matter what the endeavor. I will do everything in my power to win. Most of my rowing competition presupposes that because I’m small, I somehow won’t be able to beat them. You must have confidence in your skills and continually strive towards reducing or eliminating your own weaknesses.”

The terrorist attack of September 11th

Also as a young teenager, Read became interested in giving his time to help others, and volunteered with the Hopewell, New Jersey Fire Department at age 14. Two years later he was an emergency medical technician, and at 21 became the youngest person in his state to be chief of the rescue squad.

Only one hour outside Manhattan, Read’s life changed completely on September 11, 2001. He received one of the first calls after the first plane hit the Twin Towers, and raced to a command post to help coordinate 800 rescue workers, set up a field hospital, and finally go personally to Ground Zero to free the victims trapped below.

Along with many other 9/11 heroes Read worked for five days straight, stopping only once to sleep for eight hours at a hotel. He explains how this was possible: “In the face of entire shifts of firefighters killed in a matter of seconds, there was hope we would find people alive. Hope we would bring joy to a family that had loved ones missing. That kind of tenacity and gumption enabled many of the rescuers to work for days and days without sleep.”

The experience was so strong that Jason began to take a look at the meaning of his life on earth. What was the purpose of everything that he was doing, if he would not live forever? What was waiting for him after his death? “I had a sense of apathy about all things in the world that had meant so much to me,” he said, “Did I want to row anymore? Did I want to be chief of a volunteer rescue squad? What did it mean? All those people had been killed. Game over. Mortality became reality in a matter of seconds.”

The decision to become Catholic

Read already had a strong faith in himself, but now he knew that he needed a stronger faith in God. Even though he was not Catholic, the day after returning from Ground Zero he went to Mass. “It was emotional and revitalizing,” he said, “I prayed very hard -for the first time in my life.”

Father Tom Mullelly, chaplain of the Olympic rowing center at Princeton University, had been a friend of Jason’s. Now he helped the athlete in his search for a deeper faith. That next Easter, Jason experienced the hope of a real resurrection. He described this day as “one of the happiest days of my life. Fellowship, becoming Catholic as an adult and my uncanny ability to be relentlessly optimistic no matter how tumultuous and ugly life can be helped bring me back to life.” The confidence he had in himself had been shaken when he realized that he was not going to live forever, but it was replaced by something more steady, a confidence in God.

Family also played a key role of support, and Jason’s younger brother, Gunther, was baptized along with him. Jason’s faith became real and active in helping him live these relationships in a better way. “I’m a better brother, uncle and son. Now I understand how precarious life can be, how quickly things can change. And I am grateful for each and every moment.”

Victory on all fields

This spiritual victory went hand in hand with athletic success, and Read began to win medals and championships till the moment he earned the key seat in the Olympic team. However, even though he and his team’s victory is also the fruit of tremendous dedication and effort, Jason, like many other Olympic athletes, is grateful to God for his successes in sports. This does not mean that God makes some athletes win and the others lose. “Although prayer does not guarantee victory, it helps players put things in perspective and do all for God’s glory and not just their own” says Fr. Kevin Lixey, L.C. of the new Vatican sports department, “The virtue of gratitude, by which we recognize that all good things come from God, is both an act of humility as well as of praise and adoration.”

Jason was awarded the U.S. Rowing’s Man of the Year Award, but more important than what he did was why he did it. Before, he was rowing for himself, after his experience at Ground Zero and at the foot of Christ’s cross he learned to row for something besides himself. He rows for love of the sport, for love of his country, and for love of God who gave him the talents of an athlete. “After 9/11, I changed my approach to rowing. I no longer was fueled by vengeance and anger to beat other crews. My desire was to become the absolute best rower for America.” St. Paul says “Run so as to win (1 Corinthians 9:24),” but also emphasizes that any activity we do, if it is without love, is empty. Jason mastered both aspects, driving his team to win the gold while doing it not for himself, but for God.

Bible Blurbs

• “I do not think of myself as having reached the finish line. I give no thought to what lies behind but push on to what is ahead. My entire attention is on the finish line as I run toward the prize to which God calls me-life on high in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14
• “Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’” John 11:25-26
• “I myself am the living bread come down from Heaven. If anyone eats this bread he shall live forever.” John 6:51
• “Do you not know that in a  all the  , but only one gets the prize?  in such a way as to get the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24

Saints and Heroes

Pope John Paul II

As a young man he had the dream of becoming a teacher, a writer, and an actor, but God had a bigger plan. During the tragic events of World War II and after the death of his father he felt the call to be a priest. His dedication and faith have eventually led him, to his own surprise, to be called to be a bishop, cardinal, and also the Pope, the visible head of our Catholic Church. He has often been called “God’s athlete” because of the millions of miles he has traveled to encourage his brothers in the faith in every part of the world, and because neither an assassination attempt nor numerous illnesses have stopped his efforts. During his time as our Holy Father he has helped in the fall of Communism, created the World Youth Days, and inspired thousands of young men to become priests. His deepest purpose is the new evangelization of the modern world. His rallying cry is: “Be not afraid!”

Edel Quinn

Born in Ireland. After a happy childhood she felt the call to be a contemplative nun, but the death of her mother obliged her to help care for her family for a number of years. Then tuberculosis (a sickness of the lungs) made it impossible for her to enter the convent. Nevertheless she consecrated herself privately to God and became very active in door-to-door evangelization in the poorest neighborhoods of Dublin through an organization called the Legion of Mary. In spite of her poor health she insisted with the leaders of the Legion of Mary that she wanted to go to Africa to spread this good work. She eventually received permission and worked tirelessly in as a lay missionary in spite of her poor and failing health. Her dedication and love resulted in much success in that continent.

Vocabulary

Confidence: Firm belief, trust

Faith: (In self) Confidence that one can do a good job.
(In God) Personal relationship with God. Trust in God’s love and readiness to do God’s will

Hope: (Human hope) Belief that what one desires can happen
(Theological hope) Confidence in God’s gift of eternal life, Confidence in God’s mercy

Humility: Freedom from pride and arrogance. A modest estimate of one’s own worth

Tenacity: Ability to persevere in the midst of difficulties

Fellowship: Friendship and encouragement of others with the same values. Christian friendship

Gratitude: Thankfulness. Ability to honor the help of God and others

Discussion Questions

1. What are the different moments when this story speaks about hope? Are they different kinds of hope? What are some examples of the difference between hope in other people, and hope in God?
2. What are the different moments when this story speaks about faith? Are they different kinds of faith? What are some examples of the difference between faith in other people, and faith in God?
3. Would you say that September 11th was a tragedy for Jason, or an important moment in his life? Why? What made it either negative or positive for him?
4. Was there something deeper that Jason discovered in the faith than just a solution to death? What was it?
5. What was the difference in the way that Jason played sports before and after September 11th? What were the things that motivated him before and after?
6. When athletes thank God for their triumphs, is it because he makes them win? Does he make the other people lose? If you lose during a game, does that mean that you did not pray as hard as the other person did?
7. Jason Read became Catholic, but it was more than just a name that he called himself. How can you tell that he began to live as a real Catholic? How did he live his Catholic faith in his daily life.
8. Let’s try to pick out some the key moments that God was working in Jason’s life. Let us try to imagine how God was trying to do something to help Jason and make him into a great person. What moments can you see in his life where God was working?
9. Does receiving Christ in the Eucharist give you confidence and hope? Does it push you to be better? Why? Is the Eucharist just a symbol of God or is it something more? What more?

Writing Activities

1. Try to imagine how God is working in your life right now. What are some things that have happened recently, either big or ordinary, that might be ways God is trying to help you become a better person, student, son or daughter, friend, Christian, etc.?
2. Do you thank God for the talents and successes he has given you, or do you forget? Take some time to write a thank you letter to God, for all of the things he has done for you recently, the happy moments, and the good things he has given you.

Resolution Ideas

• In small groups, look for other inspiring cases of Olympic athletes, how they lived different virtues in their games. Write a short biography on these athletes, picking out 2-3 virtues that they demonstrate, and present it to the rest of the class. Some examples might be: Mariel Zagunis, Cesar Garcia, the Iraqi soccer team, etc.
• Go to Mass as a class, and try to imagine what it was like for Jason in that first Mass where he “prayed like he never did before.” Invite the pastor or a local priest to the class to speak moments when he has seen the power of the faith in others. Students each write a paragraph to try to answer this question: “What’s so great about your Catholic faith?”
• As a class, brainstorm ways that an athlete can give credit to God in sports (if they have the chance to say some words after the game, wearing a medal in the game, doing a team prayer before the game, giving a good example, showing joy, showing dedication in training, congratulating and encouraging others, using good language, etc.). If there are enough students on one of the school sports teams, encourage them to start a trend in the team to remember to ask God’s help and thank him for the successes he brings.

Web Resources

More information on Olympic athletes:

http://www.usatoday.com

http://www.nbcolympics.com/index.html

Information on becoming Catholic:

http://www.ecatholic2000.com/rcia/rcia.shtml

Joe Ford is a sophomore at Harvard, one of the top universities in the country.  Only 10% of all applicants make it into Harvard.  As you will read, Joe’s odds were much tougher.  This lesson will demonstrate how the virtue of perseverance prepared Joe for success and how the virtue of love inspired his family to help him achieve it.

Part I: Joe’s Perseverance.  

When Joe was born on September 5, 1983, the doctors gave him a 1% chance of living.  A lack of oxygen during birth caused excessive brain damage.  Diagnosed with quadriplegic cerebral palsy, Joe lacks control of most of his muscles.  He received his first wheelchair before he was two years old.  

Joe has always tried hard to apply the talents that God gave him.  Despite his physical limitations, Joe has the heart of a lion.  While most kids with severe disabilities attended special-needs schools, Joe worked to earn a place at a challenging Language Arts Academy.  In high school, he obtained an internship at a law firm, doing research on disability law.  This gave him the desire to attend college and possibly pursue a career in law.  He set his sights on Harvard, and studied hard enough to make it, scoring higher than 95% of all high school seniors on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).

Every day, Joe faces new challenges, but he never gives up.  We all know how difficult learning can be sometimes; but imagine the incredible challenge of learning if you could not hold a pencil or type on a keyboard!  This is the harsh reality for Joe, whose lack of muscle control makes such basic tasks extremely difficult.  Last year, Joe spent nine hours taking a philosophy exam at Harvard that other students completed in three hours.

Sometimes we might prefer to have others do things for us, especially things we don’t really want to do ourselves.  Sometimes we are convinced that a challenge before us is just too hard.  When discouraged, we can think Joe and his challenges.  For Joe, even the simplest task, like buttoning a shirt or tying a shoe, is very difficult.  In order to function, he must practice perseverance, the habit of trying hard despite obstacles.  Persevering does not mean that we always succeed, but that we always try our best, even through obstacles. 

Part II:  Family Love Brings Out the Best in Us

Joe’s amazing perseverance is in part the result of his own will to succeed; but it is also the fruit of his family’s generous outpouring of love.  Joe’s brothers and sisters often carried him on their backs, or brought him in a wagon to play with friends.  They changed the rules of games like baseball to allow Joe to participate, even allowing him to crawl to first base.  Joe’s brother Michael taught him how to play chess, and now Joe is an excellent player.  Another of Joe’s brothers, Liam, believes that by being included in so many of the family’s activities, Joe has developed the self-confidence to participate in regular activities like anyone else. 

The Ford family provides a beautiful example of unconditional love.  Joe’s family put his needs before their own because of their great love for him.  Christ calls us to show this kind of love to everyone we meet, especially to those in need.  This show of love does not happen automatically.  any great virtue, charity does not happen just by making a decision once, but by actions that are done many times. Charity is a decision that has to be constantly renewed and put into practice. We would all like to become a great basketball player by practicing only once, but we know it doesn’t happen that way.  Like greatness in sports, charity takes constant practice. We get better at it with effort.

The family is a perfect arena for practicing charity.  It is the first school of demanding, unconditional love that brings out the best in us.  Family life teaches us to be unselfish and respectful of each person’s dignity.  True joy in a family comes from working together as a team.  Pope John Paul II reminds us that “to maintain a joyful family requires much from both the parents and the children. Each member of the family has to become, in a special way, the servant of the others.”  The more we help our family, the better we can help others in need.

Compassion

Before we can help anyone in need, we must place ourselves in his or her situation.  Understanding someone else’s troubles with a desire to help them is the virtue of compassion.  We are inspired to be compassionate by remembering that God made us in his own image and likeness (Gen. 1:26).  We are all united to God with a special dignity and love.  God’s love for us is so great that he came to earth, in the person Jesus Christ, to share in our suffering.  “He took upon himself our infirmities, he bore our sickness” (Mt 8:17; Is 53:4).  Christ understands every hardship that we experience.  We should think about others’ hardships as well.

At first, Joe’s family did not know how to help him.  His mother held fast to the hope that he would get better.  Refusing to believe what the doctors told her about Joe’s condition, she brought him to physical therapy, swimming lessons, and even horseback riding lessons so that his physical abilities could improve.  Realizing that Joe likely would not be cured, his mother then shifted her focus to helping Joe live a fulfilling life with his disabilities.  She worked hard to help him develop the abilities that God had given him.  Once she understood his situation, she could better help him.

Our parents’ love for us lets them see greatness in us that we do not even see ourselves.  Their love comes from God, who has given us all a potential for greatness through the sacrament of baptism.  God sees a potential saint, a potential hero, in each of us. Christ believed in our greatness even when we were crippled by sin. He died for us to bring out the saint and hero in each one of us.  We become this hero when we, like Christ, help bring out the best in others.

Joe struggles with his disability just as we all struggle with our own imperfections.  Those who are physically or mentally disabled serve as a visible sign of our duties to one another.  Such people are rich in humanity and deserving of all the dignity and love that we hope for.  Disability is not a punishment; it is a privilege, which God allows as an opportunity for us to love one another as he loves us.

Bible Blurbs

 “He who endures to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 10:22

 “Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12

 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the  that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews12:1

 “I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” St. Paul  

Parallel Holy Heroes

Blessed Antonia Mesina (1919-1935) 

Antonia was born in Sardinia, the second-born of ten children.  Her mother, Grazia, developed a heart condition that required her to stay in bed most of the time. Antonia left school to take care of the whole family.  She was in third grade at the time!  Her mother often called Antonia “the flower of my life” and claimed that Antonia “never once went against me”. An obedient and brave little girl, she cared for her brothers and sisters as if she were already an adult. She cooked, cleaned, washed clothes, changed diapers, carried water, and gathered wood.  At the same time, Antonia was active in a Catholic youth group and helped many of her friends grow in their faith.  She gave up many personal pleasures and sacrificed her wants for the needs of her family and friends.

BLESSED HERMAN THE CRIPPLE (1013-1054) 

Herman was born with a facial deformity, cerebral palsy, and spina bifida. His parents were too poor to tke care of him, so they gave him to a Benedictine abbey nearby.  Herman became a monk himself and studied hard.  Despite his physical condition, Herman was a genius.  He studied and wrote on astronomy, theology, math, history, poetry, Arabic, Greek, and Latin. He also built musical instruments and astronomical equipment. Eventually, Herman went blind and had to give up his academic writing. He began composing poetry and became the most famous religious poet of his day.  He wrote the prayer Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen), which we often recite as part of the Rosary.

Vocabulary

Quadriplegic- complete paralysis from the neck down

Cerebral Palsy- a malfunction of the motor centers in the brain due to damage of the tissue (usually before or during birth) that results in lack of muscular coordination such as movement and speech 

Perseverance- trying hard and continuously despite obstacles

Unconditional Love- genuine concern and respect given freely to others without motive of self-interest; unconditional love is the love of God: a limitless, changeless love that embraces everyone and does not need to be earned.

Dignity- quality of being worthy of esteem or respect

Compassion- placing ourselves in another’s situation with a desire to help

Discussion Questions:

1. Did you know that 1 in 5 Americans has some form of disability?  1 in 10 has a severe disability.  What do you think constitutes a disability?  Do you, or anyone in your family, have a disability of any kind?  How many people do you know with a disability?

2. What specific actions and attitudes of Joe’s family helped him to develop confidence and trust in himself and others?

3. Pope John Paul II calls the family “the first school of social virtues.”  What does this mean?  How do you practice perseverance and sacrifice in your family?

4. In what ways do your parents make sacrifices for you?  What sacrifices can you make for them and for the rest of your family?

5. How is God’s love for us reflected in people with disabilities?

6. Which sacraments call us to practice perseverance and unconditional love?

Personal Reflection/Journal Writing

1. Write about a time when you have not been able to accomplish something that you wanted to be able to do?  What got in the way?  How did the obstacle make you feel?  Did you give up or did you try harder?  Why?  What do you think that says about your personality?  If you tried harder, did you eventually succeed?  What helped you keep going?  Did others encourage you to try or to stop trying?  How did that affect you? the example of anyone help you to keep going?

2. Write a descriptive paragraph about your day from the point of view of someone in a wheelchair.  Consider what you would do differently and how you would go about doing it.

3. Write about a time when you needed help from someone in your family.  It could be something small, like a homework assignment, or something significant, like a personal situation.  Did you ask for help or was it offered freely?  What was the outcome? 

4. Write about a time when you helped someone else in great need.  What did you sacrifice to help?  How effective were your actions?

5. List some aspects of our society that devalue human life.  Is every aspect of life sacred in our country?  What are some issues threatening the dignity of life?

6. Should we treat people with disabilities differently?  How should they be treated?

Resolution Ideas

1. Find a charity that provides education for underprivileged or disabled students.  Help support the charity in some tangible way. 

2. Many babies are aborted because they are diagnosed in the womb with disabilities.  This is an offense to the dignity of all life, which many people, especially Catholics, are trying to stop.  Find a pro-life organization in your areas and see how you or your class can help.  You might also support a local adoption agency that places unwanted children in loving families.

Extended Learning

1. What are the corporal works of mercy?  List them, and for each one give a concrete example of how you and your family and/or classmates could accomplish it.

2. Students may research a person with a physical disability who has persevered and accomplished great things.  It can be someone they know or someone they read about (the link to Special Olympics has a “meet the athletes” section.) Students should then write a short biography of the person, including details of the person’s disability and how he or she has overcome difficulties.

3. Research websites about saints.  Present a report on a saint who overcame a disability or helped others with disabilities.

Related Websites

National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry – Youth for Disabilities: Resources for Ministry http://www.nfcym.org/v3/resources/disabilities.html

Catholic World Mission— Mano Amiga program offers exceptional education for poor children in Mexico: http://www.catholicworldmission.org/

Pro-Life Activities— various pro-life resources from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: http://www.usccb.org/prolife/

National Disabled Students Union:  http://www.disabledstudents.org/

Special Olympics:  http://www.specialolympics.org/

Children with Disabilities:  http://www.childrenwithdisabilities.ncjrs.org/