Salt is a fun and exciting movie. It combines high-adrenaline adventure with suspense and the redeeming value of love. The heroine, played by Angelina Jolie, is a CIA agent who is accused of being a Russian spy. We are not sure if she is a spy until later in the movie, but what is clear is that she is definitely a very talented fighter. Her adventures are exciting, but what really makes this move worthwhile and redeeming is Salt’s love for her husband. This love is what ultimately saves her and motivates her to fight to save the world from an atomic disaster.

Positive: Fight against the bad guys. Love conquers all.

Bottom line: It’s totally cool how so many people unite to defend the heroine, Bella.

Positive value: Risking your life to protect the person you love.

Romantic and scary, the Twightlight series continues. I like the fact that Edward and Jacob sacrifice so much to try to protect Bella and make her happy. Bella’s desire to want to live forever with Edward is beautiful, but confusing. How can she want to become a vampire? Regarding the vampire family of which Edward is a member the series continues to highlight the internal conflict of people who have become vampires yet fight to overcome the strong instinct to kill and murder. Their effort is heroic, but Bella’s desire to become one of them is troublesome. In this installment she explains that she has always felt inadequate and out of place in the human world, so she thinks that her desire to be a vampire like Edward is the answer to that. Of course, it is not that simple, and Edward continues to try to change her mind. He is unsuccessful.

The subject of marriage is also discussed openly in this installment. Bella doesn’t believe in it, because of the divorce of her parents, but Edward insists that they must get married before they “do it”. I am definitely cheering for Edward on this one! Marriage is a life-long commitment, and deserves to be done in the right way.

To see a text only version, please go to Page 2…

Lord, make us grow in respect for your most amazing gift, the gift of life. Remind us that wherever we are at, you cherish our lives and are reaching out to us. Amen.

Tabloid socialite and TV personality Kourtney Kardashian recently made a decision that shocked Hollywood and rocked the reality TV world.  The pop media is still in a frenzy over the news.

Kourtney, who is 30, is the oldest sister on the E! network’s Keeping Up With the Kardashian’s, and recently finished a season of her own show: Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami with her sister.

Los Angeles native Kourtney Mary Kardashian is the daughter of the late Robert Kardashian, who was OJ Simpson’s famous trial lawyer. Her mom, Kris, is married to Bruce Jenner, the 1976 Decathlon Gold Medalist. Kourtney is a graduate of Marymount High School, an all-girls Catholic school in LA. She earned a degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Arizona in Tucson, in May, 2002. After that, Kourtney assisted her mom in opening several children’s clothing boutiques in New York and LA called “Smooch”.

Reality Shows

Her first stint with reality TV began in 2005 with Filthy Rich: Cattle Drive, a show that followed celebrity kids working on a Colorado cattle ranch. The premiere of Keeping Up with the Kardashian’s in 2007 featured models Kourtney, Kim, and Khloe, who were joined by the rest of their family. This includes brother Robert, Jr. also a model, and step-sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner and their parents Kris and Bruce Jenner.

Moving to Miami, Florida, Kourtney and Khloe began shooting their own reality show Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami, which aired on August 16, 2009. But that’s not all that aired that week. Kourtney also broke the news that she was pregnant.

Reality Bites

In an exclusive interview with People Magazine, (August 12, 2009) Kourtney revealed her thoughts as she struggled with what to do next.

“I definitely thought about it long and hard, about if I wanted to keep the baby or not.”

Kardashian reflected that the “choice” of abortion is often made without a lot of thought and information:

“… I don’t think it’s talked through enough. I can’t even tell you how many people just say, ‘Oh, get an abortion.’ Like it’s not a big deal.”

She felt a lot of confusion and turmoil at this point.

“I called my best friend crying, and I was like, ‘I don’t know what to do.’ She said, ‘Call your doctor, and at least find out the risks and stuff.’”

Alternate Reality

Kourtney’s doctor suggested that she do research in order to make an informed decision.

“I looked online, and I was sitting on my bed hysterically crying, reading these stories of people who felt so guilty from having an abortion,” she recalls.

“I was reading these things of how many people are traumatized by it afterwards.”

It began to dawn on Kourtney that abortion was not a choice for her after all.

“I was just sitting there crying, thinking, ‘I can’t do that,’” she said. And I felt in my body, this is meant to be. God does things for a reason, and I just felt like it was the right thing that was happening in my life.”

“For me, all the reasons why I wouldn’t keep the baby were so selfish…”

Reality, Man…

Her boyfriend, Scott Disick, 26, came to her side to offer his support even though she had broken up with him already.

“He wanted me to talk about it more, but I just kept to myself.”

He said, ‘I really want you to keep it [the baby], but I will support you whatever you decide to do.’”

“I really wanted to think it through for myself, and not hear what my sisters were saying, or what Scott was saying,” Kourtney explained.

“Even though I took it all in, I wanted it to be my decision.”

But the advice her doctor had given Kourtney at that first visit stayed with her.

“My doctor told me there is nothing you will ever regret about having the baby, but he was like, ‘You may regret not having the baby.’”

“And I was like: ‘That is SO true.’”

“And it just hit me. I got so excited, and when I told Scott, he was so excited.”

When asked about future plans for marriage to Disick, Kardashian said,

“We talk about marriage all the time.”

Then she adds:

“I just feel like there is so much to do… We should do everything for the baby right now and I’ll worry about myself later.”

Harsh Reality

Perhaps the most convincing information about the effects of abortion comes from those who know first hand what an abortion can do to both a mother and her baby. Some women who have had an abortion write their testimonies, the stories of their sufferings, and post them on web sites such as silentnomore.org , afterabortion.org , or abortionfacts.com . These post-abortive women hope others read the testimonies and learn from them, and might be spared the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual suffering they experienced after their abortion.

Dr. Alveda King, Director of the African American Outreach at Priests for Life and niece of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., applauded Kardashian’s decision. In a LifeNews.com interview Dr. King said,

“I am a member of the Silent No More Awareness Campaign, which posts the largest collection of such testimonies on the internet precisely for the purpose of exposing the truth about abortion.”

In another interview Dr. King said:

“Kourtney’s testimony is so encouraging. She found messages from post-abortive women like myself on the Internet.”

It takes a courageous woman to give a testimony of the painful results of choosing abortion, as Dr. Alveda King knows. But saving a child’s life makes it worth the pain.

Reality Check

The flashy, anything-goes lifestyle of reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian and the decision she made proves a very important point. Anyone, no matter who they are, no matter how they live, no matter what they do, can find the truth by seeking it with an open heart.

Kourtney didn’t want opinions. She began to ask real questions about abortion. What will it do to me? What will it do to my child? Before she made up her mind, she gave herself the chance to really check things out. Asking was the most important thing in the life of her unborn child. It saved his/her life.

Kourtney Kadashian’s current lifestyle may not change much right away. She is still the glitzy socialite chic with a TV camera covering her every move.

But who knows what questions she may ask in the future? One thing is for sure. If she asks God for His help, she is sure to get it.

Reality Babe–y

Kourtney Kardashian soul-searched until she found the courage and determination to accept new life.

“This baby was unexpected, but it’s 100 percent still a blessing,” says Kardashian. (8/26/09 from TransWorldNews)

Her choice of love over selfishness was a life and death decision. True love makes sacrifices.

Regardless of her career, or what others would think about her decision, regardless of what might happen to her in the future, Kourtney chose the life of her baby over her own needs.

For her, it was selfishness to do anything less.

Kourtney’s baby is due around Christmas. We pray she will continue to hear the voice of God.

Bible Blurbs

“Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.”

Isaiah 49:15

“Children, too, are a gift from the LORD, the fruit of the womb, a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children born in one’s youth.”

Psalm 127: 3-5

“You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb… My very self you knew; my bones were not hidden from you, When I was being made in secret, fashioned as in the depths of the earth… my days were shaped, before one came to be.”

Psalm 139:13-16

For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.

Luke 1:44

CLICK HERE to read and search the entire bible, ONLINE!

Catechism Clips

1738: “….Every human person, created in the image of God, has the natural right to be recognized as a free and responsible being. All owe to each other this duty of respect…”

1931: “Respect for the human person proceeds by way of respect for the principle that “everyone should look upon his neighbor (without any exception) as ‘another self,’…”

2227: “Children in turn contribute to the growth in holiness of their parents.”

2271: Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable…

2323: Because it should be treated as a person from conception, the embryo must be defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed like every other human being.

Ever wonder what the church REALLY says about something? Ever hear people talking about what Cathoics believe and think, “That doesn’t sound right?” CLICK HERE and check it out for yourself!

Pope Quotes

“How bitter the irony of those who promote abortion as a form of ‘maternal’ healthcare! How disconcerting the claim that the termination of life is a matter of reproductive health!”

Pope Benedict XVI, Angola, March 23, 2009

“… we ask Mary, Mother of the incarnate Word and our Mother, to protect every earthly mother: those …together with their husbands, …and those that, for so many reasons, find themselves alone in facing such an arduous task.”

Pope Benedict XVI, Sept 7, 2008

“Selfishness and fear are at the root of (pro-abortion) legislation. We in the Church have a great struggle to defend life… The Church says life is beautiful, it is not something to doubt, but it is a gift even when it is lived in difficult circumstances. It is always a gift.”

May 9, 2007

“Children are the major richness and the most precious good of a family.”

Pope Benedict XVI, Dec. 3. 2005

“…This unique contact (of a mother) with the new human being developing within her gives rise to an attitude toward human beings – not only toward her own child, but every human being – which profoundly marks the woman’s personality.”

The Gospel of Life, Pope John Paul II

CLICK HERE to see all the Pope’s writings! You might be surprised at what they have to say!

Saints & Heroes

Found his faith, lost his head

Blessed Franz Jägerstätter

Lived in Austria
May 1907 – August 1943

Franz was born shortly before World War I. His parents were not married, and his early years were spent living with his grandmother. When he was 9, his father was killed in the war. His mother then married his step father, who adopted him and gave him his last name.
As Franz got older, he became a bit wild and liked to party. He got a girl pregnant and had a daughter. A few years later, he met Franziska Schwaninger, who was from a nearby village. He fell in love with her and the two were married. They decided to go to Rome for there honeymoon. Something happened to Franz during this time. His heart began to feel drawn to God and his Catholic faith.
Franz and Franziska had three daughters. He became very involved at his church, eventually being made responsible for taking care of the church property and things, and setting up for Masses and ceremonies. Franz became a Third Order Franciscan, meaning he was a lay married man who had a normal job and family, but did his best to live a life like St Francis and his Friars.
During this time Hitler and the Nazi Party was in full power. The Anschluss began, as Germany started taking over their neighboring countries. In Austria, people voted to make Austria part of the Third Reich without a fight rather than be taken by force. Most Austrians knew if they voted no, they might be arrested, beaten or even killed. In his village, Franz was the only one to vote “no”.

Once Austria joined the Third Reich, the Nazis began forcing Austrian men to serve in the German Army. Franz knew that the Nazi ideals were in direct opposition to his faith. He knew it was wrong to take a persons freedom and dignity away. He also knew of the violence with which the Nazis treated those who disagreed with them, and how they treated Jews. He decided that as a Catholic, he could not fight for such a government.
His priest, bishop, and friends all encouraged Franz to go along with the Nazis, because they were concerned about his wife and children being left fatherless. But Franz had already lived part of his life ignoring his conscience, and decided he could not do that any longer. Even if he was going to be the only one, he would not compromise his morals or beliefs.
He refused to report for duty and was arrested and given a military trial. After he was convicted Franz was beheaded on a guillotine on August 9, 1943.
No one, except maybe his wife, knows exactly what caused Franz to abandon his former rowdy lifestyle and embrace his faith. In a time in his life when he was far from God, he heard and turned his life around. And as the darkness of fascism swept up everyone around him, he managed to hold on to the light of Faith. Franz made the supreme sacrifice of love for life and freedom. He was named Blessed by Pope Benedict XVI on October 26, 2007, and is on his way to being canonized as a saint.

True pioneer of women’s rights

Dorothy Day

Lived in New York
Nov. 1897 – Nov. 1980

Dorothy was born on November 8 in Brooklyn, NY. She ended up living in Greenwich Village in the heart of the roaring 1920’s. This period of time saw many advances in technology, economic boom, the rise of communism, and a subculture of speak-easy bars opposing Prohibition. For many people, this all led to a sense of contempt for authority and traditional morals. It was against this back drop that Dorothy began pursuing her passionate career as a journalist.
As the 20’s came to a crashing end in the Great Depression, she wrote about controversial topics, such as women’s rights, birth control, and socialism. But while her political views seemed razor sharp, her personal life was a bit hazy.
Dorothy lived a loose lifestyle, having two “common law marriages”. Tragically, she ended her first pregnancy with an illegal abortion because she didn’t want to give up her career or lifestyle. When she found out she was pregnant a second time, she retreated to a beach house in a secluded vacation spot in Staten Island, NY. Here she gave birth to her only child: a daughter named Tamar. The experience of being a mother, especially after suffering the effects of abortion and years of promoting birth control, caused her to call in to question her previous thoughts about God, herself, and society. Dorothy returned to New York City a different person.
She became piously devoted to the Catholic faith, in which she found the answers to many of the social problems that concerned her. She renounced her previous lifestyle and the selfishness that went with it. She decided to live “voluntary poverty,” serving the poor, living with the poor, and being poor herself.
She started a newspaper where she wrote openly about the plight of the poor and criticized those who took advantage of them. She opened houses for homeless, and even took in the mentally ill. She helped workers protest for fair treatment. In a time when it was nearly impossible for the less fortunate to find help, but Dorothy was there with what little she had.
Dorothy also denounced the sexual revolution of the 1960’s. She said she had seen the damage that “free love” behavior could do first hand. Many people like Dorothy decided to make working for social justice more important than authentic faith. But Dorothy always held fast to Catholic teaching. The reason she did what she did was the person of Jesus Christ, and she followed and served him faithfully right where she found him present, the Catholic Church.­
The Servant of God Dorothy Day died on November 29, 1980.
While her life does not follow the path one commonly associates with sainthood, Dorothy heard the voice of God in the midst of darkness and responded with abandon. Pope John Paul II opened investigation for her cause to be canonized a saint.

Virtuous Verbiage Verification

abortion – ending the life of a human being in the womb at any stage of development.
(The medical term Spontaneous Abortion refers to a miscarriage, which can sadly occur naturally and is not the result of a human action. A Procured Abortion is when the baby’s life is ended whether directly, or as a result of some other medical procedure and is immoral.)
choice – the act of selecting one of two or more options.
(In the context of Life issues, the word choice is often used incorrectly. First, an alarming number of women who have abortions state that they feel they have no other “choice”. Second, in moral situations, if someone knows something is wrong, it isn’t really a choice. But pro-abortion activists know that by labeling it a choice, they make it politically incorrect to tell a woman that abortion is not a moral option.)
compromise – when 2 sides of an argument come to an agreement by giving up something.
(Compromise can be good, unless the thing one gives up is their morals, beliefs or conscience.)
decision – something someone has made up their mind about and is committed and resolved about.
guilt(guilty) – 1) the acknowledgement that one has done something wrong. 2) feelings of remorse or sorrow for something one has done
(Guilt can be good if it leads us to repent and change. But guilt is a serious problem if we punish ourselves with these feelings to the point of despair and neglect of God’s mercy.)
post-abortive – a term used to describe the psychological, emotional and spiritual state of a woman who has experienced the tragedy of abortion.
(PAS (Post Abortive Syndrome), or PASS (Post Abortive Stress Syndrome) is a term used to describe the symptoms of this condition, which is very similar to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. However, the American Psychological Association refuses to accept it regardless of the number of women reported to be suffering from it.)
regret- sadness or disappointment, usually related to some past thing done or left undone
sacrifice – accepting suffering or discomfort for the sake of some good thing, for self or especially others
selfish(ness) – a sin of pride, which consists of holding one’s own wants and needs as being most important, above any other
testimony(ies) – when a witness tells their story about what they saw or experienced
Third Order – someone, usually a married person, who does not actually join a religious order, but lives their life following the teachings and rules of that religious community as best they can in their current state of life.
turmoil – intense stress or suffering, usually leading to chaos or disorder

Discussion Questions

The APA, which governs the practice of psychology in the USA, refuses to accept Post Abortive Stress Syndrome (PASS or PAS for short) as a form of post traumatic stress disorder. Even though tens of thousands of women report suffering the symptoms after having an abortion, the APA insists that abortion doesn’t have a side effect on women.

• Why do you think this is?
• What reasons might they have for not wanting to acknowledge this syndrome?
• Should post abortive women be able to pay for treatment with health insurance?

1. Kourtney mentions that she can keep her baby because she is well off and can afford it.

   • Do you think the poor or less fortunate are limited in their actual “choice” because they can’t financially support their babies?
   • Is that fair or just?
   • What can or should be done about it?

2. Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood International, said, “We don’t want the word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population.” Dr. Alveda King reaches out to African-American women because she doesn’t believe they are presented alternatives to abortion equal to other social groups.

   • Is it possible that race is a factor in how and where abortion is marketed and made available?
   • Obviously, not every abortion supporter thinks like Sanger, but could Planned Parenthood’s agenda be tainted by her ideas?
   • Should society work to make sure all women and babies are cared for and provided for equally?

3. The Kardashian sisters have not behaved like very good role models. Their provocative style of dress, sexually loose lifestyle, and often selfish and destructive behavior, seem to make them an example of what NOT to do.

   • Can people who are far from God’s plan do really good things? How?
   • Do you think Kourtney is responsible for this change herself, or is it a grace from God?
   • Ca­­n God reach us, and can we hear Him, even if we aren’t listening?

Journal Writing

Write about the time when it was hardest for you to do the right thing. Try and remember what you were feeling and what influenced your decision. Write about the people who either helped or hindered you from doing the right thing. Then, include a paragraph or two about wha­­t you might do differently or what you might do exactly the same if you were in that situation again.

Activities

1. One reason Kourtney’s decision is so shocking is the sacrifice she is willing to make for her baby. People who live surrounded by glamour and comfort often find it hard to sacrifice for others. Make a list of the people who have made sacrifices for you. Pick a way to thank them: with a card, a call, a text, or in person.
2. With your teacher or parents permission, visit some of the websites mentioned in this article. Read some of the stories presented by women like Dr. Alveda King; the stories that so deeply moved Kourtney. Make sure to pray for those women, and all women faced with the “choice” of abortion.

Debate

Split in two teams. The topic for the debate is:
“Can a baby ever be an accident or a mistake?”
Be sure to use information from the lesson, the Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, your Parish priest, and other reliable resources to back up your arguments.
Remember, the point is to find the truth, not just to win!

It was an exciting moment. Carrie Prejean’s turn had arrived to answer a question from a judge during the final round of the Miss USA pageant. When the question came, Carrie’s stomach turned. The judge wanted to know what she, as the reigning Miss California and the potential Miss USA, thought about “gay marriage.” She knew what the man wanted to hear. But she also knew what she truly believed.

Carrie wondered: should she give the popular answer or speak her conscience? She quickly prayed for guidance.

We’ll get to her answer — and its aftermath — in a minute. But first, let’s take a quick look at Carrie’s life leading up to the Miss USA pageant. That will help us zero in on the point of this lesson: True marriage is worth defending … even when it costs you dearly.

Young love

Carrie Prejean was a shy child but, in high school, she became a four-sport athlete. Her softball team won a national championship. Then, encouraged by her parents, she joined a youth group at her evangelical Protestant church. She found that she loved to learn more about God, his love for her and his love for everyone. This knowledge became a source of deep joy for her.

Her parents and her church also taught her that her faith and her values would be challenged in the world today. She made a personal commitment to Christ and to her Christian values, prepared to deal with the challenges this commitment would bring.

You really think I’m pretty?

When Carrie was 17, some people began insisting that she enter beauty pageants. “I didn’t even know what a pageant was,” she told the press recently. But Carrie had always liked challenges and trying new things. The idea that she could be competitive in a beauty contest stirred her imagination.

Going for it

Carrie isn’t exaggerating when she describes herself as someone who can be very enthusiastic once she decides on a goal. She got the name of a woman who helps organize beauty pageants and called her. When the woman met Carrie, she seemed impressed. She explained the basics of the pageant and gave Carrie some information to look over and some forms to fill out. So it was that, at 17, Carrie entered her first beauty contest … and won!

College!

In college, Carrie continued participating in beauty pageants. She spent her freshman year at a state school, but after prayer and discernment decided that she wanted to attend a Christian college. She transferred to San Diego Christian College, a school known for promoting a strong faith life.

Carrie greatly enjoyed her new school. She saw the environment of faith and intellectual challenge as an opportunity to prepare for the future: She wanted to be a Christian leader. She wanted to help bring Christ to others and make a difference in the world. Most of all, she wanted people to know the deep sense of satisfaction she had found through a personal and prayerful relationship with Jesus.

Reaching out

Besides her studies and her beauty pageant preparations, Carrie also got involved in outreach programs to the handicapped and the hurting. She took part in a ministry to women exploited by prostitution and pornography.

Beauty strategy

During this time, Carrie’s attitude toward beauty pageants was, “Just be joyful and be myself. Be happy with who I am and try to show kindness to everyone else.” It worked. Her successes mounted with each contest. This past November Carrie won the Miss California USA pageant. She was also voted Miss Congeniality by her fellow contestants.

Prepping

Winning the Miss California USA title was exciting in itself, but it also qualified her for the Miss USA pageant. She decided to take a semester off from school to prepare for the pageant. She worked out, followed a demanding diet and studied many of the topics she might be asked about.

The Miss USA pageant took place in Las Vegas over a two-week period. Only the last day of the pageant, April 19, was shown on national television. Which brings us back to the question that changed her life.

Facing Down Fear

As the telecast began, the host named 15 finalists. Several rounds of competition followed until only five girls remained. For the final round, each finalist would have to answer a question from a celebrity judge. The girls picked judges’ numbers from a bottle and Carrie ended up with Judge No. 8 — Perez Hilton.

This man’s real name is Mario Armando Lavandeira. He is famous for his abrasive personality and insulting commentaries on TV and the Internet. He is also famous for promoting changing the definition of marriage so gay couples can get “married.”

“Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage,” said Mr. Hilton. “Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not?”

This was a loaded question. Perez Hilton was setting Carrie up to either cave in to popular pressure or make a fool of herself in front of millions of people.

Or so he thought.

At first, Carrie tried to soft-pedal her beliefs. “I think it’s great that Americans are able to choose one or the other,” she said. “We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage.”

But as she spoke these words, she heard a still, small voice speaking to her heart. Which crown did she want more — the Miss USA crown or the crown Christ wanted to give her?

She interrupted herself in mid-thought. “And you know what?” she said. “I think that in my country, and in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman — no offense to anybody out there — but that’s how I was raised and … I think that it should be between a man and a woman.”

Media Firestorm

As Carrie spoke these words, an immediate reaction rose from the audience. Most people applauded, encouraged by Carrie’s bravery and honesty, but there were also some boos. You probably already know that Carrie lost the contest.

Afterward, a famous television reporter asked her about Perez Hilton’s question. Carrie was surprised that such a famous reporter would want to talk to the runner-up rather than the winner. In her mind, what happened to her was simply a side story. She soon began to find out that this was not just a side story. It had already become national news.

Digging up dirt

In May, a celebrity-gossip blog ran a photo of Carrie partially undressed. Her back was to the camera, and the image was not especially racy by today’s standards, but the organizers of the Miss California pageant announced that they were investigating. Carrie, they said, might have her Miss California title taken from her.

Speaking in her own defense, Carrie stated that she had posed for the shot when she was 17 and pursuing a career as a model. She objected to the release of the photo.

“I am a Christian, and I am a model,” she said. “Models pose for pictures, including lingerie and swimwear photos. Recently, photos taken of me as a teenager have been released surreptitiously to a tabloid Web site that openly mocks me for my Christian faith. I am not perfect, and I will never claim to be.”

She has also pointed out that she was “naive and young” at the time of the photography and regrets having made the decision to pose for that particular shoot. Maggie Gallagher, head of the National Organization for Marriage — which works to keep marriage between one man and one woman — spoke out in Carrie’s defense. “You don’t have to be a perfect person,” said Gallagher, “to have the right to stand up for marriage.”

“You’re fired!”

The media circus followed Carrie around for weeks. Then, on June 10, the final ax fell. Carrie was stripped of her Miss California crown. This was the title that had gotten her into the Miss USA pageant to begin with.The organizers of the Miss California pageant claimed Carrie had not been cooperative in carrying out her duties. Carrie disputed that claim.

“They don’t agree with the stance that I took [on gay marriage],” she said. “They don’t like me. From Day One they wanted me out, and they got what they wanted. … I was very respectful of people even when they slandered me and humiliated me,” she added. “I have not once stooped down to their level.”

With these words, and with her acceptance of embarrassing defeat, Carrie showed the world what Christian forgiveness looks like.

A Crown lost, a crown gained

Carrie may have been stripped of her crown as Miss California, but she certainly can stand tall. She has been given a crown of courage, even if many mock her and call her a hypocrite. She has stood up for marriage at a time when it is extremely important to do so.

Marriage really matters. It matters for all of society. Carrie has done her small part to witness to the beauty and truth of marriage.

Battles ahead

What does Carrie Prejean’s future hold? That remains to be seen. She still has many choices ahead of her.

One thing is for certain: The battle for the truth about marriage will continue. Legal experts foresee a very heated and difficult battle, because, with the approval of gay “marriage” in many states, the Christian view of marriage may be considered bigoted “hate speech” by government.

We Catholics, too, will be called on to defend marriage. Will we have the courage to stand firm as Carrie Prejean did — even when it means losing something we have worked hard for? When we experience loss, we can remember that nothing is truly lost when we stand up for truth.

On the contrary, we help others. Let us continue to speak the truth with love. Christ will give us our crown, and we will know the happiness of having helped others with our lives.

Bible Blurbs

“God created man in his image; …male and female he created them. God blessed them, saying: ‘Be fertile and multiply’…”

Genesis 1:27-28

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body.

Genesis 2:24

“…for I will honor those who honor me…”

1 Samuel 2:30

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:10

Catechism Clips

372: Man and woman were made “for each other” – not that God left them half-made and incomplete: he created them to be a communion of persons… for they are …complementary as masculine and feminine.

2202: A man and a woman united in marriage, together with their children, form a family. This institution is prior to any recognition by public authority, which has an obligation to recognize it.

1778: In all he says and does, man is obliged to follow faithfully what he knows to be just and right.

2333: Physical, moral, and spiritual difference and complementarity are oriented toward the goods of marriage and the flourishing of family life.

2360: Sexuality is ordered to the conjugal love of man and woman.

Pope Quotes:

“… the need to avoid confusing marriage with other types of unions based on weak love is especially urgent. It is only the rock of total irrevocable love between a man and a woman that can serve as the foundation on which to build… a home for all mankind.

(May 11, 2006)

Marriage is engraved in the human being himself… man leaves his parents and is united to a woman in order to form only one flesh, so that the two may be a single existence.

(April 6, 2006: Meeting with young people)

The sexual difference that distinguishes the male from the female body is not a mere biological factor… man and woman, by becoming one flesh, can achieve authentic communion… and cooperate with God in the procreation of new human beings.

(May 11, 2006)

Thus, …marriage is not an invention of the Church: it is really created right in the moment that man is created, as a fruit of the dynamism of love in which the man and the woman find themselves and thus also find the Creator who called them to love.

(April 6, 2006: Meeting with young people)

Today the various forms of the erosion of marriage, such as free unions and “trial marriage” and even pseudo-marriages between people of the same sex… makes the body despicable, placing it… outside the person’s authentic being and dignity.

(June 6, 2006)

Saints & Heroes

Defended marriage, ‘til death did him part…!

Blessed Peter To Rot (1912-1945)

Peter, the son of a tribal chief, was one of the first of his tribe to become Christian. His family was from Papua New Guinea, in the South Pacific. He was always very smart, and was always a leader, both in school, and at sports.

When he got older, he was sent to school to become a catechist and teacher. He worked to teach and defend the Catholic faith. He later got married and became the father of three children.

In 1942, during World War II, the Japanese invaded New Guinea and imprisoned all of the missionaries who had been working there. Peter brought food to them in the prison camps.

In 1945 all religious activity was prohibited, but Peter continued to fulfill his duties in secret, including teaching, bringing people the sacraments, and hiding the Eucharist in a cave.

The Japanese decided they could win support of the local people by making it once again legal for a man to marry more than one woman. This had been outlawed when Christianity spread there. Peter openly and publicly opposed this legalization of polygamy.

One of his fellow villagers, a man who spied for the Japanese, wanted to take another man’s wife for his own. Peter went to the man’s house and reminded him that marriage was a sacred union that he could not destroy. The man listened to Peter, but became bitter and looked for ways to trap Peter and hand him over to the Japanese. Not long after, the man found out Peter had celebrated a Catholic wedding with two couples. The man had him arrested for breaking the laws about religious practice.

After several months in a prison and a concentration camp, he was murdered by two military guards who hated the Catholic faith. They injected him with a terrible drug and he died a vicious death.

He had told people he was prepared to die for his faith and his people, and so he did. And he became the first native from the South Pacific to approach canonization.

Her body crushed, but her faith stronger than stone…

St. Margaret Clitherow(1556-1586)

In the sixteenth century, King Henry the VIII of England wanted a son very badly. In order to have one, he divorced one wife, had another beheaded, and separated the Church of England from the Catholic Church because the Pope would not approve.

Following this, there were violent persecutions of Catholics, people who chose their loyalty to God and the church over the king, and who were willing to stand up and say the king could not simply dismiss the bonds of a sacred marriage.

Margaret was 15 when she married John Clitherow, a butcher. She had three children, and became a Catholic at 18. Her husband approved of her conversion, even though it could be dangerous.

Margaret became a friend to the Catholics of northern England. She even hosted secret masses in her home. She cut a secret escape hatch from her attic to the neighbors house, so priests and nuns could escape if soldiers raided her house.

Her love of her faith inspired her son to become a priest. He had to leave the country because it was illegal to be a Catholic priest there.

Eventually, Margaret was discovered and arrested, charged with harboring Catholic priests. She knew that if there was a trial, her children would be brought in to court, tortured, and forced to testify against their mother. Margaret also knew that if she refused to plea guilty or not guilty, she would be immediately executed, but her family would be spared a torturous trial. So she refused to plea.

She was sentenced to be crushed to death. Even her executioners were so moved that they could not kill her themselves, so they paid a few desperate beggars to do it for them. They placed a sharp stone behind her back, laid a wooden door on top of her, and piled rocks on the door until she was dead.

Margaret believed in the sanctity of marriage, and that no political pressure could sway her faith in God and love for his church.

Virtuous Verbiage Verification:

bigoted: utterly intolerant of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one’s own.

conscience: one’s best judgment, in a given situation, on what is right or wrong. It is our duty to “form” our conscience – this means to learn what is objectively right from wrong, so we can make the right choices.

discernment: a process in which one prays and listens to the Holy Spirit, in order to figure out what the will of God is.

enthusiastic: having or showing great excitement, motivation, and interest

happy/happiness: the sense of contentment, fulfillment, and being satisfied. We become “more” happy as we get closer to God, and we will only be completely happy with Him forever in Heaven.

marriage: the vocation (or life-calling) from God, to one man and one woman, empowered by grace through the sacrament of matrimony, to become united to each other physically, spiritually, and emotionally. This bond is permanent (until death), and it is exclusive (they only unite with each other, never with anyone else). The fruit of a true marriage is openness to children, through which a man and woman participate in the very life and love of God.

naive: inexperienced, simple-minded, lacking the knowledge that one learns from experience, gullible

right: 1) good, just, correct 2) a privilege one naturally deserves or is guaranteed by a government: “the right to life”, “inalienable rights…”, “the right to remain silent…”

slandered: defamed, had one’s reputation ruined by another’s false claims or accusations

surreptitiously: with sneaky and secret plans, especially related to an attack or a trap

Discussion questions:

1. What does it mean to be “tolerant” of others? Did Carrie Prejean say anything that was “intolerant” of others? Were Perez Hilton and the officials of the Miss USA/Miss California Pageants tolerant of Carrie’s religious beliefs? Does being tolerant require that you change your beliefs? Is it possible to “accept” a person without accepting their beliefs?
2. Does the Catholic church define marriage for one man and one woman because it hates homosexuals and wants to punish them for not “fitting in”? Or is the Church really looking out for what is best for ALL men and women?
3. Since God designed marriage to be “life-giving” and “procreative,” is it ok for a man and woman who are married to refuse to be open to having children, even if they are totally capable of doing so?

Journal Writing:

• Make a list of some of the things you believe in the most and feel the strongest about… the kind of things you would be willing to stand up for no matter what. Write about why you believe in those things, and if you think they mean enough to you that you would sacrifice your dreams or goals for what you believe in like Carrie did.
• Imagine you have a friend who lives in a country where there is no freedom of speech or religion, a place where this friend could be arrested for simply stating what he/she believes. write a letter to this friend and encourage them to hold on to their beliefs.

Debate:

Divide in two teams. The debate topic is “Does a government have the right to define marriage without taking into account the religious beliefs of the majority of its people? Is this a matter of separating church and state? Or is this a matter of government taking away some freedoms of religion and speech?”

Activity:

Write letters of support to Carrie Prejean. Offer her encouragement for the many more choices she will have to face as she continues to grow. Find out how to send them to her, or send them to us at O.F.I.A. and we will send them to her.

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

Rebecca Dussault is going for the gold, and yet she feels that she has already won. Few would suspect that one person could excel as a young wife, mother and world champion cross-country ski racer.

At age 15 Rebecca started cross-country ski racing, and found herself climbing quickly to the top. She seemed to have the winning combination that U.S. Nordic Ski Coach Peter Vordenberg later described: “Rebecca is a talented an athlete as we have ever had. She has the physical talent, the mental drive, and the emotional support of her family and her strong Catholic faith.” She loved the sport because it brought her into the beauty of God’s creation. She skied with others who shared both her love for the outdoors and for God.

“We used to go skiing in the middle of the night with a group from our church and our priest, who was an avid outdoorsman,” she recalled. “He would celebrate Mass for us in the moonlight.”

A DIFFICULT CHOICE

When Rebecca married her childhood sweetheart, Sharbel, at age 19, she thought her skiing days were over. “My main reason for hanging my skies up at such a young age was to re-prioritize and break away from the spotlight. My skiing had become all-consuming and I realized that I was not going to be able to keep up the demanding schedule and raise a family.” For her, the first priority became and still is her vocation to marriage.

She and Sharbel had been friends since age 11, when his mother home schooled both of them. “We felt a strong bond of friendship we knew would last into marriage and until death,” she said, “We knew we were made for each other unto our eternal betterment.” They are both fervent Catholics.

A year after her wedding, with a spirit of docility in asking God through prayer what He was asking of her, she decided to give up skiing to show what was really important in her life. “I was convicted by the Lord that He wanted more of me than I was giving to Him,” she explained, “and that ultimately I would have to leave skiing to attain this gift of self.” This decision required true courage in taking the risk of giving up a proven and successful life in competitive racing to answer God’s call to focus on her new family.

“I would be remiss if I didn’t share with all of you my truest love of all,” she said, “the Lord Jesus Christ and his holy Catholic Church. My faith is the most important thing in my life.” “Having the same faith formation as my spouse has had unbelievable advantages,” she said, “It was never a question as to whether or not we would fully embrace the Church’s teachings.”

On November 29th, 2001, Rebecca gave birth to a son, Tabor, her “pride and joy.” When she went to the Olympics in Salt Lake City to watch her teammates compete, she hugged her son close and told herself that he was her gold medal.

THE PIVOTAL RACE

After a three-year break, the Dussaults began to discuss the possibility of Rebecca racing again. In February of 2003 she entered a local race where she found herself competing against the two-time Olympian, Katrin Smigun, who was undefeated in all her college races.

The gun fired, and the racers took off. Soon, however, Rebecca and Katrin had left the others behind. The crowd was astounded as the two women raced neck to neck for 25 minutes. They crossed the line in a photo finish, but no one had a camera to prove who actually won.

The next weekend, Rebecca challenged Katrin in another race, and this time won. Together with her husband, she decided to begin the process of discerning whether God wanted her to get back into the world of racing.

BACK TO THE SKIS

The Dussaults again lived out the virtue of docility in their willingness to open their hearts and minds to God’s will. In humility they turned to prayer to discern God’s will, knowing that they needed God’s help and guidance. “After a lot of prayer and the determination to keep our family together no matter the cost, we came to the conclusion that now was the time. God had given me a talent and now he had given me another chance.”

Following God’s will would again require courage in taking on the rigors of Olympic training, and now with the added responsibilities of a family: “So here I am back on my skis training hard year round and proving to myself and to others that it is possible to live life to its fullest, be a mom, help run a business and persevere through all the ups and downs. It is all a matter of God’s graces helping me prioritize and schedule my life so that I can accomplish all of my goals.”

RACE SO AS TO WIN

Right now Rebecca has set her goals high: to ski well at the Torino Winter Olympics, to live heroic virtue, to become a saint, and eventually to have more children and educate them at home. With a humble resolution not to do it alone, she brings her family with her everywhere she races, and invokes the help of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati of Turin as her patron.

“I share all that I am trying to attain with those who are helping me to attain it. Traveling together is three times as full with a family but I would not sacrifice any of it because life is not just about crossing the finish line first. Throughout this journey the Lord has blessed us with family unity and taught us many lessons. I am blessed in every day to be able to share this with them.”

THE WITNESS OF A FAMILY

Sharbel has not just been with his wife every step of the way, but has shared in her struggles and triumphs as well. He has acted as Rebecca’s agent and photographer, taken care of Tabor in all of the hours of training, and has kept the business going so as to support the family. He knows that the greatest victory is not the gold medal, but the testimony of embracing the Catholic vision of marriage and the family.

“Our family has been a silent witness to the vocation of marriage among team members, staff, and perfect strangers,” said Sharbel, “It is very rare for a family to be seen traveling on the race circuit. We have been confronted and challenged to share our faith and our reasons for doing this as a family. We are committed to our marriage and family life. Nothing is more important than keeping our marriage strong and healthy.”

THE SECRET FORMULA

Rebecca has spent the last months in a rigorous training cycle. Her training goal was to have a fit body, to ski technically well and to have a constructive mindset which will enable her to tap into the tools and fitness she worked so hard to put into place in her training. She wants to be able to access all her physical, emotional and spiritual fitness so as to take on the world’s best at the Olympics.

She also has a wealth of motivations to spur her on: “I am motivated by my passion for competition, hard work, success, meeting goals, making friends, seeing the world, sharing my faith within sport, passing tron saint, Blessed Frassati said, “Ever Upward!”

Bible Blurbs

“Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17)

I urge you therefore… to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, … Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12: 1-2)

The LORD God said: “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him.”….That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body. (Genesis 2: 18, 24)

Pope Quotes

“Love is indeed “ecstasy”, not in the sense of a moment of intoxication, but rather as a journey, an ongoing exodus out of the closed inwardlooking self towards its liberation through selfgiving, …and indeed the discovery of God” (Pope Benedict XVI, God Is Love)

“It is part of love’s growth towards higher levels and inward purification that it now seeks to become definitive, and it does so in a twofold sense: both in the sense of exclusivity (this particular person alone) and in the sense of being “for ever”” (Pope Benedict XVI God Is Love)

“It is also your task to proclaim and to witness to the humanizing power of the Gospel with regard to the practice of sport, which if lived in accordance with the Christian outlook, becomes a “generative principle” of profound human relations and encourages the building of a more serene and supportive world.” (Pope John Paul II, June 26, 2004)

Pope John Paul II when he spoke of the value of sports with a supernatural perspective: “Precisely because your competing does not take place for the sake of mere and superficial amusement, but to give proof of your ability and of what fruits a long and arduous preparation may yield, sporting effort is a real school of human virtue, of which the ancient biblical book of wisdom writes: ‘When it is present, men imitate it, and they long for it when it has gone; and throughout all time it marches crowned in triumph, victor in the contest for prizes that are undefiled.’”

CATECHISM CLIPS

2826: By prayer we can discern “what is the will of God” and obtain the endurance to do it.

1604: Since God created him man and woman, their mutual love becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God loves man. It is good, very good, in the Creator’s eyes.

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. For this reason the Second Vatican Council, using an ancient expression, calls the family the domestic church.

SAINTS AND HEROES

BLESSED PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI (1901-1925)

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati was born in 1901 in Turin, Italy. His sister Luciana described him as representing “the finest of Christian youth: pure, happy, enthusiastic about everything that is good and beautiful.” He was an athlete and outdoorsman, enjoying all types of activities such as hiking, riding horses, skiing and mountain climbing. He also had a good sense of humor, with a love for laughter and practical jokes. Pier was from a wealthy family, but he lived simply so as to give to the poorest of Turin. He often served them in a hidden and humble manner. He contracted polio and died on July 4, 1925.

SAINT ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY (1207-1231)

Saint Elizabeth of Hungary was born in 1207 and died before her 24th birthday. At the age of 4 she was betrothed to 11-year-old Count Ludwig IV and was sent to Germany to be educated at his castle. The two children grew and were schooled together, forming a solid friendship. Elizabeth would often help the sick and the poor, and although she was criticized for this at court she refused to defend herself. Ten years later, the two were married, and they enjoyed several happy years together. They understood each other, and shared the task of raising four children.

Elizabeth was devastated when her husband died, only six years after the wedding, but she gave herself over to a life of poverty and working with the poor until the day of her own death. One of her daughters, Gertrude, also became a saint.

Virtue Vocabulary Verification

Courage- The capacity to meet danger without giving way to fear; to have the courage of one’s convictions; to be willing to put one’s opinions and beliefs into practice

Discern- To perceive, comprehend or recognize God’s will in a situation

Docility- Part of the virtue of prudence that allows us to learn from or be led by another

Humility- Virtue that reminds us we do not know everything and that God can be trusted to guide us as a good Father.

Vocation- An inclination, in response to a call, to undertake a certain kind of work; a calling

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What are some of the qualities of the type of friendship Rebecca and Sharbel shared? How did this contribute to the success of their marriage?
2. Why is it important to discern God’s will for our lives? What advantages or benefits does it give to us?
3. How have Rebecca and Sharbel attempted to discern God’s will for them? How can we do this in our own lives? What other ways, besides prayer, do we hear God speaking to us?
4. What things do the Dussaults do to keep marriage and family life as a priority? In what ways do they give witness to the vocation of marriage?
5. How can a good spiritual life contribute to making a person a good athlete? How can a good athletic life help one’s spiritual life?
6. What kind of message are the Dussaults giving to the world? Imagine that you are designing a poster for Rebecca’s promotion. What slogan could you put on it?

JOURNAL WRITING OPTIONS:

1. Make a list of Rebecca’s priorities, and number them from the most important to the least important. Then, do the same for your own priorities and goals. What is most important to you? What is the least important to you?
2. Have you ever given up something and then found it returned to you again? Write the story of how you decided to give it up, what your motivations and difficulties were, and how you felt when you got it back.
3. Make a personal training program for your spiritual life. Pick one virtue that you want to excel in, and make of list of 5-7 concrete exercises that can help you practice that virtue. Make sure your training is rigorous, and will challenge you to grow. How can you practice this virtue at home? With your family? With friends? In your prayer?

ACTIVITIES:

• Sports Scripture Contest: Hold a timed contest in which students look through their Bibles to find passages related to sports (Run, Race, Strength, etc.). Students write the verse and reference on a sheet of paper to be submitted to the judges. The one with the most quotes is the winner.
• Rebecca Dussault says on her website: “Work out with people who need inspiration. Don’t be afraid to do an easy workout with someone who you may impact greatly.” Ask students to “adopt” a friend, younger sibling or neighbor whom they can do athletic activities with. Make a special effort to motivate and inspire them.
• Invite a speaker to the classroom on the theme of spiritual exercise/physical exercise, to speak about our need for both and some ways to practice health in both areas.
• Ask students to research on the Internet the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola, and to then write a summary of his recommendations for how to train for a life of holiness.

WEB RESOURCES:

• Rebecca’s personal website: http://www.dussaultskis.com/
• Winter Olympics 2006 coverage: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9134568/
• National Catholic Register article by Gina Giambrone, published in Volume 82, No.6, February 5-11, 2006 issue http://www.ncregister.com

Rebekah and Tom are getting married this month. Rebekah is petite and blond. Tom is tall, dark, and… (You know the rest!) Both are strong Catholics, and they are looking forward to forming a family together. All their friends and families will be at the wedding. 

Maybe you have thought at least once about what your own wedding will be like and about what type of person you will marry.

President Bush, in his recent State of the Union address, spoke about the need to protect the “sanctity of marriage”. What did he mean by this term, and why does it need to be protected? 

There are some who want to change and redefine the whole meaning of marriage to include homosexual relationships. In this lesson, we will discuss the essentials of marriage and the efforts being made by some groups to change the definition of marriage.

Marriage and common sense

Most of us know what marriage is without even thinking about it. But, since some people are now proposing something different, it is important that we do not become confused.

Marriage is the most important relationship between human beings. It is not just any relationship between human beings, but is a special type of union between a man and a woman. It is the most fulfilling of human relationships, and it is the way that we pass on life and values from one generation to the next.

A gift to each other

Marriage is based on the love between a man and a woman. In real married love a man and a woman give themselves totally to each other in a way that binds them for life and allows them to give life to new human beings. A simple way to say this is that marriage (and sex) is for bonding and babies. 

The bride and groom bond in love precisely because each adds something special and different to each other. The difference in their personalities and in their physical characteristics shows how they are a gift to each other. This adding of something beautiful and different is called complementarity.

One letter from a husband to his wife perhaps expresses this complementarity well.

“I remember those tentative early overtures when neither knew the other’s heart and words merely echoed the hollow safety of banter. Then the magical progression, neither knowing why, to the stage where …each somehow knew that there had been a discovery. What had been discovered was the rest of one’s self.” 

This husband also expresses his wonder at how their bond has helped them create and raise another human being who is a fruit and living expression of their love.

“Each new child a proof of our love for each other. Each new child a share in the mystery of creation…Parenthood convinced us of the necessity of complementing each other. We each had found someone, but now we must become someone who could augment the other.” 

Aren’t homosexual unions similar to marriage?

Can a comparison be made between marriage and homosexual civil unions, just because they are both types of relationships between two people? Well, most of us realize that homosexual unions are not really marriage. The most essential elements of marriage are missing: homosexual unions are not between a man and a woman; they involve a selfish use of our sexual faculties; they cannot truly make babies. Saying that marriage is also a union of homosexuals misses what real marriage is about. 

Love the person. Reject the evil.

We can never despise homosexual persons nor discriminate against them. Men and women with homosexual tendencies must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Not all those who suffer from this tendency are personally responsible for it. But this does not mean that homosexual acts are right, and should be protected by law. Making homosexual unions equivalent to marriage would approve and promote actions that are intrinsically disordered. It is like saying “I think that people should not lie, but, since liars are people too, we should have a law that protects lying.”  

A campaign against values

A battle has arisen, however, because there are groups who are using the homosexual issue to attack solid human values. They are hoping that people with common sense about right and wrong, especially Christians, do not defend their values. Allowing selfish values to prevail has led to many problems in our society, including abortion, a huge increase broken families, a greater neglect of children, and so forth. It has deeply damaged and even destroyed some things that are the real foundations of society. Without foundations, people’s hearts and their lives become more and more broken. Real marriage is one of these foundations without which society begins to crumble.

No right or wrong?

Some people say that there is no absolute right and wrong. They say that right and wrong is different for each person, depending on one’s feelings, culture, or genetic makeup. This is called relativism, because for these people there are no absolutes; everything is relative to the way one feels.

People of sound thought have always opposed relativism because it leads to the abuse of human dignity (slavery, political oppression, abortion, etc.). If everyone is allowed to do whatever they want, even if it is wrong, eventually the wrong will damage everyone. If you have ever seen a bully that no dares to oppose, you will understand what this means. The Pope warns us that a culture that does not respect the truth will become cruel. The Church tells us strongly about the dangers of relativism today. We need to develop an ability to recognize relativism, and stand up for objective right and wrong in our own lives and in society around us. 

The proposal to approve homosexual marriage is one example of relativism that will damage our society. 

“When the saints go marching in” …to the closet?

The majority of people actually disapprove of homosexual marriages. Survey after survey has shown this.

However, there are some powerful people who say that Christians should not impose their values on other people. This sounds reasonable, yet these same people are working very hard so that their values and choices (abortion, homosexual marriage, etc.) are protected by law. This is very important to realize. These activists realize that, even in a democracy, somebody’s values are going to prevail. 

The Church is often in a strange position today, as one of the few organizations that are not afraid to say the obvious: some things are gravely wrong for every human being and making them legal will tell people those things are right. Although this may be simple, common sense, it is an unpopular truth, and so it takes courage to stand up against the loud, popular voices. This is one reason why many people see the Church as a miracle today, and are attracted to her. 

Courage to stand up

Many Catholics have been convinced of the truth and beauty of Christian values, and have done great things in this country to help the good of all. But there have also been many Catholics, even some in important positions, who have been ashamed of what they stand for. They have hidden or gone against their values in politics, in the highest courts of our land, in entertainment, in the news media, in business, and in all other fields. Instead of helping to build society with good values they have caved in to other ideas. 

Politicians have the right to decide on their own about matters that do not have to do with basic morality. But the Church reminds Catholic politicians clearly “no Catholic can support policies which compromise or undermine fundamental ethical values.” 

Moral values make society better. In large part these values often rely on Christians who will defend them courageously, not just in politics, but each person in the part they play in society, as a student, teacher, family member, neighbor, parishioner, citizen, etc. Each person is challenged to live and act in a way that upholds and defends basic moral values. This is “the way in which Christians offer their concrete contribution so that, through political life, society will become more just and more consistent with the dignity of the human person.” 

Vocabulary

Sanctity - Inviolability or sacredness, obligation, right.

Homosexual - Tendency to direct sexual desire towards someone of the same sex.

Civil union – A legal relationship allowing same-sex couples to obtain the rights, responsibilities and benefits of marriage.

Discriminate – To hold a prejudiced outlook, action, or treatment towards someone

Relativism – A view that ethical truths depend on the individuals and groups holding them

Complementarity- the state of filling up or completing; supplying mutual needs or offsetting mutual lacks   

Bible Blurbs

• ” God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them . God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply’.”  Genesis 1:27-28
• “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her…” Ephesians 5: 25
• “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife and they become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24
• “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” Mark 10:6-9

Saints and Heroes

Blessed Peter To Rot (1912-1945) was a husband and father of three children in Papua New Guinea at the outbreak of World War II. As a catechist he worked to teach and defend the Catholic faith, especially in 1942 when the Japanese invaded New Guinea and detained all of the missionaries who had been working before. In 1945 all religious activity was prohibited, but Peter continued to fulfill his duties. He opposed the legalization of polygamy, which the Japanese were demanding, and thus was sent to prison. After several months in a prison and a concentration camp, he was murdered by two military guards who hated the Catholic faith. Pope John Paul II said of him, “When the authorities legalized and encouraged polygamy, Blessed Peter knew it to be against Christian principles and firmly denounced this practice…he told people that he was ready to die for the faith and for his people.”

Discussion Questions

1. What things do you think about when you imagine the perfect marriage? Do you know any good examples of married people? What catches your attention about these couples? 

2. What does it mean to love unselfishly? What are some examples of practicing this love in daily life, within or outside of marriage?   

3. Relativism is something that can show up in many areas, not just the marriage debate. What are some other issues that people have gotten used to saying, “what you think is fine for you, and what I think is fine for me.”? Who gets to decide which viewpoint is right, and which is wrong? How can we know?  

4. How can Catholic politicians build moral values in society through their own profession? How about doctors? Lawyers? Professors? Businessmen?  

Resolution Ideas

• Write letters or emails to state and national congressmen supporting the marriage amendment.
• Write letters to President encouraging him to appoint judges that will stand for family values.
• Send a card or a letter from the class to the bishop and priests thanking them for all they do to support families.
• Organize a Marriage Appreciation Day.
• Make and hand out door-to-door pamphlets about marriage and this present debate, along with concrete suggestions for people to voice their opinion.
• Write a letter to a newspaper editor, taking a positive stance towards marriage.
• Invite a speaker to give a talk at school about marriage, perhaps a couple who can speak of their experience of fidelity and commitment.
• Call up a talk radio station to openly say something for family and marriage.

Further Formation 

“Along these lines, families should grow in awareness of being “protagonists” of what is known as “family politics” and assume responsibility for transforming society; otherwise families will be the first victims of the evils that they have done no more than note with indifference.” (Pope John Paul II  Familiaris Consortio; The Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World)

“There are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God’s plan for marriage and family. 

• Marriage is holy, while homosexual acts go against the natural moral law.
•  Homosexual acts “close the sexual act to the gift of life. 
• They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity.
• Under no circumstances can they be approved.

This judgment of Scripture does not of course permit us to conclude that all those who suffer from this anomaly are personally responsible for it, but it does attest to the fact that homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.” (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Considerations regarding proposals to give legal recognition to unions between homosexual persons, no. 4)

Resources

Ferdinand Holbock, Married Saints and Blesseds through the Centuries. Ignatius Press, 2002.

Argument in support of gay marriage by Human Rights Campaign-

http://www.hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Center&CONTENTID=14392&TEMPLATE=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm

Argument against gay marriage by the Family Research Council

http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=AR04C02&f=PD01L1

Defense of Marriage Act  http://www.indiana.edu/~glbtpol/doma.html