Good movie about courage and doing the right thing. The hero is an underdog who is chosen for an experiment by a scientist who sees greatness in him: greatness of heart. The young man’s strength is not anger and revenge but wanting to stand up against any kind of bullies, be them the guy in the alley or heads of state. His dreams seem to come to nothing, but he seizes an opportunity when others are sure the situation is hopeless. Good movie about true heroism without looking for the limelight.

Arrr… Danger ahoy!

From Peter Pan to the Pirates of the Caribbean, everyone loves a good pirate story. But real pirates aren’t silly swashbucklers like the romanticized treasure hunters we know from movies and books.
On Wednesday, April 8, 2009, four ordinary-looking Somali fisherman, all less than 20 years old, used grappling hooks and rope ladders to board the merchant vessel ship Maersk Alabama. Armed with AK-47 assault rifles, they were seeking to take control of the ship and its crew at gunpoint.
The ship was off the coast of Somalia, carrying medical supplies and food destined for refugee camps. Some of these things belonged to Catholic Relief Services.

Violence breeds violence

Somalia is probably best remembered from the movie Black Hawk Down. Recently, however, this north-east African country has been in the news for many of these types of pirate attacks.
Years of civil war and unrest have left the country very poor, and so many people there turn to violent means of providing for themselves and their families.

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

Walking the plank

When they learned that there were pirates on board, the crew went below deck and locked themselves in safe rooms. They had managed to capture one pirate. Only the captain and one other crew member stayed on deck to negotiate with the pirates. What happened next is what makes this particular story very different from the other cases of piracy in the news lately.
The captain of this ship, Captain Richard Phillips, was so concerned about the safety of his crew that he did something unthinkable… He asked the pirates to take him as their prisoner, and in return let his crew take the ship and go free. Once the ship and crew were at a safe distance, they would exchange Captain Phillips for the captured pirate.

Tide turns against him

The three armed pirates liked the idea. Capt. Phillips led them to one of the ships small lifeboats, climbed in it, and had it lowered into the water. Captain Phillips was in close quarters with the men who could easily have killed him at any moment. He showed them how to operate the boat. And then the plan went horribly wrong. The crew of the Alabama, as they had agreed, brought out the injured pirate for the trade. But now that the pirates had their friend, they didn’t release their prisoner. They kept Capt. Phillips as a hostage, and were holding him for ransom.

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

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

Is Davey Jones comin’?

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

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

Watching and waiting

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

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

They received visits from Fr. Danielson, their parish priest, who prayed with them and told them not to lose hope.  Captain Phillips was unaware that there were other forces at work in his story. There was prayer power gathering and there was planning by the US Navy.

Living the mystery

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

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

A Storm breaks loose

Later in the evening on Easter Sunday, things became extremely tense on the little life boat. One of the pirates had gone aboard the USS Bainbridge for medical treatment, and to try and arrange the ransom payment. When the other three pirates hadn’t heard from him in a while, they got restless. They climbed out of the hatch of the life boat in plain view, and began firing warning shots in the air. The Bainbridge and the lifeboat were both moving, and the waves were bouncing them up and down in the darkness.

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

Salvation is from the SEAL’s

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

“Hi, Honey…”

A short time later, back at home, Mrs. Phillips, their daughter Mariah, their son Daniel, and their whole family were relieved and elated to hear Captain Phillips himself, on the phone, telling them he was safe.
Mariah said, “You never know how strong your family can be when something like this happens.”
In a statement about how they survived the emotional torture of the five day ordeal, Mrs. Phillips said, “My family and closest friends held onto our faith knowing that Richard would come home.”

“I need a hero…”

What makes Captain Phillips a hero? Is it in conquering or strength? No. Like Jesus, his willingness to surrender himself as a prisoner, to suffer, and accept even death is where we find his true heroism.
Captain Richard Phillips is an example of love and respect for life. The lives of his shipmates meant so much to him, that he would offer up his own to save them. This is the ultimate sign of love and sacrifice. Whether he realized it at the time or not, Capt. Phillips was imitating Jesus Christ, at the very time when Jesus made the sacrifice that saves us all. He willingly offered himself to save others. He spent a few days in a little “tomb-like” capsule, and on Easter Sunday he got to taste a little bit of Jesus’ Easter victory.

Just doing his job

Captain Phillips does not consider himself a hero. For him, what he did was just part of his job. He had accepted the job as a captain, and that meant putting the safety of his crew above his own. Yet there is something we admire about this attitude. When we see his example, we know we have met a real man, a man who puts others first.
True manhood is about service and sacrifice. These are qualities we also admire in so many women, especially our own moms (Happy Mother’s Day to all our moms!), but there is something we typically think of as particularly masculine about the willingness to face danger and take a huge risk for others. Men were designed by God to be protectors. They are called to protect their family and protect their communities. They are designed by God to overcome the fear of danger, because sometimes real life is dangerous. Sometimes risk is necessary for really important things.

Imitating Christ

Jesus Christ was a real man. He overcame his fear of danger. He put our safety above his own. Christ, by his life and death, helps men discover what it means to be a man. Let’s ask Christ to raise up more real men today.
For those of us who are guys, we can make a resolution to learn to love others so much that we are willing to sacrifice for them.
For girls, let’s start thanking some of the real men in our lives for what they do for us, starting with our own dads, or those other men who help keep us safe. And let’s show the guys that we also know how to sacrifice with courage, putting our hearts and lives at the service of goodness and love. The world will be a better, safer place.
Christ wants us to help him do this. It’s part of the call to love that he makes to each of us.

The United States has reasons to be proud after the Beijing Olympics. The 2008 Summer Games treated us to many amazing stories and showcased the finest qualities of our country. In this lesson we will look at one of our Olympic athletes, Lopez Lomong. He and his family have shown that faith and love can triumph over tragedy.

Option of faith

Robert and Barbara Rogers live in Ostico Lake, a town near Syracuse, New York. About fifteen years ago this family began a faith journey that would lead them to touch the heart of the whole world.

A business investment had turned sour. The Rogers were bankrupt. In the midst of this difficult situation the Rogers began to ask themselves how deeply they trusted God. They began to pray more and to act on their faith more boldly.

As part of this faith journey, Robert and his wife Barbara made an option to be more generous with God. They started by being more generous their money, even though they had very little at the time. They began giving 10% of their money to their parish and to charitable causes.

Generosity opens doors

Amazingly, after a year their economic situation began to improve dramatically. They decided to become more generous with their time and their lives. This eventually led them to open their home to others.

In the last eight years the Rogers family has welcomed six teenage refugee boys from Sudan into their home as foster children. They heard about the need of these boys when the “Lost Boys of Sudan” program of Catholic Charities was highlighted at their parish.

Love pays off

Lopez Lomong was the first boy who arrived to their home. This summer he not only qualified for the USA Olympic team this summer, but was chosen by his teammates to carry America’s flag. Let’s look at Lopez’s story.

Lopez’ Loss

Lopez comes from southern Sudan, a region of Africa. One day in 1991, when he was only six years old, he was attending Mass with his parents. Suddenly, armed soldiers entered the church. Lopez and all the other children in his church were kidnapped at gunpoint and taken away.

War on southern Sudan

From 1983 to 2005 the government of Sudan (based in the northern city of Khartoum) waged a merciless war on the Christians and animists of southern Sudan where Lopez lived with his parents.

The war was partly due to religious hatred: the government of Sudan is controlled by Muslims. The Muslims of Sudan are often very cruel to non-Muslims.

Another motive of the war was economical. Large quantities of oil had been discovered in southern Sudan, and the Sudanese government wanted total control of that oil.

Lopez and his friends were victims of that war.

New war: genocide in Darfur

Later, in 2003, the government of Sudan also turned on the Muslims of Darfur, a western region of Sudan. Many experts believe that once the Khartoum regime completes its genocide in Darfur it will turn again on the Christians and animists of southern Sudan, becoming even crueler.

Death sandwiches

That day in 1991 Lopez and the other boys in his group were taken in a truck to an unknown place and then thrown into a one-room prison.

Apparently the plan was to kill them slowly. As food they were given sandwiches which were laced with sand. The sand made the food impossible to digest. One by one, the boys started to die.

A few of the older boys from his town figured out what was happening and told Lopez to eat very little of the sandwiches. Then they waited for an opportunity to escape.

Escape

After three weeks the boys discovered a hole in the fence. They waited until midnight, then, bringing Lopez with them, they crawled silently towards the hole. Once they made it through the hole, they ran, hardly ever stopping for three days and nights.

Because Lopez was so young, the older boys took turns holding Lopez’s hands as they ran, in order to help him keep up with them.

Somehow, the boys made it out of Sudan. As they entered Kenya, they were detained and questioned. Then they were put in a refugee camp. The camp was run by Catholic Charities.

Life in camp

Lopez lived at the camp from when he was 6 years old until he was 16. The camp was poor, and there was little food: only one small meal a day. But he was alive, and the people who ran the camp were nice to him and the other boys.

Strength in faith

Experts estimate that about 40,000 boys tried to escape the soldiers. Only 20,000 made it out of Sudan alive: some were killed by wild animals, others drowned in rivers, and others were killed by the soldiers. The girls who had been kidnapped also suffered a terrible fate: many were raped and killed or sold as slaves.

In spite of the tragedy, Lopez was convinced that God had a plan for his life. As he said, “That faith was never far away from me. You just have to look high and say thank you for the day… I thought my family was dead, but in the camp I became happy again.”

Discovering a dream

In the relative safety of the camp, Lopez loved to run and play soccer with his friends. One day (when he was 15 years old) he had a rare chance to see television. He saw a race in which American track star Michael Johnson won a gold medal during the 2000 Summer Olympics. Lopez saw Johnson cry on the award platform as the American anthem was played.

Lopez, like any young man, began to dream: “One day I will compete in the Olympics, and I will wear that uniform.”

And like any person of faith, he began to talk to God about his dream.

Opportunity

A year later, Catholic Charities, the organization running the refugee camp, received the OK from the U.S. government to send 3,50“Lost Boys of Sudan” to be placed with foster families in the United States. Lopez was one of the boys chosen.

Surprised by love

When he first arrived to live with the Rogers family, Lopez could not believe it. It was too good to be true. Robert and Barbara were only kind and helpful to him. He couldn’t believe this was going to last. He thought a mistake had been made. He thought he was going to be sent away or be treated as a servant.

Home for the heart

As the permanence of the charity and concern of his new family began to sink in, Lopez cautiously started to think, “Maybe this is a house. Maybe this is home. This is somebody who will take care of me.”

“One night I decided to tell them my story, how I was separated from my family and things like that. That was the day I was able to open my heart and say, ‘These are the people I trust. This is my parents, the people who will take care of me here.’”

Drive to show thankfulness

Lopez was enrolled at the local high school. He immediately loved it there. It seemed as if everyone wanted to help him. He resolved to show his thankfulness for all he was receiving.

Lopez joined the track team at his new high school. He was so dedicated that he was quickly made team captain. During the next three years he led Tully High School to state titles in several individual events and in team competition.

Coach Jim Paccia saw how Lomong’s drive inspired his teammates. “Lopez’s drive was internal. All the other guys on the team realized that and they stepped it up…”

In fact, his high school friends nicknamed him “Booker”, because his intensity reminded them of WWE wrestler Booker T.

On the Olympic chase

In college Lopez continued training hard, impressing his college coach as well. In 2007, Lomong became division I NCAA indoor champion at 3000 meters and the outdoor champion at 1500 meters.

This summer his times improved even more, and he was able to qualify for the Olympics.

He immediately called his foster parents, Robert and Barbara Rogers, to celebrate and to thank them. He especially wanted to thank them for their prayers and their witness of faith. He told them, “When you put God first in your life, anything is possible.”

The flag

In the months leading to his qualifying, Lopez had also become a member of Team Darfur, a coalition of athletes who want to raise awareness about the genocide being committed by the government of Sudan.

The U.S athletes had been advised not to make political statements in Bejiing, but a few days before the start of the Olympics they found out that China had revoked the visa of Joey Cheek, the head of Team Darfur. When word got out that Lopez Lomong was interested in carrying the flag, the other athletes voted for him unanimously.

Celebrating faith, family, and freedom

As Lopez’s story became known throughout the world, it became obvious that the U.S. athletes had chosen a true hero. Here was someone who had been deprived of everything, and yet had triumphed through faith, family, and freedom.

Lopez Lomong did not win a medal in the Olympics, but he did symbolize the greatest values of our country and our faith. These are values that can help our world. We have every reason to celebrate them.

Bible Blurbs

“For you are my hope, O Lord; my trust, O God, from my youth.”

(Psalm 71:5)

“You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive.”

(Genesis 50:20)

“Hide me in the shadow of your wings”

(Psalm 17:8)

Pope Quotes

“The source of Christian joy is the certainty of being loved by God, loved personally by our Creator.”

(June 5, 2006)

“Christian faith deserves the historical merit of having inspired in men and women, in a new way and with new depth, the capacity for sharing also inwardly the suffering of others.”

(June 9, 2008)

“The prayerful person is never totally alone for God is the One who in every situation and in any trial is always able to listen to and help him or her.”

(June 9, 2008)

Catechism Clips

309: There is not a single aspect of the Christian message that is not in part an answer to the question of evil.

312: In time we can discover that God in his almighty providence can bring a good from the consequences of an evil, even a moral evil, caused by his creatures.

2204: The Christian family constitutes a specific revelation and realization of communion, and for this reason it can and should be called a domestic church. It is a community of faith, hope, and charity.

1818: The virtue of hope responds to the aspiration to happiness which God has placed in the heart of every man; …it keeps man from discouragement; it sustains him during times of abandonment.

Saints and Heroes

St. Josephine Bakhita

(Entered heaven in 1947)

Josephine Bakhita was born in Darfur, Sudan in 1867, during another time of strife and violence. When she was only nine years old, she was kidnapped and sold into slavery. She was beaten and whipped many times during those years. Then an Italian businessman took her in, intending to free her eventually. He was a good man, and she began to experience a peaceful life working for the family. When they returned to Italy, they took her with them. During a time when the family was out of Italy, Bakhita and the man’s young daughter went to live as boarders at the Canossian Sister’s Institute in Venice.

There they were taught the Catechism, and Bakhita learned it well. She was amazed to have finally met the God she had long believed in, the one she “had experienced in my heart without knowing who He was” ever since she was a child. “Seeing the sun, the moon and the stars, I said to myself: Who could be the Master of these beautiful things? And I felt a great desire to see Him, to know Him and to pay Him homage…” She was received for baptism, the happiest day of her life. Afterwards she could often be seen kissing the baptismal fount and saying, “Here I became a daughter of God.” Her love grew so much that she decided to stay with the Canossian Sisters and dedicate her life to serving the God whom she had come to love.

She spent the remaining fifty years of her life as a religious sister. There she edified and encouraged everyone by her inextinguishable joy and her eagerness to serve always and everywhere. She also loved to promote the missions to Africa, desiring that many of her countrymen come to know the goodness of God’s love. (Source: CollegeCompass.org)

St Charles Lwanga and Companions, The Martyrs of Uganda

(Entered heaven in 1886)

Charles and his friends died for their fidelity to Christ. Most of them were members of King Mwanga’s royal court in what is now part of Uganda, in East-Cantral Africa. Charles and his friends had become Christians under the influence of missionaries to sub-Saharan Africa. Even when the missionaries had to leave the area, the Christians continued living and spreading their faith. But King Mwanga noticed that, although the Christians were faithful subjects and servants, they didn’t fear him as much as the non-Christians did, and they refused to be victims of his lewd parties. He and his henchmen tried to entice some of the Christians to abandon their faith, but they wouldn’t. That’s when the executions started. And they snowballed until twenty-two of them were arrested, tortured, and hideously executed.

These Ugandan martyrs were so dedicated to prayer that they were known not as “Christians” but as “Those-who-pray.” And such was the title by which King Mwanga condemned them. Today the Catholic faith is flourishing in Uganda and many other parts of Africa, thanks in part to the power of these martyrs. (Source: CollegeCompass.org)

Virtue Verification

Animism - A non-Christian belief system that attributes souls or spirits not only to human beings but also to animals, plants and other things (from the Latin word “anima” which means soul or life).

Charity – 1) A profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person; kindness, respect, and generosity towards others. 2) God’s tender regard and concern for all human beings. 3) Devotion to and desire for God as our supreme good.

Foster child – Child having the standing of a specified member of the family, though not by birth or adoption, and receiving the care appropriate to that standing.

Freedom – 1) Being able to act, move, use, etc. without hindrance or restraint, confinement, or repression. 2) Spiritual capacity to choose the most noble option.

Generosity – 1) Willingness to give or share; unselfishness. 2) Generosity is also one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. It is sharing God’s goodness with others and responding to God’s love with the gift of self.

Genocide - The systematic killing of, or a program of action intended to destroy, a whole national or ethnic group.

Hope – Trust in God; confidence in God’s goodness; confidence in the future.

Love – 1) Kindness, respect, and generosity towards others. 2) God’s tender regard and concern for all human beings. 3) Devotion to and desire for God as our supreme good.

Trust – 1) Confidence in the goodness of God and in the goodness of his plans for us; faith. 2) Reliance; confident expectation, anticipation, or hope.

Discussion questions

1. What problem started the Rogers on their faith journey? Can difficulties always lead to a closer relationship with God? What is necessary for a difficulty to lead us to God?
2. Is it easy to trust God when there are difficulties and suffering? What do difficulties teach us about our lives?
3. Both the Rogers and Lopez Lomong showed trust in God in the midst of suffering. Is trust in God, Christian hope, just a mind game or is it based on something real? What do you think it is based on?
4. In what ways does Christian hope help us to deal with suffering? In what ways does Christian charity help us to deal with suffering?
5. After his first couple of months in the United States, one of the boys whom the Rogers took into their home was asked what he found the most amazing in the United States (He had already visited Disney World and several important cities). He answered, “Parents.” Do you agree with this statement? Why do you think it might be true? What other things do you think are amazing about our country?  Do you think parents get enough credit in our country for the good that they do?
6. Can you think of any other examples of the power of family that was highlighted in the Olympics? How can having a strong family help someone be a better athlete and a better person?
7. Can you think of any other examples of faith shown by Olympic athletes?
8. What do you think of the decision by the U.S. athletes to choose Lopez Lomong as the flag bearer? What virtues does this decision show? Does it highlight some of the Olympic values? Which ones?
9. Is there anything you can do to help draw attention to the plight of the people of Darfur and of southern Sudan? What might you like to do?

Debate (Choose a theme.)

• Should teenagers give 10% of their money to Catholic and charitable causes?
• Why does God allow evil in the world, such as the genocide in Darfur?
• Are Christians whimps? Why does Christ ask us to turn the other cheek? Is it right for a Christian to fight a war against evil?

Activities

1. Investigate about some of the charitable initiatives created by former “Lost Boys of Sudan”. Choose one and hold a fundraiser for that charity.
2. Organize a “Fast for Sudan” overnight with your friends (just guys or just girls!). Get sponsors for every hour you will fast. Fast for 24 hours. Have games, competitions, and activities during the fast to make it fun for everyone. Give the money raised to one of the above charities.
3. Email or write to your congressional representatives. Encourage them to do all they can to bring pressure on Sudan to stop the genocide in Darfur.
4. Find out about the refugee camp that Lopez lived in. See if you can sponsor a child or adult there.

Resources used for this lesson

Lopez Lomong website

Lost Boys websites:

• Website of Jok Kuol, former Lost Boy of Sudan.
• Website of John Dau, former Lost Boy.
• Alliance for the Lost Boys.
• Documentary film.

Caritas Internationalis web site (Official charitable organization overseen by the Vatican).

Stories about Lopez Lomong

• “Family and Faith Helped Lomong Endure,” USA Today, August 19, 2008
• “Out of the War and Into Their Hearts,” Syracuse Post-Standard, July 28, 2008
• “Where Once He Was Lost, Now He is Found” Washington Post, August 8, 2008
• “Meet Lopez Lomong’s Foster Parents” July 28, 2008

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

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

The beginning of the training

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

The terrorist attack of September 11th

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

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

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

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

The decision to become Catholic

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

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

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

Victory on all fields

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

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

Bible Blurbs

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

Saints and Heroes

Pope John Paul II

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

Edel Quinn

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

Vocabulary

Confidence: Firm belief, trust

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

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

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

Tenacity: Ability to persevere in the midst of difficulties

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

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

Discussion Questions

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

Writing Activities

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

Resolution Ideas

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

Web Resources

More information on Olympic athletes:

http://www.usatoday.com

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

Information on becoming Catholic:

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

 “What you did to the least of my brothers you did to me.” (Matthew 25:45) This teaching of Christ has helped create more humane societies throughout history, even in situations of war and injustice. But it has not always been lived, and the consequences can often be terrible.

The recent news of the disrespect and abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers has shocked and disappointed many people. In this lesson we will look at the sources of this scandal especially the lack of personal moral courage leadership and the effect of a sexually promiscuous society. We will look at the negative consequences of the scandal, as well as the opportunity to face this problem with greater virtue.

Red Cross Report Exposes the Abuse 

 The International Commission of the Red Cross inspects prisons to check on whether prisoners are treated according to standards established by the Geneva Convention.  The Geneva Conventions, signed in 1949 and updated in 1977, protect soldiers, civilians and prisoners from being mistreated.  

The Red Cross reported that at Ghraib prison, some prisoners were subjected to “ill-treatments ranging from insults and humiliation to both physical and psychological coercionthat in some cases might amount to torture.” They were held naked in dark and empty cells.  Some prisoners were photographed naked, chained together in humiliating positions.   Other prisoners were severely beaten, and chained into “stress positions”.  

Treatment like this is below the dignity that all human beings deserve as persons made in God’s image and loved by him. This fact reminds us that even when we have to enforce justice we should respect the dignity of the person. 

Failure of Leadership Opens the Door to Abuse   

Major General Antonio Taguba, who was in charge of the investigation of the abuses at Abu Ghraib reports that the abuse stems in part from a complete lack of leadership and supervision, from the general in charge of the prison down to the commanders within the cell blocks.  Prison commanders and other leaders have the responsibility to establish rules ensuring proper treatment of prisoners, and to then make sure the rules are followed.   

Christ tells Pontius Pilate that earthly authority comes from God, and yet we see what happened when the Roman leader did not have the moral courage to act with justice and responsibility. 

“It’s not my fault.”

The soldiers accused of abuse also have personal responsibility, or accountability, for their own actions. We are responsible for any sinful action when we know what we are doing and choose to do it anyway. The guards were each trained in military law, which prohibits the abuse of prisoners.  Some families and friends of the guards have tried to excuse their actions, saying that they were going through hard times in Iraq and were simply following orders.  However, no matter how difficult the situation is, we are still always responsible in being accountable for our choices. 

One woman who survived torture in Guatemala and now lives in the United States reacted when she heard that some people were trying to make excuses for the guards: “Stop it! How can you say that? This is not an excuse. Can’t (the soldier) say, ‘No, I will not do this to this person’?” There is always a personal choice to be made, and personal consequences to be accepted.

Fear 

The abuse was also allowed to occur due to a lack of moral courage in those abusing and supervising the prisoners.   Courage isn’t just overcoming our fears; it is also listening to our conscience and standing up for what we know is right.  Individual soldiers and commanders knew the abuse was wrong, yet it wasn’t until January that one soldier finally demonstrated the courage to stand up for his beliefs and inform military investigators about the abuse.  

Louder than words

 The United States has been working to win over the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people, carefully avoiding unnecessary destruction and killing, because our goal is to liberate the people from Saddam Hussein’s tyranny and to help Iraq establish a democracy.  In trying to earn the trust of the Iraqi people, respect for human dignity speaks louder than force. Some might think that a quicker solution would be to use violence and force in order to make the people comply from fear, but it is worthless to reach the goal if you have stepped on people in order to get there. The end never justifies the means; you cannot say that cruelty and maltreatment are okay as long as they help us win the war. Even though strength is necessary to defend ourselves and others, we will only win the war for people’s hearts if we play fair. 

Adding Fuel to the Fire of Terrorism

Images of Americans abusing Arab prisoners inspire terrorists, and increase their dedication to their violent objectives.  For the terrorists, it is the perfect propaganda to recruit new members.  It makes them think that they are following a noble cause, because America, the enemy, is promoting evil and immorality. When they see the photographs of prisoners being sexually abused, they also see evil in the whole society of the soldiers, a society that promotes pornography and sexual immorality. If they see the United States as something evil, then the Muslims feel more confident that they are morally superior and have the duty to destroy us and reject all Western influence.

Failings and growth

The world is now watching America to see how we handle the scandal from the perspectives of pursuing justice and taking responsibility.  Rather than only being a cause for shame, it can be an opportunity to live up to our position of moral leadership. Just as the sacrament of Confession gives us a chance to be honest with God about our sins, receive forgiveness, and also receive graces (spiritual power) to be an even better follower of Christ, so a moral fall gives our country the chance to spring back again, even higher than before. It is a moment to show what true justice is, and how a morally upright country responds to its own failures.  

A chance to show justice   

Justice is in part the assigning of rewards and punishments according to objective ethical standards and one’s actions and motives.  The military has already begun public courts-martial proceeding against some of the guards involved in the abuse.  Many other investigations are being done, including public hearings in the Senate, to determine who knew about the abuse, and who may have contributed to the abuse including senior commanders and policymakers.  

After responsibility and punishments have been assigned, we will be able to judge for ourselves whether justice has been served.  Leaders of nations against the US war in Iraq, such as Germany’s Foreign Minister, have already complimented America on so openly and aggressively exposing its mistakes and pursuing justice. The world will also be watching to see whether the US military thoroughly addresses the mistakes and policies, or lack of policies, that led to the abuse.  

Unchastity and cruelty      

It is also time to look at American culture as a whole, and see that the promotion of pornography and the lack of sexual restraint lead to sexual humiliation and abuse. This creates a culture that fosters a lack of respect for the dignity of the human person. An unchaste society always becomes cruel. 

The self-mastery required for chastity frees people from the tyranny of their passions. When someone knows how to use his energy for good he can naturally control other disordered desires such as vengeance and power-abuse much better. Chastity and self-mastery also build up a great respect for other people and a creativeness in helping people live in the truth.

Charity and strength

Christ taught us that justice should be tempered with charity, and that without mercy, justice can quickly become cruelty. Christ brought the new law of charity as the primary weapon against cruelty and hatred of others. On the cross Christ accepted the punishment that we deserved in order to free us from our sins. On the cross Christ teaches us that mercy must go beyond strict justice, and that love is stronger than evil and death. 

These virtues do not imply weakness. Christ tells us to use them wisely, acting “as innocent as doves and as cunning as serpents”(Matthew 10:16) so as to dodge the evil of men and yet remain confident in God and Christian values. It is a call to all Christians to be heroic in living this charity, with the confidence that one day, as in the ancient Roman empire, Christian charity will change the entire culture. 

Vocabulary

Coercion - the act of compelling by force of authority

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 into practice.

Geneva Conventions- A set of agreements signed by most of the nations of the world that defines treatment of civilians, prisoners and soldiers in war.

Justice- fair treatment and due reward in accordance with honor, standards, or law; the rendering to every one his due or right; just treatment; requital of desert; merited reward or punishment; that which is due to one’s conduct or motives.

Propaganda- information that is spread for the purpose of promoting some cause

Prudence - thinking through the implications of our actions and decisions to avoid error or danger  

Respect for others - affirming the value and dignity of all people.  

Responsibility  - Being accountable for our actions; accepting and meeting the demands of our chosen duty in life.     

Scandal - leading others astray by bad example

Bible Blurbs

• ” But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. “  Matthew 5:44-45
• “But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops.” Luke 12:2-3
• ” Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.” Luke 6:42
• “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.” Mark 9:42

Saints and Heroes

St. Peter Claver (1581-1654) Early in the seventeenth century, there was a prosperous slave trade from Africa to Central and South America. A thousand slaves taken from their homes in Africa every month and forced onto a ship as cargo, under such horrible conditions that half died before reaching the Americas. Peter Claver, son of a Spanish farmer, was studying to become a Jesuit priest when he was inspired to live his priestly mission in the Americas. In 1610 he landed in Cartagena, part of present-day Columbia, the chief slave-market of the New World, and worked for 44 years as an apostle to the African slaves. Although naturally timid and lacking in self-confidence, he declared himself the slave of the Africans, and became daring in his heroic charity. He went out to meet each ship that arrived full of frightened and suffering people, and won their good will by his kindness and care. He defended them against their oppressors, and instructed them in the Catholic faith while they were waiting to be sold. In his lifetime, Peter baptised over 300,000 slaves. Although he was criticized by many people, God gave him strength and even allowed him to work miracles in his mission. Peter said of the slaves, “We must speak to them with our hands by giving, before we try to speak to them with our lips.”

Judge Falcone: Giovanni Falcone was a judge in Sicily (Southern Italy) who fearlessly fought the Mafia. For years they had been killing, stealing, counterfeiting money, selling drugs, and spreading fear among the people. Judge Falcone was able to make large strides in combatting these crimes. He was appointed judge in 1964. Partly through the respect but tenacity he showed prisoners when questioning them, he was able to persuade several important Mafia members to tell him about the Mafia and its activities, and also collaborated with the American government to fight this crime network. He worked despite the threats against his life until May 23, 1992, when his car was exploded by a bomb while he was driving to the airport. He was killed along with his wife. Ambassador Sembler commemorated him: “We are here to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Judge Falcone, a man of rare integrity and courage. Judge Falcone believed that all people have a right to live safe from terror and intimidation. He had a passion for the rule of law and confidence in its ability to improve lives in Sicily, and around the world. Judge Falcone lived his life in the cause of justice, and he lost his life in that pursuit. He will never be forgotten.” His example has inspired others to also be courageous in the fight against the Mafia.

Discussion Questions

1. What emotions do you think some of the guards and interrogators may have felt toward the accused terrorists that contributed to them abusing others? What virtues and principles could have offset these emotions?  What would have happened if these guards had been deeply evangelized and influenced by Christian values?
2. Within a group, how important is leadership, especially when the group is in a stressful situation? What happens when no one steps forward for positive, constructive leadership? What would have happened if there was one strong and heroic Christian in the midst of the guards?
3. What would you say to the argument that the guards were doing what they had to do in order to get valuable information out of the prisoners? What if they were trying to end the war and save lives? Can they do whatever they want in order to reach their goals?
4. The sacrament of Confession (Reconciliation) is a special gift from Christ that frees us from our sins and allows us to keep getting back up and trying again, even when we make mistakes. In fact, the special graces that we receive in this sacrament and the honesty it gives us can make us even stronger than before. Christ gives us hope and confidence to not be discouraged by our mistakes and to be better. How can we explain this hope in the face of our imperfection to others, to non-Catholics or to Catholics who do not know their faith?
5. What values do you think America stands for? What good values does it stand for? What bad values might it stand for presently? After the prisoner abuse scandal, how can we restore and enhance our leadership in these areas? What do you think God is expecting from us in using this leadership that he gave us? 
6. What are some ways of rebuilding the trust that was broken with the Iraqi people? What are some ways of rebuilding the values in the culture from where we are?
7. Prudence means choosing the right means to reach our goals. It means thinking through the consequences of our actions. This takes moral courage. Can you think of some occasions in young people’s lives when living prudence takes real courage?

Discussion tips: 

-Taking the time to reflect and listen to one’s conscience before acting 

-Thinking about others whom may be affected by our actions

-Putting God’s opinion before everyone else’s

Writing Activities

1. Write about an incident where a mistake you or someone else made had unintended impacted others. Describe what happened, all of the consequences, and the lessons that you learned from that incident. How did you resolve the situation, or get back up from it?
2. We have spoken about America as a leader among the other countries of the world. What does it mean to be a leader? In your journal, write what it means to be a good leader. What is leadership for, and how can it be used to improve the lives of others? Give an example of a good leader and back your example up with the qualities that make that person a good leader. 

Resolution Ideas

1. In pairs, have students make a flier that helps people to understand that every person has influence over what happened in Iraq, by the way they support or fight pornography in our country. Help them be aware that we cannot criticize the soldiers if we do not remove the indecency and lack of human respect that we see in the media, movies, internet, billboards, etc. Hold a contest to judge the best flier, and if possible, copy and distribute them.

2. Summer Project -Ask students to follow the courts-martial proceedings against guards and commanders, and the investigations into whether senior policy makers contributed to the scandal.  Ask each student to come back with their opinion on a specific case of a guard, commander, or policy maker and whether they think justice was done in either assigning, or not assigning punishment.  

  3. To help the students see their country from another’s perspective, investigate the news articles about the abuse scandal, from Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Have students record the key words and phrases in the article that convey a positive or negative image of America.  Present the findings to the class.  

4. Hold a mock trial for one of the unnamed prison guards.  As the teacher, outline a hypothetical background for the case.  Designate a group of students to make the defense, imagining the excuses that would normally be given to dodge responsibility (just following orders, suffering the stress of war, trying to get the prisoners to cooperate, etc.). Assign another group as prosecutor to debate this defense and make the accusations about why the guard should be found guilty. The remaining students will be judge and jury, having the assignment of determining a sentence that is appropriate and will right the wrong done.  The judge and jury will strive to fulfill the definition of justice in assigning punishment in accordance with our law and ethical standards. As a variation, hold two trials with two different groups of students, first judging from a worldly court’s perspective, and secondly judging with Christian values.

Quotes for Further Formation 

Pornography and violence:

“A fundamental message of pornography and violence is disdain, the consideration of others as objects rather than as persons. Thus, pornography and violence can eat away at tenderness and compassion and can foster insensitivity and even brutality.

Young people themselves can help to stem the tide of pornography and violence in the media by responding positively to the initiatives of their parents and educators and by taking responsibility for their own moral decisions in the choice of entertainment.

The general public also needs to make its voice heard. Individually and collectively, concerned citizens - including young people - should make their views known to producers, commercial interests and public authorities. There is an urgent need for continuing dialogue between communicators and representatives of the public so that those involved in the communications media may learn more about the real needs and interests of those whom they serve.” (Pontifical Council for Social Communications:  Pornography and Violence in the Communications Media: A Pastoral Response)

Dignity of the prisoner:

“As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” (Mt 25: 40). These words contain, we could say, the “programme” of the Jubilee in Prisons which we are celebrating today. They invite us to live them as a commitment to the dignity of all people, that dignity which flows from God’s love for every human person.

At the centre of this Jubilee (day) there is Christ, the prisoner; at the same time there is Christ the lawgiver. It is he who establishes the law, proclaims it and strengthens it. However he does this not with arrogance, but with meekness and love. He heals what is sick, strengthens what is bruised. Where a faint flame of goodness still burns, he revives it with the breath of his love. He forcefully proclaims justice and  heals  wounds  with  the  balm  of mercy.” (John Paul II, Homily of the Jubilee of Prisons, 9 July 2000).

Justice and Mercy

“The Church shares with the people of our time this profound and ardent desire for a life which is just in every aspect, nor does she fail to examine the various aspects of the sort of justice that the life of people and society demands… 

“…The experience of the past and of our own time demonstrates that justice alone is not enough, that it can even lead to the negation and destruction of itself, if that deeper power, which is love, is not allowed to shape human life in its various dimensions. It has been precisely historical experience that, among other things, has led to the formulation of the saying: summum ius, summa iniuria (maximum justice, maximum injustice). This statement does not detract from the value of justice and does not minimize the significance of the order that is based upon it; it only indicates, under another aspect, the need to draw from the powers of the spirit which condition the very order of justice, powers which are still more profound.” (John Paul II, On the Mercy of God, no. 12)

Resources

Pontifical document on the ethical use of the means of social communication: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/pccs/documents/rc_pc_pccs_doc_20000530_ethics-communications_en.html

Military code of law: http://www.armystudyguide.com/code_of_conduct

Geneva Convention on the treatment of prisoners of war: http://www.un-documents.net/gc-3.htm
(Updated link. Original source taken from a now broken link on http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf)

International newspapers: http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/viewer.aspx

Honoring a life of Courage, Humility, Generosity and Integrity

Last month our nation mourned the death of Pat Tillman, a former NFL player who at the peak of his career left football to volunteer for the Army.  Pat Tillman’s death has made a profound impact.  We mourn his death because it brings home the reality that in war young lives are often taken, and we question if such a war is just.  Many feel a sense of loss in that Pat Tillman represented true manhood and the best of our nation: a willingness to dream, perseverance in pursuing his dreams, and most importantly integrity and courage in pursuing what he felt was his true calling.  In this lesson, we won’t focus on Pat Tillman’s death, rather we will focus on his life, and how his focus on the virtues helped him to achieve his dreams and to live a fulfilling life.         

A dream and hard work

Pat’s dream was to play in the NFL, but although a star football player in high school, his under-average size (5’10″, 200 lbs.) and less-than-lightning speed did not attract college recruiters. Tillman refused to accept rejection.  He persevered by committing himself to rigorous workouts to overcome the obstacle of his smaller size.   His hard work paid off when he was accepted on the Arizona State University’s football team as a non-scholarship walk-on.  

He quickly distinguished himself by his intelligence and appetite for rugged play, leading ASU’s defense to an undefeated season and a trip to the Rose Bowl.  He later earned the Pacific 10 Defensive Player of the Year.  

More than just a jock

 Tillman’s hard work and discipline were not restricted to football alone, as he carried a 3.84 grade point average through college and graduated with high honors in 3 1/2 academic years with a degree in marketing. 

As a seventh-round draft pick in 1998, Tillman’s chances of NFL fame appeared slim. But the Arizona Cardinals took a gamble on him, and were rewarded.  In the 2000 season Tillman set a franchise record of 200 tackles.  His success attracted the attention of the Super Bowl Champion St. Louis Rams, who offered him a nine-million-dollar contract.  Feeling a sense of duty and loyalty to the Cardinals for giving him his first break in the NFL, Tillman choose to stay with Arizona for less money.  This sense of loyalty and appreciation likely played into his later decision to join the Army Rangers.  

When the dream comes second

After the September 11th terrorist attacks, Pat discussed how he felt it was his duty to use his physical talents to pursue terrorists, instead of players on the football field.  In May of 2002, Pat Tillman shocked the sports world by walking away from professional football and a $3.6 million three-year contract, to join the Army Rangers where he would earn just above $1000 a month.

Tillman’s decision to join the Army demonstrates so many virtues- obviously courage in willingly meeting danger, generosity in giving his talents for the service of others, and integrity in steadfastly following his own ethical code and sense of duty regardless of the cost.   “Pat knew his purpose in life,” said former Cardinals head coach Dave McGinnis. “He proudly walked away from a career in football to a greater calling.”  

Christian manhood 

Pat was a soldier even before he signed on with the Rangers. Two flags are flying in the world: one of selfish ambition and one of Christian manhood. Pat chose to fight on the side of humility, sacrifice and courage, opposing the temptation to join the side of fame, comfort and power. For Pat, life was a battle, and going to Afghanistan was just another special mission.

Jesus Christ gives us the greatest example of true manhood. He stood for the real truth about God and about man. Christ was not afraid to live his values, no matter the consequences, nor to give his life for God and others. Christ was a man of profound charity and sacrifice. He is a true and loyal friend, and head of our Family, the Church.

A calling

Every person has different talents, not always as glamorous as Pat’s athletic abilities. Yet like Pat, we all have to find the greater calling for each one of us. This is an important part of being young. God has a unique plan, a specific mission, for each person and we should try to discover, to discern, God’s will for us. 

The best way to know is to ask him directly, in prayer, but with our hearts and minds open to really listen to what he wants and to look at the needs of the world around us. If we are patient, his answer will come in the quiet of our hearts, or sometimes through the ordinary events and normal people we see every day. 

We may not be called to give our lives as Pat Tillman did, but our mission will be great, to work with God in a beautiful and powerful way that will bring us deep happiness now, and help us receive the gift of eternal life.

The ultimate sacrifice

On April 22nd Pat Tillman died leading a team of Rangers up hill to attack enemy forces that had ambushed another group of Rangers.  The Army has awarded Pat Tillman the Silver Star announcing that he was killed while fighting “without regard for his personal safety”. 

Did he die for a just cause?

Some people have said that Pat Tillman was a fool who died in an unjust war. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (2309) outlines the criteria to judge if a war is just.  

• First, the damage that the aggressor will inflict must be lasting, grave and certain.
• Second: War should be the last option, only if everything else is impractical or ineffective. 
• Third: There should be a serious chance of success in winning the war. 
• Fourth: Due to the fact that modern weaponry can be highly destructive, the army must be careful to limit themselves in its use, so that they do not produce more evil or damage than the threat of the enemy that they are fighting. 
• Finally: Those who are responsible for civil protection have the role of evaluating these conditions. 

It is clear that the world has to be protected from terrorism. It is not easy to find the right way to do this, especially when it requires using lethal force. However, in order to restrain evil people and evil systems, it is sometimes necessary. 

Simply doing his job

Pat Tillman wanted to protect his country against terrorism, and thus he died for a just cause. He did not claim to have all the answers, but tried to do what he could to help his country. 

The leaders of our government have the responsibility of judging if the war against terrorism follows the criteria of a just war. In seeking the advice of the Vatican, the Bush administration was told to first try all forms of dialogue, and was warned of long-term problems of a U.S. invasion in the Muslim world. However, the Vatican did not officially condemn nor approve the decision of the United States. 

President Bush was glad that the Vatican did not officially take sides, because he did not want it to seem like a religious war of Christianity against the Muslims, when his real aim was to fight against terrorism.

A Tribute to Pat Tillman

We mourn the death of Pat Tillman, but celebrate his courage and integrity in following his life’s calling.  His death reminds us of all of the soldiers, famous and faceless, and can awaken within us a sense of compassion for them and their families. Cardinals wideout Frank Sanders said, “What we do is a game, what they do is real, and as a citizen it makes me appreciate the men and women in our armed services that much more.” Possibly the best way we can pay tribute to Pat Tillman’s life is to follow his example, by committing ourselves to pursuing and achieving our true calling in life, no matter the cost.

Bible Blurbs

• “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid  his  for us. And we ought to   our lives for our brothers.” 1 John 3:16
• ” What good will it be for a man if he  gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26
•  “I have fought the good , I have finished the , I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

Saints and Heroes

Father Vincent Capodanno  was born in 1929, in Staten Island, New York. After attending a year of college, he entered the Maryknoll Missionary seminary in 1949. After his ordination he was sent to Taiwan for several years. As the communists began take over more of Asia, he requested to serve as a chaplain to the Marines in Vietnam. He felt he was needed to be help the young soldiers spiritually in the moments of greatest danger. The young marines (usually nicknamed “Grunts”) loved him dearly because he always accompanied them on the most difficult and dangerous missions, and gave them the sacraments and his friendship.  On September 4, 1967, his Marines became engaged in a fierce battle. Even though the platoon was pinned down under enemy fire, Fr. Capodanno crawled, crept and ran among the wounded and dying, giving last rites and helping the injured. Wounded twice, he kept going until he was killed while taking care of one of his men. In 1971 he posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his selfless sacrifice. 

Vocabulary

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 into practice.

Compassion: Feeling of sympathy for the distress of others, with the desire to help them.

Citizenship: The status of a citizen with respect to his duties, rights, and privileges; and having the desire to make his state/country a better place  

Generosity: Freely giving of our time, talents and resources 

Humility: freedom from pride and arrogance; a modest estimate of one’s own worth

Integrity:  Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.  The state of being unimpaired; soundness.  The quality or condition of being whole or undivided; completeness.

Justice: The quality of being just, impartial, or fair; the principle or ideal of just dealing or right action

Loyalty:   Steadfast allegiance to one’s homeland, government, or organization you participate in.  Faithful to a person, ideal, custom, cause, or duty. 

Perseverance: Trying hard and continuously, despite obstacles and difficulties

Prudence: The ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason

Solidarity: Unity (as of a group or class) that produces or is based on community of interests, objectives, and standards

Discussion Questions

1. What do you think defined success for Pat Tillman?  Do you think most people today would agree with his criteria for success? How would God judge a person’s life to be successful or not?
2. Do you think most people look for their true calling in life, or just pursue materialistic goals?  Do our culture, our communities and our schools encourage idealism or materialism? Do they emphasize discovering one’s calling in life, or just making your life what you want it to be? How can you know what your calling is, what God has given you for your special mission? What happens if you choose not to follow it?
3. Why is it important for Christians to express citizenship, to do something to improve our country? If there is something that the government does that is in opposition to our Christian beliefs, what should a Christian do? Do you think Pat Tillman’s sacrifices for our country are a rare exception, or are there millions of Americans making significant contributions and simply going unnoticed? What are some other ways to express citizenship, besides joining the military?
4. Why did Tillman go to such an extent to stay away from media interviews?  Is it more important to be part of a team or a star player? Why does the Army emphasize such a sense of unity that it is called an “army of one”? What are some other ways of expressing this solidarity over individualism?
5. How did Pat live the virtue of humility? What are some other ways to live humility, or to define this virtue? How did Jesus give us an example of humility? Even though people in the world do not usually like the word, everyone is attracted to a truly humble person. How does humility help us in our relationships with other people and with God?

Writing Activities

• Let’s write about our own talents and interests.  In your journal, make a list of the good qualities and talents that you have. Next, write out your interests, and then looking at your talents and interests state some goals for your life. Lastly, write out some of the obstacles to reaching your goals, and ideas about how to overcome these obstacles.  In your writing on how to overcome obstacles, include a discussion of which virtues you think will help you to succeed.     
• Write about the values and virtues that are important in your own life. Examples can be the virtues in this lesson, and values such as relationships with family and friends, service work, education, art, and so forth. Write about which virtues and values you would like to focus on in your life. 

Resolution Ideas

1. Watch a movie that focuses on the importance of teamwork over individualism  depending on the age level: Newsies, The Mighty Ducks, Hoosiers, or Miracle). Have the students keep a scorecard during the movie to rate each character for their commitment to the team over themselves. Also have them record the quotes that encourage teamwork.
2. Organize a vocations week in the school, bringing in several speakers from different vocations (priest, missionary, nun, married couple), and professionals who are committed to their careers as a calling (doctor, lawyer, teacher, police officer, etc.). Make posters and hand-outs to encourage students to discover their calling in life, and to go for their goals. A resource for investigating a possible call to priesthood or consecrated life is www.vocation.com. 
3. As a class, brainstorm on ideas of what it means to live true Christian manhood, especially looking at the example of Christ, who was the true and most perfect man. Write these ideas on the chalkboard, and then give the students time to write personal Father’s Day letters to their dads. They should tell their dads how he is an example to them of true manhood, and thank him for fighting to live that way.
4. To offer condolences to Pat Tillman’s family and to learn more about his life please see:  http://www.azcentral.com/sports/cardinals/tillman/tillman_tribute.html
5. Organize a debate to encourage students to further research, and to express their own opinions to rest of the class, or to the whole school.  Explore the issue of just war, or whether the United States should intervene in international matters with military force, looking at the example of Iraq. Some resources for research on this topic are:

• www.zenit.org - When Can Nations Intervene Militarily in Other Nations?
• Nicholas Wheeler. “Saving Strangers: Humanitarian Intervention in International Society”.
• William F. Schulz, executive director of Amnesty International USA, 2001 book “In Our Own Best Interest.”
• Michael Walzer, 1999 third edition of his book “Just and Unjust Wars”.
• December 2001 report “The Responsibility to Protect,” published by the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty. Chaired by Gareth Evans and Mohamed Sahnoun.
• Pope John Paul II, World Day for Peace message of Jan. 1, 2000, paragraphs 7-12.
• Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2307-2317.

Part I

Everyone has heard of Jessica Lynch and her bravery as a prisoner of war.  Few people, however, know the story of Pfc. Patrick Miller, whose heroism truly saved the day for Lynch and many other American soldiers.  Private Miller exhibited outstanding courage and duty while under fire in Iraq, and he continues to show great humility, befitting a true hero.

The Story

Patrick Miller did not enlist in the Army seeking glory and fame.  The 23-year-old from Valley Center, Kansas simply wanted to serve his country and earn some money to pay for an education.  Certainly, his prospect for valor did not seem likely at first.  After failing his first marksmanship test, Patrick was assigned to the 507^th Maintenance Company as a welder.  When he was sent to Iraq eight months later, he was not afraid.  As a mechanic, he thought he would be far from combat action; but circumstances proved otherwise.

Four days into the war, Private Miller found himself driving a truck at the rear of a large convoy heading toward Baghdad.  Unfortunately, a group of vehicles, including Patrick’s, fell behind the convoy and became lost.  While trying to reunite with their convoy, the group drove right into a deadly ambush of Iraqi troops.  Suddenly, a hailstorm of enemy bullets was pounding on Miller’s truck.  As he reached out to adjust his mirror, one of the bullets shattered it to pieces.  At the same time, another bullet killed one of his passengers, Pfc. Brandon Sloan.  “It just felt like a real bad war movie,” Miller recalls.  “You were actually seeing people die in front of you.”

When his truck finally lost power, Miller bailed out and ran for cover.  He first came upon an overturned Humvee, inside which lay a badly injured Jessica Lynch.  The only chance for escape, he thought, was an Iraqi dump truck parked 50 yards up the road.  He made a run for it.  According to Patrick, “All I could see was the bullets that were hitting the dirt around my feet.”

Before he reached the truck, Private Miller noticed a group of Iraqis setting up a mortar position in front of it.  They were aiming for his fellow soldiers taking cover behind him.  Though outnumbered seven to one (Rather than take off in the truck), Patrick decided to protect his friends.  Taking cover behind a nearby sand dune, he steadied his rifle.  After each shot, his gun jammed; but each time, he fixed it and shot again.  Soon, the firing stopped.  The young man who had failed at marksmanship did his job.

Part II

Courage under Fire

Private Miller’s courage was tested in that life-threatening situation.  No doubt his own fortitude contributed to his brave actions.  “Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good… It disposes one even to renounce and sacrifice his life in defense of a just cause” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1808).  Even at great risk to his own life, Private Miller put the well being of others first.

Miller and his fellow soldiers were eventually captured by the Iraqis.  Friends and family were afraid for their safety, but Patrick was brave.  He sang American songs and told jokes.  His captors did not like it much, but his friends took courage from Private Miller’s example.  “It’s small victories that keep your hope up,” he says.  “You got to have small victories for yourself when you’re in situations like that.”

All in a Day’s Work

Although his actions were heroic, Private Miller does not think that he did anything out of the ordinary.  His courage was accompanied by a strong sense of duty.  Duty is unfailing commitment to a task, no matter how big or small.  To us, Patrick’s actions are amazing, but to him, it was simply part of his job.  “I don’t feel that I am a hero,” Miller insists, “because I feel that I was doing my job as a soldier.  I was doing what I volunteered to do.”

God has a mission for each of us.  The better we are prepared, the stronger we will respond to special challenges.  Private Miller never expected to be in such a situation, but he knew his duty and was ready to respond.  We can prepare ourselves by following through with our duties at home, at school, and with our friends.

Humility

Private Miller received the Silver Star for valor, the fourth highest honor for a soldier.  He was one of only 90 out of 150,000 soldiers to receive the award and the only one from his Company.  Circumstances have helped Miller practice humility.  Humility is the virtue that helps us recognize our equality with others and restrains our desire to rise above them.  Private Miller does not feel insulted that Jessica Lynch has received more fame, and he has not sought out media attention for himself.

Nor does Private Miller feel superior because of his own recognition.  Months later, he is back quietly working in the motor-pool at Fort Carson, Colorado.  Upon returning home, he was offered a chance to leave the Army, but turned it down, saying he didn’t want to look like a quitter.

Vocabulary

Pfc. – abbreviation of “Private, first class” the lowest rank in the U.S. armed forces

Valor – special courage or bravery

Convoy – a line of vehicles traveling toward the same destination

Fortitude - moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good

Duty - unfailing commitment to a task

Humility - virtue that helps us recognize our equality with others and restrains our desire to rise above them

Bible Blurbs

“Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, but humility goes before honor.”   Proverbs 18:12

“Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:9

“So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ “  Luke 17:10

“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  John 15:13

Saints and Heros

Blessed Miguel Pro

In a time of intense religious persecutions, Miguel Pro left his home in Mexico to become a priest.  After his ordination in 1926, Miguel returned to Mexico to minister to the people there.  At that time, the open practice of religion was not allowed, but Fr. Pro felt strongly about fulfilling his duties as a priest.  Traveling by bike using various disguises, he administered the sacraments, despite the threat of death from soldiers and police.  Holding up his crucifix, he would say, “Here is my weapon.  With it along, I have no fear of anyone.”  Eventually, Fr. Pro was captured and sentenced to death.  He proclaimed, “I am ready to give my life for souls, but I want nothing for myself.  All that I want is to lead them to God.”  Facing the firing squad, he shouted his last words: “Viva Cristo Rey!”  (Spanish for “Long live Christ the King!”).

Saint Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc was a peasant girl who became a national heroine by leading the resistance to the English invasion of France in the Hundred Years War.  Her childhood was spent attending her father’s herds in the fields and learning religion and housekeeping skills from her mother. When Joan was about 12 years old, she began hearing the voices of saints, including St. Michael the Archangel.  At first, she was inspired by the simple duty to “be good and go to church regularly.”  Soon, however, she felt the saints calling her to serve her country in a greater way.  At 17, she managed an audience with King Charles and persuaded him to give her an army, which she led with much success against the invading English.  Though sustaining numerous injuries and insults, she led the French until her capture and execution in 1431.