As the 2016 Olympics begins today in Rio de Janeiro, it may be an appropriate time to look at our interest in sports with the light of faith. We assign such a high priority to sports. For many, Sunday afternoon is "sports time (either engaged in playing or watching); our children spend much of their time, summer and otherwise, in sports camps; even betting on sports is a booming industry (both legal and otherwise). What place does sports have in our lives as Christians?
This has been something that Pope Francis has also contemplated, going so far as to incorporate this into his prayer intentions for the month of August (best viewed in this visually-powerful video on YouTube). Calling sports "a culture of encounter", the Holy Father envisions our sporting activities, culminating in the Olympic Games, as a means of bringing about world peace. Providing a different intention for the universal Church to reflect upon each month, his universal prayer for August 2016 is: “That sports may be an opportunity for friendly encounters between peoples and may contribute to peace in the world.”
Pope Francis, a soccer fan who frequently has spoken of his fondness for the San Lorenzo team from his home country of Argentina, has made sports one of his papacy's important areas of focus for education part of his efforts to highlight global inconsistency of income and climate change.
Participating well in sports can be a profound example of participating well in our Christian faith. Of course, the object and best experience in sports is to win. But another side of sports that is well to emphasize is: what does it means to lose, to not be the best? In so many ways, learning to lose is far more important than learning to win. When there are winners, there must also be losers.
But even that can be an opportunity to gain. As Pope Francis commented: "Human life itself is ultimately about losing it. In this sense, I think, sports are apt images of glory and defeat, and yes, of glory in defeat. If we win by cheating, we do not win. If we lose by playing well, in a real sense we win. We played the game the best we could as it should be played. We retain that honor that is symbolized by the shaking of the hand, the pat on the back. We recognize that someone is better than we are. Those who do not play so well are still worthy. Indeed, they are probably victors in other areas—education, work, public life."
The Holy Father has also considered the idea of “teamwork” and playing as a team. In an address to Italian sports teams he said: “No individualism! No playing for yourselves.” Even sports usually played by individuals, such as golf and tennis, still have the notion of playing to win by the rules. The Pope warns about playing only for oneself, for his or her own glory: “The guy wants to devour the ball all by himself. We used to call him a 'ball-hog.' To belong to a sports club means to reject selfishness and isolation; it is an opportunity to encounter and be with others” ("To Members of the Sports Associations for the 70th Anniversary of the Foundation of the CSI [Italian Sports Center]", L’Osservatore Romano, June 2014).
Earlier this week, while greeting a group of Portuguese-speaking pilgrims during his weekly audience, Pope Francis offered his greeting to the Brazilian people as they prepared for the Olympics: “In a world that is thirsty for peace, tolerance and reconciliation, I hope that the spirit of the Olympic Games can inspire everyone, participants and spectators, to fight the good fight and finish the race together.”
In the past and today, saints and missionaries found sports a valuable way to contact and engage the youth they encounter. While teaching them a sport, they would also teach Christian concepts and how to keep loving others during competition. Maybe this is something we should consider doing with those we love and want to bring to Christ.
This has been something that Pope Francis has also contemplated, going so far as to incorporate this into his prayer intentions for the month of August (best viewed in this visually-powerful video on YouTube). Calling sports "a culture of encounter", the Holy Father envisions our sporting activities, culminating in the Olympic Games, as a means of bringing about world peace. Providing a different intention for the universal Church to reflect upon each month, his universal prayer for August 2016 is: “That sports may be an opportunity for friendly encounters between peoples and may contribute to peace in the world.”
Pope Francis, a soccer fan who frequently has spoken of his fondness for the San Lorenzo team from his home country of Argentina, has made sports one of his papacy's important areas of focus for education part of his efforts to highlight global inconsistency of income and climate change.
Participating well in sports can be a profound example of participating well in our Christian faith. Of course, the object and best experience in sports is to win. But another side of sports that is well to emphasize is: what does it means to lose, to not be the best? In so many ways, learning to lose is far more important than learning to win. When there are winners, there must also be losers.
But even that can be an opportunity to gain. As Pope Francis commented: "Human life itself is ultimately about losing it. In this sense, I think, sports are apt images of glory and defeat, and yes, of glory in defeat. If we win by cheating, we do not win. If we lose by playing well, in a real sense we win. We played the game the best we could as it should be played. We retain that honor that is symbolized by the shaking of the hand, the pat on the back. We recognize that someone is better than we are. Those who do not play so well are still worthy. Indeed, they are probably victors in other areas—education, work, public life."
The Holy Father has also considered the idea of “teamwork” and playing as a team. In an address to Italian sports teams he said: “No individualism! No playing for yourselves.” Even sports usually played by individuals, such as golf and tennis, still have the notion of playing to win by the rules. The Pope warns about playing only for oneself, for his or her own glory: “The guy wants to devour the ball all by himself. We used to call him a 'ball-hog.' To belong to a sports club means to reject selfishness and isolation; it is an opportunity to encounter and be with others” ("To Members of the Sports Associations for the 70th Anniversary of the Foundation of the CSI [Italian Sports Center]", L’Osservatore Romano, June 2014).
Earlier this week, while greeting a group of Portuguese-speaking pilgrims during his weekly audience, Pope Francis offered his greeting to the Brazilian people as they prepared for the Olympics: “In a world that is thirsty for peace, tolerance and reconciliation, I hope that the spirit of the Olympic Games can inspire everyone, participants and spectators, to fight the good fight and finish the race together.”
In the past and today, saints and missionaries found sports a valuable way to contact and engage the youth they encounter. While teaching them a sport, they would also teach Christian concepts and how to keep loving others during competition. Maybe this is something we should consider doing with those we love and want to bring to Christ.
The secret of my success over the 400 metres is that I run the first 200 metres as hard as I can. Then, for the second 200 metres, with God's help, I run harder.