What is it about Major League Baseball players that is so attractive to fans? Is it that they make millions of dollars? Is it that they are beautiful on the outside or are amazing athletes? Is it because entire cities idolize them?
No, none of the above makes Major League Baseball players model husbands and fathers. Although impressive on some level, these qualities do not shout out "great role model" or "sacrificial human being."
I want to marry a Major League Baseball player because of his love for the Eucharist. He truly believes that the Eucharist is the "body, blood, soul and divinity of Our Lord, Jesus Christ!" He knows that "when you receive Christ, every single Sunday, He is the catalyst and He works through you." He will continue to grow in his love for our Lord at Mass, because "as a man of God, he doesn't put restrictions on the Holy Spirit!" Although it may be difficult to make it to Mass every single Sunday, "he thinks that you make that sacrifice." He will also understand the importance of a personal relationship with God. The Major League Baseball player for me "knows how disciplined he is in baseball, and he tries to apply that to his prayer life." He "thinks we should ask for everything. And God may say no, but that's fine." He will believe it is important to share his hopes, dreams, pains, and fears with the God who made him.
As for the fame and fortune, the love of my life will know that "you just can't get caught up in the hype of it, with millions of dollars, and fans cheering for you all the time, because there's going to be days when that's not going to be there!" When pondering on his many blessings, he will honestly admit that, "At the end of the day, success, money, fame, all these things are unfulfilling. The only thing that is fulfilling is a strong spiritual life." He knows his number one job is to "pedal for the Lord" because he believes that "every success that he's had and all the blessings that he has, he owes to God."
My future Major League ball playing husband "feels God's glory when he plays baseball" and his "goal is to play in the big leagues with God one day." He is able to keep going because the ball player of my dreams "knows there's only one way to live and that's through the Lord, Jesus Christ, and if you're following His way, it doesn't make it that tough all." Even during life's hardships, he knows that, "Sometimes God puts you in the desert, sometimes God will deliver you from the desert, sometimes God's walking with you through the desert." Like Pope John Paul II, the Major League player I want to spend my life with lives by the motto, "No fear. Be not afraid. And in our faith and on the field, we can't be afraid to make mistakes. We can't be afraid of failure. We must never be afraid."
Now, you may be thinking to yourself, "Dream on! Baseball superstars are not men of faith!" Actually, many of them are. The fifteen quotes above, of more than 100, are from today's leading players, including Mike Piazza, Mike Sweeney, Jeff Suppan, Sean Casey, Jack McKeon, and over two dozen more. These record-setting pros are featured in the new groundbreaking film Champions of Faith: Baseball Edition. They are the servants of God who not only love the game, but they also love the Church, their families, and their teammates.
This inaugural production of Catholic Exchange's new film and video division provides some of the biggest names in our national pastime with a unique forum to discuss faith, family, teamwork, sacrifice, leadership, humility and the many virtues and spiritual lessons they have learned from the game. The DVD showcases the faith lives of some of the biggest names in baseball in an exciting new tool for evangelization. Good for men, women and children, Champions of Faith can increase the faith in those who are active in the Church or are in need of a "faith boost."
This film showed me that waiting for this man, maybe my own baseball-playing husband, is worth the sacrifice. I give this film two thumbs up for every woman out there and encourage it to be the "must-have DVD" in every Christian household in America.
For more information on Champions of Faith: Baseball Edition, the different opportunities that the Champions of Faith movement presents, and ways that you can utilize this tool for evangelization in your parish, group, or diocese, please visit www.ChampionsofFaith.com or call The Maximus Group at 678-990-9032 for more information.
