While I was away from home, my dad, as he often did, ordered a package on Amazon. Given his track record, it could have been anything from an automated wine bottle opener to a high-tech salt grinder, but this time the contents weren’t important. Instead, what interested us was who delivered it.
The delivery driver came in the afternoon with a few packages, and both of my parents were outside to receive them. My father got what he ordered, and my mother got a gift from an online Catholic store.
The guy who delivered the packages noticed the saint name of the Catholic store on the delivery address and suddenly asked my parents, “Were you upset when Notre Dame lost last week?”
My mom, confused, told him that yes, she was somewhat disappointed, while my dad said that his son was the one who was really invested (do not mention Ohio State in front of me).
“So was I,” said the delivery man. “Oh, did you go to Notre Dame?” my mother asked.
Then the delivery man smiled and matter-of-factly said, “Nope, I’m just Catholic. I have to support Notre Dame.”
Now, before I continue, I feel the need to mention that it is not a precept of the Church that all faithful Catholics must be fans of the greatest college football team – namely, Notre Dame. However, I think there is some wisdom in what our friend the delivery man said.
The word Catholic means “universal.” The Church seeks not only to bring her members to Christ, but also to unite them to each other in Christ. We can see this, for instance, in the Mass where we gather together to worship our Lord; in the Creed which we often recite together, and in our shared practices, like the Sign of the Cross.
Saint Paul, too, urges us to “be united in the same mind and in the same purpose” (1 Corinthians 1:10).
If our unity as Christians is so important that the whole liturgical life is meant to be celebrated in common, why don’t we also express this unity in the normal, everyday actions of our life? Why not mirror our being on the “same team” in Christ with literally supporting the same team in football?
Now, there are other Catholic universities with football teams. The University of Dallas, however, is not one of them. Supporting our rugby team is a no-brainer, and the rugby games are a great aspect of student life on campus.
It is undeniable, though, that football has our nation’s heart, and most Americans are proud to support their favorite team. As a school community, we ought to tap into the great unifying power of football to promote the camaraderie we so desperately need in this divisive era.
Imagine swaths of Catholics around the United States rallying together every year to back a single college football team–what a powerful image. In fact, it is already happening, and my mailman is living proof! Not only Irish Catholics, but Christians of every background and race watch the playoffs with great anticipation every year.
Let’s continue to build on the momentum that has been budding in the American Church for the past few years, embracing the strength that comes from rallying behind a single cause. Jesus is meant to permeate our whole lives, body and soul, mind and heart, prayer and leisure. By uniting under the banner of certainly the most famous and skilled Catholic football team in the country, we make ourselves a force to be reckoned with.