As the defending AFC North Champions, we are ready for another season, prompting us to once again ponder the age-old question: is it possible to hope for a Bengals victory?
In my role as the Catholic Chaplain for the Cincinnati Bengals, my response about praying for sports teams is “it all comes down to your purpose!” If you are hoping for an online bet or Fantasy Football ranking as a result, then that is not acceptable. If it pertains to a bigger cause, such as the profession and respect of the players or the promotion of the greater good, then it is likely a prayer aligned with Catholic beliefs.
Both athletes and the supporters who cheer for them are consistently portrayed in a positive light in both Sacred Scripture and Tradition. St. Thomas teaches to persevere in the race set before you. St. Ignatius of Antioch reminded, “Always recall that you are God’s athlete.” We pray for the athletes to possess the ability to play generously and well, giving their best to their team, opponents, and fans, and achieving their desired outcome, which is often winning, though not specifically prayed for.
St. Thomas the Great is well known for saying that the human body communicates through a language. In my opinion, elite soccer players and coaches understand this concept instinctively. They are aware that they are a combination of both physical and spiritual aspects. They understand that participating in sports is a way for them to showcase and share their individual abilities for the betterment of all, given to them by God.
In the Summa Theologica, St. Thomas Aquinas posed the question, “Is it possible for there to be a virtue related to games?” His response was affirmative: “Yes.” According to St. Thomas, having virtue means finding balance in life, therefore being overly focused on work or study is considered to be imbalanced. There is an inherent need instilled by God
