By Fr Francis Gonsalves, SJ –
“A Vatican document on sports? You must be joking!” remarked a friend when I informed him that June 1st saw the light of a new document on sports from the Vatican’s Commission for Laity, Family and Life. Many people think that sports and spirituality are irreconcilable bedfellows. But, wait a minute …. Why don’t you download the document for yourself and read it? Better still, why don’t you discuss it with your family members, friends and children? The document is entitled: “Give the Best of Yourself: Christian Perspectives on Sport and Life.” Here are some sporty tidbits:
‘Sport’ stems from the Old French expression desporter or se desporter—derived from the Latin de(s)portare—meaning, to amuse oneself. Sure, a sports’ buff amuses oneself. But, once out on the field or court, one comes face-to-face with competitors to compete. The word ‘compete’ derives from two Latin roots ‘com’, meaning ‘with’ and ‘petere’, meaning ‘to strive’ or ‘to seek’. True competitors “strive or seek together” for excellence. We have much to learn from competitors who shake hands, embrace, or share a meal after an intense contest.
Sport demands that one strives utmost to defeat or outsmart one’s opponents. What a delight to see that breathtaking blend of skill, speed, stamina, willpower and teamwork even if the result is falls, failure, or even fractures! These epitomise our common quest for harmony between mind, body, spirit and soul, echoing the Olympic motto: citius, altius, fortius, meaning, faster, higher, stronger! As a Jesuit, I’m always inspired by the Jesuit motto – AMDG – which you see on Jesuit badges.
During boyhood, studying at St. Stanislaus School, Bandra, Mumbai, I used to ask my seniors: “What does AMDG stand for?” They’d answer: “Aunty Mary, Dirty Girl!” There used to be a mentally-challenged beggar near the school named ‘Mary’! It was only later that I figured out that AMDG means “Ad maiora Dei gloriam” – for the “greater” glory of God!
Famous books like ‘If Cricket is Religion, Sachin is God’ and Diego Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal somehow wed sport with religion. Interestingly, in 1904, Pope Pius X opened the doors of the Vatican to sport by hosting a gymnastics event, much to the chagrin of one of his counsellors. When questioned by him: “Where are we going to finish?” the pope replied, tongue-in-cheek, “In Paradise, my dear!”
Pope Francis writes: “The bond between the church and the world of sports is a beautiful reality that has strengthened over time, for the church sees in sports a powerful instrument for the integral growth of the human person. Engaging in sports, in fact, rouses us to go beyond ourselves and our own self interests in a healthy way; it trains the spirit in sacrifice and, if it is organized well, it fosters loyalty in interpersonal relations, friendship, and respect for rules.”
The IPL of cricket, and its’ recent spillover in kabaddi and football are heartwarming national unifiers. FIFA World Cup Football 2018 will soon see frenzied fans following every move of a mesmerizing Messi; Wimbledon will showcase the sturdy serenity of a never-say-die mother, Serena Williams; while another mother, Mary Kom, still packs a punch in her matchless bouts.
There are a whole lot of Indian Christian sportspersons who have excelled in sports and continue to do the nation proud: Marcellus Gomes and Joachim Carvalho (my dear classmates in school) who represented India in World Cup Hockey and the Olympics; Charles Borromeo, my college-mate in Ahmedabad, who gifted me my first pair of spikes, and won the 1982 Asian Games gold medal in the 800 metres run; Leander Paes in tennis and many others. God bless them all!
“I play for my country. For me, it must be everything or nothing,” said AB de Villiers recently, on retiring from cricket. His stress on “everything or nothing” is striking. In his Autobiography he writes: “This book is not my story. It is the story of what God has planned and realised through me. I hope it can be read and understood as tales of His achievements, certainly not my personal achievements. I would really like people to appreciate that whatever glory there may be needs to be recognised as His glory, not mine.”
You cannot cross a yawning chasm with a series of little jumps; only a mighty leap will do. So, be a sport! Run, jump, swim, play! To God alone be the glory! Pope Francis concludes: “Give life your very best; spend your life on what really matters and lasts forever.” Yes, and please do that AMDG!
Fr. Francis Gonsalves is a Gujarat Jesuit, former Principal of Vidyajyoti College, Delhi, and currently Dean of Theology at Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune. He is also the Executive Secretary of the CCBI Commission for Theology and Doctrine. He has authored many books and articles and is a columnist with The Asian Age and The Deccan Chronicle national dailies.
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