World Cup Promise

Just thought it was a cool story…

Madrid, Spain, Jul 14, 2010 / 06:05 pm (CNA).- Spanish soccer player Andres Iniesta, who scored the winning goal during the World Cup final in South Africa, has promised to walk the Way of St. James, which leads to Santiago de Compostela.  The Way of St. James is a pilgrimage route that for centuries brought the faithful from across Europe to the city of Santiago de Compostela, where the remains of the saint are venerated. 

According to the Spanish newspaper, Marca, months before the 2010 World Cup, the members of the Spanish team sent the newspaper sealed envelopes with the promises they would keep if they won the title.

Marca opened the envelopes after Spain’s historic victory on Sunday and found that Iniesta, along with Fernando Torres and Carlos Marchena said they would walk the Way of St. James.

Iniesta also revealed his promise in an interview prior to the World Cup.  Speaking on Spanish television he said he would make the pilgrimage “somehow…I’ll do it however I have to!” His teammate Sergio Busquets, who was with him, made the same promise.

The Spanish media is reminding the players of their promise and although no plans have been officially made, reporters were convinced many fans would share the pilgrimage with them.

This year, Pope Benedict XVI will travel to the city for the Holy Year of St. James 2010, which is celebrated each year that July 25, the saint’s feast, falls on a Sunday. 

The next Year of St. James will be celebrated in 2021.

7 Days of Virtue; Day 6 – Hope.

Think of virtues like your muscles.  You work your muscles out so that they can perform for you when needed.  Virtue is the same way.  You practice, work on the virtue and then, when the time comes, the virtue is there and ready.

Day 6 of the 7 Day Journey through the Virtues: DAY 6 – HOPE.

Hope – the virtue by which we desire the kingdom of Heaven as our happiness.  Because of hope, we trust in God’s promise to help us.  Hope is the bridge between faith and love.  Hope allows us to keep our eyes on our goal of Heaven.  Hope keeps us going, especially when times are tough, because of the promise of Heaven. 

Despair is the opposing vice to hope.  Despair is the belief that God will not forgive me for my sins.  It is, simply put, giving up.  When you give up (on God or on yourself) you believe that God can’t really help you.  There’s also something that can appear to be hope, which we call a counterfeit vice, called presumption.  When we presume, we believe that we’ll get to our goal without God’s help.  This is not depending on God and not seeing the need to.

Hope is the unending desire to see God, to know God and to be with God.  Never lose hope, never give up, never give in.  Living a good life, striving for excellence, serving our neighbor… that is living a hopeful life.  You have the power to pass on hope to those around you who are in despair.  More than ever, people are despairing because they lose the belief that God cares about them.  When you go it alone, you will despair.  Stay strong, our hope is in the Lord!

Man up!