There is an ambiguous relationship between sports and religion in the United States. On the one hand, we might wonder why it is easy to get 70,000 fans to a football game but it is difficult be to fill a church on Sunday morning. On the other hand, spectator sports can be a healthy family activity.
Ask students to compare these aspects of the Mass and a NFL football game to find similarities and differences. (Suggested answers provided)
-
Entrance procession (Announcement of players, coaches, and refs/Priest processes in with deacon, readers, and altar servers)
-
Statement of Beliefs (Pledge of allegiance/Creed)
-
Music (Fight song, Liturgical Music)
-
Expected Dress (Team colors/nicer clothes)
-
Types of Participation (Cheering/In the Mass, a person participates in the Celebration of the Eucharist – visible participation includes responses to the priest’s statements)
-
Social element (both are places to meet family and friends)
After considering the parallels, complete the activity by posing this dilemma and question:
- The popularity of sports in the United States reveals that Americans have a real desire to invest themselves in something bigger than they are. Does this fascination with spectator sports disguise a deeper longing that sports do not fulfill?
