The American saints pastime

To get to know them and to win their trust, Solanus would often organize field trips for his gand of Mass servers.  Ice cream sodas always capped the trips, but visits to a church along the way were invariably included to "set a good example."  Slender buy wiry, Fr. Solanus also impressed the boys when they played baseball together.  Sometimes he would bat fly balls for them or hit them grounders to see if they were any good as shortstops.  When he played in a game, he was always the catcher, refusing to wear the catcher's mask, and played in his habit.  He played the game with gusto.  The boys loved him for his wild courage as well as for his kind of concern for them.

from Solanus Casey: The Story of Father Solanus By Catherine M. Odell

The Detriot Tigers and the saints who follow them

“We knew there was something different about Fr. Solanus,” said Capuchin Franciscan Brother Leo Wollenweber, who served as his assistant for six years. “But in the monastery he was just another one of the friars, and we didn’t know the deep impact he was having on so many people.”

Eighty-five-year-old Brother Leo recalled that Fr. Solanus had “a great sense of humor. He would tell little jokes—often on himself. The friars would kid him a lot, too. He loved hot dogs smothered with onions and he loved baseball. Even when away from Michigan he would keep tabs on the Detroit Tigers. It was his simple and down-to-earth manner that made it easy for people to relate to him. No one seemed intimidated by him.”

One of his favorite pastimes was playing his violin. “He was no virtuoso,” said Br. Leo. When his fellow Capuchins saw him coming, fiddle in hand, they would sometimes busy themselves to avoid the one-man show. “But if his friends didn’t want to listen, he would take his violin into the chapel and play before the Blessed Sacrament.”

Free Republic

I became very attached to Ven. Fr. Solanus Casey after reading about him.  The soon to be first US born male American saint "loved baseball."  Oddly, his guild removed a great deal of information about him which used to be online, maybe to sell books, I don't know.  There was a great picture of him playing baseball in full habit but I cant find it anymore.  I carry a ... probably like a 10th class relic ("cloth touched to his tomb") with me.  You might know Fr. Solanus Casey grew up in the Diocese of La Crosse.  Fr. John Hardon was also a Detroit Tigers fan and would listen when he could to the broadcast on the radio, but of course I can't find that now either.  *sigh*  A conspiracy against the Tigers?  I think so.

Champions of Faith

With the playoffs in full swing, it reminded me of a cool DVD Champions of Faith.  The original baseball version first came out in 2007.  There is a new one that just came out called The Bases of Life.  If it was as good as the original its worth a look.  It's been a while but if I remember right, some parts are maybe a little cheesy, but one part is jaw dropping.  I will never forget the "chicken wing" story.  Ever.  Geez, I just got chills typing that.  The story involves Wisconsin native Craig Counsell and former Marlins manager Rich Donnelly.  If you want the spoiler the LA Dodgers have it on their website.  ....I can't read this stuff at work.... wow.  Baseball, it's God's sport.  Period.

Reason #1,435 why I love baseball

Saw this at Father Z's place who saw it on CMReport.  This happened during the Brewers/Diamondbacks series this past week.  Rickie Weeks throws the ball into... well just watch it.  The audio is the Arizona guys, so I think that's why I don't remember seeing anything about it. 





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