Vatican City, Jun 3, 2010 / 14:25 pm
With their rabid fans looking on, the North American Martyrs came up short in their bid to upset the reigning champions of the Clericus Cup, a soccer tournament held every year between Rome's pontifical seminaries. Despite the 1-0 loss, the Martyrs took consolation in the strong team unity that marked the year and their work ethic.
As they prepared to face their rival Redemptoris Mater, the American seminarians meditated on the words of St. Paul:
"Every athlete exercises self-discipline in all things. They do it to get a crown of leaves that withers, but we for one that never withers. I, then, run in such a way so I'm not aimless. I fight in such a way so I'm not beating the air. Rather I knock out my body and enslave it, lest somehow, after preaching to others, I myself am proved unfit."
The "world cup of priests and seminarians," pitted defending champions Redemptoris Mater against the North American Martyrs from the Pontifical North American College (PNAC) for the second straight year.