Meet Tyler Flowers, catcher for the Chicago White Sox.
In a recent interview with the Catholic New World, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Chicago, the major league baseball player spoke about his devotion to the Blessed Mother.
I love to pray rosaries, which are very Christ-centered. In fact, Jesus’ name is literally at the center of the Hail Mary. It’s been said that praying the rosary is learning about Jesus at the school of Mary.
When you consider what Jesus said about becoming like a little child in order to enter the kingdom of heaven, it’s easy to see the importance of placing ourselves at the feet of our spiritual mother, Mary.
Everyone knows it’s perfectly normal to see a child with his mother in the natural order, but the same is also true in the spiritual order: Children of God the Father need a mother, and they have one in Mary. When you become more devoted to Mary, you will inevitably become more devoted to Jesus in the Eucharist.
Wow.
When’s the last time you heard a professional athlete talk like that?
But wait, there’s more. Although raised Catholic, Flowers admits that it was his high school sweetheart (now his wife) who really brought him deeper into his faith over the last few years.
My siblings and I were raised Catholic, but it has only been in the last five years that I’ve really gotten deeper into what the church has to offer. Even though I went to Catholic schools, it wasn’t until late in the game that I learned about things like eucharistic adoration and the rosary. I had to rely on my wife, Nancy, to introduce me to those things.
Nancy and I went to Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in Roswell, Ga., and since her maiden name is Fiedler, we would always have lockers next to each other in the hallway. This must have been by divine design, because she has made my life better in so many ways.
How great a story is that?
I’ll let you read the whole interview yourself, especially the part about the Flowers’ struggle to conceive, then their decision to commit to frequent confession, eucharistic adoration, and a devotion to St. Therese of Lisieux…and the beautiful result. Good stuff, here.
A serious Catholic, a committed husband, and a devoted father…
Professional sports could certainly use more role models like Tyler Flowers.