YOUCAT*: We must work at forming our character so that we can freely, joyfully and easily accomplish what is good. A firm faith in God, in the first place, helps us to do this, but also the practice of the virtues, which means developing within ourselves, with God’s help, firm dispositions, not giving ourselves over to disorderly passions, and directing our faculties of intellect and will more and more consistently toward the good.
If you haven’t noticed, the world is soccer-crazy right now. More than 715 million people will tune in to watch 32 teams from all over the globe compete for soccer supremacy. Pope Francis weighed in with a message: “The sport is not only a form of entertainment, but also a tool to communicate the values that promote the good of the human person.”
He said sports teach the “need for discipline, effort, and sacrifice to succeed and achieve excellence — becoming a constant reminder of the sacrifices necessary to grow in the virtues that build the character of a person.” Character is the most valuable thing you have. It is defined by what you do. Cultivate your character by practicing the virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance. In everything that we do, we must model good character.
Pope Francis is a great model of humility and Christ-like character for all of us.
*Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church
Lisa Gomes is the director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry