Bishop Tobin on Being Branded by the Cross of Christ

"Recently I made a quick trip to my hometown of Pittsburgh to visit family and friends. One of the rewarding things about my visit was being surrounded once again by the familiar black and gold of the Pittsburgh sports teams - the Steelers, the Pirates and the Penguins. Black and gold was everywhere, and it felt like home.

"Fans in New England have a similar allegiance to their teams, though the local clubs sport a variety of colors - for the Patriots, the Bruins, the Celtics and the Red Sox. I guess wherever you travel in the U.S. you'll find sports fans showing their pride for the local teams with caps, tee shirts, sweatshirts, decals, and lots of other gear.

"Christians cheer their favorite team too, a team that has Jesus as its owner, coach and star player. And although we're proud members of the Jesus Fan Club, we don't often show it publicly. Our allegiance is usually very private and that, perhaps, is unfortunate."

In a recent commentary, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, of the Diocese of Providence (RI), reflected on our being marked by the Cross of Christ in a public way on Ash Wednesday and interiorly via the sacraments.

To access Bishop Tobin's complete essay, please visit:

The Imitation of Christ: The Jesus Fan Club (7 MAR 19)