I’m not much of a baseball or football fan, although hometown pride — and I am one of that rare breed known as the Native San Diegan — occasionally (usually when a rare championship series comes a’callin’) will transform me into a fair-weather fan of the Padres and Chargers. Even so, the past couple of years I’ve thought it nice that the BoSox and ChiSox have finally been rewarded with World Series victories. I wouldn’t have blogged on the White Sox win, though, until I ran across an article on fan reaction that tickled me.
"Loud music blared over the city’s South Side on Wednesday night, and one needed only to look up at the balcony of Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church to find its source.
"The White Sox had won the World Series, and for the Rev. Dan Brandt, it was time to party down.
"Father Brandt jumped with glee from his office in the heart of the South Side, then ran from the room to ring the church bells and play ‘Let’s Go Go Go White Sox!’ — the theme song for Chicago’s 1959 World Series appearance — when the game ended.
"But his main focus was to keep those bells clanging.
"’They’re going to keep ringing for at least several hours, maybe longer,’ said Brandt, as parishioners around him, who had gathered to watch the game together, hugged and smiled."
One of the great things about being Catholic is the ability of Catholics to express joy in the world around us through distinctly Catholic means. Some Christians might be scandalized at the idea of ringing church bells for a baseball victory. For Catholics, celebrating such victories is just one of the reasons why God invented church bells.
As long as he doesn’t try ringing ’em on the North Side…
To a much greater extent than today, it seems to me that Catholics (both lay people and priests) used to be portrayed in films and television as spirited and joyful.
It’s good to hear of a priest playing against the modern type of bitter, timid, lecherous (insert negative personality trait) or neurotic priests.
Ring them bells!
Unless you are Catholic Cub fan and live in the wrong part of the city and couldn’t sleep because of all the noise!!!! Just wait until next year!!!
If the Cubs win next year, after the White Sox this yeard, and the Red Sox last year — fasten your seat belts. Low probability events are occuring in great frequency.