“Preach the Gospel at all times, when necessary smash skulls and sign the cross in the eastern way.” – Troy Polamalu.
No, I don’t have a source for that quote, but I’ve also never seen a source for the St. Francis quote. Some players give lip service to their Christian faith, but Troy Polamalu is the real deal. From his website:
Polamalu is also well read in the history and theology of early Christianity, which ultimately led him and his wife Theodora to convert [I’m not sure what from – pray it’s not Catholic] to Greek Orthodox Christianity in 2007. He makes the Sign of the Cross after every play (from right to left, in the Eastern Orthodox manner, as opposed to the Roman Catholic manner of left to right). Among his spiritual activities is a pilgrimage to Orthodox Christian sites in Greece and Turkey, taken in 2007. He seldom gives interviews, but when he does, he often speaks of the role his spirituality plays in his life. Polamalu has said that he tries to separate himself from his profession as much as possible, including not watching football games at home. He prays after each play and on the sidelines. His children, Paisios and Ephraim, are both named after well-known Greek Orthodox Christian saints.
So he’s not Catholic, but close enough to share this enjoyable video (including music which nicely complements some another video I recently posted)
note: Cleansing Fire does not endorse any organizations (Steelers, RNC, etc) other than the Catholic Church.
UPDATE: To even this out, I’ve included Hungry Hippo’s video from the forums of Jets’ coach Mike Westoff:
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Ben,
Find me some video of a Buffalo Bill’s player with a story like that? Oh wait, there aren’t any. Funny you posted about this because I think I heard this topic about Polamalu on the Son Rise morning show Friday.
Cole: You’re Polynesian. How did you end up at a Greek Orthodox church?
Polamalu: There are different ethnicities, like Russian Orthodox. My wife is Greek. I was a non-denomination Christian before we got married. So we sit around there and meet with our spiritual mother and then we go home, maybe take a nap, work out and then go home and have dinner
http://www.street-theologian.com/2007/09/troy-polamalu-convert-to-orthodoxy.html
Even if he is Greek Orthodox, he is a heretic in a church that is heretical. I prefer not to mix with or read about these types. Being “Vatican 2 tolerant” does not promote the truth.
Heretical? Yes. We should, however, be careful about the distinction between formal and material heresy. His is presumably material heresy, and is not actually sinful.
and we should be clear that just because you aren’t in the Church that doesn’t have the fullness of Truth doesn’t mean you aren’t a commendable person.
you must not do much reading or mixing, then.
Christopher,
Thanks for that link.
chalk up another endorsement for orthodoxy and reverence and a demerit to “updated” and “experimental” liturgies