Posted on 08/16/2016 7:04:25 PM PDT by Coleus
On the evening of Sunday, August 14, 2016, famed Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt won gold in a characteristically dynamic and seemingly effortless 100-meter performance at his third consecutive Olympics, this time in Rio de Janeiro, making him the first athlete to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals in the 100-meter dash.
Bolt’s rocketry on this celebrated night follows equally impressive performances in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012. There is little doubt as to why Bolt is easily regarded as the world’s fastest man.
However, perhaps not as readily in the spotlight is notice of Bolt’s deep Catholic faith. In August of 2012, in the days following Bolt’s participation in the London Olympics, the Catholic News Agency reported that the “Vatican invites Usain Bolt to address religious liberty conference.” The article mentions that “As a Catholic, Bolt is known for making the Sign of the Cross before racing competitively. He also bears the middle name [St.] Leo.”
In addition to his other inspirational outward signs of faith, more encouraging than Bolt’s hard-earned gold medals is that he wears an even more powerful medal: the Miraculous Medal, as promulgated by French Saint Catherine Labouré (1806-1876). By extension, as one awesome Redditor pointed out, based on Bolt’s wearing of the Miraculous Medal, the Blessed Virgin Mary is currently the most viewed woman in sprinting! This digression aside, the Miraculous Medal features an inscription invoking the prayerful intercession of the Lord’s Mother with these French words: “O, Marie, conçue sans péché, priez pour nous qui avons recours à vous” (“O, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee”).
May that be our prayer as we ask Our Lady to draw us increasingly closer to her Son. You can learn more by visiting the site for the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Paris.
Usain Bolt is preparing to turn thirty years old on August 21, 2016, and in the full life ahead of him, he is sure to continue exhibiting his skillful athleticism. However, we should pray for him to continue leading others to Jesus Christ through the model of his faith, keeping in mind and heart the words of the monumentally courageous Saint Paul, as he wrote in his Second Letter to Timothy: “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on, the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
† PRAYER OF DEVOTION TO OUR LADY OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL †
Virgin Mother of God, Mary Immaculate, I unite myself to you under your title of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.
May this medal be for me a sure sign of your motherly affection and a constant reminder of my devotion to you.
While wearing it, may I be blessed by your loving protection and preserved in the grace of your Son. Most powerful virgin, Mother of our Savior; keep me close to you every moment of my life so that like you I may live and act according to the teaching and example of Jesus. Keep me as your faithful child that I may follow your example throughout life and enjoy heaven forever with you. Amen.
I apologize for not seeing the Caucus designation.
His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
Newman and the Miraculous Medal
President Obama carried Miraculous Medal in his pocket [Catholic Caucus]
Miraculous Medal Shrine Celebrates 81st Novena (Catholic Caucus)
Being Catholic: Sacred Things, The Miraculous Medal [Ecumenical]
America Needs Fatima Campaign does outreach by distributing St. Benedict medals (Catholic Caucus)
Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (Catholic Caucus)
Graces Will Be Abundant (175th Anniversary of Miraculous Medal)
America Needs Fatima Launches "Miracles for America" Campaign: A Miraculous Medal Outreach
Miracles For America: A Miraculous Medal Outreach
How the Miraculous Medal Changed My Life
As this is a caucus thread I will not be commenting any further on this topic.
Amen. Katie Ledecky, Simone Biles, and... Usain? Cool. I saw him make the sign of the cross. I did not know he wore the miraculous medal. My mother carries a bunch of medals in her purse and gives away them to her friends and acquaintances. Why? “Because Mrs. Doheny did, too.” Who is Mrs. Doheny? Her husband Edward found the first oil well in Los Angeles, learned how to make tar for streets and then went on to build USC library, UCLA hospital and the Music Center. Please visit St. Vincent’s church on Adams Blvd. near the Staples Center when possible. The Doheny’s funded the spectacular church.
Had no idea. Super!
I had NO idea he was Catholic!
I’ve been to Jamaica numerous times, and it’s hard to find a Catholic Church there. I had no idea either, I also have one of those medals with me always.
“O Mary conceived without sin pray for us who have recourse to thee”
I pray this after every decade of the rosary.
I had NO idea he was Catholic! >>
me too, I was surprised because Jamaica was an English colony where most inhabitants of these colonies were mostly Anglican.
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