Patron Saint of Baseball – Softball

Patron Saint of Baseball St Rita & St Sebastian

Have you ever wondered who the patron saint of baseball is or the patron saint of softball? Many regard both St. Sebastian and Saint Rita as the patron saint of baseball and the patron saint of softball!

Play Ball! Besides the triumphant Easter Alleluia sung at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, few moments symbolize the start of spring better than the first pitch of a new baseball and softball season. No matter if you are playing first base, out in the outfield, coaching from the dugout, or cheering from the stands, there is something truly wonderful about baseball, both as America’s pastime but also as a way to grow closer to God.

Have you ever considered watching or playing baseball as a form of prayer? Both baseball and softball provides opportunities for quiet and silence. What better way to grow closer to God than to spend those moments in reflection and prayer? As a baseball player you are using your God given gifts and your hard work to become your best self. You are provided an opportunity to serve as a model for your teammates and spectators of winning graciously and losing with respect as you know the real purpose in life is not the game, but salvation.

 

Who is the Patron Saint of Baseball?

Have you ever considered who the patron saint of baseball might be? The answer might surprise you! While there is no saint, officially designated by the Church as the patron saint of baseball there are a few contenders! Both St. Rita and St. Sebastian are the patron saints of baseball.

 

St. Rita Patron Saint of Baseball & Softball

Do you remember the 2002 movie, “The Rookie” starring Dennis Quaid? The opening scene begins with the telling of the remarkable true story of a group of nuns in Big Lake, Texas in the 1920’s who had been conned into investing in an oil well scheme that was not working out. When the nun’s couldn’t recover their investment, a local priest encouraged them to pray for the intercession of St. Rita, the patron saint of the impossible.

Days after the sisters prayed to the intercession of St. Rita, the drill struck oil! The nuns named the well the Santa Rita Well, in honor of its patron. It took crews nearly years to build out the well for full production, during this time, the construction crew built a baseball field on the site of the well as a way to spend their evenings. A number of those who played on this field went on to play professional baseball in the major leagues.

Throughout the movie, the protagonist, Jim Morris is seen wearing a St. Rita patron saint of baseball medal, to call upon the intercession of St. Rita in the seemingly impossible moments of the game. 

When you play baseball, wear a St. Rita medal to seek the intercession of St. Rita, patron saint of baseball, to assist you through the impossible moments of both the baseball game when all other hope may be lost, but also in your training and daily life. 

What a great conversation starter wearing a patron saint of baseball St. Rita medal on the field and in the locker room can be as you teach others about the remarkable life of St. Rita, the patron saint of baseball.

 

St. Sebastian Patron Saint of Baseball and Softball

Saint Sebastian is widely regarded as the patron saint of athletes, including those who play or watch baseball. St. Sebastian is often depicted in artwork tied to post and pierced by arrows, symbols of the virtues of strength, stamina, perseverance, courage, and justice in the face of adversity. 

St. Sebastian is one of the most well known martyrs and “athleta Christi” (champion of Christ). He was martyred during the persecution of Christians by the Roman emperor Diocletian. Because of his  strength and great faith, it took multiple attempts in order for him to be killed.

St. Sebastian is a model for both baseball players and fans to emulate the great strength and endurance of St. Sebastian in the game. The life of St. Sebastian is a reminder of the importance of training and strength in order to persevere through life’s struggles. To be the best baseball player you must never give up, you must put in the hard work, build the strength and maintain a foundation rooted in your faith.

Saints Baseball Teams

The intercession of patron saints in all moments of life have become such a common tradition in the Church, there are even professional and amateur baseball teams that proudly bear the name saints:

St. Paul Saints – a Triple-A affiliate baseball team of the Minnesota twins, the St. Paul Saints are one of the best Triple A baseball teams around! 

San Diego Saints Baseball – a fantastic youth baseball team that combines baseball with Christianity. The team was founded by 5 time MLB All Star Mike Sweeney as a way to use the greatest game ever played, to share the greatest story ever told!

Saints Baseball Organization – A youth baseball league based out of Sugar Land, Texas

 

Playing Baseball and Softball as Part of Your Vocation

Pope Francis acknowledges the wonderful influence baseball can have on the world “this is possible because the language of sport is universal; it extends across borders, language, race religion and ideology; it possesses the capacity to unite people together, by fostering dialogue and acceptance.”

In recent years, the Catholic Church, long a sponsor of art and human performance, has begun to engage in the sports world encouraging the peaceful competition of the Olympics and community baseball throughout the world.

St. John Paul II established within the Holy See a “Church and Sport Office”. In 2018, Pope Francis issued an official document titled “Giving the best of yourself” which provides a Christian perspective of sports. For by “giving the best of oneself in sports is also a call to aspire to holiness.” 

Training and healthy competition amongst baseball players is one way of striving to become your best self. Baseball is “a very rich source of values and virtues that help us to become better people, training, practicing, discovering our limits without fear, struggling daily to improve.”

The Catholic Church identifies baseball and all sports as a universal aspect of humanity which has taken on new levels of importance in our time. Nearly every catholic school and parish has some form of competitive or intramural baseball team that brings parishioners together in a shared interest. 

 

Baseball & Softball as a Holy Game

While we may all get wrapped up in the spirit of healthy competition, St. John Paul II reminds us that baseball and all other sports should focus less on the victory, but instead join in the shared celebration in human triumphs. The Pope reminds us “it is important that baseball (sports) remain a game! Only by remaining a game will it do good for the body and spirit.” 

Through team sports like baseball, we share experiences with a community of teammates, managers, coaches, supporters, and fans who all strive to ‘give the best of oneself’. This communal pursuit through peaceful baseball competitions provides an avenue for encounters with others as part of the global human family.

Many baseball players, coaches, and fans have taken to wearing a patron saint baseball medal as a reminder of the true purpose of the game, that is to give the best of yourself and to grow closer to God. Wearing a baseball patron saint medal is a reminder to transform the moments of rest and travel in games and practices into times of prayer. 

The patron saint medal depicting an athlete playing baseball is a reminder to apply the virtues developed in baseball to all aspects of your life. Wearing a saint medal invoking the protection of St. Rita, St. Sebastian, or St. Christopher, the patron saints of baseball, softball, and athletes, serve as a perpetual prayer of intercession to these holy men and women to watch over you as you train. 

St. Christopher, patron saint of athletes and travelers, pray for us.

St. Rita, patron saint of baseball, pray for us.

St. Sebastian, patron saint of baseball and softball, pray for us.

 

Prayer Before a Baseball Game

God, let me play well but fairly.

Let competition make me strong but never hostile.

Forbid me to rejoice in the adversity of others.

See me not when I am cheered, but when I bend to help my opponent up.

If I know victory, allow me to be happy;

if I am denied, keep me from envy.

Remind me that sports are just games.

Help me to learn something that matters once the game is over.

And if through athletics I set an example, let it be a good one.

 

St. Rita Patron Saint of Baseball Medals & Rosaries

The St. Rita medal and necklace depicts the image of St. Rita with the words “Saint Rita Pray for us” surrounding the image. On the back side of the medal is the image of a baseball player commemorating St. Rita as the patron saint of basebal.

St. Sebastian Patron Saint of Baseball Medals and Rosaries

The St. Sebastian Baseball Medal and St. Sebastian Baseball Rosary depicts the image of a baseball or softball player swinging the bat surrounded by the words “Saint Sebastian Pray for Us”. On the back of the medal is the iconic image of St. Sebastian on the pillar. These medals honor St. Sebastian as the patron saint of baseball.

Guardian Angel and St. Christopher Baseball Medals and Rosaries