The NFL Saints; a Catholic connection.

If you stayed up late tonight you witnessed the New Orleans Saints beat Atlanta 35-27 to run their record to 7-0. Needless to say, the fans of the Saints and the entire community of New Orleans and the surrounding area are giddy. Of course, 7-0 guarantees you 7 wins; no more, no less. But this team has won big all year; has come back heroically against the Dolphins and hung tough tonight when Atlanta played very well. The Saints have scored points at will and have scored several defensive touchdowns. It's been great so far.

Many people outside this area may not know the connection of the name of the team and the Catholic tradition of New Orleans. The city of New Orleans was granted the license to have an NFL team in 1966 on November 1st. That's right; November 1st: All Saints Day!

The organization thought it would be great to name the team the Saints. Everyone thought we had a taylor made song: When the Saints Go Marching In!!! But someone decided perhaps we should check with the Catholic Church and make sure this would not be sacriligious. A call was placed to then Archbishop Philip Hannan who not only thought the idea was great but blessed the whole concept.

To be a Saints fan is a religious experience. They have given this city and the area a unique identity. In the early days it was no big deal. In these last few years, as the city's population hovers around 400,000 post Katrina, we are one of the smaller NFL markets. And our gridiron history is unique too. Over 40 years old, the Saints have only had 8 winning seasons . We had the historic 1987 team that went on a crazy winning streak and not til the 21st century did the Saints win a playoff game; remember "Hakim drops the ball." Then in 2006, we had the magical season of returning to New Orleans and the Dome after Katrina. And that team went all the way to the NFL championship.

By the way, doubt the Catholic connection. The 1987 winning team played in the same Superdome that Pope John Paul II celebrated services in during that year's football season.

So Catholics across the world should join all of us from the New Orleans area and do what we are called to do as Catholics; pray for the Saints. After all, the heavenly Saints are our heroes and the New Orleans Saints are playing heroically. I know you all want to be in that number, when the Saints go marching in.

Who Dat?

The Saints.