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Last month our nation mourned the death of Pat Tillman, a former NFL player who at the peak of his career left football to volunteer for the Army. Pat Tillman's death has made a profound impact. We mourn his death because it brings home the reality that in war young lives are often taken, and we question if such a war is just. Many feel a sense of loss in that Pat Tillman represented true manhood and the best of our nation: a willingness to dream, perseverance in pursuing his dreams, and most importantly integrity and courage in pursuing what he felt was his true calling. In this lesson, we won't focus on Pat Tillman's death, rather we will focus on his life, and how his focus on the virtues helped him to achieve his dreams and to live a fulfilling life.

Pat's dream was to play in the NFL, but although a star football player in high school, his under-average size (5'10", 200 lbs.) and less-than-lightning speed did not attract college recruiters. Tillman refused to accept rejection. He persevered by committing himself to rigorous workouts to overcome the obstacle of his smaller size. His hard work paid off when he was accepted on the Arizona State University's football team as a non-scholarship walk-on.

He quickly distinguished himself by his intelligence and appetite for rugged play , leading ASU's defense to an undefeated season and a trip to the Rose Bowl. He later earned the Pacific 10 Defensive Player of the Year.

Tillman's hard work and discipline were not restricted to football alone, as he carried a 3.84 grade point average through college and graduated with high honors in 3 1/2 academic years with a degree in marketing.

As a seventh-round draft pick in 1998, Tillman's chances of NFL fame appeared slim. But the Arizona Cardinals took a gamble on him, and were rewarded. In the 2000 season Tillman set a franchise record of 200 tackles. His success attracted the attention of the Super Bowl Champion St. Louis Rams, who offered him a nine-million-dollar contract. Feeling a sense of duty and loyalty to the Cardinals for giving him his first break in the NFL, Tillman choose to stay with Arizona for less money. This sense of loyalty and appreciation likely played into his later decision to join the Army Rangers.

When the dream comes second

After the September 11 th terrorist attacks, Pat discussed how he felt it was his duty to use his physical talents to pursue terrorists, instead of players on the football field. In May of 2002, Pat Tillman shocked the sports world by walking away from professional football and a $3.6 million three-year contract, to join the Army Rangers where he would earn just above $1000 a month.

Tillman's decision to join the Army demonstrates so many virtues- obviously courage in willingly meeting danger, generosity in giving his talents for the service of others, and integrity in steadfastly following his own ethical code and sense of duty regardless of the cost. "Pat knew his purpose in life," said former Cardinals head coach Dave McGinnis. "He proudly walked away from a career in football to a greater calling ."

Pat was a soldier even before he signed on with the Rangers. Two flags are flying in the world: one of selfish ambition and one of Christian manhood. Pat chose to fight on the side of humility, sacrifice and courage, opposing the temptation to join the side of fame, comfort and power. For Pat, life was a battle, and going to Afghanistan was just another special mission.

Jesus Christ gives us the greatest example of true manhood. He stood for the real truth about God and about man. Christ was not afraid to live his values, no matter the consequences, nor to give his life for God and others. Christ was a man of profound charity and sacrifice. He is a true and loyal friend, and head of our Family, the Church.

Every person has different talents, not always as glamorous as Pat's athletic abilities. Yet like Pat, we all have to find the greater calling for each one of us. This is an important part of being young. God has a unique plan, a specific mission, for each person and we should try to discover, to discern, God's will for us.

The best way to know is to ask him directly, in prayer, but with our hearts and minds open to really listen to what he wants and to look at the needs of the world around us. If we are patient, his answer will come in the quiet of our hearts, or sometimes through the ordinary events and normal people we see every day.

We may not be called to give our lives as Pat Tillman did, but our mission will be great, to work with God in a beautiful and powerful way that will bring us deep happiness now, and help us receive the gift of eternal life.

On April 22 nd Pat Tillman died leading a team of Rangers up hill to attack enemy forces that had ambushed another group of Rangers. The Army has awarded Pat Tillman the Silver Star announcing that he was killed while fighting "without regard for his personal safety".

Some people have said that Pat Tillman was a fool who died in an unjust war. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (2309) outlines the criteria to judge if a war is just.

First, the damage that the aggressor will inflict must be lasting, grave and certain.
Second: War should be the last option, only if everything else is impractical or ineffective.
Third: There should be a serious chance of success in winning the war.
Fourth: Due to the fact that modern weaponry can be highly destructive, the army must be careful to limit themselves in its use, so that they do not produce more evil or damage than the threat of the enemy that they are fighting.
Finally: Those who are responsible for civil protection have the role of evaluating these conditions.

It is clear that the world has to be protected from terrorism. It is not easy to find the right way to do this, especially when it requires using lethal force. However, in order to restrain evil people and evil systems, it is sometimes necessary.

Pat Tillman wanted to protect his country against terrorism, and thus he died for a just cause. He did not claim to have all the answers, but tried to do what he could to help his country.

The leaders of our government have the responsibility of judging if the war against terrorism follows the criteria of a just war. In seeking the advice of the Vatican, the Bush administration was told to first try all forms of dialogue, and was warned of long-term problems of a U.S. invasion in the Muslim world. However, the Vatican did not officially condemn nor approve the decision of the United States.

President Bush was glad that the Vatican did not officially take sides, because he did not want it to seem like a religious war of Christianity against the Muslims, when his real aim was to fight against terrorism.

A Tribute to Pat Tillman

We mourn the death of Pat Tillman, but celebrate his courage and integrity in following his life's calling. His death reminds us of all of the soldiers, famous and faceless, and can awaken within us a sense of compassion for them and their families. Cardinals wideout Frank Sanders said, "What we do is a game, what they do is real, and as a citizen it makes me appreciate the men and women in our armed services that much more." Possibly the best way we can pay tribute to Pat Tillman's life is to follow his example, by committing ourselves to pursuing and achieving our true calling in life, no matter the cost.

U.S. Army Ranger Pat Tillman Dies in Afghanistan: Honoring a Life of Courage, Humility, Genorosity, and Integrity May 2004

When the dream comes second

A Tribute to Pat Tillman