Prayer for the Saints

[rajncajn]

God, we ask your blessing upon all who participate in this event, and all who have supported our Saints. Our heavenly father, who has instructed us that the "saints by faith conquered kingdoms... and overcame lions," grant our Saints an increase of faith and strength so that they will not only overcome the Lions, but also the Bears, the Rams, the Giants and even those awesome people in Green Bay.

 

May they continue to tame the Redskins and fetter the Falcons as well as the Eagles. Give to our owners and coaches the continued ability to be as wise as serpents and simple as doves, so that no good talent will dodge our draft. Grant to our fans perseverance in their devotion and unlimited lung power, tempered with a sense of charity to all, including the referees.

 

May our beloved "Bedlam Bowl" be a source of good fellowship and may the "Saints Come Marching In" be a victory march for all, now and in eternity.

 

Phillip M. Hannan

Archbishop of New Orleans

 

 

RIP to an original Saints fan.

 

Former archbishop who gave JFK eulogy dies at 98

 

Then there is the story about the football Saints and the controversy about using that name. I had interviewed the late Dave Dixon, the founder of the Superdome and the person most responsible for bringing the NFL to New Orleans, several times. He would always break out in a laugh when telling this story:

 

When Commissioner Pete Rozelle called to tell Dixon that the NFL was coming to New Orleans it was Dixon who suggested that the announcement be made on Nov. 1, All-Saints day. At the time the team did not have a name, or an owner, but Dixon pushed hard for the name “Saints.” Why? “Because I knew it would be free publicity every time the song was played.”

 

A local law firm urged one of its Houston customers to apply for ownership. Eventually the league accepted the application of the oil-rich Mecom family to own the team. Poppa Mecom put his 28-year-old son, John, in charge. It was the new owner who would have the final say-so over the team’s identity.

 

Mecom began to have second thoughts about the name. One evening a Mecom aide had dinner with Dixon to explain that his boss was concerned that the name might seem sacrilegious. Philip Hannan happened to be in the restaurant. Dixon apologetically interrupted the archbishop and posed the question. Would calling the team Saints be sacrilegious? “No,” the bishop answered; “besides, I have a premonition that this team is going to need all the help it can get.”

 

At that moment, as though baptized by the bishop, the New Orleans Saints came into being.

 

http://www.myneworleans.com/Blogs/The-Edit...aints/index.php