Who Dat Hallelujah!

Photo: Chris Granger, Times-Picayune

As the New Orleans Saints began their season, Rev. Tony Ricard, Saints Team Chaplain, leads the Who Dat Nation in a pre-season petition for Super Bowl blessings. 

Lord, hear our prayer:

God of Many Nations,With joy in our hearts, we the people of the Gulf South join with all the angels in heaven as we proclaim, "Who Dat Say Dey Gonna Beat Dem Saints?"

Since the dawn of time, you have been calling your saints to levels of heroic greatness and miraculous victories.

Thousands of years ago, you called Abraham and Sarah to unite as one and form a nation of good and holy people. Through their love and your providence, the Hebrew nation formed the foundation of a multitude of prophetic saints.

While the descendants of Abraham and Sarah prayed in the West, the followers of Buddha and Confucius called the people of the East to form additional nations of love. Through their prayers and words of wisdom, the nations of the Orient have become saints who fully understand that we are all connected by your wisdom.

Later, you called Muhammad to unite a band of men and women to form a nation of devoted believers and followers. Through their sacrifices, the nations of Islam received your blessings and became saints that are devoted to your love.

Your son, Jesus Christ, entered the world to announce to all the nations that your universal offer of love was opened to all. Through his sacrificial offering, the Christian nation spread across the world and called every man, woman and child to a new level of sainthood.

On Nov. 1, 1966, you united all these faiths under a new sacred banner of excitement and joy. On All Saints Day, you created a band of people that would be forever known as the New Orleans Saints -- , and their faithful disciples as the Who Dat Nation.

Like all sacred families, we have journeyed through a storied history of peaks and valleys. We have rejoiced on the Miami mountaintop of the Super Bowl and wept in the crevices of painful defeat.

But at no point did the truly faithful members of the Who Dat Nation abandon our call to be Saints. Even when we seemed to be martyrs and sacrificial offerings, we refused to walk away from the Who Dat family.

Today, we call upon you to bless this Who Dat Nation.

Bless Mr. Tom Benson, Mrs. Gayle Benson, Ms. Rita Benson LeBlanc and all the Saints' staff. Just as you did for Abraham, Sarah and Moses, please give them the wisdom to lead the us to the NFL's Promised Land.

Bless head coach Sean Payton, defensive coordinator Greg Williams, offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael special teams coach Greg McMahon and all our coaches. Just as you did for Buddha and Confucius, share with them strategic insights that will take us to the highest levels of glory.

Thousands of years ago, you called Abraham and Sarah to unite as one and form a nation of good and holy people. Through their love and your providence, the Hebrew nation formed the foundation of a multitude of prophetic saints.

While the descendants of Abraham and Sarah prayed in the West, the followers of Buddha and Confucius called the people of the East to form additional nations of love. Through their prayers and words of wisdom, the nations of the Orient have become saints who fully understand that we are all connected by your wisdom.

Later, you called Muhammad to unite a band of men and women to form a nation of devoted believers and followers. Through their sacrifices, the nations of Islam received your blessings and became saints that are devoted to your love.

Fr. Tony Ricard
Photo: Ted Jackson, Times-Picayune

Bless Drew Brees, Jonathan Vilma, Will Smith and all our players. Just as you did for Muhammad and his people, give them the strength and courage to represent the Who Dat Nation with unending pride and boundless gifts.

Bless all our fans, near and far. Just as you did for Jesus and his apostles, allow them to continue to grow as a powerful band of peoples. Although they come from many faiths, keep them united as one nation under God. Give them the power to always be one voice and one people.

Under the banner of the fleur-de-lis, let them be the energetic boost that will propel the New Orleans Saints to Super Bowl XLVI.

Lord, please bathe us in your grace so that the Who Dat Nation will continue to reach heroic levels of victory. May our efforts find approval in your eyes and may all the saints and angels in heaven join their voices to ours as we proclaim, "Who Dat Say Dey Gonna Beat Dem Saints!"

Amen.

The Rev. R. Tony Ricard

Pastor, Our Lady of the Sea Catholic ChurchNew Orleans Saints Catholic team chaplain

BY: Sheila Stroup can be reached at sstroup@timespicayune.com or 985.898.4831. 

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