--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe baseball and the Church are…" description: "\"“I believe baseball and the Church are deeply kindred spirits—both feature obscure rules that make sense only to initiates, both have communions of sai..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/robert-e-barron-62286_baseball_i-believe-baseball-and-the-church-are-de_1956520.jpg" --- # I believe baseball and the Church are deeply kindred… ![“I believe baseball and the Church are deeply kindred spirits—both feature obscure rules that make sense only to initiates, both have communions of saints, both reward patience, and in both, casual fans can dip in and out, but for serious devotees the liturgy is a daily affair.” quote by Robert E. Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/robert-e-barron-62286_baseball_i-believe-baseball-and-the-church-are-de_1956520.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/robert-e-barron-62286_baseball_i-believe-baseball-and-the-church-are-de_1956520.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/robert-e-barron-62286_baseball_i-believe-baseball-and-the-church-are-de_1956520.jpg) > ““I believe baseball and the Church are deeply kindred spirits—both feature obscure rules that make sense only to initiates, both have communions of saints, both reward patience, and in both, casual fans can dip in and out, but for serious devotees the liturgy is a daily affair.”” [Robert E. Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-barron/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Compares baseball to Catholicism, highlighting shared complexity, community, and devotion **In simple terms:** Both have intricate rules and devoted followers Key Takeaway Appreciate depth in familiar traditions Themes community ritual faith Mood contemplative inspirational Type religious analytical When to use this quote - sports fandom - religious practice - community building Key Concepts symbolism initiation Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of faith are like a sport? - How does ritual foster belonging? A Different Perspective Analogy may oversimplify theological nuances ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Baseball Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball-church-3206351/) [Believe Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-baseball-1910096/) [Casual Fans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/casual-fans-1594891/) [Church Deeply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-deeply-2225672/) [Initiates Communions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/initiates-communions-3206352/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [I don't believe there's a baseball job that I couldn't take care of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cooper/i-don-t-believe-there-s-a-baseball-job-that-i-couldn-t-take-care-of/) [Don Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cooper/) > [I think back to playing the accordion, there was no reason to believe I would be a baseball player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/i-think-back-to-playing-the-accordion-there-was-no-reason-to-believe/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [Today, Negroes play on every big league club and in every minor league. With millions of other Negroes in other walks of life, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/today-negroes-play-on-every-big-league-club-and-in-every-minor-league/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [“Note how this was not usual in the church. All of them were deeply sad because one had committed sin. Jesus never compromised his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-mendez-ferrell/note-how-this-was-not-usual-in-the-church-all-of-them-were-deeply-sad/) [Ana Mendez Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-mendez-ferrell/) > [A church that is deeply aware of it's misery and nakedness before a holy God will cling tenaciously to an all sufficient Savior, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/a-church-that-is-deeply-aware-of-it-s-misery-and-nakedness-before-a/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [I actually grew up playing the piano in the church and was deeply involved in music ministry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/i-actually-grew-up-playing-the-piano-in-the-church-and-was-deeply/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [A church must be more deeply and practically committed to deeds of compassion and social justice than traditional liberal churches and more deeply and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/a-church-must-be-more-deeply-and-practically-committed-to-deeds-of/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [I've been really impressed with 'Supergirl.' It's a great show because it's appeals to DC Comics fans, staying true to the characters in spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-torres/i-ve-been-really-impressed-with-supergirl-it-s-a-great-show-because/) [Eve Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-torres/) > [There are fans who just like their indie stars, and then there are your more casual fans that are more familiar with somebody like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-rhodes/there-are-fans-who-just-like-their-indie-stars-and-then-there-are/) [Cody Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-rhodes/) > [I think I try to do a lot of things to weed out casual fans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-mccombs/i-think-i-try-to-do-a-lot-of-things-to-weed-out-casual-fans/) [Cass McCombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-mccombs/) > [I work on my technique, but when I do a video, I want people to be amazed by the speed or the power. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-garcia/i-work-on-my-technique-but-when-i-do-a-video-i-want-people-to-be/) [Ryan Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-garcia/) > [There are some casual fans who think you're going to dominate a game, be magic, score 10 goals. Even if you dominate a game,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddy-adu/there-are-some-casual-fans-who-think-you-re-going-to-dominate-a-game/) [Freddy Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddy-adu/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [When you're in the middle of a pennant race, you can't go up there thinking about home runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-sosa/when-you-re-in-the-middle-of-a-pennant-race-you-can-t-go-up-there/) [Sammy Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-sosa/) > [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. I never wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-perry/i-d-always-have-grease-in-at-least-two-places-in-case-the-umpires/) [Gaylord Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-perry/) ## More by Robert E. Barron > [“result, he’s firmly persuaded that the Catholic Church must always speak its truths to the surrounding culture, without adjusting those teachings to make them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-barron/result-he-s-firmly-persuaded-that-the-catholic-church-must-always/) [Robert E. Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-barron/) > [“love the life of the mind, and I’ve spent my whole life studying and reading. Yet because of where we are now, the ‘true’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-barron/love-the-life-of-the-mind-and-i-ve-spent-my-whole-life-studying-and/) [Robert E. Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-barron/) > [“The only really effective apologia for Christianity comes down to two arguments,” Ratzinger said, “namely, the saints the Church has produced, and the art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-barron/the-only-really-effective-apologia-for-christianity-comes-down-to-two/) [Robert E. Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-barron/) > [“Thomas Aquinas was asked, “What must I do to be a saint?” and he said, “Will it.” Be a saint, and you’ll unleash the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-barron/thomas-aquinas-was-asked-what-must-i-do-to-be-a-saint-and-he-said/) [Robert E. Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-barron/) [Explore all 5 Robert E. Barron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-barron/) ## More Baseball quotes > [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. I never wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-perry/i-d-always-have-grease-in-at-least-two-places-in-case-the-umpires/) [Gaylord Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-perry/) > [When you're in the middle of a pennant race, you can't go up there thinking about home runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-sosa/when-you-re-in-the-middle-of-a-pennant-race-you-can-t-go-up-there/) [Sammy Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-sosa/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [Spring training means flowers, people coming outdoors, sunshine, optimism and baseball. Spring training is a time to think about being young again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-banks/spring-training-means-flowers-people-coming-outdoors-sunshine/) [Ernie Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-banks/) > [Pitchers pitch differently. Hitters, hardly anyone has the same stance. That's just how it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/pitchers-pitch-differently-hitters-hardly-anyone-has-the-same-stance/) [Ryan Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zimmerman/) > [Five World Series rings, 3000-plus hits, the fame, the fortune and playing for the second most historic franchise in baseball... These are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/five-world-series-rings-3000-plus-hits-the-fame-the-fortune-and/) [Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/) > [I don't want the electronic strike zone. I like the element of sometimes pitches don't get called. Guys don't receive it well or whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/i-don-t-want-the-electronic-strike-zone-i-like-the-element-of/) [Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/) > [I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium - at a baseball game - which was crazy; there was, like, 60,000 people there, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-sang-the-national-anthem-at-dodger-stadium-at-a-baseball-game-which/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) > [If I was going to make one rule change, I would bring the DH to the National League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brett/if-i-was-going-to-make-one-rule-change-i-would-bring-the-dh-to-the/) [George Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brett/) > [In all honesty, once you become a professional, number one, you're no longer a fan. I don't root for the Dodgers, really. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-scully/in-all-honesty-once-you-become-a-professional-number-one-you-re-no/) [Vin Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-scully/) > [I'll tell you what's helped me my entire life. I look at baseball as a game. It's something where people can go out, enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-caray/i-ll-tell-you-what-s-helped-me-my-entire-life-i-look-at-baseball-as-a/) [Harry Caray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-caray/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [What we should have done is kept the same team that played in the '95 World Series. Those trades (Eddie Murray & Carlos Baerga)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-belle/what-we-should-have-done-is-kept-the-same-team-that-played-in-the-95/) [Albert Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-belle/) > [“I can buy baseball cards to view an entire career on the back of a little square of cardboard. But nobody sells major league…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg-jr/i-can-buy-baseball-cards-to-view-an-entire-career-on-the-back-of-a/) [John Ortberg Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg-jr/) > [The wind always seems to blow against catchers when they are running.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-garagiola/the-wind-always-seems-to-blow-against-catchers-when-they-are-running/) [Joe Garagiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-garagiola/) [Browse all 7,461 Baseball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I believe baseball and the Church are deeply kindred spirits—both feature obscure rules that make sense only to initiates, both have communions of saints, both reward patience, and in both, casual fans can dip in and out, but for serious devotees the liturgy is a daily affair.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert E. 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