“Sports fans, philosophers, and theologians will delight in this magisterial exploration of sport’s inexorable power to ennoble, enrich, and delight the human spirit.”
―Clark Power, professor of psychology and education, University of Notre Dame
“Fr. Kelly has given us a book to be taken to heart by all those sports lovers who have always thought that this wonderful human activity was worth pursuing for its own sake. Scholarly yet accessible, this work shows how a Catholic understanding of sport rests on a spirit of play―holistic, creative, and full of joy. A vivid counter cultural thesis, so necessary for our times.”
―Mark Stephen Nesti, PhD, sport psychologist for thirty-five years with professional and elite athletes, including four English Premier League teams
“We play ‘for its own sake,’ and yet play also contributes to our flourishing. In Play, Sport, and Spirit, Patrick Kelly masterfully unpacks this paradox, drawing in particular on his rich Catholic tradition, including Ignatian spirituality.”
―Robert K. Johnston, senior professor, Fuller Theological Seminary; author, The Christian at Play
“Patrick Kelly’s hope-filled exploration of the complex relationship between sport and play provokes more questions and offers enticing theological possibilities for flourishing in sport. Kelly shows us how the joy of play in sport can be a profound dimension of being human.” ―Professor Tracy J. Trothen,, author, Winning the Race? Religion, Hope, and Reshaping the Sport Enhancement Debate
“’All for the greater glory of God’ is the motto of the Jesuit order. Through his experiences as a high school and college athlete, his education as a Jesuit priest and his work as a theologian and philosopher, Father Kelly shows us how sports can contribute to that greater glory.” — Timothy Walch, The Catholic Messenger
Reviews
Catholic Perspectives on Sports: From Medieval to Modern Times (Paulist Press, 2012)
“Kelly has broken fresh ground in Catholic theology.” Theological Studies
“The most innovative study.” Revue d’Histoire Ecclesiastique, Louvain
“It would be a great loss if this book were to be read only by historians of religion, because the clarity, vigor, and profound knowledge contained in it will inform and fascinate anyone who is interested in the broader context of mind and society where religion evolves.” Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Professor of Psychology, Claremont Graduate University
Reviews
Sport Ethics and Philosophy Review
Conversations in Jesuit Higher Education Review
Edited volumes
Youth Sport and Spirituality: Catholic Perspectives (University of Notre Dame Press, 2015)
“Fr. Patrick Kelly offers a prophetic voice reminding us that balance, ethical values, and joy should be at the heart of youth sports. Offering both academic and practical inspiration, this book calls all athletes, coaches, and parents to integrate competition with character, winning with wisdom, fitness with fun, and sports with spirituality.” Mike Hughes, Athletic Director, Jesuit High School, Portland, Oregon
“A delightful, practical, and inspirational collection of essays on the spiritually formative aspects of youth sports: the ways they might teach self-transcendence, build character, and allow participants to experience the sheer creative joy of play, a crucial dimension of spiritual maturity too often ignored in ‘serious’ treatments of both spiritual formation and sports.” Wendy M. Wright, Creighton University
“[A]n insightful resource for coaches, athletic directors, youth ministers, and others. Youth Sport and Spirituality uses an engaging blend of history, theology, spiritual reflection, and cultural commentary to examine how playing sports can foster personal growth for young people.” U.S. Catholic
“In an age when an increasing number of Americans find themselves on ball fields on Sunday mornings either watching or participating in the ritual of sports, rather than in the pews, Jesuit Father Patrick Kelly offers a much-needed perspective to place sport in its proper context. . . Fr. Kelly’s thoughtful analysis and perspective makes coaches, athletes and parents alike co-creators in the development of youth through the participation of sports.” Catholic Missourian
“Youth Sport and Spirituality is an excellent book that could become a handbook for anyone involved in or merely interested in sports for young people. In his conclusion, Kelly presents his belief that ‘maybe the time has arrived for . . . youth sport organizations to reclaim play and recover the joy that should rightly be a part of youth sport.’” Sooner Catholic