Athletes go through a rigorous training regime in order to achieve their goal of competing, or winning a medal, in the Olympic games. The goal of Christians is much higher: eternal life with God in heaven, and we too need a training regime. In this meditation we use texts of Scripture, St Augustine and St Josemaria Escriva to consider how, like athletes, we need:

• Determination, singlemindedness, to reach our goal
• Commitment to training, involving regular times for prayer
• Self-discipline
• A spiritual diet of grace from the sacraments
• A doctor to heal our injuries: the sacrament of penance
• A coach, in the form of a spiritual director
• Knowledge of the rules of morality
• The support of others in the Communion of Saints