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This story was published Jan. 28, 2016

CHARLOTTE — Our Lady of Victory, pray for us!

That is the appeal from Charlotte-area Catholics as the Carolina Panthers gear up for Super Bowl 50 on Sunday, Feb. 7, against the Denver Broncos.

To help get Panthers fans into the game-day spirit, the Catholic News Herald, the newspaper for the Diocese of Charlotte, is promoting a novena to Our Lady of Victory starting Jan. 29. Catholics across the Charlotte diocese, as well as Panthers fans everywhere, are encouraged to come together in prayer to cheer on the NFC champion team, which recorded a stunning 17-1 season in 2015.

The Panthers are one of only 10 teams in NFL history to complete a regular season with just one loss.

They have been to the Super Bowl only one other time in franchise history – for Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston on Feb. 2, 2004, where they were defeated by the New England Patriots, 32-29.

The Patriots missed a rematch with the Panthers for this year's Super Bowl 50. But Denver beat New England for the AFC Championship, so the Panthers will face the Broncos (12-4) on Feb. 7 in Santa Clara, California. The Broncos are a seasoned team, one of only four teams to have made eight appearances in the Super Bowl.

On Jan. 28 as the Panthers finished practice, Catholic News Herald senior reporter SueAnn Howell caught up with All-Pro middle linebacker Luke Kuechly, just one of several Catholics on the team besides head coach Ron Rivera.

Kuechly credits his parents and his Catholic faith for having a positive impact not just on his NFL career, but on his outlook on life generally.

"I went to a Catholic grade school, Jesuit high school and a Jesuit college, and I think you just learn certain things growing up in that environment. Really, the biggest thing I learned from it is respect and to treat people correctly," he told the Catholic News Herald.

"Your background has something to do with it, but my parents I think were the biggest impact on that, as far as to be a good person. You know, it's not that hard, as long as you're nice to people, everything works out. Treat people how you want to be treated. It's pretty straightforward stuff, and I think it makes things easier."

Kuechly, a product of St. Xavier High School, a Catholic school for boys, near his hometown of Evendale, Ohio, and a graduate of Boston College, is known as a fierce competitor who does not give up, a natural and humble leader, the person everyone calls "the nicest guy on the team."

When he was in the fourth grade, Kuechly first played organized football with Cincinnati's Catholic Youth Organization.

At "St. X," Kuechly played linebacker and racked up 147 tackles, six sacks, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, two interceptions and a TD in his junior year. He helped his team go 15-0, winning the Division 1 Ohio state title. As a senior in 2008, he had 130 tackles, a sack, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception. He was a two-time All Greater Catholic League selection at St. X, gaining first-team honors in 2008.

Kuechly, a three-time All America linebacker for Boston College, was the ninth overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft.

He was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in the 2012 season, and followed that up by being named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press in 2013, joining Lawrence Taylor as the only players in NFL history to win the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and NFL Defensive Player of the Year in successive years.

Kuechly said he doesn't really have a special patron saint or a special prayer he always says before a game.

"We say a couple prayers in the locker room before games, though," he said.

The team is often seen praying at each game, and players are known as much for their charitable works off the field, especially for children in need, as much as they are for their sportsmanship on the field.

Perhaps Kuechly will join in the nine-day prayer with us, as the Catholic News Herald gave him information about the prayer as well as a number of blessed items, including a prayer card from the Church of Our Lady of Victory in Paris, France, a prayer card with a religious medal of Our Lady of Victory from the Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Our Lady of Victory in Buffalo, New York, and a Miraculous Medal.

— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter

NOVENA PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF VICTORY

This nine-day novena starts Friday, Jan. 29, leading up to the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 7.

Our Lady of Victory, we have unshaken confidence in your influence with your Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Humbly we ask your intercession for all of us associated under your title, Our Lady of Victory.

We beg your powerful assistance also for our own personal needs (Please mention here your special intention). In your maternal kindness please ask Jesus to forgive all our sins and failings, and to secure His blessings for us and for all the works of charity dedicated to your name.

We implore you to obtain for us the grace of sharing Christ's victory and yours forever in the life that knows no ending. May we join you there to praise forever the Father, His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, one God, for all ages to come.

Amen.