7 Things All Catholic Men Need
The experts from Catholic men's magazine Sword&Spade have identified the 7 "needs" that no man should live without.
7 Things All Catholic Men Need
The experts from Catholic men's magazine Sword&Spade have identified the 7 "needs" that no man should live without.
Masculine virtues don’t just happen—they are cultivated or they die. From sports to the military to the spiritual life, wise men have long recognized the need for mentoring and training. As sons, brothers, husbands, and fathers, we men have many responsibilities and cares, but we cannot neglect the virtues and identities that are central to who we truly are.
To help rebuild masculine culture, Catholic men's magazine Sword&Spade proposes seven needs that must be met for men to thrive in their homes and communities.
If you like content like this, designed for Catholic men "in the thick of it" — husbands, fathers, leaders — then you'll love Sword&Spade. Click below to download a FREE issue.
Personal
Prayer
In God is Love Pope Benedict XVI explained that “Being Christian is…the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction." This encounter happens most especially in prayer, and must be nourished with a daily routine.
Intellectual Growth
God gave you a mind and he expects you to use it. St. Paul said we are "transformed" in the renewal of our mind (Romans 12:2). This requires the silencing of distractions and lies and the intentional pursuiat of truth. Practically, this means for many men turning screens off and picking up worthwhile reading—like the latest issue of Sword & Spade.
Grow in Virtue
The root word of "virtue" is the Latin word vir, which means "man." So, to put it another way, to be virtuous is to be manly. The man of discipline and true strength is the master of himself and the leader of his home.
Fraternal
Cultivate Brotherhood
Men need brotherhood, but if anything defines the modern era it is radical individuality. As men we can even idolize the "self-sufficient" man to a point where we think it is best to not need anyone. But this is inhuman and against the very mission of Christ to draw all men to Himself in brotherliness.
Fasting and Penance
Believe it or not, Vatican II did not do away with fasting. Sacred Scripture, the Church's laws and customs, and countless religious orders tells us that (a) fasting is necessary to spiritual growth and (b) it is best done communally. When we unite in fasting and penance (like with the liturgical seasons, etc.) our self-denials become opportunities for accountability and brotherhood.
Communal
Leisure
Leisure doesn’t mean sitting around and doing nothing. Leisure is learning to “be still and know that I am God.” In addition to Sunday Mass, men need opportunities for the organic and truly human ways to have Catholic festivity, community, and the enjoyment of life's goodness—together. (In other good news, beer is very helpful to leisurely and communal festivity!)
Bridge the Generations
Men are most fully men when they are paternal. And young men grow fruitfully when they sense being beloved sons. This not just a biological father/son thing, but the truth that generations need to be bridged and not divided up into classrooms apart from one another. Society keeps generations apart. It’s time to bring them back together.
To help rebuild masculine culture, Catholic men's magazine Sword & Spade proposes seven needs that must be met for men to thrive in their homes and communities.
If you like content like this, designed for Catholic men "in the thick of it" — husbands, fathers, leaders — then you'll love Sword&Spade. Click below to download a FREE issue.
Personal
Prayer
In God is Love Pope Benedict XVI explained that “Being Christian is…the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction." This encounter happens most especially in prayer, and must be nourished with a daily routine.
Intellectual Growth
God gave you a mind and he expects you to use it. St. Paul said we are "transformed" in the renewal of our mind (Romans 12:2). This requires the silencing of distractions and lies and the intentional pursuiat of truth. Practically, this means for many men turning screens off and picking up worthwhile reading—like the latest issue of Sword & Spade.
Grow in Virtue
The root word of "virtue" is the Latin word vir, which means "man." So, to put it another way, to be virtuous is to be manly. The man of discipline and true strength is the master of himself and the leader of his home.
Fraternal
Cultivate Brotherhood
Men need brotherhood, but if anything defines the modern era it is radical individuality. As men we can even idolize the "self-sufficient" man to a point where we think it is best to not need anyone. But this is inhuman and against the very mission of Christ to draw all men to Himself in brotherliness.
Fasting and Penance
Believe it or not, Vatican II did not do away with fasting. Sacred Scripture, the Church's laws and customs, and countless religious orders tells us that (a) fasting is necessary to spiritual growth and (b) it is best done communally. When we unite in fasting and penance (like with the liturgical seasons, etc.) our self-denials become opportunities for accountability and brotherhood.
Communal
Leisure
Leisure doesn’t mean sitting around and doing nothing. Leisure is learning to “be still and know that I am God.” In addition to Sunday Mass, men need opportunities for the organic and truly human ways to have Catholic festivity, community, and the enjoyment of life's goodness—together. (In other good news, beer is very helpful to leisurely and communal festivity!)
Bridge the Generations
Men are most fully men when they are paternal. And young men grow fruitfully when they sense being beloved sons. This not just a biological father/son thing, but the truth that generations need to be bridged and not divided up into classrooms apart from one another. Society keeps generations apart. It’s time to bring them back together.
If you’re hungry for more—spiritually, intellectually, culturally—then Sword&Spade is the magazine for you. We pride ourselves on presenting unapologetically the truths of the Catholic Faith for and through the eyes of men just like you—men in the trenches of today’s spiritual warfare.
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