Men's Rosary

The title of this post may make you chuckle or scratch your head.  I hope it does not “offend” you.  During a conversation with my wife, I suggested this would be a good post and she warned me of the appropriateness of the title.  The more I thought about it the more appropriate it seemed.  So here you have it, and I will explain.

My father was not a highly educated or extremely religious person.  What he was, was a God-fearing man who read scripture, loved and worked hard to support his family and always came to the aide of a person in need.  He passed  a little over four years ago and not a day goes by that I do not think of him.  This is not just random thoughts but asking myself, in the decisions I make, what would dad do.  St. Joseph is my model for manhood, being a husband and father, but in earthly terms it is my dad.  He was not as saintly as Joseph, but he had a quiet wisdom that God gave him.

When I was young, he got onto me about something I was doing.  I can’t remember what it was, but it was of a nature that was personal and his comments kind of embarrassed me/hurt my feelings.  That is not the important thing.  What is, is the analogy he gave me.  He asked me to imagine I had a booger on my face.  He said, if I was out at the supply store or something, a stranger would notice the booger and probably not say anything.  For that matter someone I knew might do the same thing.  He said if he saw me, he would say “Hey, you have a booger on your face, wipe it off!”.  He told me the reason why is because he loved me and cared for me.  I am not just a stranger.  I am family.  He said it is nonnegotiable that if someone you love or family has something that needs to be corrected that we tell them.  No matter how embarrassing or uncomfortable it is.

The other day during our conversation, this made me think of Catholic men.  We are Catholic, Christian, made in God’s image to lead His church.  While we are not ordained priests as laymen we are still at the head of the smallest model of Church, the family.  And as Catholic men we are of the same family and should love one another as family.  So, we must be willing to let each other know when there is a booger on our face!   “Iron sharpens iron, as one man sharpens another.”  (Proverbs 27:17)

 In my father’s analogy, I see the stranger who does not care, or even worse would laugh and revel at the circumstance, as the evil in the world.  The work of Satan who has the family as the main target of His fight against God.  I see myself as the one who would tell the other about the booger, fighting and resisting the evils of the world.  “Be sober, be watchful.  Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world.” (1 Peter 5:8-9)

Regardless of what the world says about manhood and masculinity, we were created as men in God’s image for a purpose.  We must remain steadfast in our role and call each other to become more every day.  If we see one of our brothers being weak, straying from our faith and principles, we must say something.  Out of charity, love of one another, we must expose the boogers!  “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.  Look to yourself, lest you be tempted.  Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”  (Galatians 5:1-2)

As Catholic men we must stand together.  We are not only individuals even though we enjoy individuality.  We share a brotherhood with Christ.  We are to stand united in our role in doing Christ’s work on earth.  To stand together and strong, leading our families, parishes and communities is our purpose.  This is something we can’t do alone but will succeed together.  So, we must be willing to notice the boogers and let one another know to wipe them off!  “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.  For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up.  Again, if two lie together, they are warm; but how can one be warm alone?  And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him.  A threefold cord is not quickly broken.”  (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

“A man does what he must – in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures – and that is the basis of all human morality.”  (Winston Churchill)