Gathering of 9 September 2025

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The concept of "Masculinity" in 21st Century society has connotations of "toxicity" and "misogyny."  Certainly, there are levels of behavior conducted by men that are overly aggressive to the point of physical assault and mental cruelty.  However, the traditional roles of men as husbands and fathers as defined by Catholic tradition are called to question in many segments of American communities, such as when people get offended with the terms, "husband" and "wife," "father" and "mother" and substitute with the term "spouse" and "co-parent."    In his speech to Benedictine University in 2024, NFL kicker Harrison Butker stated, "Part of what plagues our society is this lie that has been told to you that men are not necessary in the home or in our communities. As men, we set the tone of the culture, and when that is absent, disorder, dysfunction and chaos set in. This absence of men in the home is what plays a large role in the violence we see all around the nation."

How can we as Catholic men publicly live lives of true masculinity, as husbands and fathers, meek yet strong, and loving and responsible?

Our Gathering program includes the Into the Breach episode on "Masculinity," along with discussion points from the lesson's workbook.  We will also review Saint Paul's letter to the Ephesians, Chapter 5, verses 21 - 33. This passage from  Ephesians is most noted for the phrase, "Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord."  There are many critics of this passage stating that wives should never submit to their husbands.  There are also those who proclaim that husbands have the right to exercise total domination over their wives.  However, both groups fail to consider the entire passage before rushing to their judgement -- "Be subordinate to each other out of reverence to Christ."

The scripture passage text is linked below along with a link to the "Masculinity" video.  Feel free to download and view ahead of the Gathering.