Believe it or not, something called Catholic Manhood is big business. Blogs, books, podcasts, retreats, websites, phone apps, conferences, magazine articles, social media feeds, online dating services, and a long list of speakers for hire are lined up to teach us what is means to be a real Catholic man. Some of these resources are free, but many come with a price. All of them, one supposes, has their place in the marketplace of ideas about what it means to be a good man, a good person, and a good Catholic. But no one among us needs to pay for a definition of Catholic Manhood, because it is embodied by the life and example of Saint Joseph.

In December 2020, Pope Francis commemorated the 150th Anniversary of Saint Joseph as a Patron of the Universal Church. Two years later, the Holy Father said: “In the Gospels, Joseph is consistently presented as the guardian of the Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus. Just as Joseph protects the Holy Family, so too he continues to love and protect the Body of Christ, which is the Church, especially the poor, the sick, and the dying whom the Lord calls the least of his brothers and sisters (2-16-22).” In this sense, Saint Joseph is the holy one who loves, defends, nurtures, shelters, and cares for the young and the old, the sick and the suffering, and all those cast aside by a selfish world.

According to Pope Francis, Saint Joseph is a good man not because he fathered children, but because he has a father’s heart. In the Apostolic Letter, Patris Corde (which translates from Latin as A Father’s Heart), the pope writes: “Fathers are not born, but made. A man does not become a father simply by bringing a child into the world, but by taking up the responsibility to care for that child. Whenever a man accepts responsibility for the life of another, in some way he becomes a father to that person (Patris Corde, 7).” In the fullest sense, Catholic manhood is not then about growing a beard, smoking cigars, and quoting Chesterton, it is about taking responsibility for one’s own life and for the lives of those we are called to love.

One of those Catholic dating portals says that being a good Catholic man is about a seemingly miraculous combination of hard work, kindness, gentleness, modesty, tenderness, prayerfulness, self-restraint, and a willingness to sacrifice oneself for another. Here again, Saint Joseph personifies this miracle. He has all of these qualities, along with patience, tranquility, and an abiding trust in God’s plan for his life. While so many among us are desperately seeking riches, power, and influence, Saint Joseph simply wants to give of himself. Pope Francis says: “Joseph found happiness not in mere self-interest but in self-gift (Patris Corde, 7).”

In the end, I’m not so sure that we need to worry about slogans like Real Catholic Manhood, or for that matter, Real Catholic Womanhood. Instead, we can all strive to be faithful and faith-filled disciples — better men, better women, and better human beings. We should aspire to live the Gospel in thought, word, and deed. We should try harder to share God’s love in God’s style — with closeness, compassion, and tenderness. And we should work harder to build up the Church by giving more from our wallets and more of ourselves. All of the Gospels refer to Jesus as the Son of Joseph (See Luke 4:22; John 6:42; Matthew 13:55; and Mark 6:3). If Jesus is our merciful redeemer, friend, and brother, then all of us are Saint Joseph’s spiritual children. On his feast day and every day, we his children fervently call to him with abiding confidence: Saint Joseph, pray for us! Saint Joseph, protect us!

Cliff Garvey
Associate Minister
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: cgarvey@ccgronline.com

Patris Corde – A Father’s Heart by Pope Francis
CCGR Weekly Newsletter (3-19-23)
Bringing Home the Word (3-19-23)
The Kids Bulletin (3-19-23)

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Who Do You Say I Am?
Lent Bible Study & Retreat
March 19th-March 22nd

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Call to Prayer
Solemnity of Saint Joseph
Monday, March 20th

Rosary at 7:30am – Mass at 8:00am