[Originally posted on MSN Spaces October 15, 2005]
This past Friday the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) announced the nationwide implementation of "Fishers of Men," a program designed to recruit more young men into the priesthood. So, while I promised to write about what's wrong with men, I felt compelled to take it a step further and combine the two. The entire crisis with the shortage of priests and the significant decline in applicants can be traced to one, simple problem: only men can be priests.
Before I'm branded as a heretic, let me qualify that remark: I am not suggesting that women are to become priests but rather that if the Vatican wants to understand its current dilemma with the priesthood it has to understand the problem with men.
So, what's wrong with men? Everything.
A while back I had a close friend over for a glass of wine. As the night progressed we began to discuss relationships and in particular his own woes with women. He said that the lone barrier between him and a serious relationship with every woman he's ever met is the big "C" - Commitment. As a married man myself I was no stranger to the "four-letter" word and knew that every single man avoids it like the plague. So I began to think of how best to respond when, lo and behold, perhaps the most revolutionary discovery in the history of the world came to my mind: Men really aren't afraid of commitment. Let me repeat: men are not afraid of commitment.
Since we are both history buffs, I referred him to antiquity. In Ancient Rome men not only volunteered to sacrifice their lives for the glory of the empire, they rejoiced in the opportunity. Soldiers in the Roman legions had to recite an oath or a sacramentum - where we get the word "Sacrament" - stating their complete allegiance and service to the Senate and People of Rome (Senatus Populus Que Romanus) and could only leave under pain of death. So it was with great courage and honor that men would march into battle, with "SPQR" tattooed on their arms, ready to die for the glory of Rome.
Now, why on earth would men be willing to face brutal death in the midst of hand to hand combat and yet be so afraid of telling a beautiful, gentle woman two simple words: "I do?" Furthermore, why is it that women desire to hear that from men so much?
It is because commitment is the defining characteristic of men; it was makes a man a man. Inherent to the very nature of a man's being is the desire to commit oneself to the protection of that which he finds most precious in this life even to the point of death. For the Romans, it was the glory and splendor of the Roman Empire. For me, it is the beauty and love that exudes from my bride’s very soul, and for God, incarnate in the male person of Jesus Christ, it was every single person that would ever exist throughout all time.
The problem is that as fallible human beings, men are very reluctant to give their lives for what they do not understand. The power and magnificence of the Roman Empire was obvious and present in a very real way to Roman men, so it was easier to die for it. Contrast this to women, who men don’t really understand at all, and you can see where this reluctance comes from.
Therefore, if the Church wants young men to live in the imitation of Jesus Christ, to stand in persona Christi and sacrifice their lives for the Church, they need to be shown something worth dying for. Men could die for Rome because they believed there was nothing greater. Are men being told today that there is nothing greater than the Catholic Church? If our understanding of Jesus Christ is nothing more than just a fluffy, cuddly teddy bear that loves everyone, what man is going to die for that? Where's the call to evangelize? Where's the call to holiness? Yet, sadly, your typical homily is nothing more than this.
Tell Catholics that there is no greater Truth than Jesus Christ - that He is unquestionably the Alpha and Omega and every human being ought to worship Him. Tell them that without a doubt Jesus Christ demands the whole of our very lives in devotion to Him. Shout from the rooftops that there is nothing more glorious, more powerful, and more magnificent than the Eternal Word Incarnate in the person of Jesus Christ, that His very presence in the Blessed Sacrament should cause us all to tremble with fear, and – like in ancient Rome – men will gladly give their lives for Him again.
Roma Victor!
(Man, do I love Photoshop!)
Okay, so since my dear beloved husband felt the need to rant about other men I guess I'll take this opportunity to give a much SHORTER rant about women.
In my volunteer work at a womens clinic I'm constantly encountering women who all seem to have the same issues. These issues stem from a lack of understanding of what they are worth. Nowadays we women seem to think that our power stems from our sexuality and that, somehow, flaunting our "assets" is going to give us even more power because of the response this elicits from men.
*SIGH*
I am convinced that so much of this mentality is what is destroying feminity in our culture. Feminity is a gift. It is a beautiful part of who we are as women that is best seen in our behavior, in our actions, and in the way treat others. We are MORE feminine when we don't show everyone every part of our body. We are MORE feminine when we are pure of thought and mind. We are MORE feminine when we are kind and loving. How on earth can men learn to be men, protectors and warriors for the beauty and feminity of women when women are no longer presenting themselves as in need of protection...as feminine...as beautiful. Rather, much of our immodesty has led to our being used as objects of lust. It has left us feeling guilty, abused, and alone.
I find that when these women I counsel see themselves as worth more than gold. When they recognize their own beauty and preciousness in the eyes of God and the gift they are to the world, that they are empowered! If a man cannot exercise self control and respect a woman's purity, chastity and modesty then he is not interested in her, but only in fulfilling his own desires and using her to do so. Women are recognizing this fact more and more. Once they see that they are no longer in control of the relationship, but the desires of one person is taking over the two of them, women find the scales removed from their eyes and begin to recognize true freedom. The freedom to say no to being used without a promise of forever. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't give all of myself physically, emotionally, and spiritually to someone who hasn't committed to being with me forever.
Okay. End of rant.
May we as women always remember to glorify God in our bodies. Amen
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