REPOST – Back to Campus
Repost from August 2009, with a few additions, for the college-aged young men out there…
With most schools starting recently (or soon), I thought it would be good to address some issues about how a TrueMan behaves on campus. A college campus, as we all know, can be a hostile place for an ardent follower of Christ. It can be a treacherous minefield of explosive situations, abusive and vulgar language, uncomfortable environments, and disagreements with unbelievers. In order to deal with these difficult issues, here are a couple suggestions.
- Be yourself. If you love and serve God, don’t be ashamed of it. Live it out, your witness will come through – people will want what you have.
- Don’t give in to negative peer pressure. Negative peer pressure is stupid… Real friends don’t force you into bad situations and surely don’t lead you into sin. We call these people “nasty friends”. If you’ve got ’em, get rid of ’em. Don’t ruin your life holding on to people who are ruining theirs.
- If you are struggling, and think that you’ve got it bad or that you’re really suffering for the increase of the Kingdom, read about St Paul in 2 Corinthians 11/12. That’s some good perspective, huh?!
- There’s a big difference between being a strong Catholic man who stands for something good as compared to a “culturally manly” guy who wants the “glamorous” lifestyle of money, power, women and stuff. College campus life increases these bad desires exponentially.
- Many women on your college campus won’t understand the chivalry you extend to them. Do it anyway, with charity and a smile. Be a radical change on your campus.
- Being a TrueMan doesn’t mean you can’t have anything to drink, or that you can’t go to any parties. It means that you put yourself in good situations, that point you towards heaven and you act in moderation and with prudence. Remember, Jesus hung out with sinners, but not when they were sinning. (*Keep in mind that a TrueMan abides by the law, and whether you agree with the drinking-age in the US or not, it is the law. A TrueMan wouldn’t risk it. If you’re underage, just say no.)
- Strive for excellence in all things. Start by being sober and chaste. If you conquer these two areas, you’re well on your way.
- As much as it seems untrue, women don’t want to marry the dirtball, drunkard, C-minus-student types. They want a gentleman, a man who’s going to provide for them, a man who loves them and shows their love by respecting them and by being self-sacrificing. They want a man who is going to be a great dad and a hard worker. There’s nothing wrong with stacking the deck on this topic! Put all the cards in your favor from the get-go!
All in all, college is a great time for a young man. Live it up. Enjoy it. In all things, be focused on Christ, live virtue and especially, live joy.
TrueMan up!
Challenge Accepted, ISIS
The barbaric Islamic cowards of ISIS have threatened our Holy Father, Pope Francis, and have vowed to “conquer Rome”. The Pontifical Swiss Guard have accepted the challenge of defending him. Threats from Muslims against Christianity, and specifically against the Papacy, certainly aren’t new. Many have been actualized over the years, and many more will most assuredly come. However, the Commander of the Swiss Guard isn’t backing down, and says that the Swiss Guard are on high alert and are ready.
Since the assassination attempt of St. John Paul the Great (Pope John Paul II) in 1981, the security measures of not only the Swiss Guard, but also of the Vatican Police, known as the Corps of Gendarmes, have been significantly heightened. Slight changes were made when Francis was elected, but the world can be assured that the Swiss Guard are prepared.
TrueManhood requires that a man defend the common good. It goes without saying that defending the Holy Father is a good thing, and these incredible elite soldiers who make up the Swiss Guard are assigned to a very good task. When it comes to this good task, I wish I were younger, single, and Swiss – but alas, I’m older than the cutoff, married, and Italian (and Irish, Polish, & Czech).
The young men that make up the world’s smallest army must be between the ages of 19 and 30, at least 5’8.5″ tall, single, a practicing Catholic, and trained in the Swiss Army. Don’t let their Renaissance-esque uniforms fool you – they are trained warriors and ready for the battle. They train in unarmed combat, small arms, and are proficient with their pike and sword. Here’s the oath they swear on May 6th (each time a recruit becomes a Swiss Guard):
“I swear I will faithfully, loyally, and honorably serve the Supreme Pontiff Francis and his legitimate successors, and also dedicate myself to them with all my strength, sacrificing if necessary also my life to defend them. I assume this same commitment with regard to the Sacred College of Cardinals whenever the See if vacant. Furthermore I promise to the Commanding Captain and my other superiors, respect, fidelity and obedience. This I swear! May God and our Holy Patrons assist me!”
Sheer awesomeness – an oath of self-giving, self-sacrifice, and overflowing with the virtue of magnanimity! And I can guarantee that these men don’t take this oath lightly – a true and holy honor to protect the Vicar of Christ. This sort of attitude flies in the face of cultural manliness and stands for authentic manliness – TrueManhood! We here at TrueManhood are proud of these men and so grateful to have them among the ranks who will be the first to defend Mother Church and our Holy Father.
Click Here a news story from Catholic News Agency.
TrueMan up!
RMCMC 2010 – One Day Away
The 2010 Rocky Mountain Catholic Men’s Conference is only one day away. Saturday, March 20, 2010 proves to be an epic event and I encourage any local (Colorado) men to make it a priority. There are plenty of seats available and you can pay at the door. The event takes place at the Pikes Peak Center in downtown Colorado Springs… merely an hour’s drive from Denver from the north or Pueblo from the south. Here’s why an event like this is important.
- As men, we thrive off brotherhood. Brotherhood may be considered, simply, when men spend time together, preferably doing manly things. Imagine what boys growing up together do – then make it relevant to adulthood and things that actually matter… that’s what this conference (and hopefully all men’s conferences around the country) are about. Together, as men of faith, we encourage one another to grow in holiness, Sacramental behavior, daily prayer, and hopefully, to be better men.
- Men need encouragement. Think of this like an over-sized team huddle, when your team is in a vital spot and really needs to score a touchdown, or that gigantic defensive stop to win the game. The quarterback or defensive leader should be trying to pump his team up so they pull off the incredible play. The encouragement from the speakers, vendors, priests and bishops and the other men in attendance can be just the thing that most of us need to get our act together and win in the game of life.
- Men need to continue to grow in holiness. No matter where a man is in his faith journey, he can be a better man. Events like a men’s conference show us the path to holiness, especially if we’re open to what the Holy Spirit is doing in our lives.
I encourage all of us to think about at least one man that we know that needs an invitation to something like this, and then make the invitation. If you’re a man who’s attending a men’s conference, just extend the invitation. If you’re a woman who knows of a man who needs to attend an event like this, it would be best to have another man extend the invitation at your request. An invitation isn’t pressure to go, it’s a simple way of showing encouragement and extending a friendly hand. Don’t be weak in your invitation and don’t be a power-monger either. Be genuine and see what happens… it can’t hurt to ask. Maybe you don’t live in Colorado and can’t get to the Rocky Mountain Catholic Men’s Conference, that’s okay. There’s an event like this somewhere near you, and if there isn’t, I want to know! (I’ll work to get something there!) A men’s conference may be the thing that encourages a man to change his life for Christ.
To see more info, click HERE to go to the conference website.
Man up!
