Every Catholic man who is blessed to come to believe the reality that Jesus Christ is the Savior of Man and that he personally needs Jesus to be his Savior, is received into Christ’s Holy Catholic Church Militant (the Catholic Church on earth) and begins his pilgrimage towards the eternal happiness of being with the Blessed Trinity and all the Saints and Angels in Heaven forever.
The vocation, or work, of Catholic Manhood progresses through 3 stages: Catholic Son, Catholic Father, and Catholic Saint. A Catholic man grows through the 3 stages, with each stage building upon and including the past stage through the disciplined practice of a variety of holy habits which must be mastered and maintained.
Every Catholic Man provides a systematic approach to help understand and grow in the habits of Catholic Manhood by becoming a better Catholic Son and Catholic Father.
There are 14 Major Habits of Catholic Manhood: 7 Major Habits for Catholic Sons (Major Habits 1-7) and 7 Major Habits for Catholic Fathers (Major Habits 8-14).
Each of the Major Habits are broken into smaller groups of habits (52 in number) which a man can focus upon and strive to master.
During 2024, Every Catholic Man will publish one of the 52 habits of Catholic Manhood each week on Wednesdays in honor of St. Joseph.
Becoming a Better Catholic Son
The major goal during the first stage of the spiritual life of a Catholic man as a Catholic Son is to bring a man’s selfish thoughts and acts under control and to live his life as commanded by the Blessed Trinity so that he can resist the constant attacks and temptations of Satan and be an obedient and holy Catholic Son.
There are 7 Major Habits of Catholic Sons (Major Habits 1-7 of Catholic Manhood) and 24 smaller Habits which can help a man grow in his vocation as a Catholic Son. The more vigorously a man meditates upon and practices these habits the more he will accelerate his spiritual ascent, particularly if he focuses upon habits which are holding him back in his spiritual life.
Major Habit 1 – Make Union with God your Ultimate Purpose
Habit 1 – Become an adopted son of God
Habit 2 – Engage in Deep Daily Prayer
Habit 3 – Study the Life of Jesus Christ
Habit 4 – Repent and frequently Receive the Sacrament of Penance
Habit 5 – Frequently draw close to Jesus Christ in the Eucharist
Habit 6 – Seek and receive the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit
Major Habit 2 – Be Continually Formed in the Catholic Church
Habit 7 – Study the Dogma of the Catholic Church
Habit 8 – Study the Lives of the Saints
Habit 9 – Study under the Guidance of Trusted Catechists
Major Habit 3 – Live a Rich Liturgical Life
Habit 10 – Center your life upon the Liturgy
Habit 11 – Consecrate yourself to the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph
Habit 12 – Seek the Intercession of the Angels
Habit 13 – Be drawn into the Communion of the Saints
Major Habit 4 – Battle against Sin and Vice
Habit 14 – Recognize sin and make deliberate plans to stop sinning
Habit 15 – Mortify gluttony by regular fasting and abstinence
Habit 16 – Discipline and care for your Body
Major Habit 5 – Strive to Grow in Heroic Virtue
Habit 17 – Pursue a deliberate plan to grow your most needed Virtues
Habit 18 – Daily Practice the Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity
Habit 19 – Systematically study and practice the Cardinal Virtues of Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance
Major Habit 6 – Perform Works of Mercy
Habit 20 – Be an excellent steward of Time, Talent and Treasure
Habit 21 – Perform the Corporal Works of Mercy
Habit 22 – Perform the Spiritual Works of Mercy
Major Habit 7 – Build a Band of Catholic Brothers
Habit 23 – Seek Deep Brotherhood
Habit 24 – Grow Parish Fraternity
Becoming a Better Catholic Father
The major goal during the second stage of the spiritual life of a Catholic man as a Catholic Father is to mature beyond his obedience as a Catholic Son and to lead others to become adopted sons and daughters of the Almighty Father; a Catholic Father has moved beyond simply not rebelling against God to actively striving to cooperate with the calling to help build the Holy Catholic Church.
There are 7 Major Habits of Catholic Fathers (Major Habits 8-14 of Catholic Manhood) and 28 smaller Habits (Habits 28-52) which can help a man grow in his vocation as a married Catholic Father. The more vigorously a man meditates upon and practices these habits the more he will accelerate his spiritual ascent, particularly if he focuses upon habits which are holding him back as a Catholic Father.