Catholic Men: 4 Ways to Step Up Your Spiritual Leadership

In the time of Jesus, the spiritual leader in Jewish households was the father. The father would lead the family in prayer and keep the spiritual pulse of the household alive. This dynamic was formed over thousands of years, as you can see in the Old Testament.

When Jesus brought the New Covenant, He introduced many new social concepts to the people of Israel. One dynamic was that He had many women who followed Him and helped spread His word. The concept of women being treated as equals was revolutionary and earthshaking to many. Spiritual leadership was now represented in both men and women.

One major figure is Mary Magdalene, who had the honor of being the first person to see Christ at the tomb after His Resurrection. Mary was given the honor of informing the Apostles that Christ had risen. Another prominent figure is our Blessed Mother Mary, who endured a selfless life in service to Jesus and our Heavenly Father.

Our faith has had many spiritual leaders and saints who have transformed it over the last 2,000 years. Gender equality, at its best, has given us both male and female saints who have led our Church through many challenging times. However, societal and earthly demands have changed what is required of us to live in the secular world, which has diminished the leadership of the fathers of our households.

In the secular world, a man is often seen as the leader of his household by how much money he makes, how clean his front yard is, the style of his car, and more. Financial vanity has plagued American society over the last 100 years. This focus on financial success and status has replaced the spiritual leadership men once held. Good for your earthly reputation, but bad for your spiritual reputation.

Men, it's time to take our roles as Catholic fathers seriously and stop being spiritual spectators because fighting the devil is not a spectator sport. After all, what did Our Lady of Fatima say? The final battle the devil will wage is against the family. So, it is our responsibility, as the leaders of our families, to lead not only financially but spiritually.

Spiritual leadership is extremely important for young fathers under 40 years old because these are the formative years of our children. You are the patriarchal role model for your children, so lead by example. St. Thérèse of Lisieux said that the biggest spiritual influence she had as a child was watching her father pray during adoration. The reverence and faith he displayed ignited a spiritual curiosity that stayed with her for the rest of her life and led her to sainthood.

If we want to grow the Church of the future, we need to give spiritual food to our children. Our children will dictate our future, so it is important to have our faith reflected through the actions, words, and love they observe. Here are a few things you can do as a Catholic father to "Step It Up" as the family's spiritual leader:

1. Actions – Remember, your children and spouse are watching you, too. So, choose something that allows you to show your faith through action, as it may ignite spiritual curiosity in your family. Here are some examples of actions you can take. It would be best to include your family in some of these; however, your faith in action is the most important thing.Sign up for an adoration shift at your church.
   -Sign up for a shift at your local St. Vincent de Paul center.
   -Give to the homeless when you see them in your city.
   -Conduct a short nightly prayer session with the family and never skip a night.
   -Read one chapter from the Old Testament and one chapter from the New Testament in a Catholic Bible daily.
   -Pray the Rosary daily.
   -Monitor the content you consume in front of your family, such as scary, sexually graphic, or violent movies.
2. Knights of Columbus – Full disclosure: I'm a Fourth Degree Knight, and I'm active in our Assembly and Council. However, I'm almost 50, and I'm one of the younger Knights! Younger men are definitely needed in the Knights of Columbus to expand the good we do for our parishes and communities. As a Knight you will  deepen your faith by being around other  Catholic men who take their faith seriously and give selflessly to others. The spiritual growth and the holy example you can provide for your family are immense.
3. Prayer – Jesus wants a relationship with you, so make time for that relationship. Set aside 15–25 minutes a day for prayer with our Lord and begin to develop that relationship. Through prayer, your life will begin to imitate Christ in all you do, in your words, and in the light that surrounds you. Make time for the relationship that is most important in your life, Jesus.
4. Consecrate Yourself to St. Joseph – St. Joseph is the greatest human father of all time. Think about it: God Himself chose him to raise Jesus as a child! Out of the billions of men who have ever walked this earth, he was the one man chosen for this earthly distinction. God does not make mistakes, and He chose St. Joseph because he was the only man who could have done the job. This is why he should be imitated and venerated here on earth. Consecration is a 33-day journey centered on St. Joseph through organized prayer, meditation, and study. After the 33 days, you will have a well-rounded understanding of the foster father of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. There are many books and videos on YouTube about consecration to St. Joseph that you can find online.

Just as God appointed St. Joseph as the foster father of Jesus, He has appointed you the father and husband of your own family. With that appointment comes spiritual responsibility, so let's all do our best to lead the way of Jesus Christ.