In this episode of The Catholic Gentleman, Sam and John unpack the tremendously rich patrimony the desert fathers have given the world but are lost in the west. We are joined by the knowledgable and experienced director, Fr. David Abernethy (An Oratorian), to go back to the roots of this spiritual tradition that is unmatched in its ability to overcome temptations and grow in unity with Christ. Learn how to actually strengthen your will, unite your heart and mind, and how a life not working on frequent asceticism can never fully achieve the unity with God that is possible before death.

In this episode of The Catholic Gentleman, Sam and John unpack the tremendously rich patrimony the desert fathers have given the world but are lost in the west. We are joined by the knowledgable and experienced director, Fr. David Abernethy (An Oratorian), to go back to the roots of this spiritual tradition that is unmatched in its ability to overcome temptations and grow in unity with Christ. Learn how to actually strengthen your will, unite your heart and mind, and how a life not working on frequent asceticism can never fully achieve the unity with God that is possible before death.

Yesterday, I began the spiritual exercise Exodus 90 with a cohort of local men. There’s quite a few disciplines involved, such as extra prayers, intense physical exercise, fasting, and cold showers to name a few. It isn’t easy—but in the big picture of human suffering, most of the sacrifices required are relatively small. Exodus 90 […]

Modern historian and commentator Kenneth Clark said in his popular BBC show Civilization, “Western Christianity survived by clinging to places like Skellig Michael, a pinnacle of rock [seven] miles from the Irish coast, rising seven hundred feet out of the sea.” It’s an intriguing claim, crediting the solitary monastery on Skellig Michael with a role in the […]

Recently, an unlikely thinker has exploded on the world stage. His name is Jordan Peterson. A Canadian clinical psychologist and professor, he is an unlikely candidate for a global intellectual superstar. Yet, his YouTube channel has over a million subscribers, his recent book has risen to a global bestseller, and his current lecture tour is […]

There are different kinds of knowledge. There is the abstract knowledge of facts and ideas, and then there’s the knowledge that comes from experience. While both forms of knowledge are legitimate, there is little doubt that the knowledge from lived experience is deeper and more profound. Take for example the learning of a martial art. […]

Silence. It’s a word that is both appealing and terrifying. It is a word that can either connote peace and calm, or frightening isolation. While some might find the idea of silence appealing, the truth is, most of us don’t do well with perfect quiet. Have you ever sat alone in a room, only to hear sounds you had […]

Fasting – a word we normally reserve for Lent. Once Easter comes, we box it up and package it away until the next Lent. Yet this should not be so among Catholic men. A while ago, Sam discussed the great benefits of fasting. Now you may be thinking … Fasting sounds great, but where do […]