Jason has spent years studying and defining the rites of passage boys must take to become men. He has applied this anthropological research to the teachings and lived reality of Christ and His Church, and he shares his discovery with us. The author of Leaving Boyhood Behind, he explains to us how societies have been built around raising boys to adult maturity through recognizable passages and more importantly how our society is lacking in providing these necessary stages of initiation.

And what about “polite”? We think of the word today as meaning, more or less, mannerly. A polite person is somebody with manners; somebody who has the kindness to say please and thank you. But in origin the word is closer to polish, with the sense that the polite person is a sort of gleaming silver teapot. From its Latin roots (politus, the past participle of polire, to smooth or polish) through its emergence in Middle English and well into the 1700s, the word meant a thing buffed up or cleansed or even organized, although other meanings also emerged. So it always is with important words.

In this episode of The Catholic Gentleman, John is joined by Jordan Watwood, friend, and director at Everything Catholic to discuss 5 incredible sacramentals of Holy Mother Church and the devotions that go along with them. We go into how beneficial they are for us in the battle against Satan and sins of the flesh, and why every man hoping to become a part of the Church Triumphant is encouraged to pick up these weapons of the Church. 

In this episode of The Catholic Gentleman, Sam and John converse about how to love your coworkers who use the Lord's name in vain often, how to stay committed to prayer, physical and mental health, and if every man should grow a beard. We are answering your questions today!

After World War One [1914-1918] had been underway for 2 years, the long-reigning emperor of one of the warring empires --Austria-Hungary--died and the throne was succeeded by his grandnephew, Karl, a visibly saintly man, who spent his precious two years on the throne making multiple offers for peace that were rejected. This caused the war to be extended two more years and millions of more deaths. In 1918 WWI came to an end, the empire was dismantled with the help of masons and other anti-Catholics here and abroad, and Karl and his wife, Empress Zita, were arrested and literally shipped 2000 miles away to a Portuguese island called Madeira off the coast of west Africa, with their seven children following later. He died there soon after, in penury, at the age of 34, leaving his pregnant wife of ten years, the Servant-of-God Empress Zita, and seven young children.

We are excited to be joined by an expert on Bl. Emperor Karl, David Ross, to help inform and instruct us on how we can learn from his holy life and Christ like example. Bl. Karl was elevated to the throne as Emperor of the Austrian Hungarian Empire in 1916 in the midst of the War to End All Wars, WWI. We discuss how he virtuously and heroically balanced his life as a Catholic Emperor, loving husband, and passionate father. He knew great suffering having been betrayed by his friend, forced into exile without his children, and ultimately dying at the young age of 35. He is a saint for modern men, join us.

Today John and Sam are joined by his Excellency, Bishop James Conley. Bishop Conley was an agonistic listening to the Grateful Dead and ultimately converted to Catholicism during his college years. We discuss the balance of the liturgy in his diocese that has the FSSP seminary (Latin Mass) as well as Novus Ordo Mass. He shares what it has been like to be a Bishop and how to regain authentic masculinity in the Church and society today.

Today John and Sam are joined by his Excellency, Bishop James Conley. Bishop Conley was an agonistic listening to the Grateful Dead and ultimately converted to Catholicism during his college years. We discuss the balance of the liturgy in his diocese that has the FSSP seminary (Latin Mass) as well as Novus Ordo Mass. He shares what it has been like to be a Bishop and how to regain authentic masculinity in the Church and society today.