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Photo by Jaclyn Lippelmann
Members of The Catholic University of America Council 9542 in Washington, D.C., pray the rosary following the weekly Knights’ Mass on campus. Still, while promoting prayer and spirituality among men poses a challenge in itself, there are also cultural hurdles that come into play. Matich, a New Zealander, has observed that American men tend to be fiercely independent, which is not always the best stance when it comes to spiritual growth. “They say, ‘I will figure out how to do this on my own and no one is going to tell me what to do,’” Matich explained. One important task, he added, is to help men understand that involvement in the Church and a strong masculine identity are in no way opposed to one another. Likewise, Inclan noted that though he loves his adopted country, his native Mexico is more friendly to prayer and family life. “Men in the United States are expected to work long hours and become wealthy, leaving little time for prayer or family,” he said. Inclan believes that a taste of Hispanic spirituality can help provide more balance to the U.S. Catholic men’s spirituality movement. According to Walsh, the more the Knights promote spiritual life, the more Hispanic men become interested in joining. And when Hispanic members bring their deep devotion, it further strengthens the spiritual life of the council and forti-
fies bonds between Latino and Anglo cultures. “I would like to break down those barriers,” Walsh added, “and I think the Knights are in a unique position to do that.” One thing is clear from the new movement: Many men are inspired by the language of spiritual battle, which occurs frequently in the letters of St. Paul. In Oregon, the Knights at St. Joseph in Salem call their spirituality effort the Holy League, evoking a 16th-century alliance formed by St. Pope Pius V to defend Catholic Europe from invasion. “It speaks to men,” said Thurman, who spent five years in the U.S. Army. “We like to know our marching orders. Men like to be practical and know what to do and how to do it.” Pamphlets for the Oregon men’s conference featured an illustration of a sword-bearing crusader, head bowed in prayer. “Unless you realize it really is a spiritual battle, you are defenseless. You will not give the response that is required,” said Matich. “Unless men really get engaged, the Church is really going to struggle in every age.”♦ ED LANGLOIS is managing editor of the Catholic Sentinel and its Spanish-language edition, El Centinela, newspapers of the Archdiocese of Portland, Ore. MARCH 2017
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