The Fall—and Rise?—of Men

Friends, men are not immune to the challenges and hardships of modern secular society. We are seeing that men are more likely to commit suicide, and fifteen percent say they have no close friends. Moreover, their numbers are declining in terms of collegiate programs. This week on the Word on Fire Show, we discuss the immense loss of direction and meaning so many men are experiencing in our culture today and how people of faith and goodwill can respond.

A listener asks how to understand the creation of men and women from the Book of Genesis.

00:00 | Intro
01:49 | Bishop Barron back from Rome
02:25 | Assessing grim statistics about men
04:27 | Contributing cultural movements to masculine discouragement
11:04 | Channeling masculine aggression
14:47 | A complementary view of male and female
17:52 | The return of men to the Church
22:35 | Resources for recovering masculinity from its shadow side
25:21 | Holy male exemplars
27:15 | What the Church offers for masculine vision
28:49 | Listener question
30:53 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

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[lorettacordova]

We all are so different. I as a young girl girl loved two things: climbing a tree to be alone and read my book, or riding my bicycle, exploring everyplace, by myself. And I loved singing Gregorian chant in the schola. The boys liked rough and tumble, and the girls were so often chatty and gossipy - and I enjoyed company on a one onto one sense, and talking/listening to both boys and girls in that way. I appreciate Bishop Barron's point of view, but he must learn that some girls love adventure (not the rough and tumble) and a sense of mission. I often dreamed of being alone on an island, exploring... Thank you, God, for books, music, and the beauty of nature and art! and kayaks and sailing! had a wonderful husband (QEPD) with whom I could share all this. Now watching Bishop Barron! Re-read Simone Weil and Sigrid Undset please!

[debranaumczik]

We are close to same age Bishop Barron .I was raised with 3 Brothers Interesting as I had to fend for myself .. Loved and Remember Pope John Paul II .
Thanks for your Insights? God Bless You Both ! Forget that woke nonsense, looking for new work after a lay off. After 10 years same place . It's hard ..I worked my way to Sort of Blue Collar finally. Not easy ! God Bless You all 🙏🏻💖
Wish you all the Best this Advent Season

[gasperlarocca]

having been with Bishop Barron to celebrate Mass in Baltimore a few weeks ago, it is wonderful to hear his thoughts on such a timely topic. thank you.

[mjplate]

St. Joseph is THE role model for men throughout the ages! He taught Jesus to be a man, he was a King, a mystic, a hero, he's the defender of the Church, terror of demons, and the model of masculinity that complemented the femininity of Mary, mother of God, among other things. St. Joseph pray for us.

[davelipsiea]

Bishop Barron is the modern day Fulton Sheen.

[Jeremus]

My father is unequivocally my hero too, so I was moved to hear Bishop Barron say that. One of his many pearls of wisdom is "Men keep the world moving forward, and women protect and nurture what already exists.". Without women in it, the world would be a bloodbath. And without men and their drive forward toward challenge and conquering, the world would stagnate. It reflects the perfect Divine intention that we exist equally in The duality of the physical world, and only in coming together does the human race continue.

[paulstuart]

I worked with a physicist. He grew up in the ghetto of D.C. and was in prison for armed robbery and attempted murder. A man reached out to him and had him focus on education. He eventually earned a master’s degree in physics. Here’s where it gets interesting and admirable. He did not deny his aggressive nature. Rather, he channeled it into the martial arts (he had multiple black belts), and he participated in survivalist adventures. He also reached out to troubled youths and had them channel their aggression into similar activities. I really respected this guy. Don’t deny who you are. Don’t try to change from Mars to Venus through some group therapy. But do channel who you are into something positive.

[joannekissick-jones]

One of the best places I have seen men & women, meditating segregated but both challenged to be with the reality of themselves. In general (not in all cases) they process differently.

It is a beautiful place to know thy self.

[DawnLapka-ci]

Women lose their purpose too. A strong woman needs those strong men to help us continue to stay strong. Women need each other, too! The same as men go out camping, hiking, etc.
As a woman who really likes the rough and tumble jobs, hiking camping, kayaking, etc. I need to find some friends in my own town who like to do those hobbies, and jobs, too. I had those friends; now I am starting over, making new friends; and that's normal. Thank you for building us up by encouraging us to keep building our consciences, emotional stability, spiritual health, Bishop Barron.

[Daniel_Abraham]

Thank you Bishop! Please speak more on this issue. The church needs to support young men before they fall to a false worldly masculinity.

[petefalcone]

When I got my MS in instructional design, I hated how my professors insisted that the phrase "learning style" is invalid and not scientifically credible. Thank you, Bishop, for debunking this nonsense at 7:30. What I witness with my own learners indeed shows that people of all different types have different learning styles.

[jeremymaxwell]

Bishop Barron, Father Mike Schmitz, and Jordan Peterson have all moved me to go out and find my mission. What I love about each of them, is that they encourage me to take responsibility for myself in the light of God. They're good men teaching men to be good. However, Charlie Kirk, Matt Walsh, and Michael Knowles, to me, are just political and cultural scapegoaters.

[danielhixon]

“Anybody who has ever accomplished anything has left the safe space. By definition.“

[RejiThomas]

Great and very relevant discussion .. Thanks

[Gods_Word_Today_]

Come Lord Jesus 🙏🏼❤🕊Repent, believe in the Gospel, Be Born Again

[Emcron]

poignant & reflective. thank you, Bishop Barron.

[LesterMSmith-dkks]

Brilliant explanation such a balance approach

[loonshkij]

Thank you for the interesting discussion. This is a huge and complex topic. As a woman, our context has been the struggle for I dare say MILLENIA for equal rights under the law, and recall that it's been a scant hundred years since women in this country have had the right to vote. Women still do not earn equal pay for equal work. Within that context the current state of affairs for boys and young men in particular seems proportionally like a much smaller issue, or at least a much, much more recent issue. Let us not forget the lessons of history, or attempt to raise the successes of one group at the expense of others, or look back in nostalgia at a time that may not have been such a good one for everyone.

[debbieoconnell]

I think we need to get back to what our strong qualities are as men and women. Old days set it in the real perspective. Lets get away from this toxic masculinity . We are so different and need to be our genders.

[blanejnasveschuk]

Beautiful message for both men and women to hear! TY Bishop Barron.