L
Lou_F
Guest
Why does it seem that masculinity and humility are opposed to each other? When I think of masculinity, I think of a “take it on the chin” and “endure the pain (hide the pain too, so others don’t see where you are weak)” attitude. But what is TRUE Masculinity? It seems that the Church would say that True Masculinity requires to be balanced with True Humility when we include the virtues.
The Humility prayer states: "that others become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should; “loved more than I; esteemed more than I; etc.” In marriage, a man’s humility does not make him less masculine and more feminine. If it did, it would be “false humility”. When I’m hurt in marriage over something insignificant (a comment, a messy table, etc) I ask my wife for a hug. I must admit, I’d still feel awkward if others saw me need to hug my wife over something trival. Little children ask for a hug when they are hurt. But I cannot tell you what therapy that is for me. Instead of looking at: “the pain she caused me” I seek to heal my own pain. I have difficulty handling the “small stuff” well. Instead of pretending to be stronger than I am, and flying off the handle or cursing, this has really helped! I have become much more attached to my wife in the process and our love for each other has grown stronger than ever, we love it! (we also practice NFP)
Now back to the humility prayer, it seems that it would be OK for a married man to ask God that others become more masculine than me provided that I become as masculine as I should. What am I trying to say? Too much of even a good thing is not good. Too much masculinity and too little humility in a man can lead to arrogance, injury to others, etc. I’m trying to say that the best examples of Masculinity belong in the priesthood. When men become more humble in marriage by clinging to their wives in times of their weakness, it opens the door for priests. Priests don’t have a wife to cling to. They become the one’s who define toughness, who define the “take it on the chin”, “endure the pain” that’s admired in men. Knowing priests don’t have a wife to help them during trials, allows us to give them the respect they truly deserve. Men become more aware of a priest’s strength when we as married men recognize and admit our weaknesses and realize that we need God’s Humility and our wives help to heal us. Whether in the priesthood or married life, Humility is a sign of strength. In the priesthood even more so, because a priest shows his strength and True Masculinity when he humbly acknowledges his faults and that he only needs God, not a wife, to cling to during difficulty. This makes him stronger than a married man, more masculine, more admired, and more respected.
It seems that married men need to practice humility, admit their weakness and need for a wife in order for others to see the strength of the priesthood. St. Francis, pray for us.
The Humility prayer states: "that others become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should; “loved more than I; esteemed more than I; etc.” In marriage, a man’s humility does not make him less masculine and more feminine. If it did, it would be “false humility”. When I’m hurt in marriage over something insignificant (a comment, a messy table, etc) I ask my wife for a hug. I must admit, I’d still feel awkward if others saw me need to hug my wife over something trival. Little children ask for a hug when they are hurt. But I cannot tell you what therapy that is for me. Instead of looking at: “the pain she caused me” I seek to heal my own pain. I have difficulty handling the “small stuff” well. Instead of pretending to be stronger than I am, and flying off the handle or cursing, this has really helped! I have become much more attached to my wife in the process and our love for each other has grown stronger than ever, we love it! (we also practice NFP)
Now back to the humility prayer, it seems that it would be OK for a married man to ask God that others become more masculine than me provided that I become as masculine as I should. What am I trying to say? Too much of even a good thing is not good. Too much masculinity and too little humility in a man can lead to arrogance, injury to others, etc. I’m trying to say that the best examples of Masculinity belong in the priesthood. When men become more humble in marriage by clinging to their wives in times of their weakness, it opens the door for priests. Priests don’t have a wife to cling to. They become the one’s who define toughness, who define the “take it on the chin”, “endure the pain” that’s admired in men. Knowing priests don’t have a wife to help them during trials, allows us to give them the respect they truly deserve. Men become more aware of a priest’s strength when we as married men recognize and admit our weaknesses and realize that we need God’s Humility and our wives help to heal us. Whether in the priesthood or married life, Humility is a sign of strength. In the priesthood even more so, because a priest shows his strength and True Masculinity when he humbly acknowledges his faults and that he only needs God, not a wife, to cling to during difficulty. This makes him stronger than a married man, more masculine, more admired, and more respected.
It seems that married men need to practice humility, admit their weakness and need for a wife in order for others to see the strength of the priesthood. St. Francis, pray for us.
