By Sir Raymond J de Souza, KHS, KM, KofC The sixth commandment: thou shalt do war to the infidel with neither truce nor mercy, made perfect sense in the days of the Crusades, when Catholic knights waged war in defense of the Holy Catholic Church and Christendom. But today it would cause nervousness among the effeminate men who attend the “Church services” as a matter of habit. Add to this the pacifist mentality which is widespread in Catholic circles today, and we will have a stern opposition … [Read more...]
The Ideal of Catholic Masculinity – Part V
The Fifth Commandment of Medieval Chivalry – Thou shalt not recoil in the face of the enemy. That’s the great commandment of masculine courage. It’s the commandment that forbids cowardice, which was a great dishonour. ‘It is much better to die than to be a coward’ was the motto of the Knights. And Roland, the first Knight of Charlemagne, who volunteered to remain and to die in the rearguard of the Frankish army in the Battle or Roncevaux Pass, he curses the coward, saying, “That he be forever … [Read more...]
The ideal of Catholic masculinity – Part IV
On the Fourth of July all true Americans celebrate their country’s independence. It is natural for a true Catholic man to love his country. Patriotism is a natural virtue, a consequence of the fourth commandment of God’s Law: Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother. The very word Patriotism derives from the Latin, Pater, Father. Just as the knight was called to honor his parents, he was also called to honor and love the country in which he was born, the culture which he received in childhood … [Read more...]
Chivalry: The Ideal of Catholic Masculinity Part III
In our effort to combat the myth of ‘toxic masculinity”, after having considered the first and the second commandments of chivalry (Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, and Thou shalt observe all her commandments) we proceed to consider the third: Thou shalt respect the weak and shalt make thyself their defender. A truly masculine man protects the weak, and never abuses them. In medieval times, who were the weak? The weak were considered to be all those who could not bear weapons, … [Read more...]
Chivalry, the Ideal of Catholic Masculinity – Part II
[Editors note: This is Part II in an ongoing series on Catholic masculinity by Sir Raymond de Souza. You can read Part I here.] Nowadays, the propaganda myth of ‘toxic masculinity’ prevents the development of authentic Catholic masculinity. Fathers will do well if they pay attention to the education of their sons according to the Catholic model presented by the concept of chivalry. Medieval chivalry embodied the ideal of Catholic masculinity, balancing purity with fortitude, piety with … [Read more...]
