Most people in recovery would agree that a strong intimate relationship with God is important for overcoming addiction; however, many of the men I’ve worked with struggle with this.  This is often because they have a distorted image of God.  If your image of God leads you to fear him or be angry with him, it will be very difficult to trust him....

By: Fr. Nathaniel Drogin One morning I couldn’t sleep so I went outside for a walk. The sky was still dark and I could see a lot of stars. I wondered if maybe the night were really a sheet, shot through with thousands of buck-shot. Not a regular sheet you would keep on your bed but one which would block out all light except for the sparks which ...

For the past two years, I have been working a job that has required a daily commute of roughly two hours, more or less. Over time, it has slowly worn on me, not to mention my cars. It not only has had its effects on me, but my wife and my son also feel the impact of my long absence. I’ve written and lamented in the past on how crucial it is f...

A large part of our role as parents entails forming the identity and character of our children by giving them the support and security they need. We do this largely by loving them—willing their good and expressing it in a way that they can understand—and affirming the goodness of their identity as children of the Father. (As I continue this...

“Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider how their lives ended and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teaching” (Hb 13: 7-9). I have been reading some of the Desert Fathers lately. These were disciplined men, anchorites who li...

In an interesting and passing comment in Rerum Novarum, Pope St. Leo XIII says that children “continue [a father’s] personality.”  He is not speaking about his specific and unique personality, like being melancholic or something, but in that a child does carry forward the person of his father in his ways of life and character.  Children lea...

In our home we repent.  Every night.  We ask God to enlighten our conscience, we pause, and then there’s a moment where someone can say, “I did such and such today to you, will you forgive me?”  The answer is not, “its ok,” but, “I forgive you.” This daily act of humility doesn’t always go well, but by and large it does.  My ...

It is said that St. Francis de Sales was criticized in his day for his “simple” sermons.  In his age learning was treasured, and the way you proved your learning was through littering your orations with Hebrew, Greek, and Latin and expounding the truth in the loftiest ways possible.  The truth deserves that after all – right? Francis tho...

The phenomenon of “men’s groups” is interesting.  Of course, as inherent problem solvers, men seek out reasons to band together for a cause.  In fact, that’s the genius of homo sapien brotherhood according to evolutionary biologists – collaboration amongst potential competitors.  Just consider the achievement of the Knights of Columbus...

This article is an invitation to St. Joseph’s Farm, especially for men who have completed Exodus90 and want to take a “next step” in their fraternity.  Spots are open for November 17-19 for the men’s weekend, and November 10-12 for the father/son weekend. Fall is particularly beautiful in Western, NC, so don’t wait to sign up.  My w...