Manly Catholic: Igniting Men to Light the World on Fire

James Caldwell
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Apr 18, 2025 • 11min

Day 39 - Good Friday: Jesus Thirsts for You—Will You Answer His Call?

Gentlemen, Good Friday is here. A day to pause and reflect on the sacrifice Jesus made for each of us. In this powerful episode of our Lenten Reflection Series with St. Joseph, I share a moving meditation from Mother Teresa titled I Thirst for You. It’s a raw reminder that Jesus doesn’t just love us collectively; He thirsts for you, personally, standing at the door of your heart, knocking. Will you let Him in? I dive into what this means for us as Catholic men: the call to reject sin, embrace His love, and live for heaven. My challenge to you? Get to adoration or a Good Friday service today. Spend time with the Lord who gave everything for you. Are you thirsting for Him like He thirsts for you? This episode will stir your soul and push you to act. Hit play, reflect, and let’s prepare for Easter Sunday together. Be a saint.SEO Keywords: Good Friday reflection, Catholic men podcast, Mother Teresa I Thirst, St. Joseph Lent, Jesus sacrifice, Catholic adoration, Lenten series, Christian men spirituality, Easter preparation, veneration of the cross.Products/References Mentioned:  I Thirst for You pamphlet by Mother Teresa  Good Friday services (adoration, veneration of the cross)  Powerful Quotes from the Transcript:  “I thirst for you. Yes, that is the only way to even begin to describe my love for you. I thirst for you. I thirst to love your life.”  “No matter how far you may wander, no matter how often you forget me... I thirst for you, just as you are.”  “Are you getting to heaven? Are you guiding your family to heaven? That is our mission. That is our job, our vocation.”Key Takeaway for Men:Spend time in adoration or at a Good Friday service today to encounter Jesus personally and respond to His thirst for your soul.Send us a text Support the showPlease prayerfully consider supporting the podcast on our Buy Me A Coffee page. to help grow the show to reach as many men as possible! Thank you for your prayers and support. Be sure to follow us on X for more great content. As always, please pray for us! We are men who strive daily to be holy, to become saints and we cannot do that without the help of the Holy Ghost! Subscribe to our YouTube page to see our manly and holy faces Check out our website Contact us at themanlycatholic@gmail.com
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Apr 17, 2025 • 11min

Day 38 - Serve Like Christ and St. Joseph

Holy Thursday. The Last Supper. The institution of the Eucharist. And a call to humility. Easter is Sunday. Today, we aredigging into Christ’s radical love with St. Joseph as our guide. Jesus washed His disciples’ feet and gave us His Body and Blood. This isn’t just a story. It’s our daily reality, a taste of heaven in every Mass. Peter balked, but Jesus insisted: service and sacrifice define us.  The Catechism ties this night to the Cross; St. Augustine sees it as cleansing power. It’s Christ’s playbook—humility like Joseph’s, service over status. Your challenge: Live it today. Wash your wife’s and kids’ feet if you’re married—show them love through action. Can’t? Go to Mass, see the altar stripped, feel the weight. Or pray the Litany of Humility. Pick one, do it. Jesus didn’t just act to be nice—He saved us, stayed with us. Are you on His team or the devil’s? No gray area, men—choose.  Products/References Mentioned:  Catechism of the Catholic Church  Gaudium et Spes (Second Vatican Council)  Council of Trent (1551)  St. Augustine’s writings  St. Cyril of Jerusalem’s writings  St. Thomas Aquinas’s writings  Benedict XVI’s reflection  Litany of HumilityPowerful Quotes:  “Jesus, the master, the maker, the creator, the king of kings, kneels down to wash his disciples’ feet.”  “The Eucharist is the gift that surpasses all gifts. A moment where heaven touches earth.”  “If you’re not willing to risk everything for God, then who are you willing to risk it at all for?”Key Takeaway:Serve someone today—wash a foot, attend Mass, or pray humbly. Act now to mirror Christ and Joseph’s self-giving love.  Send us a text Support the showPlease prayerfully consider supporting the podcast on our Buy Me A Coffee page. to help grow the show to reach as many men as possible! Thank you for your prayers and support. Be sure to follow us on X for more great content. As always, please pray for us! We are men who strive daily to be holy, to become saints and we cannot do that without the help of the Holy Ghost! Subscribe to our YouTube page to see our manly and holy faces Check out our website Contact us at themanlycatholic@gmail.com
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Apr 16, 2025 • 16min

Day 37 - Finding Peace in the Silence

Spy Wednesday is here and we’re switching it up. Just three days from Easter, I’m inviting you into 10 minutes of sacred silence. Something different today: a chance to pause. Judas betrayed Jesus today for 30 pieces of silver, setting the stage for tomorrow’s agony. What did Joseph feel in his trials? Your challenge: Be still for 10 minutes. Drop the podcast speed to normal, let Jeff’s calming music guide you, and reflect—on Christ, on Joseph, on your life.  Maybe you’re swamped, stressed, or off-track this Lent. That’s fine. This is your reset. Simplify, obey, be humble—10 minutes to listen to God’s voice. It might be your only break today, so take it. Hit play to join me in this silence.Send us a text Support the showPlease prayerfully consider supporting the podcast on our Buy Me A Coffee page. to help grow the show to reach as many men as possible! Thank you for your prayers and support. Be sure to follow us on X for more great content. As always, please pray for us! We are men who strive daily to be holy, to become saints and we cannot do that without the help of the Holy Ghost! Subscribe to our YouTube page to see our manly and holy faces Check out our website Contact us at themanlycatholic@gmail.com
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Apr 15, 2025 • 19min

Day 36 - Pray Like a Man With the St. Joseph Rosary

Dive into a powerful prayer experience centered around the St. Joseph Rosary during Holy Week. Discover the mysteries of St. Joseph’s life and how they connect to your own vocation. Reflect on themes of humility, love, and family as you engage in meditative prayer. The St. Joseph Rosary serves as a lifeline to Christ and a weapon against adversity. Join in on this spiritual journey and deepen your faith as you prepare for the Passion.
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Apr 14, 2025 • 11min

Day 35 - Finishing Strong, Taking Holy Week by Storm

Men, Holy Week is upon us, and the finish line is in sight. Whether Lent has been a triumph or a struggle, now is your chance to lock in. Easter’s close, but we’re not there yet.   St. Joseph lived hidden, guarding the God-man in silence while the world ignored him. His humility shone in poverty and trials, his faith unshaken by darkness. He’s our model now. Here’s your challenge: Simplify your life today. Too many prayers? Too much noise? Pick one thing—silence, Scripture, a single act of charity—and do it well, humbly, like Joseph. Maybe you’ve stumbled this Lent; doesn’t matter. It’s how you finish that counts. Lean into his example to make this Holy Week your strongest yet.  Men, Satan trembles at Joseph’s quiet strength. Want to honor God and enter Easter’s mystery? Simplify and focus. Products/References Mentioned:  Consecration to St. Joseph by Father Donald CallowayPowerful Quotes:  “Joseph sought God in simplicity. Joseph found God in detachment. Joseph enjoyed God’s company in obscurity.”  “He guards a God-man and breathes not a word of it. He is the witness of so great a mystery and he tastes it in secret without divulging it abroad.”  “Not how you start, it’s how you finish. Right, gentlemen? How can we simplify our lives? How can we finish strong?”Key Takeaway:Simplify today—choose one humble act, like sitting in silence, and do it with focus. Start now to mirror St. Joseph and end Lent strong.Send us a text Support the showPlease prayerfully consider supporting the podcast on our Buy Me A Coffee page. to help grow the show to reach as many men as possible! Thank you for your prayers and support. Be sure to follow us on X for more great content. As always, please pray for us! We are men who strive daily to be holy, to become saints and we cannot do that without the help of the Holy Ghost! Subscribe to our YouTube page to see our manly and holy faces Check out our website Contact us at themanlycatholic@gmail.com
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Apr 12, 2025 • 13min

Day 34 - Unlocking St. Joseph's Intercession: The Power of This Saint

One day away. Palm Sunday is tomorrow. Holy Week’s knocking. Are you ready? I’m diving into the privileges of devotion to St. Joseph, pulling from Father Calloway’s Consecration to St. Joseph and the wisdom of saints like St. Josemaría Escrivá. Today’s about why loving St. Joseph matters. Blessed Maria Teresa of St. Joseph went from a Protestant home to a nun, leaning on him through rejection and hardship. Venerable Mary of Ágreda lists seven graces he brings like purity, a happy death, and terrifying demons. Our Lady herself told mystics his intercession’s unmatched. Why? He loved Jesus and Mary most after God, living humility and silence we can’t fathom. Here’s your challenge: Reflect on your Lent. How’s it going? Slipped up? Forgotten your goals? Look to St. Joseph’s obedience and quiet strength—make this Holy Week your best yet.  Men, Satan hates Joseph’s power. Want to shield your family and grow closer to Christ? Devotion to him is your weapon.  Products/References Mentioned:  Consecration to St. Joseph by Father Donald Calloway  The Mystical City of God by Venerable Mary of Ágreda  St. Josemaría Escrivá’s quote on St. JosephPowerful Quotes:  “He is the person who has most loved God after our mother. He deserves your affection and it will do you good to get to know him because he is the master of the interior life.”  “In virtue of these special privileges, the intercession of St. Joseph is most powerful… for attaining the virtue of purity and overcoming the sensual inclinations of the flesh.”  “The whole human race has much undervalued the privileges and prerogatives conceded to my blessed spouse, and they know not what his intercession with God is able to do.”Key Takeaway:Pause today—reflect on St. Joseph’s silence and humility. Apply it now to refocus your Lent and enter Holy Week with purpose.  Send us a text Support the showPlease prayerfully consider supporting the podcast on our Buy Me A Coffee page. to help grow the show to reach as many men as possible! Thank you for your prayers and support. Be sure to follow us on X for more great content. As always, please pray for us! We are men who strive daily to be holy, to become saints and we cannot do that without the help of the Holy Ghost! Subscribe to our YouTube page to see our manly and holy faces Check out our website Contact us at themanlycatholic@gmail.com
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Apr 11, 2025 • 13min

Day 33 - Straight From The Pope's Hand; Exploring Quamquam Pluries with St. Joseph

Day 33 of our Lenten journey with St. Joseph is upon us and we are just two days from Palm Sunday.  Feeling worn down? This episode’s for you. I’m diving into Pope Leo XIII’s 1889 encyclical, Quamquam Pluries, unpacking why St. Joseph’s intercession is our lifeline in tough times. Pope Leo saw faith fading, charity cooling, and the Church under attack. He urged Catholics to turn to St. Joseph, Mary’s spouse and guardian of Jesus, for divine help. Why him? Because the Word of God obeyed him, and that authority still shakes Satan. Today, I’m challenging you: What do you need to fast from? Look at your life—phone addiction, late nights, old sins creeping back? Satan’s not creative; he’s just observant, hitting your weak spots. Is it drawing me to Christ or pulling me away?  Men, we’re in a desert like Jesus before His ministry. Basics matter: sleep, food, water. Neglect those, and your spiritual foundation’s sand. Pope Leo reminds us the stakes are souls. Our Lady at Fatima said the final fight’s for the family. What’s distracting you from that mission? Identify it, fast from it today. Hit play for a reflection to realign your will with God’s. Products/References Mentioned:  Quamquam Pluries encyclical by Pope Leo XIII  Fatima message from the Blessed Virgin MaryPowerful Quotes:  “The times we live in are scarcely less deplorable for the Christian religion than the worst days, which in time past were most full of misery to the Church.”  “Satan and his demons, they’re not creative in their attacks… they just observe you very well and they remember.”  “If you’re not taking care of yourself and your family, no matter what Satan is doing, you need to take care of yourself.”Key Takeaway:Fast from one distraction today—phone, a vice, anything pulling you from Christ. Start now; it’s your first step to strengthening your family against evil.  Send us a text Support the showPlease prayerfully consider supporting the podcast on our Buy Me A Coffee page. to help grow the show to reach as many men as possible! Thank you for your prayers and support. Be sure to follow us on X for more great content. As always, please pray for us! We are men who strive daily to be holy, to become saints and we cannot do that without the help of the Holy Ghost! Subscribe to our YouTube page to see our manly and holy faces Check out our website Contact us at themanlycatholic@gmail.com
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Apr 10, 2025 • 12min

Day 32 - Becoming the Man Demons Fear

Men, day 32 of our Lenten journey with St. Joseph is here, and it’s a powerful one. As Holy Week nears, this episode dives into why St. Joseph, a humble layman, strikes terror into the devil’s heart. I’m reading straight from Father Calloway’s Consecration to St. Joseph, sharing the gripping story of Blessed Bartolo Longo, a former satanic priest turned Dominican who found redemption through St. Joseph’s intercession. From occult darkness to building the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in Pompeii, his life proves St. Joseph’s title: Terror of Demons.  Here’s your challenge, men: reflect on St. Joseph’s virtues and ask, How can I make the devil fear me? Focus on one area to improve today. Want to protect your family and lead them to heaven? Become an apparition of St. Joseph. His fatherhood is our model; his power, our weapon. As we head into Holy Week, let’s step up and make demons flee.  Hit play for a reflection that’ll strengthen your resolve. Subscribe on Buzzsprout, YouTube, or wherever you listen, and email us at themanlycatholic@gmail.com with your thoughts. Tomorrow, we keep pushing to be saints.  Products/References Mentioned:  Consecration to St. Joseph by Father Donald Calloway  Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, Pompeii  Blessed Bartolo Longo’s book of meditations and prayers to St. JosephPowerful Quotes:  “The fatherhood of Saint Joseph terrorizes the devil. The humility of Saint Joseph terrorizes the devil. The charity of Saint Joseph terrorizes the devil.”  “Pronounced often and with great confidence the name of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Their names bring peace, love, health, blessings… and a terror to demons.”  “If a man allows himself to be an apparition of St. Joseph, imitating the virtues of St. Joseph, Satan becomes powerless in his attacks against the family.”Key Takeaway:Pray to St. Joseph daily, invoking his name with confidence, to protect your family and grow in the fatherhood that terrifies Satan. Start today—consistency is your strength.  Send us a text Support the showPlease prayerfully consider supporting the podcast on our Buy Me A Coffee page. to help grow the show to reach as many men as possible! Thank you for your prayers and support. Be sure to follow us on X for more great content. As always, please pray for us! We are men who strive daily to be holy, to become saints and we cannot do that without the help of the Holy Ghost! Subscribe to our YouTube page to see our manly and holy faces Check out our website Contact us at themanlycatholic@gmail.com
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Apr 9, 2025 • 10min

Day 31 - Rowing with Jesus: Trusting the Coxswain of Your Life

Gentlemen, picture this: you’re in a boat, rowing hard, but you can’t see the finish line. Who’s steering you through the chaos? Day 31 of our Lenten journey with St. Joseph brings a powerful analogy that’ll hit home for every Catholic man striving to live with purpose. In this reflection, I unpack a gem from Emily Wilson about Jesus as the coxswain of our lives. He’s the one calling the pace, guiding us through turbulent waters, while we row blind. St. Joseph steps up as our model: a man who trusted God’s voice, grabbed his oar, and rowed without hesitation, even when the night was dark and the devil was near.We dive into the rowing team of your life. Who’s in your boat? Your wife, your kids, closest brothers? Are you syncing with Jesus, or spinning in circles, distracted by the noise of the world? I challenge you today: reflect on who is in your boat right now. What direction are you heading? Whose voice are you tuning into—Jesus, the father of lies, or the endless scroll of dopamine hits? Your choice dictates your life’s course. We wrap with a prayer to St. Joseph, guardian of families, to keep us steady.Hit play, Catholic men. Reflect on your boat, your crew, and your coxswain. Then ask: whose voice am I following? References Mentioned:The Boys in the Boat (movie/book about the 1936 Olympic rowing team)Emily Wilson (Catholic speaker)St. John Paul II’s Redemptoris Custos (mentioned from previous episode)Powerful Quotes“Jesus is literally the only one in your life who knows where you are going.”  “You cannot chase the noise. You need to stay on the oar and listen to the voice of your coxswain.”  “The decision you make is gonna dictate the rest of your life.”Key TakeawayReflect today: identify the voice you’re listening to most—Jesus or the distractions—and realign your focus on Him as your coxswain. Trust His pace, even when you can’t see the shore.Send us a text Support the showPlease prayerfully consider supporting the podcast on our Buy Me A Coffee page. to help grow the show to reach as many men as possible! Thank you for your prayers and support. Be sure to follow us on X for more great content. As always, please pray for us! We are men who strive daily to be holy, to become saints and we cannot do that without the help of the Holy Ghost! Subscribe to our YouTube page to see our manly and holy faces Check out our website Contact us at themanlycatholic@gmail.com
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Apr 8, 2025 • 12min

Day 30 - St. Joseph’s Silent Strength: Your Move, Men

Another tidal wave crashes into you. You barely tread water. You sense your boat is sinking. Who’s your rock? Day 30 of our Lenten trek with St. Joseph on The Manly Catholic hits hard. Redemptoris Custos shines light on St. Joseph and how he carried Jesus and Mary, God’s most precious treasures, and didn’t crack. What do you think he will do for you?This isn’t about miracles or sermons. It’s Joseph swinging a hammer, shielding his family from Herod, showing Jesus how to be a man. He’s the quiet guy in the shadows, trusting God when plans are extinguished. He is the master of obedience to the faith. My challenge: serve today. Wash your wife’s feet, grab her flowers, usher at Mass—do something. Holy Week’s closing in; don’t just sit there.  Joseph’s your model. He is steady, selfless, real. Are you? Fathers, priests, mentors, someone’s watching you. Step up. Hit play, brothers—let’s lean into God’s will like Joseph did.  References:  Redemptoris Custos (1989, St. Pope John Paul II)  Holy Bible (Matthew, Luke)  St. Joseph Terror of Demons PrayerPowerful Quotes:  “He didn’t argue, guys. He didn’t stall. He didn’t question. He just took action.” “That is strength that most of us, gosh, can only begin to fathom.”  “You don’t need to be a hero out there, but you’ve got to be real.”Key Takeaway:Serve today—do one concrete act of love or duty for someone. That’s Joseph’s way, and it’s yours now. Send us a text Support the showPlease prayerfully consider supporting the podcast on our Buy Me A Coffee page. to help grow the show to reach as many men as possible! Thank you for your prayers and support. Be sure to follow us on X for more great content. As always, please pray for us! We are men who strive daily to be holy, to become saints and we cannot do that without the help of the Holy Ghost! Subscribe to our YouTube page to see our manly and holy faces Check out our website Contact us at themanlycatholic@gmail.com

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