Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Holy Family. In the past, I have written about the Holy Family as our model of the Domestic Church, a reflection of the Holy Trinity, and an example for making our own family a school of virtue. However, this year, I would like to focus specifically on the role of men in our families using Bishop Emeritus Olmsted’s apostolic exhortation, Into the Breach, and the example of St. Joseph.

Bishop Olmsted wrote this document in 2015 and named it Into the Breach as a call to arms to Catholic men since our world, and, more specifically, our families, are under spiritual attack by Satan. Here are his opening words:

Men, do not hesitate to engage in the battle that is raging around you, the battle that is wounding our children and families, the battle that is distorting the dignity of both women and men. This battle is often hidden, but the battle is real. It is primarily spiritual, but it is progressively killing the remaining Christian ethos in our society and culture, and even in our own homes.

While St. Joseph lived in a culture very different from the one we live in today, he certainly had his own challenges. Israel was under Roman occupation, so there was political unrest and a fine line between religious tolerance and persecution. He also had to take his family and flee to a foreign land to protect Jesus from the bloodthirsty King Herod. So, even with over 2,000 years of time between him and us, St. Joseph remains a relatable male model of what it means to step into the breach and fight for your faith, family, and home.

Bishop Olmsted opens the exhortation by highlighting the contemporary crisis of masculinity. In today’s society, men are often caught in a state of confusion about their identity and role. Traditional masculine virtues, such as strength, courage, and responsibility, are often misunderstood, misrepresented, or even vilified. He also laments the breakdown of the family structure, the rise of secularism, and the erosion of traditional values, all of which contribute to a culture that undermines the dignity of men.

He also addresses the harmful effects of pornography, the decline of fatherhood, and the increasing number of absent or disengaged fathers. These issues lead to significant problems in the lives of children, especially boys, who grow up without proper male role models. In this context, Bishop Olmsted calls upon men to recognize the gravity of their role in society and in the family and respond to the challenges they face with conviction and faith.

Into the Breach is a call to a type of heroic manhood rooted in virtue, faith, and responsibility. Bishop Olmsted emphasizes that men are called to live lives of integrity, courage, and leadership, particularly within their families. The exhortation insists that men should not be passive or indifferent but should actively embrace their role as protectors, providers, and leaders. Scripture does not provide us with any spoken words from St. Joseph and that is not accidental. He exhibits the entirety of his virtue and holiness through his actions. He does not tell us how he embraced his role as protector, provider, and leader; rather, he shows us.

Fatherhood is a central theme throughout Into the Breach. Bishop Olmsted underscores the critical role fathers play in the lives of their children and the well-being of society. The absence of fathers, or the failure of fathers to fulfill their roles, leads to so many of the problems we see today, including poverty, crime, and broken families. Likewise, the lack of a strong father figure leaves a void in the lives of boys and girls, who are left without proper guidance, instruction, and affirmation.

The bishop stresses that fatherhood is not simply biological, rather, it must involve an active, intentional, and sacrificial presence in the lives of children. Fathers are called to be role models, providers of spiritual guidance, and active participants in the upbringing of their children. This requires self-discipline, commitment, and love. Additionally, Bishop Olmsted highlights the necessity of the father’s role in the spiritual formation of his children. A father’s prayer life, frequent participation in the sacraments, and his moral guidance are all crucial for the development of a child’s faith. There is no better confirmation of these truths than the fact that St. Joseph was not Jesus' biological father, yet he fulfilled all the qualities of fatherhood that the bishop lays out beautifully. God did not leave Jesus to be raised by a single mother. Rather, knowing the value in his own design of the family unit and the complementarity of the male and female qualities, he provided the most fitting and virtuous husband for Mary and earthly father for his son.

The family is the foundation of society, and the breakdown of the family unit is one of modern society's most significant challenges. Bishop Olmsted emphasizes that men must take responsibility for the well-being of their families and must actively work to strengthen their marriages. This involves a commitment to fidelity, self-sacrifice, and mutual love between husband and wife. The exhortation acknowledges the challenges of modern marriage, including the prevalence of divorce, cohabitation, and contraception. Bishop Olmsted calls on men to embrace the Church's teachings on marriage, seeing it as a lifelong covenant reflecting Christ's love for the Church. He stresses that men are called to be faithful to their wives, to love them sacrificially, and to build their marriages on a solid foundation of prayer and shared faith. Though marriage typically precludes celibacy, St. Joseph was uniquely called in his vocation to protect Mary's virginity. Therefore, his self-sacrificial virtue and fidelity to his wife and marriage were truly heroic. When looking for an example of how to be a good husband, there is no better place to look than St. Joseph.

Throughout Into the Breach, Bishop Olmsted identifies several modern challenges men must overcome to fulfill their calling. These include the cultural
normalization of pornography, the promotion of contraceptive practices, the widespread acceptance of abortion, and the breakdown of the family unit. These are not issues St. Joseph had to deal with, or, at the very least, they were less pervasive in his culture than in ours, so we certainly have some unique difficulties. To combat these challenges, the bishop emphasizes the importance of personal discipline and the cultivation of virtues such as chastity, self-control, and respect for women. Men are called to resist the temptations of the world and live according to the Church's moral teachings. This requires a commitment to personal holiness and an active effort to live out the Catholic faith in every aspect of life.

The exhortation concludes with a clear call to action. As I said earlier, Scripture depicts St. Joseph as a man of action, not words. Bishop Olmsted urges men to take up the challenge of living virtuous lives, to be leaders in their families and communities, and to resist the temptations of the world. He encourages them to take the Church’s teachings to heart and be faithful to their roles as husbands, fathers, and leaders. Through prayer, perseverance, and trust in God, men can rise to meet the challenges of the modern world and fulfill their high calling as men of faith.

This week, reflect on the role of men in the family and society. If you are a man, ask God for the grace to live out your vocation with courage and joy, no matter your age. Read Into the Breach and reflect on your calling in this world. Additionally, seek the intercession of St. Joseph in your daily life, the model of fatherhood and masculinity. If you are a woman, I cannot stress enough the importance of your prayers for the men in your life. Pray fervently for them, and share a copy of Into the Breach if they’ve never read it. The exhortation can be found through a simple search online and the Knights of Columbus also have an Into the Breach video and study on their website.

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