After reading this post: Cheeky Pink Girl: The Dead Silence of Catholic Enrichment Programs I realized that the problem of lack of church attendance and Catholic "programs/groups" isn't anything innate in our Faith. It is due to the fact that men, mostly husbands and fathers just don't attend Mass. [I get it, Sunday is FOOTBALL DAY... guess what I have 3 fantasy teams and live in the AK time zone meaning that when I go to Mass the first games have JUST started, and I don't get home until half time... so what?] As I said earlier, clearly I do not mean to say that ALL men are like this I just mean many... [I don't mean you or me, us die-hard-traditionalist-blog-reading-missal-owning Men, we are anomolies not only by sex but by belief and practice.] I mean the fathers, husbands, and brothers of all the women that fill the pews each week. The men you and I used to be more than likely. The men of the WOMEN reading this post. Let's face it... if you are a male and reading this... you are not the target of this email. Which means that unfortunately the men I am calling probably won't ever read this.
I have tried to write this post 4 different times, and I didn't know how to properly do it. Obviously, the men I want to call out onto the carpet won't read this much, even if their wife/mother/sister/brother/children etc... give it to them to read. They are too macho for that, too something. It's disgusting. I think the bravest thing a man can do is suck up his pride and present himself as weak, only then can he truly show his strength. I am not claiming I am better or stronger than anyone, I just realized much earlier how important our faith is...
I just don't get why men are afraid of Church. Maybe I do somewhat, I get it, it's long [a whole hour- most men spend more time picking their fantasy football team each week, which will eventually lose - thats what you get for drafting T.O.] and I understand that it can be confusing. Heck, you even have to sing? Forget that. But make your kids go... 'cuz the wife says so. And make sure you complain when your daughter dates a string of losers who are creeps, jerks, perverts and druggies - because it has NOTHING to do with how she views you or the people she associates with. [Especially since she stopped going to Mass at 14 because, "Dad doesn't go" only to start hanging out with "some people from school" who just happen to be 5 years older and have sex more times a week than you floss.] Where did she meet these boys? Oh you know, not at youth group - because she doesn't go, she met them at the mall, on Sunday.
Oh your Son? Yeah, he is on his laptop downloading: porn/illegal software/gangster rap music... because well... it makes him "manly." Plus, he was looking to spend time with you... but you were busy and couldn't find an hour to just sit with him... and contemplate the important things in life. [Too bad there isn't a place we could all go on Sunday and do that?] Marriage? Oh that, yeah he will find some girl and the most important thing will be money or a career. She will be of some Christian religion and he will decide to just get married in that church because, "It's more important to her anyways..." where did he ever learn that? And the cycle continues....
Meanwhile... many Catholic men sit at home without anyone they can relate to. They wish they had more male catholic friends, but there just don't seem to be any at church, at least not ones that jump out and are sociable. [Men aren't always the most outgoing, but... it sure is a lot better going hunting/fishing/etc... with someone else isn't it?] These same men are forbidding their beautiful and caring daughters from dating *your son* because he doesn't go to church or youth group. [Your son will go on to divorce his wife or just end up being miserable, because the job and money only make you happy for so long]. Our daughters know that your son is a good guy deep down, and she just wishes things were different, because she is having a hard time finding a "good guy."
Our sons? Yeah... we tell them to wait until marriage for sex, we tell them to be manly, strong, and courageous but they aren't scoring a lot of points with your daughters. [Being a part of the youth group and knowing how to say the rosary in latin don't impress them since they don't care about those things - too bad the girls wouldn't give them the time of day... because they would find out that our sons also can shoot better than most boys, throw a ball better, shoot a slapshot harder, cook, clean, and even change a diaper].
So you're probably right... not going to Mass isn't that big of a deal. As long as you make the kids go....... for now.
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