10 Skills Every Catholic Man Should Master

The Practical Foundation of Masculine Authority

The wonders of technology have had the unintended consequence that it’s now too easy to get by without learning real, practical skills that used to be common in the men that lived before our age.

These skills are not valuable just in and of themselves, but they are even more valuable when you consider that by learning them, a man builds confidence, commands respect, and becomes enabled to truly lead his family.

Catholic men must reclaim the practical competencies that make them fit to lead their families through thick and thin, and that also separate boys from men and passive consumers from cultural and social leaders:

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10. Lead a Prayer

Being able to lead a prayer is the foundation of spiritual headship. If you can’t confidently guide your family or friends in prayer, you’re failing at your most basic masculine duty as a Catholic man. Masculinity demands leadership, and that includes spiritual leadership.

How to learn this skill: Raise your hand whenever the opportunity to lead a prayer arises. Start practicing in little groups and low stakes situations. Pray frequently in private and you’ll be ready to pray in public. Remain in a state of grace by confessing frequently and partaking in the Holy Eucharist.

9. Manage Simple Finances

Whether you’re single or married, the task of budgeting, investing and financial planning for your household (even if that includes just you) will most likely fall on you. You’re the one responsible for your family’s material security.

Ignorance or lack of natural prowess is not a valid excuse, as this is really a simple skill to learn: create a budget, allocate percentages of that budget to living expenses, saving, investing, entertainment, and unexpected expenses. And then stick to it. That’s basically it.

How to learn this skill: Start practicing by trying to stick to a strict budget for a few months. Make sure that budget includes money for saving and investing, so you can start planning and preparing for the future. Get this book if you want something more in-depth.

8. Have Difficult Conversations

Because we live in such a soft, sensitive age, most of us are no longer used to having direct, difficult conversations. We need to re-learn the lost art of confronting problems directly but charitably.

This means being able to discipline your children, address issues with your wife, speaking truth at work, or having that tough conversation with someone you love. The ability to have these difficult conversations is a good gauge for how prepared a man is to deal with the even more complicated problems of life. A man who shies away from the difficult and uncomfortable is a man who will not be reliable when he needs to be, because he will let fear and anxiety keep him from doing the right thing.

How to learn this skill: Start having the small, uncomfortable conversations you’ve been avoiding, and remember to maintain a spirit of charity throughout them all. Like most skills, the only way to really learn is through practice. Have that discussion, speak up when you disagree and look for other opportunities to voice your opinion when you find yourself fearfully avoiding it.

7. Navigate Without Technology

It’s great that we now have constant access to GPS and navigation technology in our phones, but you never know when you’ll be without them and needing to rely on your real-world navigation skills. Learn to read maps, use a compass and understand directions.

When your GPS fails and your phone dies, you’ll still be expected to be able to lead those you’re leading where they need to go.

How to learn this skill: Try to go a full week without using digital maps unless absolutely necessary. Use printed maps or ask for directions. Become comfortable finding your way around without needing to use your phone to find even the grocery store two blocks away.