Virility comes from the Latin word ‘vIr’ which means man. Virility then is described in dictionaries as that which is marked with manliness or “marked by strength or force”.
We see evidence all around us with gender confusion, the acceptance of gay lifestyles, the morphing of the feminine into masculine role play and a host of other slippery slopes that seems to bombard us like shells exploding in a besieged citadel which clouds the air, confuses and disorients us. Our lives get more difficult after many years of warfare and we become, for a lack of a better expression, battle fatigued.
To some extent the world has always been the domain for such evils but since the advent of Christ, His Church has been our refuge from the fog of war which is always raging outside its doors. It was a haven for the injured, the confused, the sorrowful, the suffering and the war weary soldiers that seek nothing short of peace; a peace that this world cannot offer.
I offer for your discernment two articles published today on the internet as background for what I am writing; for I think they give us a strong indication of the state of things at present and they provide a worthy foundation which desperately needs to be built upon should we want to preserve this refuge. For if we are serious about preserving the Church then we must continue to encourage and attract our boys to the auspicious duties of the priesthood and promote its manliness. For there is nothing more attractive to young men and boys than virility especially when it is coupled with a life of holiness.
Sermon by Father Konrad zu Loewenstein, FSSP about the essentials of the Faith that are not being taught or even talked about anymore in our Churches
https://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2018/07/original-sin-sermon-for-4th-sunday.html#more
Vesting in Lavender by Anthony Esolen about the lack of virility in the priesthood and the manliness that was once a presumed character of the priest
https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2018/07/05/vesting-in-lavender/
Rather than repeat what is stated in these two articles, perhaps it would be best if I simply open the discussion, should one want to participate, in what we, mere laymen in the Church, can do to aid in the recovery of virility and vitality that seems to be missing.
I might suggest, in short, some of the following:
- Better education and examples of manliness and its self-sacrificial nature in our search for holiness
- Restoring the sanctuary of our Mass to the consecrated men who need to lead the way in exemplifying this life in both word and deed
- Instilling our boys by providing them a rite of passage from boyhood to manhood and the privilege that is being offered them to even set their foot inside the sanctuary reserved for the Holy Sacrifice
- Taking a stance, whether popular or not, to fix those things that are broken; such as our hymns, our nonchalant attitudes and our outrage at clerics who do not live up to the expectations of their office
- Changing our focus from the politics of the world to the attaining of Heaven and the avoidance of Hell
- Insistence that our priests teach, even the hard lessons of the faith, rather than taking the easy route of constantly stroking the egos of the laity
- Returning to the obedience of Faith
There are many other things here which could be said and I am starting to think that men, above all, need to step up and start mentoring, either by example or by lecturing young boys (perhaps as a part of the youth programs in our parishes) about what it means to be a man: a real man. But one thing that I am fairly certain of is that the virility of life in the Church is under attack and if we want the Church to survive then we must fight to restore it.
All Along the Watchtower 
A minor point, but a relevant one nonetheless: I think it would help if boys had some education about secular clerical garb and vestments. If they understood the history of clothing a little better, they would not have the impression that priests are wearing dresses. In addition to that, it would help if modern vestments were abandoned and traditional ones taken up by those who do not already wear them. A cursory glance at paintings of priests from the Renaissance and early modern period shows men who look perfectly manly and impressive. A look at some of these modern vestments gives one the impression of some female relative wearing an embroidered tablecloth – but then, as you know, I dislike modern art in general. Anything later than the belle epoque has a high hurdle to overcome for my approval.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I couldn’t agree with you more. These new polyester vestments look absolutely hideous. I wrote an adult education brief to teach a class on the Mass. I made sure that I devoted a number of pages on the vestments, their origin, symbolism and relevance.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m always impressed by what you and Philip do for your parishes. Time was when the women of the community made the clothing and the guilds or other associations contributed the raw materials or finished products for service in the sanctuary, just as the Israelites did in Exodus. Then parishes were a reflection of their community and a true focal point where people came together but also were reminded that the Kingdom of God is not the Kingdom of the World. What would be great would be for some enterprising troupe to do a travelling exhibition of OT cultic materials to give a visual lesson to liturgical churches on the origins of their practices.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It would be nice but I sure don’t know who might actually do this.
One encouraging thing for us traditionalist was the news that 20% of the priests that were ordained in France this year were traditionalists and they do not represent anywhere near 20% of the Catholics. Perhaps that is the shift we are waiting for around the world. It might be slow in coming but it is a hopeful sign that it is coming sooner or later.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I have not read the stats recently, but I wonder if the Church also needs to address the suicide rate among young men. Suicide, in general, is a topic that probably needs to be addressed more and addressed better than it currently is.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Like you, I have been reading those stats as they come out. Young people as a whole have a higher than normal suicide rate and it keeps increasing . . . not sure how many were boys. Also, the rate is going up among cab drivers and health workers. The health worker surprise (due to socialized medicine I’m sure along with abortion and euthanasia) has been kept a secret for a long time. All of these are on the rise year after year. I’m sure there are more stats but I haven’t seen one particularly speaking about boys. But since they comprise 81% of all abuse among children by pedophile priests, it would not surprise me that they are skyrocketing. The new boy scouts which has transgenders and girls is another example where boys are missing their mentors. And too many scout leaders are now known homosexuals . . . it is troubling.
LikeLiked by 2 people
What I find irritating is the state getting involved in all of this: it makes people afraid to speak their mind and allows propaganda to flourish. How can one effectively instil conservative values without risking accusations of breaching equality legislation. The best one can do in many situations is use language that indicates the liberal agenda is not one held by everyone and that conservatives have decent arguments and evidence for their positions. I wonder also, although this is just a musing rather than any real solid thinking or analysis – but to what extent is homosexuality fuelled by misogyny that results from strident feminism?
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think real men should begin to speak out (“in season or out”) regardless of the consequences. If they start filling the jails with men who speak the truth then the state will be shown to be what it is quickly turning into: a dictatorship. It takes courage and true manliness to do that but this is what is needed.
As to mysogyny, I’m not sure. But as to feminism as a whole fabric which pervades our politics and society I think there is a point. They are confusing the boys and girls as to their sexuality and their purpose and feminist girls do not attract boys who want to be men . . . another reason why the hook-up culture is on the rise. They never get around to love and marriage. And when women grow up and are looking for responsible men, they can’t find one. Some marry these undeveloped men and it usually ends in divorce. I think all of these problems in society are inter-related and most can be tracked back to the women’s movement which has backfired. Boys just aren’t becoming men anymore which hurts all of society including women.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think we are slowly seeing some changes as people are weaned off the mainstream media. But restoration will be slow – the root problem is that there is no room for the concept of repentance in a church-less culture. Sometimes nations have to undergo a complete ruin before a critical mass of people decide to turn their lives around – the old “rock bottom” concept of the addicts. In general, I don’t think churches are very good at treating addiction at the moment.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Well I agree that if we don’t work hard to fix what is broken that a complete collapse will occur before we rebuild on the ruins of our present mess. Civil war is awful way to fix things but lately the climate in both the secular world and within our churches look like a ‘cold war’ of sorts. Just hoping it doesn’t turn into a hot war.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s hard to say how our countries will turn out, and I think prophetic utterances are limited because too much will interfere with our free will. I am hopeful that the Lord will turn both the US and the UK around – it is like what the BVM said about God toppling the powerful and raising up the people of no account. Although President Trump is a wealthy man, I consider him to be a man of no account in the sense that he is an outsider to Washington and is viewed with contempt by the arrogant intelligentsia. Now, if the UK were to gain a truly Catholic PM (I don’t count Blair), that would be another example.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It would be a good sign indeed. And yes, we designed the U.S. to be of the people, by the people and for the people. So it is rather disheartening to hear the elitists turn the word ‘populism’ into some kind of horrific ideology. It is precisely what we were meant to be. The people have had their say and we aren’t happy with the old guard in Washington.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Also, Vir is the root of Virtue. No coincidence that As one declines so does the other.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I was thought of that myself after I wrote and published this post Phillip. Glad you mentioned it as it is not a coincidence just as you say. We are losing our desire to seek virtue in our lives and are even confused about what are the virtues. Today’s idea of virtue is being politically correct I’m afraid.
LikeLiked by 2 people