Husband and Father: Duties and Responsibilities

Introduction

• Opening prayer: Hail Mary, Father, Son, Holy Ghost.
• The focus of this conference: the male identity crisis.
• Most males do not understand what it means to be a man.
• Male identity issues are seen as principal in the collapse of roles between men and women.

Principal Duties of a Husband and Father

1. Provide
   • Material and Spiritual Provision
     • Provide for wife so she can rear children and take care of the home.
     • It's her right to be provided for since she takes care of home duties.
     • Provide for children as they can't support themselves.
2. Protect
   • Physical and Spiritual Protection
     • Protect wife and children physically due to men's general physical strength.
     • Provide spiritual protection and guidance; determine the family’s religious practices.

Spiritual Authority and Responsibilities

• Fathers have spiritual authority and are responsible for their family's religious practices.
• Importance of spiritual merit: fathers can merit grace for their wife and children.
• A father's prayers and sacrifices are crucial for his family's spiritual health.
• Must protect family from spiritual harm (e.g., keeping harmful content out of the home).
• Fathers should ensure their family fulfills religious obligations (e.g., attending Mass, saying prayers).

Spiritual Warfare and Protection

• Importance of spiritual authority: greater capacity to ward off demonic influence.
• Spiritual attacks often target fathers first, then wives and children.
• Prayers, sufferings, good works for spiritual protection are vital.
• Practical steps: blessing homes, asking priests for blessings, maintaining spiritual vigilance.
• The demonic respects the order of authority established by God.

Men and Rationality

• Men are generally more rational and are therefore responsible for making spiritual judgments.
• Importance of self-discipline and virtue for providing clear guidance.
• Self-discipline aids in serving family and making difficult decisions for the greater good.

Love and Authority in Marriage

• St. Paul’s exhortation: women be submissive, men love your wives.
• Love promotes unity; by loving their wives, men help them to be more submissive.
• The proper effect of love is union and creating a balanced, virtuous family environment.
• Men should consider the welfare of their family over their own.
• Consulting wives and seeking counsel for prudent decision-making.

Practical Advice

• Men should strive for self-denial and set an example for their wives.
• Husbands should not cause psychological harm or distance themselves from their families.
• A husband’s love and self-discipline help maintain family unity and happiness.
• Upright roles of men and women ensure the moral stability of society.

Conclusion

• Embrace traditional roles as designed by God for family and societal stability.
• Avoid male capitulation; maintain authority and rationality for societal health.
• End with a blessing.