The Manly Catholic: Training Soldiers for Christ

It is time to stop fighting like amateurs and start waging spiritual war like soldiers. In this powerful episode of The Manly Catholic, James sits down with Dr. Dan Schneider, a frequent flier (no pun intended) combat veteran, theologian, and co-author of Spiritual Warfare and Q&A for the Priest and Laity to expose the real strategies of the enemy and the ancient weapons every man must wield to defend his home, his wife, and his children.

You’ll learn:

• How prayer, fasting, and vigils are the “ancient weapons” that defeat an ancient enemy.
• The true difference between power and authority
• How to protect your home
• Why humility and obedience are the most dangerous weapons against the devil.
• How Mary, the Queen of Heaven and the Destroyer of All Heresies, terrifies demons by her very presence.

Dr. Dan’s message is clear: you are the spiritual head of your household, and the enemy knows it. Stop acting like a passive observer while your family is under attack. Take up your weapons. Impose order. Fast. Pray. Consecrate your home. Engage the battle.

The Challenge:
This week, every Catholic man must bless his home, pray a perimeter prayer before bed, and consecrate his family to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Order begins when the man takes his rightful place as protector and provider.

References:

• Spiritual Warfare & Q&A for the Priest and Laity by Dr. Dan Schneider and Jesse Romero
• Liber Christo Method  by Dr. Dan Schneider
• True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis de Montfort
• To Raise the

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Men, it’s time to reclaim your weapon. In this episode of The Manly Catholic, James sits down once again with author and lay Dominican Shaun McAfee to discuss his newest children’s book from TAN Books, "Saints and Sacramentals: Saint Dominic and the Rosary" and why the Rosary remains one of the most powerful spiritual weapons in the Church’s arsenal today.

Shaun shares the origins of the Rosary, tracing it back to St. Dominic’s battle against heresy in 1208, when Our Lady herself gave him the “battering ram” against the enemy: the Angelic Psalter. He unpacks how this Marian prayer transformed the Church, crushed falsehood, and became the spiritual sword of saints, soldiers, and families for centuries.

James and Shaun challenge Catholic men to stop viewing the Rosary as an old lady’s devotion and start wielding it as the weapon for warriors. The discussion dives into why Our Lady chose something so simple yet so profound, how the Rosary defends the home, and why it must be restored to the heart of every Catholic household today.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The true story of how St. Dominic received the Rosary from Our Lady.
• Why the Rosary is still relevant and needed in our modern spiritual war.
• How parents can introduce prayer and sacramentals to their children without frustration.
• How to reclaim the Rosary as a weapon for yourself and your family.

Challenge for Men:
Pick up your Rosary every day this week

Products/References Mentioned:

• Saints and Sacramentals: Saint Dominic and the Rosary by Shaun McAfee
• Compendium of Sacramentals by Shaun McAfee
• 20 Answers: Relics and Sacramentals
• Article: “The Controversial History of the Rosary”

Powerful Quotes:

1. “Our Lady called the Rosary the battering ram against the enemy — and that’s exactly what it is.”
2. “Tru

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What happens when a man literally dies and comes face to face with God? In this gripping episode of The Manly Catholic, James sits down with Paul Zucarelli, a former businessman who flatlined eight times, died for over two hours, and was miraculously brought back to life through intercessory prayer by Bishop Thomas Olmsted. Paul’s story isn’t just a testimony but a wake-up call for every Catholic man asleep in the comfort of lukewarm faith.

Paul shares how his “successful” life hid a spiritual bankruptcy that nearly cost him his soul. But God’s mercy broke through. After his near-death encounter with the Divine Light, Paul saw his life laid bare before God and was given a mission: to call men back to true faith, hope, and conversion of heart.

This episode isn’t for the passive. It’s for men ready to confront the idols in their lives—the pride of self-sufficiency, the worship of comfort, the false security of worldly success—and return to the Cross.

James and Paul discuss:

• Paul’s miraculous resurrection through the power of intercessory prayer
• The spiritual danger of living a “half-hearted faith” Jesus calls lukewarm
• Why Catholic men must prepare not for “earthly retirement,” but for eternal life
• The battle between self-will and surrender to God’s will
• The critical role of priests, bishops, and the sacraments in spiritual warfare
• How faith, hope, and charity must be lived, not merely professed

Paul’s testimony proves God’s miracles are alive in His Church and that faith can literally raise the dead. The question is, are you living as if you believe that?

Products/References in the Episode:

• The Manly Catholic Episode 136 (Paul’s first interview)
• Into the Breach by Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted
• Prayer of Abandonment by St. Charles de Foucauld
• FaithUnderstood.org

Powerful Quotes from the Episode:

1. “I spent my life building an earthly retirement plan while ignoring my eternal one.”
2. “A half-hearted faith is nauseating to Christ. He will spit you out of His mouth.”
3. “Hope is

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Most men today are overworked, overstimulated, and spiritually malnourished. We chase productivity but neglect silence. We build muscle but forget the soul. In this powerful continuation of our conversation from part 1, we cut through the noise and get back to the basics of what it means to live as a Catholic warrior. 

Fr. Dom shares hard truths about what men must reclaim if we’re going to lead our families and defend the Faith. From the forgotten power of fasting and retreats to the reality of priestly warfare and spiritual combat, this episode calls every man to rise and take his place in the ranks of Christ’s army.

We talk about everything from cold plunges and physical discipline to the beauty and meaning of the Latin Mass vestments, the sacredness of the priesthood, and why knowledge of the liturgy can reignite your love for the Eucharist. Fr. Dom also opens up about his athletic past, his experiences in triathlons and endurance racing, and how physical discipline shapes spiritual virtue.

And perhaps most powerfully, he breaks down the priest’s calling with raw honesty: what it costs, what it demands, and why true priesthood is a battlefield. Every man, husband, father, or priest, is called to be a warrior for souls.

You’ll hear:

• Why men must take at least one silent retreat every year.
• How fasting, prayer, and physical struggle forge spiritual discipline.
• The danger of spiritual laziness among priests and laity alike.
• What it really means to discern the priesthood as a man of God.
• Why we must pray and fast for our priests more than ever.

The Church doesn’t need passive men. She needs holy warriors.

CHALLENGE:
Find time this month to enter into silence with God. Unplug completely. No phone. No distractions. Just Scripture, a journal, and prayer. Let Him speak. And then—fast and pray for your parish priest this week.

PRODUCTS / REFERENCES MENTIONED:

• Exodus 90 (ascetic men’s program)
• FSSP (Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter)
• Calvary (2014 film, starring Brendan Gleeson)

3 POWERFUL QUOTES:

1. “If you want to fight in a supernatural battle, to be a warrior for Christ, you need to know that you will die. Few are called, fewer are chosen.”
2. “You can be a vicious warrior and still be gentle and kind and have peace and joy. That’s what it means to be a Christian soldier.”
3. “

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Please prayerfully consider supporting the podcast on our Buy Me A Coffee page. to help grow the show to reach as many men as possible! Thank you for your prayers and support.

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Catholic men, we’re at war—and this episode is a rallying cry. Fr. Dominic joins me as we dive deep into the election of Pope Leo XIV, what his papacy means for the Church, and how men must rise as warriors in the spiritual battle of our time.

We discuss the symbolism of Pope Leo taking his name in continuity with the great Leo XIII, the Rosary Pope who gave us the St. Michael Prayer. We look at the promise of strong leadership, the dangers of confusion in the Church, and what it means for men who want to fight for holiness in their homes.

This isn’t just about papal history—it’s about how you as a husband, father, or single man must embrace discipline, prayer, fasting, and leadership in your vocation. Fr. Dom challenges every man listening: if you want to be a warrior for Christ, it starts in the daily grind of loving your wife, leading your family in prayer, working with integrity, and refusing to let Satan through the front door of your home.

We also go into the liturgical battles surrounding the Mass—Novus Ordo vs. the Extraordinary Form, the loss of silence, the confusion over extraordinary ministers, and how Pope Leo XIV might restore clarity. Men, this is not a passive conversation. It’s a call to arms.

Challenge from this episode:

Stop chasing spiritual “special forces” experiences and embrace the ordinary duties of your vocation with the heart of a warrior. Pray with your wife. Lead your children. Guard your home. That is the frontline of the battle.

Products/References Mentioned:

• EWTN (coverage of the conclave)【6:Jimmy】
• Harmel Academy of the Trades (founded on Leo XIII’s Catholic social teaching)
• Mass of the Ages (documentary series on the Latin Mass)
• Books/Encyclicals referenced: Rerum Novarum (Leo XIII), Amoris Laetitia, Fiducia Supplicans

3 Powerful Quotes from the Episode:

1. “It’s ingrained in our DNA as men to guard, defend, and protect. Satan doesn’t want you to know that. He wants you effeminate.” – Fr. Dom
2. “The warrior in you is going to have to embrace the things you don’t want to do—loving your wife the way she desires to be loved, disciplining your children, staying cool under pressure.” – Fr. Dom
3. “Don’t be afraid to fail. As long as you’re grounded in your faith, every failure becomes an opportunity for growth.” – James

Key Takeaway for Men:

Being a warrior for Ch

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Please prayerfully consider supporting the podcast on our Buy Me A Coffee page. to help grow the show to reach as many men as possible! Thank you for your prayers and support.

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As always, please pray for us! We are men who strive daily to be holy, to become saints and we cannot do that without the help of the Holy Ghost!

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Most men today go through the motions of their faith without reverence, without preparation, and without fire. In this episode of The Manly Catholic, I sit down with Fr. Robert Nixon, OSB. He is a monk, translator, and retreat master of the Abbey of the Most Holy Trinity in New Norcia, Western Australia and he is here to confront that complacency head-on.

We dive into his newest translation from Sophia Institute Press: The Eucharistic Visions of St. Francis of Rome. St. Francis of Rome was a wife, mother, and mystic who experienced profound visions after receiving Our Lord in the Eucharist. She shows us what it looks like to carry piety and devotion into marriage and family life without compromise. Her life is a direct challenge to modern Catholic men: prepare yourself, receive the Eucharist with reverence, and recognize who it is you are receiving.

Fr. Nixon brings these mystical visions to life, featuring fountains of living water, flames of divine love, angelic guidance, and even demonic attacks. They remind us that the spiritual life is not a hobby but a battle. If St. Francis of Rome, a married woman in 14th-century Rome, could fight this battle faithfully, so can you.

This episode will stretch you, confront you, and call you to action. Are you preparing to receive Our Lord, or are you treating Him casually? The Eucharist is not symbolic. It is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. If you are going to Mass without reverence, without confession, without preparation, you are asleep in the battle. Wake up.

Products and References Mentioned:

• Eucharistic Visions of St. Francis of Rome – Sophia Institute Press 
• New Norcia Abbey

Powerful Quotes from this Episode:

1. “We should never allow ourselves to have the Blessed Sacrament as something which we just take for granted.” – Fr. Robert Nixon
2. “God has this mysterious way of making up for whatever we give. People who are generous do not send themselves into ruin—He provides.” – Fr. Robert Nixon
3. “The important thing is persistence. As men, we strengthen our faith by supporting others in theirs.” – Fr. Robert Nixon

Key Takeaway for Catholic Men:

Prepare yourself before receiving the Eucharist. Do not approach casually.

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Please prayerfully consider supporting the podcast on our Buy Me A Coffee page. to help grow the show to reach as many men as possible! Thank you for your prayers and support.

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As always, please pray for us! We are men who strive daily to be holy, to become saints and we cannot do that without the help of the Holy Ghost!

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Men, we are losing the battle because too many of us are sitting on the sidelines. In this powerful episode, I sit down with Jonathan Kuplak, co-founder of Sebaste, to talk about fighting back, breaking free from mediocrity, and choosing the cross in our daily lives. From running 214-mile endurance races to leading life-changing summer intensives for young men, he embodies what it means to get in the arena and stay there, even when you get knocked down.

Sebaste is raising up a generation of Catholic men who refuse comfort, refuse passivity, and refuse to be sedated by the world. Instead, they are choosing discipline, brotherhood, sacrifice, and the relentless pursuit of sanctity.

The challenge I issue in this episode is simple and direct: stop making excuses, get up, and get back in the fight. Whether that means eliminating one obstacle holding you back, committing to daily prayer, or training your body to match the strength of your soul—your time is now.

Be sure to help Johnny by sponsoring a mile for his upcoming MAMMOTH run!

We dive into:

• Why men must reclaim discipline and physical training as spiritual warfare.
• The mission of Sebaste and why it’s transforming young men across the country.
• The reality of spiritual combat and the need to “choose the cross.”
• Why men must take quitting off the table and recommit every single day.

Products & References Mentioned:

• Sebaste (organization & summer intensive)
• “Choose the Cross” movement on Sebaste.org
• The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter

3 Powerful Quotes from the Episode:

1. “I want to be a man that never stops coming, that’s always getting back in the arena, always getting in the ring. Even if you’re getting blasted, you can always get up and go one more round.”
2. “You were born into a battle. Whether you like it or not, you’re in it. The only question is—will you engage or will you sit on the couch and have another Twinkie?”
3. “Most men don’t even have skin in the game of their own salvation. But when you commit, everything changes. Life is an endurance test—and we’re called to run it to become saints.”

Key Takeaway for Men:
Remove one obstacle from your life that is holding

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Please prayerfully consider supporting the podcast on our Buy Me A Coffee page. to help grow the show to reach as many men as possible! Thank you for your prayers and support.

Subscribe to TAN DIGITAL and use code 'MANLYCATHOLIC' (case sensitive) to get 50% off ANY subscription

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As always, please pray for us! We are men who strive daily to be holy, to become saints and we cannot do that without the help of the Holy Ghost!

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The Cross is not a symbol. It is a weapon. It is the key that unlocked Heaven, crushed Satan’s kingdom, and stands as the central reality of our Catholic faith. In this homily, Fr. Dom dives deep into the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the power of relics, and the meaning of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Fr. Dom begins with something extraordinary: a documented relic of the True Cross. Not just a piece of history, but a Eucharistic relic, tied directly to the mystery of Christ’s Body and Blood. Men, this is not something to treat lightly. As Catholics, we are called to kneel, reverence, and recognize that even the smallest fragment of the Cross carries with it the full power of Christ’s victory.

From there, we move into the heart of the liturgy. The Mass is not a community gathering. It is not about us. It is the re-presentation of Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary. Every altar, every crucifix, every movement of the priest points us back to this truth: the Mass is the Cross made present again in an unbloody way. If you want to know your faith, if you're going to grow as a Catholic man, you must learn the Mass.

You will hear how the Old Testament foreshadows the Cross: the bronze serpent lifted in the desert, a sign of healing and freedom for those who look upon it. Just as the Israelites were saved from death by turning to the serpent on the pole, we are saved by looking upon Christ crucified. But to look upon Him requires something of us: repentance, confession, and obedience to the Church He founded.

The challenge issued in this episode is simple yet piercing: stop treating the Mass as an obligation and start treating it as the greatest privilege of your life. If you truly knew what was happening, you would run to it. The Cross demands your reverence, your attention, and your sacrifice.

Brothers, stop living like Mass is boring. The question is not whether the Mass is alive. The question is whether you are dead inside. Bring your struggles, your marriage, your children, your work, your sin, your hopes—all of it—to the altar. Lay it down. Unite it to the sacrifice of Christ. That is the only way to be the man God has called you to be.

3 Powerful Quotes

1. “The key that has unlocked heaven, the weapon that has destroyed Satan’s kingdom, the very piece of wood which God’s body hung from because He loves us so much.”
2. “The Mass is a re-presentation of the one-time sacrifice of Christ on Calvary in an unbloody, sacr

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Please prayerfully consider supporting the podcast on our Buy Me A Coffee page. to help grow the show to reach as many men as possible! Thank you for your prayers and support.

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As always, please pray for us! We are men who strive daily to be holy, to become saints and we cannot do that without the help of the Holy Ghost!

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Brothers, this episode of The Manly Catholic is unlike any other. I come to you with a heavy heart, grieving the assassination of Charlie Kirk: a husband, a father, and a fearless warrior for truth. This isn’t just about the death of a public figure. It’s about the loss of a brother in Christ, a man who stood boldly in a culture that mocks our faith and hates everything we stand for as Catholic men.

Why does this tragedy cut so deeply? Because we see ourselves in Charlie. We saw in him the courage we wish we had when the world presses in. He didn’t whisper his convictions. He proclaimed them from stages, debates, and airwaves. And he did it with both conviction and charity.

Charlie Kirk was gunned down in cold blood. Let’s not hide from the truth: this was evil, this was diabolical, and it is proof that spiritual warfare is no longer lurking in the shadows but it is right in front of us. The gloves are off. The enemy has revealed himself. The question is, what will you do about it?

As Catholic men, we are called to rise. To protect. To lead. To fight for truth and defend the defenseless. Charlie showed us what fearless faith looks like. Now it’s our turn. His light must not go out. It burns in us now.

This is my tribute to Charlie Kirk, but it is more than that, it is a challenge. A challenge to stop being silent. A challenge to take up your cross. A challenge to be the kind of man God has called you to be.

Products/References Mentioned:

• Turning Point USA (founded by Charlie Kirk)
• Scripture: John 15:18

3 Powerful Quotes from the Episode

1. “Charlie showed us what fearless faith looks like in action. And now I’m calling on all of us: what are we going to do about it?”
2. “Men, there is a deep calling in our hearts to be that man who says, ‘Get behind me. I will defend you.’ That is our God-given duty.”
3. “This is not just politics. This is spiritual warfare. You cannot celebrate someone’s murder unless you are in the deep, dark clutches of Satan.”

Key Takeaway for Men

Stop being silent. Pray harder, live boldly, and defend the truth without compromise. Silence in the face of evil is no longer an option.

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Support the show

Please prayerfully consider supporting the podcast on our Buy Me A Coffee page. to help grow the show to reach as many men as possible! Thank you for your prayers and support.

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Check out the Ignatius Black Friday Sale and be sure to Buy the Ignatius Study Bible Today!

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As always, please pray for us! We are men who strive daily to be holy, to become saints and we cannot do that without the help of the Holy Ghost!

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In this episode of The Manly Catholic, I sit down with Chris Lewis, the artist and founder behind Baritus Catholic Illustration. Chris is a Catholic convert, husband, father, and craftsman who has made it his mission to counteract the ugliness of modern culture with beauty. 

This isn’t just a conversation about art. It’s about the Catholic man’s responsibility to stand guard over beauty, to resist counterfeit creativity like AI-generated “art,” and to recover the discipline and craftsmanship that once built cathedrals. Chris shares how his battle with cancer reoriented his life and how beauty brought him back to God in a powerful way.

We talk about conversion, liturgical living, discipline, and the dangers of compartmentalizing our Catholic faith. Chris doesn’t hold back on calling out the cultural rot in entertainment, art, and media and he reminds us of the need for Catholic men to fight on the frontlines by living lives of integrity, order, and truth.

Products/References Mentioned:

• Baritus Catholic Illustration
• Rome Sweet Home by Dr. Scott Hahn

3 Powerful Quotes from the Episode:

1. “Life is about struggling to learn a craft. Life is about investing time in something that’s meaningful.”
2. “We need to really be the ones protecting art. It’s up to Catholics to be the gatekeepers and say, no—we’re protecting this because it leads people back

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Support the show

Please prayerfully consider supporting the podcast on our Buy Me A Coffee page. to help grow the show to reach as many men as possible! Thank you for your prayers and support.

Subscribe to TAN DIGITAL and use code 'MANLYCATHOLIC' (case sensitive) to get 50% off ANY subscription

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As always, please pray for us! We are men who strive daily to be holy, to become saints and we cannot do that without the help of the Holy Ghost!

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Contact us at [email protected]