Who is standing in the breach?

Long before the Catholic Watchmen movement Christians were called to battle — to defend the faith of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church — spiritually and physically.

Indeed, no less of a need do we have today for spiritual fathers to “stand in the breach” (Ez 22:30) to teach, guard and lead their families in a secularized world. What does it look like to stand in the breach for those at home for whom you love and care?

Making a stand for your loved ones against enemies who want to divide your family deliberately or subtly — with distorted truths — requires great spiritual and mental strength. Engaging the mind, body, heart and soul to ferret out the things of the world that are meant to be good certainly takes prayer, hard work and an enduring patience with people to try to make best of the good — especially when it comes to family.

Nevertheless, we are called as spiritual leaders to stand in the breach to help deal with and discern the passions, possessions, honors and other things that enter the home life.

Not only do Watchmen take on this “standing in the breach” responsibility for the sake of the family, but also for the sake of what gets outside of it. Society needs to flourish, and the family functioning rightly ordered with an unwavering faith ignites the opportunity to transform the world.

In “The Joy of the Gospel,” Pope Francis wrote, “The family is the fundamental cell of society where we learn to live with others despite our differences and to belong to one another.” Hence, to discuss differences where the truth is sorted out of the rabble requires spiritual leaders — family leaders who weigh heavily upon supernatural and human virtues.

The Catholic Watchmen movement was mobilized five years ago, and its primary purpose is to get men to gather and help keep each other accountable as spiritual leaders, so that they can obtain and live a faith-filled life of virtue that starts at home with their own families, and in turn, they and their families can help lead and witness the Christian life to others. Watchmen know that if they are not standing against potential adversities to faith and the moral life of their families, many adversaries or the one adversary — the world, the flesh and the devil — may enter the breach.

Our vocation as Catholic Watchmen is to emulate St. Joseph’s spiritual fatherhood, ensuring in our sphere of influence — family, parish life, workplace, community activities — others are encouraged by our example. That includes embracing, teaching and modeling the seven disciplines of spiritual fatherhood, including daily prayer, Sunday Mass and monthly confession, especially in a culture where the family is under attack. This is especially important in our circle of trust — where others recognize the trust that Watchmen have in God and how we rely on the powerful intercession of the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph — the terror of demons and the pillar of families.

Trust is how relationships initiate, develop and grow in bringing other men to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Relationships, the Mass, processions, prayer vigils and sharing meals together are ways we form spiritual leaders, spiritual fathers and ultimately more Catholic Watchmen to stand in the breach.

Priest, celibate, religious, married or single — all men are called to embrace spiritual fatherhood. If you are responsible in helping and caring for another, you are a spiritual father helping Jesus set the world on fire! You are standing in the breach.

Deacon Bird ministers at St. Joseph in Rosemount and All Saints in Lakeville, and assists the archdiocese’s Catholic Watchmen movement. Learn about the Catholic Watchmen at archspm.org/faith-communities/men.