This Month in Viri Mariae - January 2026

This month in Viri Mariae, our focus was once again on formation. Formation of the mind, formation of the soul, and formation ordered toward action. As a fraternity, we continue to believe that Catholic manhood must be rooted in truth, disciplined by reason, and animated by charity.

We were blessed to hear two substantial reflections from within the group.

James led us through a meditation on Saint John of the Cross, drawing particularly on the Dark Night and its interpretation through the lens of Father Garrigou Lagrange. His reflection helped us see that the spiritual life is not a steady ascent marked by constant clarity or consolation. Rather, God often works most deeply in us when our usual supports are removed. Faith, hope, and charity are purified precisely when they are no longer accompanied by sensible assurance. The night is not a punishment, but a preparation, a stripping away of what is insufficient so that something stronger and more supernatural may take root.

Jeremy followed with a presentation on the Five Predicables from Porphyry’s Introduction, a foundational text of classical logic studied for centuries within the Catholic tradition. At first glance, logic can appear abstract or detached from daily life. Yet the predicables help us name reality truthfully. They teach us to distinguish what a thing is from what merely appears to belong to it. This habit of clear definition is not academic pedantry. It is a discipline of honesty. When we learn to reason well, we learn to judge ourselves and the world more justly, resisting confusion and self deception. In this way, logic becomes a moral tool, not merely an intellectual one.

Alongside these reflections, it was encouraging to hear how Raph is taking concrete steps to sanctify his household. As he prepares to welcome a new child, he is committing to the daily Rosary as a way of placing his family under the protection of Our Lady and ordering his home toward prayer. This quiet fidelity captures something essential about our fraternity. The renewal of society begins in the home, and the leadership of fathers is exercised first through example, sacrifice, and perseverance in the ordinary rhythms of family life.

Together, these reflections and practices highlight something essential about our path as men. The interior life and the intellectual life are not rivals. They support one another. The soul must be humble enough to be led where it cannot see clearly, and the mind must be trained well enough to avoid falsehood and confusion. Both are required if we are to live faithfully in the modern world.

Looking ahead, we are also preparing for a public expression of our apostolate. This Easter, Viri Mariae plans to host a community screening of The Passion of the Christ as part of our commitment to the public square. This is not entertainment, nor is it meant to be comfortable. It is an invitation to encounter the central event of history as it truly is. In a culture that prefers distraction to contemplation, we believe there is value in making space for silence, reverence, and shared witness.

As always, our work continues quietly. Study, prayer, fraternity, and action, ordered toward Christ and under the patronage of Our Lady. We remain grateful for the fidelity of the men involved and look forward to what the coming months will bring.