"Our families and our parishes need our faithful witness more than ever. As Catholic men and as Knights of Columbus, it is our duty to 'step into the breach' and play our part in the renewal of our families and the Church," Anderson added.
Olmsted's exhortation aims to be "an encouragement, a challenge, and a calling forth to mission" for men, pointing to the saints and the life of Christ to suggest a model of Christian identity.
"Our identity is caught up in the identity of the eternal Son of God," Olmsted wrote.
"Looking to what the secular world holds up as 'manly' is in fact to look at shadows – or even at outright counterfeits – of masculinity. No athlete, no matter how many awards; no political leader, no matter the power he wields; no performer, business man, or celebrity, no matter how much adored; no physical attribute or muscle mass; no intelligence or talent; no prizes or achievements can bestow masculinity on a man. The idolatry of celebrities at this time is a particular temptation, but to build one's masculine identity on such fleeting models is to build an identity on sand."
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