NEETS and MEETS

Acronyms are the thing now, and at dinner with a few students and alumni recently, I heard of a new one: NEETs – neither education, employment nor training. This has been adopted by young men – perhaps even not so young – who have given up on life, but are still in some way living. They dwell in their childhood bedrooms and basements, gaming and engaging perhaps in less savoury activities to fulfill their concupiscible appetites.

Their irascible appetite has been attenuated, except perhaps in tantrum bursts, if the pizza delivery is late.

I don’t agree, of course, but may have a sliver of sympathy, for the world, and many women, no longer welcome the masculine virtues, insofar as such NEETS are even aware of such. Some say we no longer need them; but that is a false picture, and the old, and new, virtues of courage, strength and self-sacrifice may be required far more and far sooner than we think.

For I heard also on a recent trip of other young men who have taken precisely the contrary course, to rouse their passions in a proper and right direction, starting companies, getting married or living solid celibacy in the priesthood or single life, somehow buying property, developing their minds and talents, keeping fit – and, most of all, keeping their Faith, which binds it all together and gives motivation and hope. We can call them MAWS – men against the world, as in the great Saint Athanasius, who stood against nearly the entire empire, and even many of his fellow bishops, to defend the divinity of Christ. Athanasius contra mundum.

We might also call them MEETs – men energized by external travail – which has a manly carnivorous ring to it. Come to think of it, MAW connotes staring into the gaping maw of death…and carrying on regardless. As Chesterton said, an inconvenience is simply an adventure misconstrued. And what is more inconvenient than death?

Just so, men cannot cower in a corner, fetal positioned, thumb firmly in mouth, waiting to die. Man Up and face it. This goes back to the Bible, when God exhorts Joshua – and, later, King David, and, in them, all of us – ‘esto vir!’ – be a man!

If more men were men, more women would be women. There would be more marriages and families, fun and laughter, courage and confidence. And the world would be a much better place.

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Saint Kateri , Canada’s Protectress

This was the title given to Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, by Pope Benedict XVI, when he canonized her on October 28th, 2012, along with six others, in Saint Peter’ Square (she had been beatified by Pope John Paul II back in 1980). With Saint Joseph as our protector, along with the Canadian martyrs, we seem to[…]Continue reading→

A Closed, Unsustainable, Descending Loop

As a follow-up to my thoughts on Payette’s payout, here be a stark image of where are here in Canada. As the graph shows in, well, graphic terms, since 2025, the public sector has contributed to 95.5% of economic growth. The private sector – which funds the public sector, or is supposed to – has[…]Continue reading→

A Tale of Two Benedicts

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My Name is Bernadette

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Presidential Pardon of Weronika Krawczyk

As a good news, follow-up to our story from Poland, of the persecution of Weronika Krawczyk for her pro-life views, we heard that she has been granted a presidential pardon. One might still wonder why one needs a presidential pardon for simply holding the long-held belief that the child within the womb is a child,[…]Continue reading→

Saint Lydwina of Schiedam and Suffering Joyfully

Saint Lydwina of Schiedam (1380 – 1433) was one of the countless and glorious ‘victim souls’ in the history of the Church, those whose lives are filled with suffering, often of an unimaginable intensity, but who suffer joyfully. She was a fifteen-year old Dutch girl, out skating one day, when she fell and broke one[…]Continue reading→

The Glorious Martyrdoms of Martin and Maximus

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Pope Leo and a Rosary for Peace

Pope Leo XIV has asked Catholics across the world to join him in a Rosary for peace today, at 18:00 Rome time (6 pm), which would be noon from where I write (EST). If you are able, whether at that time or another, and in whatever way you pray, to join in intercession with the[…]Continue reading→

Payette’s Payout

I was glancing through some headlines, and noticed a mention of Julie Payette – engineer and astronaut and sometime the Queen’s representative in Canada – which brought back vague memories. She was appointed Governor-General by Justin Trudeau in 2017. Ms. Payette resigned in 2021, amidst claims that she created a ‘toxic work environment’, with allegations[…]Continue reading→