Alumnus Monk Offers Advice for Men and Fathers

During the annual Catholic Man Campout at Clear Creek Abbey last fall, Thomas Aquinas College alumnus and Benedictine monk Rev. Joshua Morey, O.S.B. (’00) appeared on an episode of The Catholic Man Show.

On the podcast, Fr. Morey, who was appointed Fr. Prior of Clear Creek Abbey last spring, sat down with hosts David Niles and Adam Minihan to discuss the monastic life, prayer, and the importance of passing on tradition. In particular, Fr. Morey offered advice for fathers who, as the heads of their families, must serve as spiritual protectors against evil.

“The father as the head of his family is like the roof on a house,” he explained. “As long as the roof stays intact, everything inside stays more or less dry, which is why the demons always go after the father, because they’re trying to rip off the roof — or at least punch holes in it. The father has to realize he’s under attack, step up, and start living in a world he can’t see, at least with his natural eyes.”

The trio also talked about how manual labor is natural to and necessary for men, who find peace through ordering their surroundings. Fr. Morey noted that the male body is not meant for atrophy, or to sit around; rather, from his inception, man is built to bring order to and protect his family.

“Adam’s job was to order and tend the garden,” he said. “He had a vocation before Eve showed up. Now, his job was not enough, but his role in tending the garden was the primordial first commandment. So, when women don’t understand why their husbands always want to tinker with the lawnmower or build another deck, I tell them it’s a good sign: the primordial Adamic vocation is still echoing in the back of his head.”