Guys, something awesome is brewing, and Drew Mariani is all over it. He sat down with Fr. Dwight Longenecker to unpack a positive trend: more young men are becoming religious than women: especially Millennials and Gen Z. 😲 Yep, you read that right. In a world filled with noise, porn, and “toxic masculinity” labels, men are saying, “Nah, I need something real.”

Why Are Dudes Turning to the Faith? 🤔

Fr. Longenecker, who's in the thick of this trend at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in South Carolina, broke it down:

Authenticity Wins: These guys are searching for something deep, historical, and rooted in truth: no fluff, no watered-down Christianity.

Tradition Speaks: His parish offers reverent Novus Ordo liturgy in a beautiful Romanesque church. It's traditional but accessible, and it stands out in a world of beige, "touchy-feely" Catholicism.

Role Models Matter: With many young men coming from broken or fatherless homes, they're seeking strong but compassionate male leadership in priests and lay leaders.

Crisis of Identity: In a world questioning everything: gender, family, masculinity; these men crave clarity and purpose. Faith gives them that.

What’s Driving This Shift? 🕊️

Drew and Fr. Dwight see a reaction against the chaotic culture:

Woke Fatigue: People are done with the nonsense. They're seeking truth and stability in a world that's gone bananas.

Jordan Peterson Effect: Peterson’s call to responsibility and truth-telling resonates with men. Combine that with Catholicism’s intellectual depth and spiritual richness, and BAM: you’ve got a movement.

Liturgy That Inspires: Guys love the formality and solemnity of traditional liturgy. It’s not about feelings: it’s about reverence, order, and something bigger than yourself.

Lessons for the Church 💪

The Church can learn a lot from this surge:

Be Bold: Men want authentic Catholicism, not watered-down, "lukewarm" fluff.

Embrace Tradition: Parishes offering reverence and beauty are thriving.

Male Leadership Rocks: Strong male role models: priests, deacons, and laymen, are essential for drawing young men to the faith.

So What? 

This isn’t just a trend: it’s a wake-up call for the Church. With more men on fire for their faith, the future looks bright, bold, and unapologetically Catholic. Whether it's in pews, RCIA classes, or men’s conferences, we’re seeing the rise of a generation ready to stand firm in their faith.

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