I recently heard it said (which I believe is attributable to Catholic speaker Jason Evert) that the ‘masculine genius’ can be summed up as “strength harnessed on behalf of others.” The differences between men and women are rooted in the unique traits of their bodies. While much has been said about the feminine genius, famously expounded upon by Pope John Paul II, it seems a little more difficult to pinpoint the pinnacle masculine attribute.
It’s obvious that women have the special power to create life within them and therefore have a charism, or special affinity, of relationship. The feminine genius is expressed through nurture and emotional sensitivity. It is safe to assume that the masculine genius must be complementary because men and women are made to work together as a complete unit. I would define the masculine genius the power of a strong body with a charism of leadership . To live out the masculine genius, it follows that a man should pursue physical strength. Men should become physically fit to the best of their ability so that they can serve others, keep their minds sharp, and cooperate with other men.
Although, and perhaps because, our societies no longer rely on male physical strength for survival, our society is very much in need of strong men. I mean here physically strong as well as mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Nevertheless, without a robust physical identity to support those other qualities, a man cannot live up to his potential. Physical health and strength are prerequisites for a man seeking to protect, lead, and serve his family and community. Moreover, being in that world in the role of a protector and provider, strength is all the more vital.
A viral clip shows triathlete David Goggins motivating himself on the bench press by shouting “Who’s gonna carry the boats, and the logs?!” I love David’s question as much as his answer: “I AM!” I use this phrase working out at the house of iron. It reminds me that just as nobody else will move the bar off my chest, the buck stops with me in things as menial as mowing grandma’s lawn or as life-determining as defending someone in a fight. Our environment may be peaceful and safe now, but that condition is unusual in history, and fleeting when it arises. Men will be the ones called upon to have steely resolve when trouble comes.
Someone must carry the boats.
As I prefaced above, physical health is the root of all mental, emotional, and spiritual health. A corpse does not possess any of the above. In a physical world, we inevitably rely on the condition of our physical bodies to feed our minds and spirits. Sleep is one of the most important aspects of mental and spiritual health, and no wonder. Rest equips us for the next day’s action. Coming into a day tired always makes me less agreeable and far less mentally adept, and my best fix for that is to take a jog and get some blood moving around. But nothing substitutes an 8 hour sleep.
If we men are to be great thinkers, strategizes, businessmen, and spiritual leaders, they are first going to have to become fit for the challenge. All these cerebral tasks are supported by the apparatus of which the brain is part: the body. Physical health, therefore, is the first step to living out the fullness of the masculine genius. Without a healthy body and mind, our thoughts and prayers will not be what they could. Sleep and exercise are the whetstone of the mind.
Another important reason for physical fitness is so that a man can have a higher regard from his peers for the sake of personal and communal success. Henry Cavill, known for playing Superman, was not always so fit. I was surprised to learn that young Henry was always last to be picked for sports. He was “Fat Cavill”. I can relate. Henry was teased about his unfitness at school, and so was I. I’m sure both of us are better men now that we’re in shape. Bullying is a very high-profile issue at present. I fear that efforts to protect boys from bullying are eliminating some healthy social rejection. If a pillar of masculinity is the capacity to hold one’s own in an altercation or perform physical feats for others, those unfit to do so are not living their masculinity to the fullest. Their peers notice that. As someone who came from a sedentary childhood, I am much better off after having been told by peers, not always delicately, that I was unfit. I now look forward to physical activity in a way I never would have.
Men have a particular hive-mind ability which is conjectured to stem from cooperation in hunting and warfare; simply look at the popularity of team sports with boys for the evidence. Physical unfitness is often and perhaps rightly a source of rejection, but it’s also one of the richest treasuries of male cooperation. Men united by a physically arduous task tend to be the best teammates our species can boast. I think we men should do better at holding one another accountable for getting and staying in shape. We don’t and shouldn’t have to carry the boats alone.
Although modern life does not demand the physical capacities to manually farm or travel long distances under our own power, we should not therefore let our bodies become soft. The “body positivity” movement and trigger-happy acceptance culture coupled with heightened awareness to bullying has stripped away much positive social pressure for boys and men to become and stay fit.
The masculine genius idealizes a man who is strong physically so that he can employ his strength to his own benefit and for the service of others. What counts the most is that from our condition today, we become improved by tomorrow. As Juvenal wrote, the subtitle for this article, “It ought to be prayed for that one should have a sound mind in a sound body.” Don’t just pray for a sound mind and body; work on it, eat right, and build your bodily strength.