Strong Men, Strong Families. Weak Men, Broken World.
“Strong men make good times. Good times make weak men. Weak men make bad times. Bad times make strong men.” – A waiting room sign.
That cycle has played out in every empire. And it’s playing out in America right now.
The Great Depression forged strong men who fought and won World War II. Their sacrifice created a time of peace and prosperity. But prosperity gave birth to weakness. The baby boomers—including me—were raised in comfort. And now, we live in a cultural collapse: broken families, addictions, and a society too soft to even name truth.
The question is: how bad will it have to get before men answer the call, rise as warriors, and restore our families and culture?
Strong Men Make Good Times
Hardship forges character. The Great Depression shaped men tough enough to storm the beaches of Normandy and Okinawa. They came home, built families, and built America.
The 1950s and ’60s carried the fruit of their sacrifice: economic growth, strong families, flourishing churches, civil rights legislation, and cultural confidence. It wasn’t perfect—but it was strong. Fatherhood was honored. Duty was expected. Faith was still respected in public life.
This was the season of good times created by strong men.
Good Times Make Weak Men
But prosperity has a dangerous side. When everything seems stable, comfort slowly replaces discipline and pleasure replaces fulfillment. Gratitude fades. Faith becomes foolishness.
As the baby boomers—the children of prosperity—came of age, the culture shifted. The sexual revolution declared responsibility optional. Churches grew soft and complacent. And over time, the fruit of strength gave way to the seeds of weakness.
It didn’t happen overnight. Weakness grows slowly, like rot in the foundation of a house.
Weak Men Make Bad Times
Today we are reaping what weak men have sown.
📊 The evidence is everywhere:
- Nearly 1 in 4 children in the U.S. live without their biological father.
- Fatherless children are 4x more likely to live in poverty, 7x more likely to become pregnant as teens, and make up 85% of youth in prison.
- Pornography and addiction chain millions of men in silence.
- Nearly 60% of Catholics who attend Mass weekly don’t believe Jesus is truly God.
Weak men don’t just harm themselves—they collapse families, and collapsed families rot society from the inside. Satan knows this. His strategy has always been to weaken men, because when men lay down their swords, the enemy rushes in unopposed.
Bad Times Make Strong Men
Here’s the hope: bad times can wake men up. Throughout history, God has raised warriors when cultures collapse. Israel in the Old Testament. The early Christians in Rome. The saints during times of persecution.
But here’s the question: do we really need another Great Depression or world war to wake us up—or will this cultural depression be enough?
Men, the call is clear. The time is now. The enemy is real. Strength is not optional. And in the next blog, we’ll look at exactly where that strength begins—the armor of God.
Call to Action
👉 Start here: https://catholicssharingjesus.org/catholic-warrior/
Reflection Question
Which part of the “strong men → good times → weak men → bad times” cycle do you see most clearly today—and what would it take for you (and the men around you) to become strong in Christ before it’s too late?
