Brother Knights,

Scripture tells us, “Though the righteous man falls seven times, he rises again.” — Proverbs 24:16.

Notice it does not say if he falls. It says he falls. Even the righteous man falls.

We look to Jesus Christ as the model of perfection. He did everything perfectly. We will not. So failure, in some measure, is inevitable.

The question is not whether a man falls. The question is whether he gets back up.

A Catholic man does not stay down. He does not wallow. He does not surrender to discouragement. He gets up. He knocks again. He goes back to prayer. He goes back to discipline. He goes back to the fight.

And when he falls into sin, he goes to Confession.

Christ died on the Cross so that sin would not have the final word. But that grace is not automatic sentiment – it is applied through repentance. Through humility & Through the Sacrament.

If we refuse to get up, we reject the Cross.

And if we say, “I know God forgives me, but I can’t forgive myself,” we subtly place our judgment above His.

That is not humility. True humility accepts mercy. So let us be men who rise.

————

Thank you,

Ryan Birgeneau