The Manly Catholic: Igniting Men to Light the World on Fire

Ep 156 - Eros: The Fire That Must Be Tamed—How Catholic Men Can Redeem Romantic Love

James Caldwell

Romantic love (Eros) is everywhere—movies, music, social media. But our culture twists it, reducing it to fleeting passion, self-gratification, and empty pleasure. In this episode, we reclaim Eros for what it truly is—a God-given force meant to lead us to self-giving love, commitment, and holiness.

I break down:

  • How Eros, when rightly ordered, reflects God's covenant love.
  • Why the hookup culture and pornography industry are destroying authentic masculinity.
  • The danger of unrealistic expectations in marriage (yes, even The Bachelor is part of the problem).
  • How men must slay the dragon of lust and lead their relationships with virtue.
  • The one decision my wife and I made that eliminated divorce from our marriage—permanently.

Men, Eros is not the enemy. But it must be redeemed, purified, and placed at the service of something higher. Today, I’ll show you how.

🔥 One key takeaway:
Kill lust before it kills you. If pornography or impurity is an issue, attack it viciously. Confession weekly. Mass immediately after. Cut off the source. Be a dragon slayer, not a slave.

🔥 3 Quotes from the Episode:

  1. “Pornography turns men into slaves and women into objects. If you’re caught in it, you must fight like your soul depends on it—because it does.”
  2. “The world says ‘sleep around, get experience, be a player.’ That’s a lie. The virtuous woman you actually want to marry doesn’t want that man.”
  3. “Your marriage is impossible without God. Invite Him in, or watch it crumble.”

References & Products Mentioned:

  • Deus Caritas Est – Pope Benedict XVI’s teaching on Eros and love
  • The Catechism of the Catholic Church (Paras. 2360-2361) on marital love
  • Song of Songs – A biblical vision of Eros in its purest form
  • St. Joseph & The Blessed Virgin Mary – The ultimate example of chaste, self-giving love

Men, reclaim Eros from a world that has corrupted it. Lead with virtue. Live with purpose. Press play.

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