MWI Knights Tales PDF

Stage 1 Formation
CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST CHRI

Stage 1 Formation
Mens Weekend I: Knights Tales

Manual v.2011
CFC Singles for Christ
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Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales
Stage 1 Formation About the Weekend

The Knights Tales , SFC Mens Weekend 1 is the first weekend retreat designed for the men of CFC Singles for Christ. This weekend has 2 basic goals: 1. Help the men understand the true definition of manhood. 2. Challenge the men to live as modern-day knights, ready to offer their lives for the cause of Christ.
The Sessions
The retreat is divided into four sessions. Session 1: Authentic Manhood. This session tackles the definition of true manhood, who bestows it, and what it takes to live out authentic manhood. Session 2: A Vision of Manhood. This session takes a deeper look into the heart of a true man. It examines the three basic desires that God placed in a mans heart. Session 3: The Code of Conduct. This session explores the purpose for mans creation and what responsibilities God gave to man. It talks about how Adam, the first man, fails to live out this call and thus brings suffering to all men. It also talks about how Christ, the new Adam, restores man by fulfilling Gods call that Adam failed to follow. Session 4: A Cause to Fight For. The final session talks about the need for men to step up to be modern-day knights. It will call the men to embrace the cause God has given to SFC. It will challenge them to live out the 7 core values, to be committed to their brothers, and to embrace modern-day knighthood in service to Christ and others.
The Dynamics
The activities supplementing the sessions include group discussions, personal reflection, meditation, vocal prayers, and some physical activities. The team can make adjustments based on any logistical or pastoral resources available for the retreat.
The Team
The team comprises of a Team Leader/Retreat master, Servants, Facilitators, Music Ministry, and Logistics.
The Speakers
The speaker profiles should be all men, preferably top leaders in CFC or SFC. He must study the talk and preferably read the references included in this manual to have a clear grasp of the concepts and points of the talk. He can employ sharers in his talk only if time permits and at the concurrence of the Team Leader.
The Schedule
CFC Singles for Christ Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales
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The Knights Tales Retreat can be given on a 2-day schedule but can also be modified to fit a 1day schedule. Below is the suggested 2-day format: Day 1 Morning 08:00 Arrival and Registration 08:30 Gathering, teaching of songs 09:00 Worship 09:30 Welcome remarks and Orientation 10:00 Session 1: Authentic Manhood 11:00 Group Discussion 11:30 Wrap Up/Lunch
Afternoon 01:00 Gathering, teach song 01:15 Afternoon Praise 01:30 Session 2: A Vision of Manhood 02:15 Personal Reflection 02:45 Break 03:30 Session 3: The Code of Conduct 04:15 Healing Session with Confession 05:15 Mini-praisefest 05:35 Break. Prepare for Mass/Continue with confession 06:00 Mass
Evening
07:00 Dinner 08:00 Fellowship 09:00 Activity: Man-to-Man talk or Eucharistic Adoration 10:00 Closing prayer
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Day 2 Morning
05:00 Wake up. Morning exercises. 06:30 Common Prayer time 07:00 Breakfast 08:00 Gather, teach songs 09:00 Worship 09:30 Session 4: A Cause to Fight For 10:15 Knighting Ceremony 11:00 Praisefest 11:30 Closing remarks. End of Retreat.
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Stage 1 Formation SFC Men's Weekend 1: KNIGHTS TALES
Session 1: Authentic Manhood

Objectives: 1. Define what constitutes authentic manhood. 2. Highlight the traits of a modern day knight and how our community prepares us for it. 3. Help the brothers reflect on the people and experiences that have influenced their manhood. Key Messages: 1. Authentic manhood is not necessarily the same as the secular world defines it. 2. Masculinity is not something a man discovers by himself but is bestowed upon him by other men. 3. In spite of the many obstacles, the SFC Brother is called to be the modern day knight. Tenor: Alive, exciting Speakers Profile: Someone who is a father or is a father-like figure to brothers. Someone who exemplifies what it is to be a true man.
Activity: Proving Grounds A Test of Manhood There are three events for this activity: push-ups, sit-ups, and arm wrestling. Count the number of men who are attending the retreat. Have them count off by threes. All the 1s will be doing push ups, the 2s will be doing sit-ups; the 3s will do arm wrestling. The arm wrestling participants should be equal in number so any odd participant will be added to the push up group. Do the event one at a time so the other men can cheer for the contestants. Push-ups In one minute, the brothers will do as many push-ups as they can. Tally the scores after one minute and congratulate the brother who has the highest score. Sit-ups - Have a brother assist each contestant by holding down their feet (to prevent it from lifting as they do the sit up) and also to count how many sit ups they can do in a minute. Designate a timekeeper. Have them do sit-ups for one minute and tally the scores afterward. Congratulate the brother who has the highest score. Arm wrestling Find a sturdy table where participants can arm wrestle. Have the brothers clasp their right hands together with their left hand down beside their opponents right elbow to prevent it from slipping. Begin the match. Give them two
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minutes to arm wrestle. If both are still up after two minutes, declare a draw. If any of the brothers wins the match, have both of them shake hands in the spirit of true sportsmanship.
I.
The Measure of a Man. A. The secular standards of manhood are often gauged by: Physique - his manly looks, fitness, and abilities Power - his influence and authority over others Prosperity - his money, the kind of car he drives, or how big his house is Prowess - his ability to attract and seduce women, and father many children
B. Crisis of Manhood While the above qualities of manhood are not intrinsically evil, it is the lack of other meaningful qualities that actually makes a real man incomplete. In other words, they are called "half-men."
1.
Men can be physically strong but without internal strength and discipline, they are unable to control their passions and urges. Men who are unable to contain their anger can be violent. The result could mean battered wives, road rage, and murder. Men who are unable to contain their passions end up getting addicted to vices, drugs, pornography, and illicit sex.
2.
Powerful men who do not understand the meaning of justice, mercy, and stewardship can become corrupt officials. Worse, they can become dictators causing the suffering of millions. Politicians have the opportunity to help the people but corrupt officials just use their power and influence for personal gain. History will never forget the heinous crimes that Hitler committed that caused the lives of millions of innocent people in the death camps.
3.
Prosperous men have the ability to bless others with their wealth. But without a generous heart, selfishness can set in a man's heart causing him to acquire more for himself but never really find any satisfaction. Luke 12:16-21 tells the parable of the rich fool. He enjoyed an abundance of wealth but all is in vain once death comes knocking at his door.
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Some examples: Greedy businessmen have caused many corporations to go bankrupt because of fraud (e.g. Enron scandal 2001, Wall Street scandal 2008).
4.
Men who judge their masculinity according to their sexual prowess only end up using women. Their failure to honor and treat women with respect has led to unwanted pregnancies, abuse and even rape. Wives have become desperate because their husbands have gone looking for younger women. 65 % of children in the US remain fatherless. Of that 65 %, many do not even have a close relationship with their father.* (US Census Bureau, Living Arrangements of Children: 2004 (feb 2008)
This crisis of manhood is borne from man's own struggle with his identity. When a boy grows up to be a man without a strong grasp of authentic manhood, society suffers a blow. Hearts are wounded. Homes are broken. Sons grow up fatherless.
II.
Bestowing Masculinity A. No self-made man Masculinity is not something a man discovers by himself. It is defined and bestowed upon him by other men. 1. Family - Fathers play an important role in defining for his son what a true man should be. Author Robert Lewis, from his book Raising A Modern-Day Knight writes, "Something about a father's physical and emotional presence gives life to a boy. Just being around dad - watching him shave, hearing him laugh, touching his flesh - invests a son with large doses of male energy. And this emotional capital cannot be gained anywhere other than in the presence of a father."* 2. Community - Communities in the past bestowed masculinity upon boys through ceremonies. For example, African tribal practices require boys to undergo training and bloody initiation. This process was painful and hard but once a boy completes this rite of passage, his tribe publicly welcomes him as a man. 3. Church - Having been entrusted with Sacred Scripture and with the revelation of authentic manhood found in Christ, the Church plays an important role in defining the true identities of men and women as sons and daughters of God. The priest alone has the distinct privilege of witnessing to all men how God is Father to us all. Churches bear images of the suffering Christ that speak volumes about what authentic manhood is all about.
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If we are to help men discover and live out authentic manhood, we must look at a model to follow that involves family, community, and Church in the formation of men. A most fitting model we can follow is that of knighthood. B. A Path to Authentic Manhood With a crested shield, battle-worn armor and a long sword, knights of the middle ages have often been a symbol of courage and bravery. Young boys are fascinated by the tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round table. Despite the shortcomings of some knights and their not so glorious reputation, knighthood offers us a model to follow if we are to help restore authentic manhood in this day and age. Robert Lewis highlights three important elements what knighthood did for a man: 1. It provided a vision of manhood. - The middle ages were a time of feuding kingdoms and barbaric invasions, a time when most men were raised as violent warriors. Knighthood provided a vision for men that showed them they were made for more than just battle. They were also capable of championing the cause of the poor, the women, and of the faith. 2. It defined a code of conduct. - Knights followed a rule often known as the Code of Chivalry. This code shaped a man's behavior and channeled his strength and gifts for the benefit of others. It taught a knight to live with honor and to perform his duties towards his king, women, and his faith. 3. It gave man a worthy cause to fight for. - Knights often took on a cause that went beyond their own interests. A famous example are the warrior monks known as the Knights Templar who aided pilgrims to the Holy Land. The Knights Hospitalier were know to care for the sick. The Knights of the Order of St. Lazarus took care of lepers. This weekend, we will explore the elements that make a modern day knight. We will talk about the vision for manhood, our code of conduct, and our transcendent cause.
III.
Raising Modern-Day Knights in SFC Raising modern day knights is not an impossible concept. Consider the similarities we already have in community with that of the process of knighthood. Knighthood CFC Community Life In our community, a page can be likened to a Kids for Christ (KFC) member. He begins to interact with other members of community. He
At eight years old, a boy was sent to a nearby castle and was was trained as a page. A son of a knight or of a member of the aristocrat, he
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spent most of his time strengthening his body, is taught how to pray by his older brothers and wrestling and riding horses. He learned how to sisters in YFC. He learns how to pray, sing, fight with a spear and a sword. He was taught dance, and worship before the King of Kings. more civilized topics like reading and writing. He also studied Latin and French. The lady of the castle taught the page to sing and dance and how to behave in the kings court. At the age of fifteen or sixteen, a boy became a squire in service to a knight. His duties included dressing the knight in the morning, serving all of the knights meals, caring for the knights horse, and cleaning the knights armor and weapons. He followed the knight to tournaments and assisted his lord on the battlefield. A squire also prepared himself by learning how to handle a sword and lance while wearing forty pounds of armor and riding a horse. When he was about twenty years of age, a squire could become a knight after proving himself worthy. A lord would agree to knight him in a dubbing ceremony. The night before the ceremony, the squire would dress in a white tunic and red robes. He would then fast and pray all night for the purification of his soul. The chaplain would bless the future knight's sword and then lay it on the chapel or church's altar. Before dawn, he took a bath to show that he was pure, and he dressed in his best clothes. When dawn came, the priest would hear the young man's confession, a Catholic contrition rite. The squire would then eat breakfast. Soon the dubbing ceremony began. The outdoor ceremony took place in front of family, friends, and nobility. The squire knelt in front of the lord, who tapped the squire lightly on each shoulder with his sword and proclaimed him a knight. This was symbolic of what occurred in earlier times. In the earlier middle ages, the person doing the
In our community, a squire can be likened to a Youth For Christ (YFC) member. Still young in their faith, he is mentored by his older brothers in YFC and SFC. His foundation in prayer, scripture and the sacraments are strengthened. He learns about spiritual warfare as he begins to serve in camps and retreats. He goes on his first mission trip under the guidance of his Couple Coordinator.
A full fledged knight can be likened to a Singles For Christ (SFC) brother. He undergoes a longer formation process through the CLP. Being a single professional, he is independent and is mostly mobile. He uses his time and resources to serve God and his SFC brethren. He is respectful and protective towards his SFC sisters. He takes on leadership and goes on mission. He takes up the cause of building the church of the home and the church of the poor. He brings other singles to Christ.
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dubbing would actually hit the squire forcefully, knocking him over. After the dubbing, a great feast followed with music and dancing. * IV. Do You Have What It Takes To Be A Man? A. What are the obstacles to becoming a modern day knight? 1. Our comfort We can become too complacent and comfortable in our routine that we are not interested in pursuing growth and development of our values, morals, and principles. If we are to be real men, we should not be afraid of the challenge to rise up and become even more holy and dedicated to the Lord. 2. Our tendencies We may feel unworthy of the call to become knights for God because we know we will only fail due to our weakness. However this is exactly why we should become knights in the first place! All men are weak and the path to knighthood will help us overcome these weaknesses. By admitting we are weak, He will become our strength. (Read 2 Corinthians 13:9) 3. Our unwillingness We may find ourselves simply unwilling to embrace this call. Our pride in our achievements in serving God could blind us from realizing that we are in need of constant transformation by Christ. We must be open to the ways on how God can continually fashion us to be real men. B. Attitudes we must take on 1. Humility God doesnt seek those who think they are something in the eyes of the world. He seeks out the lowly just as He did when Jesus picked out his 12 disciples. Come as you are. Let God have his way with what you can offer at this time. 2. Obedient The path to knighthood is a path of obedience to God and his Word. Obedience is a tool that God uses to fashion us to become the man we were meant to be. 3. Available When God calls us, we must be available to heed Him. We must be ready to detach ourselves from this world lest we suffer the same fate of the rich young man who failed to follow Christ because he was concerned about his possessions (Luke 18:18-25). V. Conclusion The world is in a crisis due to the absence of real men. The consequences are tragic from dysfunctional dads to power-hungry presidents, men have lost their true purpose. The world has defined what manhood means. We need to unlearn all these standards and turn to Christ as the real definition of manhood. We must look at the model of
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knighthood as a means to not only live out the Christian ideals but as a step to imitating Christ. Taking on the call of being knights for God will help us to transform into the man that God intends us to be. VI. Questions for Discussion 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Growing up, who were the manly influences in my life? What did these men teach me about manhood? What do I think are the qualities of an authentic man? What has my father taught me about manhood? What qualities of a knight do I want to live out in my life?
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Session 2: A Vision of Manhood

Objectives: 1. Highlight the core desires of man and relate how these affect him up to this day. 2. Define what authentic manhood is for SFC Brothers and inspire them to aim for this. 3. Guide the brothers to reflect on and assess their personal state of manhood. Key Messages: 1. Every man has three core desires in his heart which image Gods own desires for man. 2. There are four principles that characterize authentic manhood and determines what makes a real man (i.e., rejects passivity, accepts responsibility, leads courageously, and expects greater reward). Tenor: Straightforward and frank, open. Speakers Profile: A brother who can encourage the brothers to reflect and be open about their manhood. One who can ground the concepts discussed through examples and real-life situations.
Activity: The scenes from the movies below are defining moments for the characters in the story. Prepare video excerpts of these famous movies and ask the participants to guess which movie these are taken from. As an alternative, scenes can be re-enacted via short skit or play. Chronicles of Narnia Lucy Pevensie: Is hequite safe? Mr. Beaver: Safe? Who said anything about safe? Course he isnt safe. But hes good. Hes the King, I tell you. Karate Kid Mr. Kesuke Miyagi: In Okinawa, belt mean no need rope to hold up pants. [laughs; then, seriously] Daniel-san, karate here. [taps his head] Karate here. [taps his heart] Karate never here. [points to his belt] Understand? Braveheart Argyle Wallace: First, learn to use [taps William's forehead] this.
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Argyle Wallace: Then I'll teach you to use [lifts the sword] this. Star Wars Episode VI Darth Vader: The Force is strong with this one. Gladiator Marcus Aurelius: I want you to become protector of Rome after I die. I will empower you to one end alone, to give power back to the people of Rome and end the corruption that has crippled it. Do you accept this great honour I have offered you? Maximus: With all my heart, no. Marcus Aurelius: Maximus, that is why it must be you. Lord of the Rings: Return of The King Elrond: The man who can wield the power of this sword can summon to him an army more deadly than any that walks this earth. Put aside the ranger. Become who you were born to be. Briefly discuss the common points of these movies. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I. The Man Behind The Armor The strength of a knight does not lie solely on his armor or weapons. Neither does it lie on his skill or his wit. His true stength lies in his identity - knowing who he is, whom he represents, and the values that lie deep within his heart. As we begin our journey into modern day knighthood, we must first discover who we are as men of God. II. Strength from Within A man has three core desires that are deep within his heart. These three desires image Gods own desires for man and in this way man becomes an image of God in the world. Being aware of these desires in our hearts and turning to God before anything and anyone else to fulfill them, gives a man his inner strength. A. A Desire to Love God is love (1 John 4:8) and He loves with a self-giving love. The ultimate sign of this is Jesus offering of His life for us, to redeem us and give us the promise of eternal life. There really is no greater love than this. Just as Christ gives Himself in love to His Bride the Church, a mans heart is also called to give himself selflessly in love to woman.
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o If a man truly loves a woman, he sees her as a beautiful creature of God, worthy of his respect, adoration, and selfless love. He will put her needs above His own and look after her welfare. In loving in this way, we mirror Gods image and likeness.
God designed mans heart to love to so as to draw him to Himself. Only God can be the Source of this self-giving love, and only in union with Him can man love in this way. Thus, man will always long to be with God, whether he is aware of it or not. St. Agustine expresses this truth in his Confessions: You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.
B. A Desire for Adventure Looking at creation, we cannot help but marvel at its beauty. God made it that way so it reveals to man his wisdom, splendor, and love. Creation itself was a means to draw man closer to God. God placed man in charge of creation (Genesis 1:28-30) and gave him stewardship over it (Genesis 2:15). Because of this stewardship, a mans heart will always long for a purpose for living. His heart will seek an adventure because he wants to discover who he is and what he is meant to be. When a man discovers his gifts and talents, his vocation becomes clear to him. And living out this vocation is what gives man great joy and fulfillment. Whether he be exploring the wilderness, building a bridge, inventing a cure for a disease, painting a masterpiece, raising a family or celebrating Mass, his purpose is his lifes adventure. No adventure, however, is without risk. As a man pursues his vocation, he takes the risk of failure, of rejection, of difficult challenges that need to be hurdled. But in persisting and conquering these risks when he knows that this is where God calls him to be, a man reflects Gods own desire to love us His children, even if it involved the risk of being rejected and denied by them. Like Christ who came to fulfill the purpose for which He was sent by the Father, a man longs to accomplish his mission in the world. In the end, he realizes that this is his ultimate adventure and that it can only be fulfilled if he has a meaningful relationship with God who gave Him this purpose.
C. A Desire to Do Battle A true lover fights for the good and well-being of his beloved. In Exodus 15:3 Moses says, The Lord is a warrior, and Lord is his name! God fought to liberate the Israelites from slavery from the hands of Pharaoh.
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Christ was willing to do battle with sin and Satan. He was not afraid to shed his blood for us - His Bride the Church. Similarly, a mans heart is courageous and strong, ready to engage in battle. He is willing to sacrifice himself for the sake of his beloved. Meekness means strength under control. A real man knows how to use his strength properly in the service and welfare of others. In his courageous and meek heart ready to fight for his beloved and for causes he believes in, man images God our Warrior and Liberator.
III.
Four Principles of Manhood Robert Lewis proposes 4 principles that characterize authentic manhood: A. A Real Man Rejects Passivity According to sociologist Stephen B. Clark "Men have a natural tendency to avod social responsibility." Because of our fallen nature, we tend to shy away from obligation and just hide in our man-caves. o Look at the brothers in SFC. How many of you avoided your leader because you knew they were going to ask you to serve as a household head or give a talk? o Cite other examples that show passivity among SFC brothers or men in general. A real man is not passive! Christ shows us that true manliness means loving first! "It was not you who chose me, but I chose you" (John 10). In a relationship, it is a man who pursues the woman, not the other way around. The knights are the first to charge in the battlefield to draw first blood. We should reject passivity! Being passive negates mans three core desires for one cannot love, live an adventure, and fight a battle passively. Thus, if he is to fulfill his core desires, he must reject his passivity. B. A Real Man Accepts Responsibility A real man takes it upon himself to respond to the needs of others around him. He is response-able. He does not pass the blame on to others. o How many men do we know are irresponsible? It is frustrating and shameful to see grown men, capable of employment, but choosing to live with their parents for no other reason than comfort. o 2 Thes 3:10 says "if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat." o Or how about the single man who gets his girl pregnant but refuses the responsibility of raising a child? He will even encourage his girlfriend to get an abortion. (Cite other relevant examples.) A real man will not run away from his responsibility and will even hold himself responsible for the welfare of others.
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A man needs to take responsibility if he is to fulfill his core desires. Loving, living out ones vocation (adventure), and fighting a battle all require that a man accept and take responsibility.
C. A Real Man Leads Courageously St. Paul writes "But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman." Men were created to lead by God. Leadership does not mean dictatorship. But true servant-leadership as Jesus exemplifies should be the standard of every man. Whils St. Paul states the headship of a husband over his wife, it also means that the husband is a servant to his wife, ready to shed his blood for her welfare. A leader cannot be passive and irresponsible. Leadership requires vision. That is why men in general have a broader, macro perspective as compared to women. This allows us to survey the situation and lead others through the path. But leadership without courage is impotent. Leadership is naturally opposed by challenges of any given task. Wimpy men make poor leaders because they easily crumble under pressure. Even when wounded, a knight presses on to battle to lead his troops. D. A Real Man Expects The Greater Reward In today's world where almost every desire is met with an "instant" solution (e.g. instant coffee, instant soup, instant information [google], instant sex [prostitution], etc.), expecting the greater, long term benefits and reward is a challenge. Not everything in life can be obtained in an instant. A real man perseveres and has faith in things that will give him true satsifaction in the long run. A real man is not impatient nor impulsive. He knows how to wait and he is patient. He does not give up easily. He is like a farmer, toiling and tilling the soil till the seeds that he plants bear fruit. Heaven is the greater good that we all aspire for. "What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, God has prepared for those who love him," (1 Cor 2:9). For a man to fulfill his core desires, he needs to persevere and keep his eyes focused on the greater reward (heaven), which is the reason for his loving, living, and fighting a battle. IV. Conclusion Brothers, our first step in our journey to knighthood is to embrace the definition of authentic manhood. We must first understand the deep desires that God placed in the heart of a man: a desire to love, for adventure, and for battle. We must judge ourselves by the standards of authentic manhood according to the 4 principles. This is something we need to reckon with in our hearts today.
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Activity A. Defining moment [prepare a separate worksheet for each participant] Find a place where you can be alone for reflection. Pray before you reflect. "Lord Jesus, I am a man created in the image and likeness of God. Thank You for creating me as a man for with it you have etched in my heart, my body, and my soul a deep mystery that reveals who you are to others. Help me to dive deeper and discover within my heart your design so that I may embrace it. Help me to fix my eyes on You, Jesus, that You may guide me to the path of authentic manhood. Amen" Reflect on the following questions. Create a journal of your reflections. Who or what do you love so deeply? If time, money, and resources were not an issue, what is the greatest adventure that you dream of pursuing? Who or what are you willing to fight for? How much would you give for this cause?
B. Rate yourself On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 meaning least likely true, 10 meaning most likely true), rate yourself against these 4 principles of manhood: I reject passivity 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 I accept responsibility 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 I lead courageously 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 I expect (and can wait) for the greater reward 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10
Look at your answers. Why are they not a 10? What would it take for you to get a 10 in all these 4 principles?
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Session 3: A Code of Conduct

Objectives: 1. Highlight Gods desired code of conduct for man. 2. Recall how man through Adam broke the code with God. 3. Give hope through Gods promise for redemption. 4. Encourage the brothers to seek healing from their brokenness. Key Messages: 1. Mans adherence to Gods desired code of conduct (a will to obey, a work to fulfill, a woman to love) will lead him to a full and satisfying life. 2. Although the code of conduct was broken initially through Adam and inherited by man, Jesus, the New Adam, redeemed man by fulfilling the code of conduct. 3. Man must continue to seek redemption through constant turning away from sin. Tenor: Serious and reflective, leading to the desire to seek healing from the Lord Speakers Profile: A brother who can encourage the participants to acknowledge their brokenness and lead them in seeking healing from the Lord. One who is emotionally and spiritually strong and prayerful.
I.
A Knight's Code of Conduct During the dark and often chaotic middle ages, the knight stood out among the other warriors of his time. What set him apart was his code of conduct. He was more than just an elite soldier in the kingdom, he was also champion of virtue. This was brought about by his training as first a page, then as a squire, by men who lived out these high ethical and moral standards. The four main values of his code of conduct are: Loyalty - According to Barbara Tuchman, "Loyalty, meaning the pledged word, was chivalry's fulcrum...A knight who broke his oath was charged with 'treason' for betraying the order of knighthood" Excellence - A knight was to conduct himself like a champion on the battlefield as well as in the king's court. Love and Honor of Women - A knight was to be romantic and chivalrous. He treated women with respect and would fight for their honor. Generosity to the Poor - Gorges Duby says "The knight owes it to himself to keep nothing in his hands. All that comes to him he gives away."
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Today, we live in a society where the moral and ethical standards can be likened to that of a medieval age. We need modern day Christian knights to be a light and witness in these dark and chaotic times. II. God's Code of Conduct for Men A "code" means a set of rules and standards adhered to by society or individuals. God gave man fundamental codes of conduct to live by. If he adheres to these standards, he will find a life that is satisfying and full. Robert Lewis outlines these as as will to obey, a work to fulfill, and a woman to love. A. A Will to obey God is man's creator (Gen 1:26-28). Our obedience to him is a response of faith, hope, and love. God made known his will to man. To Adam, he commanded that he take on stewardship of creation. He gave to Moses the 10 commandments which men must obey if they are to be God's people. Jesus gave us the Beatitudes and taught us many other standards by which we ought to live our life in obedience to God. B. A Work to fulfill God did not just create man to passively enjoy what creation had to offer. He gave him a duty - a work to fulfill. Work was a means for man to utilize the gifts and talents God gave him as part of his stewardship of creation. Work was also a means for man to provie for himself, and an activity where he can find fulfillment and joy. Adam was given a specific work to fulfill - to till and keep the garden. "The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it." (Gen 2:15) Scripture teaches us that work is a blessing from God. "So my conclusion is this: true happiness lies in eating and drinking and enjoying whatever has been achieved under the sun, throughout the life given by God: for this is the lot of humanity. And whenever God gives someone riches and property with the ability to enjoy them and to find contentment in work, this is a gift from God. For such a person will hardly notice the passing of time, so long as God keeps his heart occupied with joy." (Ecclesiastes 5:17-19) St. Paul writes about the value of work "If anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat." (2 Thes 3:10). C. A Woman to love "The LORD God said: "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him." (Gen 2:18). We then further read that God formed other creatures but none proved to be a suitable partner for man.
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God then creates woman from man's rib. He exclaims "This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called 'woman,' for out of 'her man' this one has been taken." (Gen 2:23). A man is called to love a woman. Looking at a man's body, it does not make sense by itself. But seen in the light of a woman's body, together they make perfect sense. Man was made for woman and woman for man. A man must have a woman to love. A single man is called to love his mother and his sisters. A husband devotes his life to love, lead, and honor his wife. A man called to priesthood devotes his life to love, lead, and honor the bride of Christ - the Church. Ephesians 5 describes the standard for which a man must love his woman. He must be willing to give up his life for her. "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her" (Eph 5:25).
III.
A Broken Code and the Promise of Redemption A. Adams failure and its consequences The first man had the opportunity to live out this code of conduct. Adam was given a will to obey God, a work to fulfill in the garden, and a woman to love, Eve. But something went terribly wrong. In his book "First Comes Love", author Scott Hahn breaks down for us the events in Genesis. After God creates man, he gives Adam his commandment. And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the treee of the knowledge of good and evil. .. The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die."(Gen 2:8-9, 15-17). Important details in the passage: o "to keep" in Hebrew literally means "to guard" as the Israelite priests guarded the sanctuary and kept it from defilement. God's command implied that there was something that must be kept out, something that might try to get in. "you shall die" appears in some translations to mean "you shall die the death". Ancient rabbis taught this passage from Genesis implied two kinds of death a natural death, and a supernatural death. This verse referred to the latter, a most extreme kind of death - a death of a soul.
Now the serpent was more subtle than any other wild creature that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God say, 'You shall not eat of the any tree of the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; but God
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said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened , and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." a. "the serpent" is not your small garden variety snake. The Old Testament translation of "serpent" is "nahash" denoting a dragon (Is 27:1) or a sea monster (Job 26:13). The Catechism of the Catholic Church identifies the serpent as Satan (CCC 291) who can physically harm Adam. b. "He said.." The serpent was addressing both of them, not just Eve. Original Hebrew translation indicate the serpent speaks not to one person but to the couple. c. "And the woman said.." Who responds to the serpent? Only Eve. Where was the man tasked by God to till and keep/guard the garden? He is silent and allows his wife to succumb to the serpent's proposal. Why did he not intervene? d. The serpent said "You will not die". Being a murderous beast, he was implying that they would die if they refused to eat the fruit. In other words, the serpent threatened to kill them if they did not comply to his proposal. e. Adam feared his own death. Moreover, he feared his physical death at the hand of the serpent, more than the spiritual death that awaited him if he offended God by sin. f. Adam had a choice to respond to this threat by intervening or calling out to God for help. His fears threw him back, to pride, upon himself. It kept him from his duty to guard the garden. His fears overcame his ability to trust his Father God to rescue him, even if he loses his life in doing battle with the serpent. His fears kept him from defending his wife.
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate and she also gave some to her husband, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons. (Gen 3:1-7) a. Because Adam failed to fulfill his work to till and keep, the serpent was able to enter the garden. b. Crippled with the fear, he choose not to intervene when the serpent addressed the couple. Because of his silence, Eve stepped in and was tempted. He failed to love the woman God gave to be his companion.
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c. In the end, Adam failed to obey the will of God. He trusted his own judgment instead of relying on God's power. His pride became his downfall and the consequences were borne by the rest of mankind. d. Therefore, just as through one person sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all (Rom 5:12) e. Failing to live out our basic code of conduct as a man will have its consequences too in our daily lives. B. Christs victory and promise of redemption For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead came also through a human being. For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life. (1 Cor 15: 21-22) Despite Adam's failure, God still loved us. He sent his own son, Jesus Christ to redeem us and save us. And the way Christ did it was to become man Himself. (Philippians 2). Unlike Adam, Jesus fulfills the code of conduct that God gave to man. Jesus was obedient to the will of the Father Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. (Matt 4:1) o Just as Adam was tempted by Satan in the garden, Jesus was also tempted in the desert. o Satan's objective was to undermine the relationship of Jesus from the Father by offering Him power and pleasure. He sought to have Jesus disobey God. Jesus rebukes Satan and remains faithful to the Father.
He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will. (Matthew 26:39) o Jesus, also at the garden, remains faithful to his Father's will despite the fear of physical death that awaited him. Adam cowered in fear in the garden and chose to save his life by disobeying God. Because of that, he eventually died and brought death upon mankind. Because of Jesus' obedience even to death on the cross, He is risen from death on the third day.
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Jesus fulfilled the work his Father gave him When John heard in prison of the works of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to him the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. with this question, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. (Matt 11:2-5) o o Jesus fulfills his mission (Luke 4:16) on earth and remains faithful to the end. Jesus drives away many demons from the possessed (Mark 5:9). He never gave Satan a foothold during his ministry unlike Adam who failed to till and keep the garden, allowing the serpent to slip past him. An interesting scene in the movie the Passion of the Christ shows Jesus during the agony in the garden, stepping on and crushing the head of the snake.
Jesus loved the women in his life Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. (John 19:2527) o Adam was passive in the garden and did not take Satan's threat to the couple head on. Jesus response however was to take Satan head on by offering his life for the sake of his beloved - his bride the Church In the garden, Adam lets Eve respond. On Calvary, Jesus responds and Mary stays silent. Jesus entrusts his beloved mother to the care of John the apostle.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her. (Eph 5:25) o o Jesus, the bridegroom, sheds his blood for his bride, the Church. This ought to be our model! True love is nothing without SACRIFICE!
If we are to become true men, we must go through the cross.We must die to ourselves and rise anew in Christ. (Gal 2:20). This is the only way we can break away from and will
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overcome the weaknesses we inherited from Adam, the first man, and live in victory with Christ, the new Adam. IV. The path to redemption Brothers, let us not waste any more time rationalizing our sin. We still bear a strong semblance to Adam, the first man. We are weak and our desires are disordered. But there is hope! Christ has come as the new Adam, redeeming us, but also showing us men the way to authentic manhood! We must be transformed! The path we must take are the following: Repentance We need to be honest with ourselves and stop rationalizing our sins. Even while our desires may be corrupted, we still CHOSE to indulge them instead of resisting sin. We must seek Gods forgiveness and ask for the grace to be strong. Deliverance For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. (Gal 5:1). o God can forgive our sins if we repent. But the effects of sin remains: hurts, pains, and tendency to sin. We must ask Christ to heal us from the effects of sin and to deliver us from any vice or addictions we have nurtured in the past. o We must seek the power of the Holy Spirit so that we may live by the Spirit (Gal 5:24-25) and not live according to the desires of our flesh. Surrender, faith, and humility are the key to deliverance. Allegiance We need to re-commit ourselves to Christ as our Lord and King. Our submission to Christ is essential else we will find ourselves submitting to our own will and desires. o We must commit to fight the good fight or persevering and continuing to struggle amidst temptations, which will always be there because of our concupiscence. Compliance We need to grow in discipleship and formation so we can fortify our resolve to live a holy and righteous life. Just as David prayed Blessed be the Lord my rock, who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war. (Psalm 144:1), we need to relearn the ways of true manhood by living a life of virtue. This helps us also to continue to fight the good fight. Brothers, are you ready to die? To die to yourself so that you may rise again with Christ? let us then begin our time of healing and restoration. Healing session [Sacrament of Reconciliation - If a priest is available for Confession, now would be the best time to encourage the brothers to do so. You can do the following guided prayer as an
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examination of conscience for the brothers prior to confession.] Guided Prayers Lead the brothers in prayer using only slow songs of worship and adoration, singing in the Spirit. Invite the Holy Spirit to come and open our hearts to His presence. Have the music ministry continue to play soft melody of worship as the following session begins: Have the brothers close their eyes and answer the following questions in prayer. Allow enough time of silence for this. Do I struggle with sexual desires? Do I indulge in pornography, masturbation, premarital sex? Am I addicted to gambling, vice, and other risky behaviour? Have I been violent towards others? Have I used my strength to abuse, coerce, and intimidate others? Am I hurting because of the failures of my father to love me and raise me up to be a good man? Have any of my male family members or relatives abused me or failed to witness to me the true meaning of manhood? Has anyone outside my family, figures of authority (teachers, superiors, etc) abused me or failed to witness to me the true meaning of manhood? Have I failed to live out to the fullest the true meaning of manhood? Have I hurt or abused anyone in the process?
Lead the brothers to continue praying to the Lord while waiting for the others to finish with their confession. After everyone has confessed, lead the brothers in praying the Wounded Knights Prayer. Pause frequently as the brothers follow silently. A WOUNDED KNIGHTS PRAYER Heavenly Father, I am a Knight. You have created me in your image and likeness out of your love for me. I am your son and You have bestowed upon me the rights of an heir to your heavenly Kingdom. I let you down my Father. I am deeply wounded. Not from the battles in the field, but wounded from the battles from within. I have failed You miserably. I have sinned and continue to sin. I have chosen my human desires over and above what Your divine will is for me. I have turned my back on what is genuine and true and contented myself with the counterfeits of this life. I gave up eternal joy and bliss to be with You and instead feasted over temporary pleasure. I chose this world over my place
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deep in Your heart. I ask for forgiveness. I have struggled with purity. I have succumbed to the temptations of the flesh, indulged in pornography, premarital sex, and masturbation. I have been addicted to drugs, to alcohol, to materialism, and to power. I have physically and sexually abused other people. I have used power to intimidate and to coerce. I have lived a double life. I know that I am not worthy. I humbly implore Your Divine Mercy to have pity on me. Make me worthy once again. Make me realize what Your original plan for me is. Make me realize that my heart was made for love, for adventure, and for a battle. Make we realize that it is the devil who has distorted what I am and corrupted my heart and distorted my desires. I ask for Your healing. My hurt is deeply-rooted. I do not know anymore who or what caused my hurt. What I do know is that I still hurt deep inside even. Was it my father who physically hurt me as a child? Was it the verbal abuse I was subjected to at home and in school? Was it the violation of my body by people who were supposed to protect me? Was it the effects of the drugs and alcohol I took to make me forget? Was it the love I offered to this girl which was scorned and ridiculed? Was it the absence of anybody who could have comforted me when I was alone in my life? All these years, I have kept these pains inside me. I have learned to numb my senses and to hide these feelings, putting up a false faade of strength. Deep inside I long for Your love, my Father. Heal me. Cover me with Your love. I ask for Your deliverance. I have sinned but You can heal me. I have fallen but You can help me up. I have been lost but You can find me. I have given up but You have not given up on me. Be with me in the battles I will never win alone. Free me from the bondage of sin which slowly consumes me. Allow me to move on inspite of all the hurts I have been through. Lead me Lord into Your arms. Do not let me succumb to temptation once again. Show me the light to salvation.
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Heavenly Father, send forth your Most Holy Spirit to be my guide. Thank you, dear Father, for hearing the plea of Your son. I am a wounded Knight but I choose to ask for forgiveness in order to be healed. Thank you for your grace to forgive and to heal. Thank you for never failing to listen to the call of Your child. But most of all, thank you for just being our Father. Amen.
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Session 4: A Cause to Fight For

Objectives: 1. Instill in the SFC brother the transcendent cause he must embrace as his own. 2. Exhort the SFC brothers to uphold the values of the SFC Knight. 3. Solicit the brothers commitment to live out the life of a true SFC Knight. Key Messages: 1. The cause of the SFC brother should transcend beyond his personal cause. 2. The SFC brother is called to uphold the values of integrity, initiative, humility, excellence, courage, faith, and servant leadership. 3. SFC brothers are called to be the modern knights ready to fight the battle and must be ready to commit to the duty of knighthood. Tenor: Exciting, exhorting, victorious. Speakers Profile: A brother who can challenge the SFC brothers to commit to become a knight and live out the corresponding life. One who can inspire. Ideally, the highest SFC brother leader of the area
The Tale of St. George and the Dragon According to a legend, St. George was a knight who traveled the countryside. He came upon a town that was besieged by a dragon. The townsfolk drew lots to determine who among the maidens were to be offered to the dragon to appease it. The lot fell on the princess and the king begged St. George to help. The gallant knight made a sign of the cross, then proceeded to slay the dragon with his lance. He rescues the princess and brings her back to his father, the king. Just as St. George took up the cause to slay the dragon, we too as Gods sons need to take up the cause of living like knights in this day and age. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I. The Cause of A Modern Day Knight A knight does not live for himself. He takes up the cause of his King and offers his services, even his life, to fulfill this cause. It is also true for every man. There's a purpose behind our masculinity, our strength, and abilities.
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A. Life without a Cause Secular manhood judges a man by his position (e.g. "I'm a lawyer", "I'm a doctor"), by his ability to "out-play" and win over others (e.g. competitiveness, strategic planner), how many goals he's achieved in his professional or political career (e.g. made it to CEO, elected as Senator), or how he enjoys his personal wealth and affluence (e.g. big house, luxurious life). There is nothing wrong with pursuing these standards and being successful. But the problem with making these standards our goals for living makes our life incomplete. King Solomon, one of the most powerful and wisest man who ever lived, has something to say about this matter: "I undertook great works; I built myself houses and planted vineyards; I made gardens and parks, and set out in them fruit trees of all sorts. And I constructed for myself reservoirs to water a flourishing woodland. I acquired male and female slaves, and slaves were born in my house. I also had growing herds of cattle and flocks of sheep, more than all who had been before me in Jerusalem. I amassed for myself silver and gold, and the wealth of kings and provinces. I got for myself male and female singers and all human luxuries. I became great, and I stored up more than all others before me in Jerusalem; my wisdom, too, stayed with me. Nothing that my eyes desired did I deny them, nor did I deprive myself of any joy, but my heart rejoiced in the fruit of all my toil. This was my share for all my toil. But when I turned to all the works that my hands had wrought, and to the toil at which I had taken such pains, behold! all was vanity and a chase after wind, with nothing gained under the sun. (Ecc 2:4-11) Pursuing success is not what life is all about. Man needs to find meaning and purpose for his life. He needs to know, at the end of his life, that his life meant something for others. He wants to know that his life was not in vain, but he made a difference in the lives of others. What is missing is a transcendent cause.
B. What is a Transcendent Cause? A meaningful cause is a mission that a man undertakes that adds value to the life of others. This mission transcends time and location, it stretches beyond borders and generations. According to author Robert Lewis, a transcendent cause must have these following characteristics: Heroic - a noble endeavor calling forth bravery and sacrifice. Timeless - it contains significance beyond the moment. Meaningful - it is supremely filled with meaning and value for others
In SFC, there are two transcendent causes we can embrace as our own.
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Building the Church of the Home - God calls us to build up and strengthen the family against the evil forces that seek to undermine it. It starts with personal renewal, then the renewal of marriages and families. Our basic call to evangelize and bring others to Christ is our foremost mission. If we remain faithful to this cause, we will fulfill our SFC vision, that every single man and woman all over the world will experience Christ. Building the Church of the Poor - God calls us to evangelize but also to look after the welfare of the poor. Through ANCOP, we are able to help the poor by giving a child the gift of education, building homes for the homeless, and creating communities of hope.
Now its not enough that we embrace a particular cause. We must also uphold within us values that will hone and channel our masculine strength as we pursue our mission. II. The 7 values of an SFC Knight These are the top seven values that each SFC brother must pledge to uphold. Integrity - Our words and actions are one. We are active witnesses of our faith o Practice what we preach. o Never allow your name to be tarnished by scandalous behavior or affairs. o You keep your word and your promise. No lip-service. Initiative - We reject passivity. We don't wait for others to move but we initiate first. o If you see a need, be the first ones to respond. o When your leader asks you to serve, say YES! Mission readiness is a prerequisite of initiative. o In courtship, you do not keep the lady waiting. Initiate by expressing your intention and feelings first after your discernment. Humility - We regard others as more important without belittling our own worth and abilities. o Never boast about your abilities or achievements. Accord everything to God who provided you with all these. o Take on Christ as your model, who, though he was God, emptied himself and took the form of man (Phil 2) Excellence - We strive to excel in our professional and personal lives and reject mediocrity a. We do the ordinary things extraordinarily well b. Be thorough and diligent when you carry out your tasks c. Always give your 100% to everything.
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Courage - Despite our fears and weakness, we press on and stand up for what is right. a. Do not buckle under pressure but learn to fix your eyes on Jesus b. Do not give up easily but fight the good fight! c. Brothers, encourage one another! There is strength in numbers. Faith - God is our primary source of power and we seek him daily for His grace. o Without faith, it is impossible to please God.(Heb 11:6) o Faith is trusting that God will MOVE. We surrender our will to His. Servant-Leadership - We lead courageously and use our leadership position to serve others. o Leadership brings us to a position to help many. o Use your leadership to bring other men and women close to Christ. o Your leadership is not your identity, but a privilege that can be removed and given to others. Use it wisely.
III.
The Order of SFC Knights A knight does not live and fight alone. The legendary King Arthur had his Knights of the Round Table. We too have our fraternal order of brotherhood and that is SFC. We need to be committed to one another because we need each other to grow in our faith but also to grow in our understanding of authentic masculinity. A. Our Loyalty Our loyalty to one another must be without question. We stick out for one another and we defend each other. If there are disagreements among us, we must learn to work things out in Christian brotherly love. Our love for Christ is what binds us together. B. Our Commitment We are committed to live out the true meaning of authentic manhood as defined by Christ. We commit to love, honor, and build up one another. We are our brothers keeper and we will teach, as well as admonish and correct, one another so that we can grow even more in our faith and service to God. We will challenge one another to bring out the excellence in our actions. C. Our Patron We turn to Christ first and foremost, as the new Adam - the true model of authentic manhood. We look to St. Joseph, the patron of the Church and all fathers that we may learn what it means to live in humility, committed service, and love for Mary.
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We look to St. George, the patron of soldiers. As modern day knights, we look to him as our inspiration to be ready for battle, to defend our sisters from harm. We look to St. Benedict, the patron of learners and those who suffer from diseases. We ask his intercession as we learn about the ways of true manhood. He is also an exemplary model of holiness and spiritual warfare. St. Benedict's Cross/Medal is a powerful sacramental that reminds whoever that wears it, of the power of God to dispel Satan. (See http://www.osb.org/gen/medal.html for more information)
IV.
Ceremony We have now come to the end our Men's Weekend One. We have seen how the model of knighthood is relevant to our times and that we must become modern knights ourselves. We are born into a battle. Satan, in the form of a serpent, waged war upon Gods children in the garden when he tempted our first parents Adam and Eve to sin. This battle continues to rage. The book of Revelation illustrates the devil as a dragon who became angry with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring, those who keep God's commandments and bear witness to Jesus (Rev 12:14) The enemy continues to lie to us. He does not want us to live up to our full potential. He continues to distract men from their true call as Gods sons. Let us now commit ourselves to the duty of knighthood in SFC. A. Commitment Prayer [Have the music ministry play a reflection song. Have the brothers take a knee and bow their heads as you go through the prayers] Lord Jesus, we humbly come to you today. We bear the weakness of Adam, the fist man. Our perception of true manhood has been warped by the influences of the world. I ask you today to renew my understanding of authentic manhood. Restore in my heart the desire to love only you above all else. Reveal to me the purpose for which you have created me, so that I may live life as an adventure, pursuing the mission you call me to fulfill. Fill my heart with virtue and courage, that I may not be afraid to engage in battle for what is right. Teach me to become a true man for Christ. Help me to reject passivity, accept responsibility, lead courageously, and seek the greater reward. Help to know your will that I may obey it. Help me to value the work you have given me. And help me to love the women in my life, my mother, sister, or girlfriend. Jesus, I forgive the men in my life who have failed to witness true manhood. I forgive
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my father, my brothers, my teachers, my priest, and colleagues. If I have suffered any abuse at the hands of men, I release them from my anger and bitterness but hand them over to you. I ask the Holy Spirit to touch these painful moments in my life and pour out waves upon waves of love and healing, that all hurts and wounds become submerged, cleansed, and healed. I also forgive all the women in my life that have sought to undermine my masculinity through their rejection or failure to love. I forgive my mother, my sisters, friends, ex-girlfriends, and colleagues. I ask your forgiveness for my selfish exploitation of women through prostitution, casual sex, pornography, masturbation, and other illicit sexual activity. Lord, hep me discover my gifts and talents that I may apply them to the cause you call me to embrace. As an SFC member, help me to embrace the cause to build the Church of the home, and build the Church of the poor. Help me to be a man of integrity, initiative, and humility. May I be excellent in everything I do and be courageous in the face of evil or danger. Grant me your grace to be humble and to be a true servant-leader to others. I commit myself to the ideals of knighthood and the brotherhood of Christian knights in SFC. I commit myself to my brothers in this room and they can always count on me to be a source of healing, strength, encouragement, correction, and love. B. Bestowing The Armor Of God and the Sword of The Spirit Lord I need you to equip me as a knight that I may be effective in this spiritual battle that I was born into. I now don the armor that St. Paul speaks about in Ephesians 6. I put on the armor of God so that I may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, I put on the armor of God, that I may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold my ground. I will stand fast with my loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and my feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, I hold faith as a shield, to quench all (the) flaming arrows of the evil one. I take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. C. Intercession of Patron Saints and Bestowing of a Sacramental
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I ask for the blessing and intercession of St. Joseph that I may be true to my call as a man and as a future father. May I imitate his love and devotion to our Blessed Mother Mary and his humble service to the child Jesus. I pray to St. George, that I may find courage to battle and slay my dragons, and to rescue the captive women in my life from Satan's lies. May I be a champion of women and be a source of affirmation and love. I pray to St. Benedict, that I may forever be a diligent learner of the ways of Christ. May I imitate his faith and become holy. For holiness is a potent weapon against spiritual warfare.
[The Team Leader now calls the men by name one by one to the front. The brothers will kneel before the leader as he bestows upon them the sacramental (e.g. St. Benedict's cross). If there are many brothers that will be initiated, have a few leaders station themselves in the room and perform the initiation.] Leader: <Name of brother>, are you ready to commit yourself to pursue authentic manhood as modeled by Christ? Participant: I am. Leader: Will you commit to the standards of modern day knighthood, pushing yourself to be excellent in your personal and professional life, and upholding the values we share in SFC? Participant: I will. Leader: <Name of brother>, I bestow upon you this sacramental <e.g. St. Benedict's cross> so that it will be a solemn reminder of your promise today to become a modern day knight for Jesus. You are hereby initiated in a deeper brotherhood in SFC. Go, and be a champion of Christ. Participant: Amen. When all the brothers have been initiated, have the worship leader begin the exhortation for the praisefest. V. Conclusion and Exhortation of Worship Leader Leading to Praisefest My brother knights, are we now ready? SFC has been around for the past eighteen years. The phenomenon of the lack of SFC brothers remains a reality not only in the Philippines, but around most parts of the world as well. The situation is not unique to SFC as it involves the general nature of man wherever he is. Are we now ready to bring back the brothers to SFC? Man was made different from woman as God had his plan for man the same way He had His plans for women. Man fell along the way, but God is willing to restore man to His
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original plan. But along the way, the evil one will continue to thwart Gods plan. Are we ready to fight the battle? As SFC brothers, we are called to be humble, courageous and men of integrity. We will constantly be reminded of these traits with the SFC Brothers crest. Are we ready to live out these virtues? Since we are in a battle, we need as many knights as we can. We need more of the special breed of knights who have fought gallantly beyond the call of duty, at times forsaking the needs of their families. These are our full time pastoral workers and mission volunteers. May I ask these people to come up (on stage) with me? My brothers, notice how few these men are compared to the battle we need to fight. We need more men like this. If you hear a voice in you asking you to be a full time pastoral worker or a mission volunteer, please come up. Are we ready to take our service to the next level and be a fulltime worker or a mission volunteer? We have taken this call to a new level by the knighting we all went through. Let us live the lives of real knights, let us be the real SFC brothers! Praisefest
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Stage 1 Formation References Used. Books

Evert, Jason. Theology of His Body. Westchester, PA: Ascension Press, 2009. Evert, Jason. Theology of Her Body. Westchester, PA: Ascension Press, 2009. Lewis, Robert. Raising A Modern-Day Knight. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 2007. Eldredge, John Wild at Heart. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2001. Eldredge, John and Stasi. Captivating. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2005. Hahn, Scott. First Comes Love. New York: Double Day, 2002.
Websites
"Chivalry." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. January 15, 2001. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chivalry> "Knighthood." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. January 15, 2001. <<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knighthood>
Scripture
Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible with Revised New Testament and Revised Psalms 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C.
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MWI Knights Tales PDF

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Stage 1 Formation

CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST CHRI

Mens Weekend I: Knights Tales

CFC Singles for Christ

Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales

Stage 1 Formation About the Weekend

CFC Singles for Christ

Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales

CFC Singles for Christ

Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales

Stage 1 Formation SFC Men's Weekend 1: KNIGHTS TALES

Session 1: Authentic Manhood

CFC Singles for Christ

Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales

CFC Singles for Christ

Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales

CFC Singles for Christ

Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales

CFC Singles for Christ

Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales

CFC Singles for Christ

Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales

CFC Singles for Christ

Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales

CFC Singles for Christ

Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales

Stage 1 Formation SFC Men's Weekend 1: KNIGHTS TALES

Session 2: A Vision of Manhood

CFC Singles for Christ

Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales

CFC Singles for Christ

Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales

CFC Singles for Christ

Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales

CFC Singles for Christ

Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales

CFC Singles for Christ

Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales

CFC Singles for Christ

Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales

Stage 1 Formation SFC Men's Weekend 1: KNIGHTS TALES

Session 3: A Code of Conduct

CFC Singles for Christ

Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales

CFC Singles for Christ

Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales

CFC Singles for Christ

Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales

CFC Singles for Christ

Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales

CFC Singles for Christ

Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales

CFC Singles for Christ

Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales

CFC Singles for Christ

Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales

CFC Singles for Christ

Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales

CFC Singles for Christ

Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales

CFC Singles for Christ

Men's Weekend 1: Knights Tales

Stage 1 Formation SFC Men's Weekend 1: KNIGHTS TALES