Abstract

During the papacies of Benedict XV and Pius XI, a tumultuous era marked by the rise of fascism and communism, a clash over definitions of what correct masculinity should be, emerged within nation-states. Governments critical of Christianity, influenced by Nietzsche’s philosophy, viewed religion as endorsing a “feminine” and “weak” form of masculinity. In the United States, some Protestant and secular factions saw Catholicism as imbued with femininity, believing its male adherents lacked assertiveness, deferring to priests, and potentially relinquishing their agency and independence. Catholicism, in turn, rejected the contemporary American notion of masculinity, considering it a threat to men’s spiritual salvation. In response, the Catholic Church promoted a robust form of masculinity through initiatives like The Society of the Holy Name, a Dominican devotion prominent in early twentieth-century American Catholicism. The Society aimed to reinforce Catholic masculinity by venerating Christ’s name and encouraging active sacramental participation. The Church identified two main adversaries: atheists and those who disparaged Christ through profanity and indecent language. This article explores the origins of the crisis in masculinity and the archetype of manhood advocated by the Holy Name Society. It also examines the Church’s efforts to propagate a specific form of masculinity in a society averse to Catholic beliefs.