What Makes a Man?

May 1 is one of those days that is torn in different directions. It is a day in history marred by violence. In 1886 workers took to the streets demanding an eight-hour workday. Four days into the protests, a blast took the lives of 7 police offices; wounding another 67 in Chicago.

Law enforcement’s reaction was swift, and ugly. The police opened fire on the crowd, killing an undetermined number of protesters and wounding an estimated two hundred more. Three years later the International Socialist Conference declared May 1 as an international holiday to honor all those who labored, and to remember those who had died. This sparked a growing interest in American and throughout the world in Socialist movements. So concerned was the Vatican that in 1955 Pope Pius XIII declared May 1 to be known as the Feast Day of Saint Joseph the Worker, patron saint of workers, fathers and social justice. It did not matter that the feast day of Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary already existed. As far as the Vatican was concerned an alternative needed to be created to combat the rise of the Communist Labor Union.

While America has always been a place of religious freedom, President Eisenhower felt more than a Catholic Feast Day was necessary to combat Communism, especially one that might be misunderstood as a sign of solidarity with the Socialist Conference. International Workers’ Day and Saint Joseph, Worker could easily be misunderstood as an alliance between the two. So it was that in July 1958 President Eisenhower signed a resolution declaring May 1 as “Loyalty Day” – a day set aside for Americans to reaffirm their pledge of loyalty to American. Most Americans don’t think about International Workers’ Day or a need to pledge alliance to America on a particular day. While parishes around the world might mention the Feast Day of Saint Josephs the Worker, no one remembers the reason the feast was created in the first place.

With a growing trend of fathers and husbands absent from the home, we need to place a greater emphasis on the importance of these roles in the lives of our children. Masculinity is not a cancerous tumor that needs to be cut out of our society. God created men to be strong, to be protectors and providers, and to be men of strong faith. This is not an indication that women are weak, or that we cannot provide, but that we were created for different roles. Men and woman should compliment one another and work in harmony. Marriage is not ownership. It is a union, a partnership. So many men today in their 30s and 40s are lost because we have cut them off not only from their calling but their sense of self. The truth is we need each other. A good man brings out the best in a woman, just as a good woman brings out the best in a man.

Spicy Tilapia Enchilada Supper
1 Lime
1/2 teaspoon Cumin
1/2 teaspoon Mesquite Seasoning
Pinch Hot Pepper Seasoning Blend
Salt to taste
1/2 White Onion
4 Tilapia Fillets
2 tablespoons Spicy Olive Oil
6 Corn Tortillas
2 cups Fire Roasted Salsa Verde
1 cup Pepper Jack Cheese

Heat oven to 375-degrees. Spray a 13-inch by 9 inch casserole dish with cooking spray, set aside.

Zest lime into a small bowl. Cut lime in half, juice over the zest. In another bowl combine Cumin, Mesquite, Hot Pepper Seasonings and salt. Set aside.

Cut onion in half from root to tip, reserve half for another purpose. Dice remaining half, set aside.

Season Tilapia with half of the spice blend. Warm oil in a skillet large enough to hold the fish without over crowding over medium-high heat.

Once the oil is hot, place the fish in the skillet seasoned-side down to fry. Let cook for about 3 minutes. Season with remaining spice just before turning the fish over. Continue to fry another 3 minutes or until flakey. Remove from heat. Let the fish cool slightly, then flake into pieces with a fork. Toss with zested lime juice and set aside.

Warm the tortillas in a dry skillet for about 20 seconds per side. Lay tortillas on a flat work surface. Divide the flaked fish between the tortillas, then top with diced onions. Roll tightly and place in the prepared casserole dish, seam-side down.

Pour Verde Salsa over the enchiladas. Sprinkle with Pepper Jack Cheese. Bake in the heated oven until the cheese is bubbling and just beginning to brown, about 10 minutes or so.

Remove enchiladas from the oven and serve alongside favorites such as Mexican Rice.

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I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;
No one comes to the Father except through me.