Sword & Spade 2022 Fundraiser

Charlie's Challenge

Jason Craig approached me almost four years ago with an idea to publish a magazine for Catholic men. Even with digital media exploding, I supported him because it is clear that we men need something off the screen, something real.

I also agreed, then and now, with the basic premise, that we need real men in the trenches to be the focus of both our readership and the majority of our authors. We need truth and example, word and deed. We need things like Sword&Spade.
But, if you’re a regular reader, you know we aren’t just cheerleaders for men. The authors, editors, and readers of Sword&Spade are not engaged in a navel-gazing affirmation-exchange. With each issue, even (especially) as an editor, I am challenged to rethink the false foundations that I passively accepted from the world.

I recently learned that most magazines only make it to the second year, sometimes to the third. We are in the fourth year. I need you to understand a critical reason this magazine has made it this far, and what it will take to keep it going.

Jason jokes that the reason the magazine works is because he has a mechanic as his co-editor. That’s me. “Mechanic” might be a bit of a stretch, but I do own a multi-generational automotive shop with my brother in downtown Birmingham. We bought the shop from my father, my son joined us in the last year, and we have recently expanded into a new building to accommodate our growing family business. My experience in our shop, seeing the daily realities men face, profoundly shapes my role as an editor, and I am happy to bring that perspective.

I have given countless hours of my time to this magazine. I don’t say this because I want some sort of congratulations or accolade - I want you to join me. My time editing and working on the magazine I do for free. That is, my time is a donation to the magazine. I also donate money. But I am not alone. Countless men are donating their time and efforts to the mission. Again, I want you to join us.

One of these men, who is likely unknown to all readers outside of Birmingham, is my Fraternus brother Ernie. He gives countless hours to managing inventory and sending out back issues to subscribers. This has become his “retirement apostolate.” His professional skill and zeal are things we would not be able to afford were he not to offer it without earthly compensation. All of his efforts of time and manpower add real value to the mission. There is true investment here.

I want you to join men like Ernie and myself in growing Sword&Spade. As you may know, the revenue of the magazine helps support and spread the apostolate of Fraternus, which is the non-profit umbrella organization, but it must also stand on its own two feet. I want you to join us and the mission beyond your subscription.

Fundraising does not come naturally to me, but the courage to do so came from the men in my own community. We were together at Fraternus, and I told them Sword&Spade needed to improve its infrastructure in order to better serve our subscribers (and make it easier on Ernie!). Without even asking, this small band of brothers has pledged over $5,000. They did it because they know the men giving of themselves for this apostolate, and they said this was their way of joining the effort. They wanted to see it grow.

Also, Sword&Spade has partnered with TAN Publishers to produce a virtue-study program that is designed to be used by fathers and their sons in the home with a component to engage within their community as well. This study will be based on the Summa of St. Thomas Aquinas, the lessons from Sacred Scripture, the experience of Fraternus, and the traditional practices necessary to grow in humility and virtue. Strangely, there is no such thing out there already, even though we know that: (a) boys must be formed in virtue by men, (b) the father is the primary guide for this, and (c) we need our broader community to confirm the truths taught at home.

This new virtue-study can help lay the groundwork for potential Fraternus Chapters, but also stands as an option for those for whom a Chapter might not materialize. Your support will help put this resource in their hands.

I look forward to many more years of Sword & Spade, and I want to thank you for being a part of this effort. I am humbled by the readers (who are often writers as well) and their praise of this humble effort. If it is true that most magazine startups flounder around two years, I am happy to settle into the long run with you.

Your Brother,
Charles Rumore
Co-Editor