In this episode of *The Manly Catholic*, I sit down with Chris Lewis, the artist and founder behind Baritus Catholic Illustration. Chris is a Catholic convert, husband, father, and craftsman who has made it his mission to fight back against the ugliness of modern culture through beauty. His story is one of struggle, suffering, and courage—lung cancer, career changes, and ultimately, a total surrender to God’s call on his life.

This isn’t just a conversation about art. It’s about the Catholic man’s responsibility to stand guard over beauty, to resist counterfeit creativity like AI-generated “art,” and to recover the discipline and craftsmanship that once built cathedrals. Chris shares how his battle with cancer reoriented his life and how beauty brought him back to God in a powerful way.

We talk about conversion, liturgical living, discipline, and the dangers of compartmentalizing our Catholic faith. Chris doesn’t hold back on calling out the cultural rot in entertainment, art, and media and he reminds us of the need for Catholic men to fight on the frontlines by living lives of integrity, order, and truth.

*The Challenge:*
I challenge every Catholic man listening: stop compartmentalizing your life. Stop being Catholic on Sunday and secular the rest of the week. Live an integrated life where your faith is not one piece of the puzzle but the very foundation. Order your home, your habits, and your work under Christ, and let beauty be your weapon in the fight for souls.

*Products/References Mentioned:*

1) Baritus Catholic Illustration - check out Chris's incredible work here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BaritusCatholic?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=baritus+catholic_e&utm_campaign=Search_US_Nonbrand_GGL_ENG_General-Nonbrand_Shops_All&utm_ag=Nonbrand%2BCatch-All%2B%5BShops%2FSellers%5D&utm_custom1=_k_CjwKCAjwlaTGBhANEiwAoRgXBVbp6ZH2fEt91ZifMdHkKM3xMae27BFU1w0AdNPnj27OuKcMJMAwmhoCkFoQAvD_BwE_k_&utm_content=go_19734138608_143645951022_649256730887_kwd-1330594980154_c_&utm_custom2=19734138608&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19734138608&gbraid=0AAAAADtcfRJzpjmGinWObF4snl222ZzGQ&gclid=CjwKCAjwlaTGBhANEiwAoRgXBVbp6ZH2fEt91ZifMdHkKM3xMae27BFU1w0AdNPnj27OuKcMJMAwmhoCkFoQAvD_BwE&dd_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

2) Follow Chris on X - https://x.com/BaritusCatholic

3) Rome Sweet Home by Dr. Scott Hahn - incredible conversion story is a must-read: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rome+sweet+home&hvadid=695227964625&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9192441&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=12279188991594175291--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=12279188991594175291&hvtargid=kwd-398378250&hydadcr=8234_13544367&mcid=8b7c55dcc4263f0b9ff1ab2d7ff7c182&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_4urrtm3nj3_e_p67

*3 Powerful Quotes from the Episode:*

1. “Life is about struggling to learn a craft. Life is about investing time in something that’s meaningful.”

2. “We need to really be the ones protecting art. It’s up to Catholics to be the gatekeepers and say, no—we’re protecting this because it leads people back to God.”

3. “If you’re Catholic on Sunday but live like the world the rest of the week, you’re losing the battle. Faith isn’t part of your life; it must be your life.”

*Key Takeaway for Catholic Men:*

Begin living liturgically. Anchor your family life in the Church calendar, feast days, and sacraments. This discipline will order everything else from your work, your fatherhood, and your habits and protect you from becoming a man divided.