What I Learned from Exodus90 - St. Michael’s Lent, Deacon Chris Jasek
Beginning Friday, August 15 MGFP will begin St. Michael’s Lent. It is a 45-day spiritual exercise for men from Exodus90. It begins August 15 (Solemnity of the Assumption) and ends September 29 (Feast of Saint Michael and the Archangels).
I’ve done this program in the past. I was motivated to try it because I was tired of the bad habits in my life and I longed to break free for my spouse and family. I also wanted to build fraternity with other men of faith. Rather than dealing with “things” on my own, I knew I needed more community and wisdom from brothers in Christ in my life.
Some of the disciplines of this program looked very challenging to me - getting up to pray on Friday’s at 2am, fasting and taking a cold shower twice a week, and giving up social media. It was going to be tough, but I knew I needed this!
Here is what I learned through this exercise:
The importance of daily prayer and reflection - it made my life so much deeper and more meaningful
The strength, wisdom, and brotherhood that comes from being in fraternity with other Christian men. No man is an island.
That I can do hard things (e.g., giving up social media for 45 days) and feel a sense of victory in them.
How important fasting and rest is to a fulfilled life. Times of sacrifice and work need to be balanced with times of celebration.
Brothers in Christ, I invite you to join me, Fr. Tony, Joe Ollier, and other MGFP men August 15 as we begin St. Michael’s Lent. It is going to be a challenge, but we’ll grow in fraternity with each other and be better men in the end. Let’s go!
St. Michael’s Lent involves following certain disciplines each day or week. Some of the key disciplines are: a weekly 60min meeting with your fraternity of men from MGFP, daily prayer and reflection, and weekly fasting. Read more about the details of St. Michaels Lent here - https://exodus90.com/blog/st-michaels-lent-reality-unveiled/. There is also a $20 cost to subscribe to the Exodus90 app for 2 months.
Please sign up by Sunday, August 10 so we can organize our fraternity groups and get prepared to begin on August 15. A kickoff meeting will take place the evening of Monday, August 11 (more details to come).
