A Catholic spiritual exercise for men that enriches faith through self-discipline is gaining steam worldwide. Exodus 90 is a one-of-a-kind movement that challenges Catholic men to strengthen their faith through prayer and withdrawal from modern comforts. The program calls men of all ages back to the foundations of the faith, with the Book of Exodus as a guide.
The program is rigorous and challenging — similar to the P90X workout routine, but for the soul. For 90 days, participants in Exodus 90 are challenged to commit to a rigorous faith-practice schedule based on three pillars drawn from Exodus: prayer, asceticism, and fraternity. A press release explains that the program will equip Catholic men to “battle a culture of self-indulgence and disordered passions.”
The program
Over an intensive three-month period, participants must commit to keeping one holy hour per day and practice fasting at least two days per week. The men of Exodus 90 are then urged to limit use of technology, aside from what is needed for work. Another challenge is to offer up personal sacrifices, such as taking cold showers.
All the while participants are divided into small fraternities for accountability and support. These groups are diverse, with members from all generations and walks of life. The young men learn from the experiences of their elders, while the older generations hear the perspectives of younger men. Members are encouraged to maintain these friendships after the 90 days are concluded.
Humble origins
Exodus 90 has grown into a worldwide lay movement from its humble beginnings as a seminary formation program. It was originally designed, in 2013, to help young men find personal freedom in preparation of the priesthood. Feedback from seminarians, however, suggested that the program had great potential for success with lay men of all ages.
Eight years later, Exodus 90 is thriving on FOCUS college campuses, Knights of Columbus Councils, and parishes around the globe. According to a press release, over 50,000 men, including priests and bishops, have completed Exodus 90. Their report states that 99% of participants report experiencing a freedom from previous attachments to sinful acts by day 91.
According to James Baxter, former seminarian and now CEO of Exodus 90, some men who are attracted to the program are hesitant to join. They worry that the requirement to abstain from modern distractions could negatively impact their family life. Baxter says that the reality is just the opposite:
“Husbands and fathers who take on Exodus 90, regardless of their age or how long they’ve been married, experience a new freedom from worldly attachments and are able to be more present to their families,” shares Baxter. “By building up men in the Church, we’re helping to restore the family unit and cultivate a new culture for the next generation.”
Challenging but gratifying
To keep the program accessible to all age groups, it is geared towards men at all stages of their faith journey.Young men often join to deepen their faith outside of traditional parish programs or Bible study. The challenges of the program can seem daunting, but according to Nathaniel Binversie, Director of Content for Exodus 90, they are also what keep men interested and attentive to their goals.
“Men thrive on challenge, and Exodus 90 can be an attractive path to a deeper relationship with Christ in everyday life,” Binversie said in a press release.
Exodus 90 welcomes any Catholic man who wishes to deepen his faith and break harmful habits. Membership comes with an app to track personal progress on the challenge and enable communication within groups.
Visit Exodus 90 to learn more and join today.
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