If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do its builders labor

This has been a long Lent. The 40 days of Lent actually are passing rather quickly, but my Lenten disciplines began early this year. Let me explain.

In solidarity with dozens of men in our archdiocese and hundreds more around the country, I have been walking a journey called Exodus 90. It’s a 90-day pilgrimage of prayer, ascetical discipline and fraternity. We chose to begin on January 20 so that we will complete our 90 days on Easter Sunday. As I write this column we are on Day 72.

Like the journey of the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land, men who participate in Exodus 90 embrace these disciplines to grow in freedom and become the men God has called us to be.

Since the Book of Exodus is the pattern for our journey, we spend time each day reading and meditating on that sacred text. The disciplines also include a daily holy hour, fasting and abstaining from meat twice each week, no snacking or sweets, no alcohol, no television or social media, more frequent participation at Mass, regular confession and, oh yeah, cold showers! Since these are rather demanding disciplines, most men acknowledge that the most important and rewarding element of Exodus 90 is the experience of fraternity. We hold one another accountable as we encourage each other to be faithful and generous.

Exodus 90 grew out of a program developed at Mount Saint Mary Seminary to help seminarians break free from habits of sin and live lives of manly virtue. The habits of Exodus 90 turn out to be great spiritual exercises not only for seminarians and priests, but also for husbands, fathers and single men. Bishops too.

I was inspired to begin my own Exodus 90 journey by a group of our younger priests. Last fall, as so many priests, bishops and lay Catholics around the country were struggling to process the painful news of the McCarrick affair and the Pennsylvania grand jury report, these priests decided to take action. Rather than surrender to feelings of helplessness and discouragement they dedicated themselves more intentionally and intensely to prayer and penance. They completed their Exodus 90 several months ago, but their joyful witness to its benefits inspired me to take on this challenge as well.

Men embrace Exodus 90 for a whole host of reasons. Ultimately, we all seek to be the men God created us to be. We want to grow in faith. We want to be free from whatever sins and destructive behaviors hold us back. We want to be better leaders for our families, parishes or dioceses. We want to be more generous and faithful.

My own purpose in beginning and persevering in this long journey has been the desire to do penance and offer sacrifice to the Lord for victims of abuse and in reparation for the sins of priests, deacons and bishops who have committed or been complicit in sins of abuse. Exodus 90 has been a good vehicle for this.

I encourage many more men to consider Exodus 90 for yourself as well as for the good of your marriage and family. Exodus 90 is a reminder that the Lord is calling the Church to renewal through prayer, penance and fellowship with one another. It is reminding us that we all are called to holiness.

The ongoing sexual abuse crisis has been a painful time of purification and soul-searching. It has reminded us that we need to be vigilant. We need to put in place the best policies for vetting ministers, creating and maintaining safe environments, reporting and responding to allegations of abuse and, of course, supporting victims and survivors of abuse.

But, as the psalmist says, “If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do its builders labor.” All our efforts at safeguarding children and renewing the Church must be laid on the firm foundation of faith, prayer and penance. “If the Lord does not watch over the city, in vain does the watchman keep vigil” (Ps 127:1).