Exodus 90 for Eastern Catholics

[u/Acceptable_Lack_1713]

Just want to get a pulse on what other Eastern Catholics think about modern ascetic practices like Exodus 90.

My own take, as a Byzantine, is that if we feel a draw to things like Exodus 90, it's a signal that we're not engaging with our own Eastern ascetic traditions meaningfully, nevermind the fact that it puts us at odds with our calendar, fasting when we should rightfully be feasting in some cases.

By no means do I want to cast shade on the program and the good fruit it bears in the lives of some, I just want to hear what others think on the topic.

[u/LobsterJohnson34]

I find it weird and off putting that we have managed to turn fasting into a subscription service.

By all means, we need to be more serious about fasting. But let's start by following the fasts that the church prescribes for us, not by making up our own or reviving obscure devotional fasts.

[u/Blade_of_Boniface → u/LobsterJohnson34]

I've always been leery at anything that uses electronics in a theological/spiritual sense. It strikes as an attempt to commodify religion with the pretense of "reviving."

[u/Highwayman90]

I think it's a bit of a case of reinventing the wheel.

That said, some people seem to benefit from it, and insofar as we can create small groups to support each other in our spiritual life and fasting, that aspect can be good.

[u/Hookly]

I (admittedly still canonically Roman) am of the same opinion. I think it’s great that there’s an interest in increasing fasting and prayer but if the church already prescribes for us a system of how to do that, I think we should engage in that way. And one can even incorporate more fasting into the Roman tradition while still making time for properly engaging in feasts

Living out the liturgical calendar is how we within the church should strive to live, with its system of fasts and feasts helping us to grow in faith

[u/teamaugustine]

Perhaps it's unrrelated, but I recently learnt that Carmelites (and other cloistered orders, I suppose?), in addition to their year-round abstitence from meat, practice fasting since September 14 (Feast of the Holy Cross) up until Easter Sunday, rather than starting from Ash Wednesday. It impresses me a lot.

[u/infernoxv]

what is ‘Exodus 90’?

[u/Acceptable_Lack_1713 → u/infernoxv]

A voluntary ascetical regime for men that lasts for 90 days. Usually starts on January 1st and involves the following:

cold showers

no alcohol

no desserts & sweets

no eating between meals

no soda or sweetened drinks

no television or movies or televised sports (without permission from the fraternity)

only listen to music that lifts the soul to God

only use computer for work, school, essential tasks

only use mobile device for essential communications (delete unnecessary apps)

regular and intense daily exercise

no major material purchases (without permission from the fraternity)

at least seven hours of sleep each night 

[u/infernoxv → u/Acceptable_Lack_1713]

some of it sounds good and sensible even from a non-religious POV (e.g. no soda or sweetened drinks, sufficient sleep and excercise), some bits sound like they could be profitable depending on consultation with one’s spiritual father/mother (the music bit), some parts sound disturbingly controlling (finances, televised sports).

the small ascetical things could well be done by anyone.

the second category, by the fact that i’ve mentioned the prudence of consulting a spiritual father, should already be obviously things that one ought not undertake independently. music and entertainment should be used prudently, but there should be no blanket bans. for example, nobody is going to convince me that somehow a Mozart piano sonata is in the same category as a rap track.

the third category is needlessly controlling - non-monastics should not give up control of their finances to some arbitrary external authority. this is the same reservation i have with Opus Dei.

[u/DirtDiver12595]

I question why any Eastern Catholic would need something like Exodus 90, considering we fast for over half the year...

Unlike Latins we actually take asceticism seriously so things like Exodus 90 aren't really needed. Also, undertaking serious ascetical disciplines not prescribed by the Church and not under the supervision of one's spiritual father is dangerous.

Asceticism is not just a way to act "spiritually tough and manly" despite how Exodus 90 and its adherents seem to market it. Asceticism is spiritual medicine for our wounded souls. We have received a tradition of weekly and liturgical fasts that correspond with the feasts and fasts of the liturgical year. We should be taking this up with joy rather than trying to create our own new thing from scratch that wasn't handed down to us by the Church.

[u/Artistic_Ideal_1947]

Looks g*y.