St. Michael’s Lent Tradition
For today’s show, I’ve titled it “The St. Francis Tradition That Nobody Knows About.” Jamie, you’ve really embraced this on Exodus 90. Can you explain what St. Michael’s Lent is and why it’s important?
Like many devotions, my personal interest played a significant role in bringing St. Michael’s Lent to Exodus 90. I discovered this devotion, which is not an official liturgical season but rather a personal spiritual practice, when I was younger and exploring my faith more deeply.
St. Francis observed many Lents throughout the year—not just the ones we typically think of. In addition to the Lenten season preceding Easter, he practiced a Lent in anticipation of Christmas, and notably, St. Michael’s Lent, which was a devotion to St. Michael the Archangel and the angels. St. Francis had a profound devotion to St. Michael, and this inspired him to dedicate this particular Lent.
St. Bonaventure’s “Life of St. Francis” is one of the main sources that recounts this tradition. According to Bonaventure, St. Francis received the Stigmata at the end of St. Michael’s Lent in 1224. This historical connection adds a deep spiritual significance to the tradition.
This year marks our third year of including St. Michael’s Lent on the Exodus 90 app. The response has been overwhelming and encouraging. This resurgence in interest is a testament to the richness of Catholic traditions waiting to be rediscovered.
The Reach of Exodus 90: Impact on Men Worldwide
Jamie, how many men have participated in Exodus 90 or other programs through Exodus?
We’ve had over 100,000 men participate in Exodus 90, and soon, we’ll reach our 250,000th signup. It’s a staggering number. We launched our app in 2018, but our work began years earlier, and we’ve been growing steadily. This fall marks my ninth year working on Exodus, with St. Michael the Archangel being a special patron for us.
It’s surreal to think about. To visualize it, I compare it to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, which seats around 65,000 people. We’ve filled that stadium almost four times with men who’ve signed up for Exodus programs. It’s a humbling thought.
Personal Journey and Family Faith
Jamie, you mentioned your father’s conversion was a profound experience in your family. What was that like for you?
My father’s conversion had a significant impact on me and my family. It wasn’t just a personal transformation for him; it reshaped our entire household’s approach to faith. Witnessing someone close to you embrace their faith so deeply can ignite a similar passion within you. It inspired me to explore Catholicism more thoroughly, which in turn led me to uncover many of these lesser-known devotions and traditions like St. Michael’s Lent.
The example set by my father and the profound changes that faith brought into our lives fueled my passion for bringing similar transformations to others through Exodus 90. Seeing how many men are rediscovering their faith through these ancient practices is incredibly rewarding.
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