To ring in the Lenten season, “Jesuitical” is talking Exodus 90, a 90-day ascetic spiritual practice for men centered around three pillars: prayer, fasting and fraternity. Terence Sweeney, an assistant teaching professor in the Honors Program and Humanities Department at Villanova University, joins Zac and Ashley to chat about the hugely popular program—why people love it, what it leaves out and what Catholics who don’t participate can learn from it.

They discuss:

- The absence of communal Lenten practices in today’s church and how Exodus 90 tries to fill that void

- Exodus 90’s shortcomings and the dangers of spiritual meritocracy in ascetic practice

- What all Catholics can take from Exodus 90 this Lent

In this week’s Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley are joined by Christine Lenahan, one of America’s O’Hare Fellows. They discuss controversial depictions of Christ, from the “He Gets Us” Super Bowl ads and a new painting of Jesus that caused quite an uproar in Seville, Spain.

What’s on tap?

Water. Happy Lent.

Jesuitical is going on the road in 2024! We hope you’ll join us. And if you’d like Zac and Ashley to come to your city, send us an email at [email protected]

Feb. 28: Crystal City Marriott Hotel in Arlington, VA Live interview with Cardinal Wilton Gregory on “A Listening Church in a Divided Nation” from 7-8 p.m. Reception to follow from 8-9 p.m. Please RSVP here.

March 18: Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Live interview with American TV Newscaster Carol Costello. Time and venue TBD.

Links from the show:

- Fasting, praying and working out: What ‘Exodus 90’ gets right—and wrong—about asceticism for men

- Controversial artistic depictions of Jesus are nothing new

- In defense of the ‘He Gets Us’ Super Bowl ads

- 101 Things To Give Up For Lent

- Terence Sweeney's podcast episode, "A Medieval Anti-racist"

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