By Archbishop Julian Porteous (Archbishop of Hobart), March 2022.
“But the time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them and then they will fast”.
We have begun the season of Lent. In the light of the Gospel reading and the Lord’s reference to his disciples fasting, I would like to speak asceticism.
We all know that Lent is a time of self-denial. Catholics have long known that they should “give up something for Lent”. So, we choose some small disciplines for the period of the Lenten season. Is this enough?
In Christian teaching self-denial or asceticism has always been seen as an important means of spiritual growth. The Lord taught that fasting and self-denial was to have a place in the Christian life. As we saw in the Gospel reading when challenged about the fact that his disciples were not fasting Jesus commented that when the bridegroom (referring to Himself) is taken away “then they will fast”. (Lk 5:35)
Jesus expected that his disciples would embrace a spirit of self-denial when he said, "And anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me is unworthy of me". (Mt 10:38) We know that we need to embrace acts of self-denial and each Lent this call is placed clearly before us.
The word ‘asceticism’ comes from the Greek askesis which means practice, bodily exercise, and more especially, athletic training. From the earliest times Christians understood that various acts of self-denial were a means of acquiring habits of virtue. They are like undergoing a spiritual fitness regime.
Many people today go regularly to the gym. At the gym they train hard, pushing their bodies – “No pain, no gain”. They are prepared to endure the hardship because they want to be fit. If asceticism is about spiritual fitness, we have to ask whether some more or less token act of self-denial is sufficient. It is like just spending five minutes in a gym.
Recently I have become aware of a program called Exodus 90. It was developed by a priest in the United States to assist seminarians develop asceticism in their spiritual life. It attracted attention beyond the seminary and has now been developed as a program of asceticism especially for men. To date, the program has reached over 50,000 men in more than 70 countries around the world.
For Lent this year Exodus Lent proposes that the participant take on a serious program of ascetical practices during the Lenten season. They recommend regular, intense physical exercise and ensuring that you get a full night’s sleep with at least seven hours recommended.
Then they propose a number of disciplines: abstain from desserts and sweets; abstain from eating between meals; abstain from sweet drinks (milk, black coffee, and black tea are permissible)
They further propose that we abstain from video games (and I would add television); abstain from non-essential material purchases; only listen to music that lifts the soul to God; only use the computer for work or essential tasks; only use mobile devices for essential communications; cut out non-essential texting, app, and internet use; take Wednesdays and Fridays as days of fasting and abstinence.
Along with these acts of self-denial the program encourages a commitment to daily prayer of at least twenty minutes a day – they actually propose one full hour of prayer. It also recommends that each participant join of group of men who have decided to undertake Exodus Lent in order to receive fraternal support.
This may seem a radical commitment to Lenten disciplines, however, it reminds us that asceticism is something that should be taken seriously. The program claims that men who have taken on such ascetical practices have grown in Christian character and are more robust in their faith.
The Christian spiritual tradition has long recognised the value of asceticism. Taking on some form of ascetism enables the Christian to combat habits of sin. Being able to control our desire for comforts and indulgences strengthens our ability to resist temptation.
Asceticism helps us contend with the excesses of contemporary culture. Our modern culture has deified entertainment, luxury, and physical pleasure. While we know we should be resisting these temptations, in reality we know that we are all so immersed in this culture that it has become really difficult not to be shaped by it. Asceticism helps us to set our hearts on the greater goods and to resist laxity of heart and so open our hearts to be transformed by grace.
Practicing asceticism moves our hearts away from selfishness. We have become so used to having all our cravings met that we have become self-indulgent. Our spirits have become dull under the weight of our comforts. We need to set our spirits free so that we can truly advance in the spiritual life.
Asceticism, in the end, is an act of love. Love by its nature directs us towards the other. Developing asceticism lifts us away from self-focus and frees us to be more concerned with the needs of others. Charity flows more freely once our lives are purified by asceticism.
Brothers I would propose to you that you do not do one act of self-denial this Lent, but at least five. Let us go into serious spiritual training.