The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J.

The poet and theologian, Pádraig Ó Tuama, joins James Martin, S.J., on “The Spiritual Life” podcast to talk about how poetry and the Taizé community became a lifeline for Pádraig after he was subjected to multiple exorcisms, attempting to cast out his homosexuality as a form of conversion therapy.

Pádraig is the host of On Being’s podcast, “Poetry Unbound,” and has published volumes of poetry, essays, a memoir and has written on theological topics. His books include:

 Being Here: Prayers for Curiosity, Justice, and Love

Kitchen Hymns

Timecodes:

0:00 What do you really want?

1:25 The conversion therapies inflicted upon Pádraig Ó Tuama

7:00 Pádraig’s younger years among the Catholic charismatic movement

11:24 How Pádraig accepted his homosexuality and renewed his faith

17:40 Coming out as a poet and being haunted by Emily Dickenson 

25:44 Pádraig’s understanding of prayer

32:25 Practicing the Stations of the Cross 

37:45 Required spiritual practices for reconciliation

43:20 How to deal with criticism

51:40 Audience Question: What practices can I bring from retreats into my daily life?

Read Fr. Jim's article reflecting on poetry and prayer.

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: [email protected]

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James Martin, S.J., is joined by James K.A. Smith on the “The Spiritual Life” podcast. Jamie is a leading scholar of St. Augustine, and a professor of philosophy at Calvin University. He’s written several books—including Desiring the Kingdom, You Are What You Love, On the Road with Saint Augustine, and his latest, Make Your Home in This Luminous Dark: Mysticism, Art, and the Path of Unknowing. Together, they chart the contours of St. Augustine’s life, spirituality, and theological patrimony in the Church, along with Jamie’s own spiritual life.  

Timecodes:

0:00 Adopting a refugee spirituality

1:40 Introducing James K.A. Smith and Augustinian spirituality

6:39 Jamie meets God through his wife’s family

11:00 How St. Augustine became a spiritual lifeline for Jamie

13:30 A thumbnail sketch of St. Augustine’s life

19:10 “Everybody’s got a hungry heart” 

30:40 Praying with the German mystic Meister Eckhart

33:46 Tracking your desires in the spiritual life

36:10 The relationship between Pope Leo XIV, the Augustianians, and Augustine45:15 Audience Question: How can we reconcile the "two churches" of today: a church that follows Jesus and a more "worldy church"?

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Editor-in-chief of Orbis Books, Robert Ellsberg cut his teeth as an editor of The Catholic Worker newspaper when he was just 20  years old. There he also traded literary notes with the great Catholic writer, activist and now “Servant of God,” Dorothy Day. On this episode of “The Spiritual Life,” Robert joins host James Martin, S.J., to share what he learned from Dorothy and his time at the Catholic Worker about ordinary holiness. 

Timecodes:

0:00 Spiritual improv at the Catholic Worker

1:15 Introducing Robert Ellsberg, Orbis editor-in-chief

3:15 A primer on Servant of God, Dorothy Day

7:00 How Robert Ellsberg fell into the Catholic Worker at only 20 y.o.

13:50 Robert’s spiritual crisis and eventual conversion to Catholicism

15:50 Life at the Catholic Worker and getting to know Dorothy Day 

22:40 “Don’t call me a saint” and Dorothy’s own expression of holiness

32:46 Letting go of the need to have the last word

35:33 Encountering God in nature

37:12 Audience Question: What saints can assist my prayer when I feel desolation around the church?

Read Fr. Jim's ⁠article on Dorothy Day

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American culture often tries to emphasize “learning lessons” in the middle of suffering. For example, “Everything happens for a reason.” But Kate Bowler doesn’t think those “lessons”  are coming from God; rather, God draws close to the brokenhearted and accompanies them. On this episode of “The Spiritual Life” podcast host James Martin, S.J. is joined by scholar of American religion history, Kate Bowler, who is also the creator of the popular podcast “Everything Happens” and the author of bestselling books including Everything Happens for a Reason (and Other Lies I’ve Loved) and No Cure for Being Human. Her latest book is Joyful, Anyway!

Timecodes:

0:00 God’s grace is not like math

1:05 Who is Kate Bowler?

5:22 How getting diagnosed with stage 4 cancer changed Kate’s faith

11:55 What not to say to someone who is suffering

19:38 How to accompany those who suffer

26:37 The problem with happiness and “good vibes only”

31:32 The paradox and practice of joy

44:10 Kate’s spiritual practices of honesty and service

47:35 Why its so hard to suffer in America

50:00 Audience Question: How do we believe in a just and loving God in the midst of an unjust and unloving world?

56:30 Kate’s blessing

Read Fr. Jim's article on suffering

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: [email protected]

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Cristóbal Fones, SJ, is many things- a talented musician, a Jesuit and the international director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network. He joins host James Martin, S.J., on “The Spiritual Life” podcast to share how he learned to pray from a place of deep emotional connection and authenticity, and how, from his new post at the Vatican, he coordinates the prayer petitions for the Catholic church.

Timecodes:

0:00 Why we pray with Cristóbal Fones

1:00 Understanding the morning offering and the Sacred Heart

7:10 The pope has a prayer network 

16:08 Praying with the Sacred Heart includes our emotions

23:50 Cristóbal is called to be a Jesuit and inculturate Christ’s message in music 

37:00 Music can affect how you relate to God

46:32 What Jesuits do on retreat

51:00 Audience Question: Why do Catholics pray to saints and how does that work?

Read Fr. Jim's article on The Sacred Heart

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