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

Liza Colón-Zayas of "The Bear" speaks honestly about her struggles with faith

Tue, 12 May 2026 04:00:00 -0000

If you’ve watched “The Bear” you’ve seen the incredible talent of the Emmy award-winning supporting actress, Liza Colón-Zayas, who plays Tina. But you might not know that Liza has overcome great spiritual hardship on her journey to noterirty. She joins her friend and host of “The Spiritual Life” podcast Fr. James Martin, S.J. to talk about her Catholic upbringing, how she escaped a cult, persevered through the ups and downs of the entertainment industry, and where she finds hope in her ancestral roots today. 0:00 Faith at its best reflects social justice 2:15 Liza plays a Puerto Rican Mother Teresa 5:10 How Liza persevered in Hollywood 9:20 Liza’s early struggles with faith communities 14:09 Doing away with the “parole officer” image of God 22:45 A spiritual practice of breathing meditations and gratitude 25:37 The power of discovering ancestral roots 33:00 The Catholic church and sexual abuse 34:55 Dealing with success and imposter’s syndrome 36:34 Audience Question: Taking less money for a spiritually fulfilling job? Link to Father Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode: ‘The Bear’ actress Liza Colón-Zayas’s spiritual journey—to agnosticism

https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2026/05/11/liza-colon-zayas-spiritual-life/ Do you have a spiritual question for Father Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe

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Filipino Cardinal “Ambo” David on hearing God's voice in the Bible

Tue, 05 May 2026 04:00:00 -0000

In this episode of The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J., Fr. Martin speaks with Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David, Bishop of Kalookan, Philippines. Elevated to the College of Cardinals in 2024 by Pope Francis, the ministry of Cardinal “Ambo” has been marked by a deep solidarity with those on the margins, with whom he’s established 21 urban mission stations in poor communities affected by violence. With a doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Catholic University of Louvain, Cardinal Ambo shares his Ignatian approach of “reading between the lines of scripture,” without forgetting the very important “dots” we connect through biblical scholarship.

Timecodes:

0:00 Prayer is necessary to survive

2:50 What’s an Ignatian approach towards scripture?

5:19 How Cardinal Ambo received his nickname and why he prefers it to “Your Eminence”

7:28 Cardinal Ambo’s early calling to the priesthood

14:05 Biblical scholarship establishes the dots, Ignatian Contemplation helps connect them

21:30 How studying Aramaic allows Cardinal Ambo to better understand Jesus

24:50 The urban mission stations that bring hope to the poor

30:40 What characterizes Filipino-Catholic spirituality?

32:30 Audience Question: How does Jesus’ resurrection change reality?

Read Fr. Jim's article on Ignatian contemplation: Coming Soon

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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How Andrew Sullivan experienced God amidst fear and agony

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -0000

James Martin, S.J., speaks with Andrew Sullivan, the renowned political commentator and Catholic writer, about faith, identity and spiritual transformation in this deeply personal episode of “The Spiritual Life” podcast. Having struggled through the AIDS crisis of the 80s and 90s, Andrew opens up about the initial fear of gay people in the Catholic Church and the remarkable shift that he believes has taken place over the past few decades.

Chapters

00:00 Who is Andrew Sullivan?

4:20 Homosexuality and the Catholic Church

11:14 State of the LGBTQ movement

15:35 How Pope Francis dispelled fear

21:38 God in the midst of agony

31:31 Andrew's turbulent Catholic life

41:04 Staying rooted spiritually

44:55 Reconciling personal experience in the church

Links:

Fr. Martin's spiritual advice column on this conversation: https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2026/04/27/james-martin-andrew-sullivan-spiritual-life

“The Weekly Dish”: https://andrewsullivan.substack.com/

Virtually Normal: An Argument About Homosexuality: https://www.amazon.ca/Virtually-Normal-Argument-about-Homosexuality/dp/0679746145

Interview: Andrew Sullivan on being openly gay and Catholic by Thomas H. Stahel: https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2022/11/10/vantage-point-america-andrew-sullivan-244119

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Cardinal Blase Cupich on how the Mass can change your life

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -0000

Cardinal Blase Cupich, the Archbishop of Chicago, joins James Martin, S.J., on “The Spiritual Life” podcast to talk about his vocation story, the spiritual power of the Mass, and the necessity of preaching the Gospel during tumultuous political times.

Cardinal Cupich is the Archbishop of Chicago, one of three U.S. cardinals who currently runs a diocese, and is also a member of the Dicastery for Bishops.

00:00 Who is Cardinal Cupich?

2:32 Explaining Lectio Divina

5:33 Explaining the Liturgy of the Hours

8:17 Cardinal Cupich's vocation story

12:32 Prayer isn't just personal

19:40 How the Mass changes your life

25:48 The spiritual life of a bishop

29:12 Working with Pope Leo XIV

32:32 Being political vs. preaching the Gospel

37:00 Audience question: Why is Confession important?

Links:

Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice column on the Sacrament of Confession

Cardinal Cupich's archdiocesan column

Cardinal Cupich on retrieving the Consistent Ethic of Life

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Pádraig Ó Tuama on poetry, conflict resolution, and the Stations of the Cross

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -0000

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: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Our human desire for God, with the Augustine scholar James K.A. Smith

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -0000

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 Augustine
45:15 Audience Question: How can we reconcile the "two churches" of today: a church that follows Jesus and a more "worldy church"?

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Catholic and Anarchist: The Spiritual Wisdom of Dorothy Day

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0000

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

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Kate Bowler on how to accompany those who are suffering

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0000

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: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Jesuit musician Cristóbal Fones on praying with the Pope

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0000

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

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Gregory Maguire’s spiritual journey–From a Catholic orphanage to ‘Wicked’-fame

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0000

Long before he wrote “Wicked” Gregory Maguire has been weaving careful attention into his artistic pursuits and his prayer. He joins host James Martin, S.J. on “The Spiritual Life” podcast to talk about his spiritual journey, from a Catholic orphanage and formative education with religious sisters who helped him draw his first picture of God, to his current practice of seeing Jesus’ face on the margins.

Timecodes

0:00 Introducing Gregory Maguire, author of “Wicked”
5:04 The tragic circumstances surrounding Gregory’s birth
11:42 Gregory’s first image of God
17: 45 Discerning the shape of his own ministry
25:42 The art of paying attention + studying people’s faces
35:55 Are there Christ-figures in “Wicked”?
40:40 The experience of being gay and marginalized
42:50 Audience Question: What advice would you give to a young, gay, Catholic striving to live authentically?

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Kathleen Norris on treating spiritual dryness, jealousy, and bad thoughts

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0000

New York Times bestselling writer, Kathleen Norris, joins host James Martin, S.J., on “The Spiritual Life” podcast to share her experience with Benedictine monks, which formed the basis of her beloved book "The Cloister Walk," and to introduce her new book, "Rebecca Sue," a memoir about her younger sister who had a developmental disability. Kathleen retrieves spiritual wisdom from the ancient desert fathers and mothers on dealing with perennial psychological challenges, including jealousy, boredom, and bad thoughts. Timecodes: 0:00 Bad thoughts, not sin, was the focus in Early Christianity 1:10 The “Kathleen Norris-effect” 4:37 Getting to know the desert fathers and mothers 9:10 Kathleen Norris gets acquainted with monastic life 17:58 Hospitality is at the core of Benedictine spirituality 26:30 Rebecca Sue- Kathleen’s sister with a mental disability 30:57 Dealing with jealousy 33:15 Finding God in the desert 37:15 How the desert fathers and mothers dealt with sin 39:35 Acedia-restlessness, sadness, boredom 45:20 Audience Question: How important should it be that the parish we attend feel like a spiritual home? Read Fr. Jim’s review of Kathleen's book, "Rebecca Sue": https://www.americamagazine.org/books/2026/02/12/review-kathleen-norris-on-a-sisters-love/ Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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A Black, gay Catholic priest on living authentically

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Fr. Bryan Massingale is a Black, openly gay priest, but not, in his own words, “a hybrid car,” that can be segmented into identity categories. Instead, he’s compound reality, a mystery made by God’s grace. Bryan joins host James Martin, S.J., on “The Spiritual Life” podcast to talk about the values of authenticity and integrity in his life and ministry.

Timecodes:

0:00 Bringing God’s love forth

2:38 Why Bryan’s race and sexuality are significant

5:36 Challenges of being a Black and gay Catholic priest

11:35 How Bryan came out as gay

17:40 Authenticity frees us and others

25:55 Bryan’s advice to someone struggling with the church

29:38 The church’s tragic track record on racism

34:53 Why Bryan remains in the church despite racism

39:34 The spiritual practice of journaling & music

44:45 Audience Question: What can parents of L.G.B.T.Q. children do when their kids refuse to come to Mass?

Read Fr. James Martin's article reflecting on this conversation

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: ⁠thespirituallife@americamedia.org⁠

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Praying with the Bible during Lent

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0000

How can Scripture help deepen our prayer lives this Lent? The New Testament scholar Ben Witherington III joins host James Martin, S.J., to share his own paths of prayer- through scripture, music and poetry.

Timecodes:

0:00 Who is Ben Witherington III?

3:40 What do scholars mean by the ‘historical Jesus’?

6:33 The last 7 words of Christ

7:57 Biblical roots of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving

11:10 Ben reclaims his faith and is called by God

17:30 Praying with the Bible and grief

33:20 Where to start reading the Bible

34:55 Christianity is a historical religion

40:55 Why Catholics should read the Bible

44:58 Audience Question: How do I hear the readings at Mass with freshness?

Read Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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"Help, Thanks, Wow": Three prayers that changed Anne Lamott

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Host James Martin, S.J., welcomes New York Times best-selling author and Christian convert, Anne Lamott, onto “The Spiritual Life” podcast. 0:00 Who is Anne Lamott? 5:00 Welcome Anne Lamott 6:50 Synonyms for God 12:08 Anne’s leap of faith 22:38 How to find God when you’re struggling 29:22 What would Jesus do? 32:33 Anne’s daily spiritual practices 39:40 Praying “Help, Thanks, Wow” 42:00 Anne’s secret to good writing 45:15 Audience Question: How do you handle distractions during prayer? Read Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode:

https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2026/02/09/anne-lamott-james-martin-podcast-spiritual-life/

Check out Anne's book "Help Thanks Wow"

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Richard Rohr on God, brokenness and healing

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Host James Martin, S.J., welcomes the Franciscan spiritual master and author, Richard Rohr O.F.M., onto “The Spiritual Life” podcast. They dig deep into: - The meaning of “The Universal Christ,” or the Christ of faith, who transcends time, place, and culture, and allows us to find God in all things. - Moving from a moral framework of sin and judgment to brokenness and healing - Richard’s contemplative practice of “holy gazing” Read Fr. Jim's spiritual advice article on this episode: https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2026/02/02/interview-richard-rohr-and-the-universal-christ

Listen to Fr. Richard’s podcast, "Everything Belongs," here: https://cac.org/everythingbelongs2025 Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe

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The Catholic sister ministering to migrants at our border

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Sister Norma Pimentel, M.J., the executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, joins “The Spiritual Life” podcast to talk with host Fr. James Martin, S.J., about her four decades of ministry with migrants and refugees on the U.S.-Mexico border, in South Texas.

Together, they discuss:

- Sister Norma’s call to religious life, what prayer practices have sustained her over the years and the big boost she received from Pope Francis.

- Misconceptions about migrants and refugees and how best to address them.

- The power of personal encounter in changing minds and hearts, along with Sister Norma’s commitment to being present to those she ministers to.

Read Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode:

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Cardinal Nemet’s practical advice for recovering from burnout

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Sometime in his midlife, after becoming a priest and then a bishop, Cardinal Ladislav Nemet experienced a difficult period of burn-out. It took a community of family, friends and comrades in ministry to restore his spirits and sense of purpose, and now he has practical advice to share with anyone dealing with this kind of professional exhaustion.

Cardinal Ladislav Nemet is the Archbishop of Belgrade, Serbia, and a member of the Society of the Divine Word. He was created a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023, served as a delegate for the Synod of Bishops from 2021 to 2024, and was part of the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV.

Together with “The Spiritual Life” podcast host, James Martin, S.J., they discuss:

How growing up in a communist country made Cardinal Nemet’s family “Catholics at home” but quiet in the public sphere
The importance of humor and joy in the spiritual life
Recovering from burnout and turning to the psalms during a dark period
Cardinal Nemet’s participation in the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV

Read Fr. Jim’s spiritual reflection about this episode: https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2026/01/20/james-martin-cardinal-nemet-burnout

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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The spiritual journey behind Sr. Helen Prejean’s fight to end the death penalty

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Host James Martin, S.J., welcomes famed anti-death penalty advocate, Sister Helen Prejean, onto “The Spiritual Life” podcast. Their conversation spans:

How Sister Helen first became a chaplain to a death-row inmate, Pat Sonnier, and then a leading advocate to abolish the death penalty
Catholic teaching on the inviolable dignity of the human person and the true meaning of forgiveness
Discerning what to say “yes” and “no” to in the spiritual life, with the help of Ignatian spirituality
Sr. Helen’s spiritual practice of quiet listening, reading, meditation and prayer.

Read Fr. James' spiritual advice column about this episode

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

Check out Fr. James' new book "Work In Progress" here: https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/jamesmartin

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How to do a spiritual reset for 2026

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0000

On our debut episode of 2026 and the second season of “The Spiritual Life,” host James Martin, S.J., welcomes Trappist monk, poet and photographer, Br. Paul Quenon, onto the podcast. Br. Paul entered the Trappists in 1958 at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, where Thomas Merton was his novice master. Together they discuss:

- What it was like to have Thomas Merton as a novice master

- How a monastery can be like a montessori school, where playing with different elements and forms of prayer, leads to one’s own spiritual practice

- Responses to listener questions: how to do a spiritual reset at the beginning of a new year, how to build a personal relationship with God, and how to try to make sense out of tragedy.

Link to Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode: https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2026/01/01/new-year-prayer-james-martin

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Introducing: 'Hark! The Stories Behind Our Favorite Christmas Carols'

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0000

Fr. Jim introduces this special episode on "The Coventry Carol" which is part of a new season of the podcast, "Hark! The Stories Behind Our Favorite Christmas Carols," from America Magazine, the Jesuit Review (AmericaMagazine.org).

Listen to more episodes including, "O Holy Night," "The Little Drummer Boy," and "Silent Night" on:

Apple Podcasts, Spotify and at America Magazine: https://www.americamagazine.org/hark

Episode description: Most Christmas carols celebrate the birth of Jesus. But not “The Coventry Carol." This song centers on a biblical horror: the “massacre of the innocents,” King Herod’s order to kill all male babies two years old and under in Bethlehem. It’s a lullaby sung by mothers to children who may not survive the night. In this podcast episode, host Maggi Van Dorn travels to Coventry, England, to trace how this centuries-old lament survived the Reformation, a devastating library fire and the 1940 bombing of Coventry Cathedral during the Second World War— and how it has served the city’s witness to grief and reconciliation.

Happy Advent and merry Christmas from Fr. Jim!

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Brené Brown on Jesus and vulnerable spirituality

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0000

On our Season One finale of “The Spiritual Life” podcast, Host James Martin, S.J., welcomes the incomparable researcher and storyteller, Brené Brown.

Brené is a research professor at the University of Houston, the author of six #1 New York Times bestsellers and the host of two award-winning podcasts. In 2024, she was named as the executive director of The Center for Daring Leadership at BetterUp. In this open and courageous conversation, they discuss:

How Brené became Catholic as a child and where she finds her spiritual home today
Brené’s own take on The Examen prayer and the twist she adds to the Our Father and Hail Mary.
How Brené thinks about the connection between her research on fear, shame and vulnerability, and the person of Jesus we encounter in the gospels.

Link to Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode: https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2025/10/28/brene-brown-james-martin-spiritual-life

We’re taking a couple months break, but will be back with Season 2 of “The Spiritual Life” in the New Year. In the meantime, be sure to check out America Media’s Advent podcast, Hark!: the stories behind our favorite Christmas carols, hosted and produced by Maggi Van Dorn.

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Why you need a spiritual director

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0000

We’ve heard your questions about spiritual direction and have an episode that should answer (almost) all of them! To help us demystify the art of spiritual direction, host James Martin, S.J. speaks with Jesuit sociologist and trained spiritual director, Patrick Gilger, S.J., about:

What spiritual direction is and what it is not
What you can expect from a wise spiritual director
How spiritual direction helped both Jim and Paddy deepen their relationship with God and dislodge barriers to prayer
Where to find a good spiritual director

Read: "How do you find a good spiritual director?" by Fr. Martin here: https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2025/10/21/how-do-find-spiritual-director-catholic

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Br. Guy Consolmagno on praying as a scientist

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Host James Martin, S.J., welcomes Br. Guy Consolmagno, a Jesuit brother, astronomer and the former director of the Vatican Observatory, to “The Spiritual Life” podcast.

With a Ph.D. in planetary science, Br. Guy has spent his career studying meteorites and asteroids, exploring the origins of the solar system, authoring more than 250 scientific publications and making science accessible to the public. Br. Guy has written several books exploring faith and science issues, and his most recent book is, “A Jesuit's Guide to the Stars: Exploring Wonder, Beauty, and Science.”

This fascinating conversation covers:

The challenge of loneliness no matter your vocation
The notion of the “evil spirit” in Ignatian spirituality and analogies in science
The Big Bang and why we shouldn’t base our theology off current scientific understandings
How being a scientist influences Br. Guy’s prayer life and where he sees God most clearly

Five lessons learned as director of the Vatican Observatory: https://www.americamagazine.org/faithinfocus/2025/09/11/vatican-observatory-guy-consolmagno

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Adriana Trigiani on the spirituality of ‘showing up’

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Host James Martin, S.J., welcomes bestselling author and award-winning playwright, TV writer/producer, and filmmaker, Adriana Trigiani onto “The Spiritual Life” podcast. Adriana is a New York Times bestselling author of twenty-one books of fiction and nonfiction. Her latest novel is The View From Lake Como. This big-hearted conversation spans:

Adriana’s Italian-Catholic family roots
Her personal connection to the Eucharist and the Blessed Mother
How she encounters the Holy Spirit in her creative writing and prayer

Link to Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode: "There’s more than one way to appreciate the Eucharist"

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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A Trappist monk on how to stop judging others

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Host James Martin, S.J., welcomes Fr. Isaac Slater, OCSO, a Trappist monk, poet, and author of “Do Not Judge Anyone: Desert Wisdom for a Polarized World” to “The Spiritual Life” podcast.

This contemplative conversation includes:

The positive effects silence can have on our prayer lives
Why we judge other people and how to stop
How to create an environment that is more conducive to prayer, without becoming a monk

Link to Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode: https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2025/09/30/james-martin-isaac-slater-spiritual-life-judgement

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Mirabai Starr on mysticism for everyone

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Host James Martin, S.J., explores the mystical dimensions of the spiritual life with Mirabai Starr, an award-winning author, contemporary translator of sacred literature, and world-renowned teacher of contemplative practice and inter-spiritual dialogue.

They dive deep into:

- Daily practices that foster mystical experiences, including insights drawn from Mirabai’s latest book “Ordinary Mysticism: Your Life As Sacred Ground.”

- The role that death, loss and grief have played in shaping Mirabai’s spirituality and bereavement ministry

- The biographies of Catholic mystics, such as St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila

Link to Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode: https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2025/09/23/what-is-mystical-experience

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Catholic comedian Jim Gaffigan sometimes feels like a fraud

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0000

On “The Spiritual Life” podcast, James Martin, S.J., talks with comedian and actor Jim Gaffigan about telling jokes about the church and sometimes feeling like a fraud in the spiritual life.

Together, they talk about:

- Jim’s journey through agnosticism and back to the Catholic Church

- Feeling like a fraud and nurturing a healthy spiritual life

- What spiritual practices Jim turned to when his wife, Jeannie, was diagnosed with a pear-sized brain tumor.

Link to Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode: https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2025/09/16/jim-gaffigan-james-martin-catholic/

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Cardinal Stephen Chow on being Christian in a Chinese culture

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0000

On “The Spiritual Life” podcast, Fr. James Martin, S.J., talks to fellow a Jesuit and synod delegate, Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., who is the bishop of Hong Kong and was one of the 133 voting cardinals who elected Pope Leo XIV. He is renowned for his diplomacy and work fostering dialogue between the Catholic Church and China through educational outreach and cultural bridge-building.

Together, they talk about:

- Christian spirituality and Chinese culture

- The principle of inner freedom in Jesuit spirituality and its resonances in modern psychology

- How Cardinal Chow encountered God’s grace through his teenage battle with scruples and epilepsy

Link to Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode: https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2025/09/09/cardinal-chow-james-martin-spiritual-life/

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Fr. Ronald Rolheiser on priestly celibacy and the spirituality of sticking with it

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 04:00:00 -0000

“The Spiritual Life” host James Martin, S.J., talks with famed spiritual author and guide, Ron Rolheiser O.M.I., about:

Different habits of prayer, including discursive and centering prayer
Staying the course when your vocation feels boring or dry
What we have misunderstood about chastity and celibacy
Why praying relentlessly about your problems might not be spiritually wise and what to do differently in prayer

Ron’s books mentioned in the episode:

The Holy Longing: The Search for a Christian Spirituality

Sacred Fire: A Vision for a Deeper Human and Christian Maturity

Domestic Monastery: Creating a Spiritual Life at Home

Link to Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode: https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2025/08/26/father-james-martin-ronald-rolheiser-spiritual-life

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Spiritual wisdom from the youngest woman at the Vatican Synod, Julia Osęka

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0000

Host James Martin, S.J., talks with Julia Osęka, one of the youngest delegates at the Vatican Synod on Synodality which sought to increase participation in the Catholic Church. They reflect upon:

How Julia’s childhood faith that ‘checked all the boxes’ matured into a relational faith between herself, God and other people
Both the inspiration and challenges Julia felt as a young delegate at the Synod on Synodality in October of 2023 and 2024.
Julia’s way of incorporating Ignatian principles of consolation and desolation, along with The Examen (St. Ignatius’ review of the day), into her prayer life.

Link to Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode: Coming Soon

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Ross Douthat on miracles, suffering and how to talk to atheists about religion

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Host James Martin, S.J. welcomes New York Times Opinion columnist and host of the “Interesting Times” podcast Ross Douthat onto “The Spiritual Life” to talk about:

- The eclectic variety of religious experience Ross encountered as a child through his parents’ exploration of charismatic and Pentecostal communities and his family’s eventual conversion to Roman Catholicism.

- Ross’ five-year struggle with Lyme disease, detailed in his memoir The Deep Places, and where he found God amidst his mysterious illness.

- The importance of finding gratitude for the ordinary pleasures in life.

Read Fr. Martin’s spiritual advice column about this episode here: https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2025/08/12/ross-douthat-james-martin-spiritual-life-suffering

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Martin Scorsese on the priest who changed his life—and his films

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0000

Academy-Award winning filmmaker, Martin Scorsese, joins James Martin, S.J. to talk about:

Scorsese’s Catholic childhood against the backdrop of the mean, mafia-run streets of the Lower East Side, NYC, and the priest who guided him through it.
How spiritual themes naturally emerged in his acclaimed films.
Scorsese’s experience doing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and how they affected his personal relationship to Jesus.

Link to Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode: https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2025/08/05/martin-scorsese-catholic-filmmaker-prayer-imagination/

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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How spiritual writer Sr. Joyce Rupp finds joy and freedom in getting older

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0000

The long-beloved spiritual writer Sr. Joyce Rupp, O.S.M. joins Fr. James Martin, S.J. to "The Spiritual Life” podcast. They talk about:

- How to face the challenges of aging without harboring anger and bitterness

- The opportunities for interior freedom and delight that come with age

- How grief and loss changed the way Joyce prays

Some of our favorite books from Sr. Joyce Rupp’s:

Vessels of Love: Poems and Prayers for the Later Years of Life

Praying Our Goodbyes: A Spiritual Companion Through Life’s Losses and Sorrows

Fragments of Your Ancient Name: 365 Glimpses of the Divine for Daily Meditation

Link to Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode: https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2025/02/13/review-james-martin-aging-rupp-schultz-junger-249872

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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A Caribbean archbishop on spiritual darkness, gang mediation and nurturing an "adult faith"

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, discusses his journey of faith, from his Catholic upbringing in the Caribbean to his experiences with the charismatic renewal and his challenging call to the priesthood.

Together with Father James Martin he discusses:

- How to answer a call from God

- Paying attention and staying committed during periods of intense spiritual darkness

- How working in gang mediation and serving the poor shaped his spiritual life

Read Father Jim’s spiritual advice for this episode: https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2025/07/22/father-james-martin-desolation-spiritual-life-251166

Do you have a spiritual question for Father Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Anthea Butler on intellectual Catholicism, evangelicalism and why the ‘prosperity gospel’ persists

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0000

“Spiritualizing” something usually makes it less concrete, less “real.” Not for Anthea Butler, the Geraldine R. Segal Professor of American Social Thought at the University of Pennsylvania. In this episode of “The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J.,” Anthea shares her journey from Catholicism to Pentecostalism and back to Catholicism, crediting the Catholic Church’s rich intellectual tradition and dedication to working with the poor and marginalized.

They discuss:

- Anthea’s Black Catholic heritage in Louisiana and Texas

- The great, yet relatively unknown, Catholic intellectual tradition

- How evangelical theology seeps into the Catholic Church in the United States

- Spirituality lived through action on behalf of the poor

Link to Father Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode: https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2025/07/15/anthea-butler-james-martin-spiritual-life-251125

Do you have a spiritual question for Father Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Stephen Colbert on meeting the pope, being Catholic and the spirituality of humor

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Stephen Colbert joins host Jim Martin, S.J., on “The Spiritual Life”!

Colbert is well-known for his satirical comedy on The Colbert Report and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The conversation dives into:

- The personal tragedy that marked Colbert’s boyhood- losing his father and two brothers in a plane crash – and how his mother’s faith helped shape his spiritual perspective.

- The atheism that plagued his college years and what brought Colbert back to his Catholic faith.

- The interplay between Colbert’s Catholicism and his comedy

Read Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode, or visit this link: https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2025/07/08/stephen-colbert-james-martin-spiritual-life-251084

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Mary Karr: ‘a black belt sinner’ loved by God

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0000

“The Spiritual Life” host James Martin, S.J., talks to Mary Karr, author of New York Times best-selling memoirs The Liars' Club, Cherry, and Lit, as well as the Art of Memoir, and five poetry collections, most recently Tropic of Squalor.

Mary Karr shares:

How her son and a humble parish priest impacted her conversion to the Catholic faith
Her experience doing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and coming to know both the depths of her own sinfulness and the abiding love of God
Her encounters of extraordinary grace at Mass, on the subway, and in ordinary life.

Read Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode

Link to Fr. Jim’s book, “The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life”

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Pete Buttigieg on Christianity, public life, and the spirituality of fatherhood

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 04:02:00 -0000

Pete Buttigieg – the 19th U.S. Secretary of Transportation and the 32nd mayor of South Bend, Indiana – joins host James Martin, S.J. on “The Spiritual Life” podcast to talk about his faith journey, including:

A high school Old Testament teacher who shaped Pete’s understanding of a faith that does justice
Pete’s appreciation of the liturgy and subsequent conversion to the Episcopal church
Coming out as gay and coming out as Christian in political life
How becoming a father has deepened Pete’s lived-experience of the triune God.

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Whoopi Goldberg's message for the pope

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 04:05:00 -0000

Host James Martin, S.J., welcomes the multi-award winning actress, Whoopi Goldberg, onto “The Spiritual Life” podcast. This wide-ranging conversation includes:

Whoopi’s Catholic childhood and how her faith has evolved
The influence of Pope John XXIII on her life
What Whoopi shared with Pope Francis about Black Catholics

Watch a video recording of this conversation on ⁠America Media's YouTube channel.⁠

Read Fr. Jim's article on this interview with Whoopi Goldberg

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe on friendship, silence, and struggling with prayer

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 04:00:00 -0000

On the first episode of “The Spiritual Life,” Fr. James Martin, S.J., talks to Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe, O.P., former Master General of the Dominican Order and a retreat leader for the Synod on Synodality.

Together, they talk about:

Dominican spirituality and prayer
Friendship with God and dialogue in the church
Cardinal Timothy’s spiritual insights from aging and recovering from illness

Watch a video recording of this conversation on America Media's YouTube channel.

Read Fr. Jim's article on this conversation with Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe.

Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe’s recent books:

Listening Together: Meditations on Synodality

Surprised by Hope: Further Meditations on Synodality

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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Coming Soon...

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 16:47:00 -0000

What is prayer and how can we pray? How do I know if God is responding to my prayers? What does it mean to live a spiritual life? “The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J.,” focuses on how people experience God in their prayer and their daily lives. The show combines practical wisdom with deep reflections from spiritual masters and well-known seekers, all tracing the mystery of God’s activity in their own lives.

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