What Father James Martin is still learning about the spiritual life

Jesuitical

America Media

Spirituality, Christianity, News, News Commentary, Religion & Spirituality

4.8 • 949 Ratings

🗓️ 20 June 2025

⏱️ 45 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley are thrilled to speak with their friend and colleague Father James Martin about his new podcast, “The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J.,” which launched this week. We then share Jim’s conversation with actor and comedian Whoopi Goldberg. Whoopi is known for playing a larger-than-life nun in “Sister Act,” but did you know she was also raised Catholic and educated by nuns until the eighth grade? Jim and Whoopi talk about her struggles with organized religion, the importance of laughter in a life of faith and her bold request to Pope Francis when they met in 2024. Links from the show: Listen to (or watch) “The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J., on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Whoopi Goldberg on God, authenticity and ‘acting the fool’ Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe and the importance of friendship in the spiritual life LAST CHANCE TO JOIN THE FIRST-EVER JESUITICAL RETREAT! Join us at the studio and headquarters of America Media in New York City for two days of community, prayer and sharing stories of faith. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how we make the podcast, meet fellow young Catholics, pray with America staff and editor in chief Sam Sawyer, S.J., share meals and craft your own faith story with accompaniment from our team. There are only a few spots left, so sign up here today! We can’t wait to meet you. Jesuitical Young Adult Retreat: What’s Your Story? Open to ages 21-39 Friday, June 27th (evening) + Saturday, June 28th (all day) New York, NY Friday: America Media Office – 1212 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036 Saturday: Jesuits USA East Province – 39 E 83rd St, New York, NY 10028 Cost: $100 Housing: Participants are responsible for their own lodging in NYC Capacity: The retreat will be capped at 30 participants. First come, first served. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Where can a Master of Theological Studies take you?
0:03.2	At Loyola University, Maryland, our interdisciplinary program prepares you for careers with faith-based non-profits, religious education,
0:10.7	campus ministry, law, social work, and higher education.
0:14.5	Choose from three specialized tracks, or our post-becclureate certificate in theology and ministry.
0:20.1	Experience small classes, faculty mentorship,
0:23.2	networking opportunities at conferences, and so much more.
0:26.8	Apply by August 1st for fall 2025.
0:29.8	Learn more at loyola.edu forward slash theology.
0:33.4	Music Hello and welcome to Jesuitical, a podcast from America Media for Saints and sinners.
0:48.7	You can join us each week for honest conversations about the Catholic Church and our world today, sometimes over drinks.
0:54.8	I'm Ashley McHenlist, and I'm joined by Zach Davis.
0:57.2	It's great to be with you, Ashley, and I hope that the people listening, this is still their
1:01.4	favorite podcast, but we'd like to introduce them to their second favorite podcast.
1:05.8	Yes, so we are also joined this week by Father James Martin, who needs no introduction usually, but we do want to say he is
1:12.9	the host of the new podcast, The Spiritual Life, with Father James Martin S.J. Yes, good to be here,
1:19.5	building on your success and trying to copy you. All right. So what made you want to start podcasting?
1:25.9	Other than looking longingly at what you guys were doing.
1:29.1	How much fun we were having.
1:30.4	You do do a great job.
1:31.5	Yeah, I thought that so much of the conversation online about spirituality per se, about
1:37.5	prayer and finding out in your daily life, could be kind of shallow and just like, hey, do
1:42.5	these five things and you'll be fine and here are the three things you need to do for, you know, a relationship with God.
	...

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