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

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:  [email protected] Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe

Transcribed - Published: 19 August 2025

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:  [email protected] Become a subscriber today at https://www.americamagazine.org/subscribe

Transcribed - Published: 12 August 2025

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:  [email protected] Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe

Transcribed - Published: 5 August 2025

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:  [email protected] Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe

Transcribed - Published: 29 July 2025

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: [email protected] Become a subscriber today at: https://www.americamagazine.org/subscribe

Transcribed - Published: 22 July 2025

“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:  [email protected] Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe

Transcribed - Published: 15 July 2025

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:  [email protected] Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe

Transcribed - Published: 8 July 2025

“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:  [email protected] Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe

Transcribed - Published: 1 July 2025

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:  [email protected] Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe

Transcribed - Published: 24 June 2025

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:  [email protected] Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe

Transcribed - Published: 17 June 2025

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:  [email protected] Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe

Transcribed - Published: 17 June 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 9 June 2025