On “Jesuitical” this week, Zac and Ashley chat with Simon Critchley, the Hans Jonas Professor of Philosophy at the New School for Social Research in New York and a Director of the Onassis Foundation, about his new book, Mysticism. Among the most prolific of modern academic philosophers, Simon has written over twenty books, from works of philosophy to studies on topics from Greek tragedy and dead philosophers to David Bowie, football and suicide.

Zac, Ashley and Simon discuss: 

- The historical development of the concept of “mysticism,” how it was suppressed during the Reformation and its resurgent relevance for today.

- Emotionally-charged forms of piety in the high Middle Ages among women mystics like Julian of Norwich

- How modern mysticism can provide access to the sacred and transcendent in a melancholic world

In Signs of the Times, Zac is joined by Fr. Sam Sawyer, S.J., editor-in-chief of America, for a conversation about Pope Francis’ strongly worded letter of support to the Catholic bishops of the United States in which he denounced the mass deportation of undocumented migrants initiated by President Donald Trump, and corrected Vice President JD Vance’s theology. 

Links for further reading: 

Mysticism by Simon Critchley 

Pope Francis’ letter, JD Vance’s ‘ordo amoris’ and what the Gospel asks of all of us on immigration

Pope Francis to U.S. Catholic bishops: Oppose mass deportations

What’s on tap?

Gin Martini

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