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

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

March 17 Jesuit musician Cristóbal Fones on praying with the Pope
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: [email protected]
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58 min
March 10Gregory Maguire’s spiritual journey–From a Catholic orphanage to ‘Wicked’-fame
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: [email protected]
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50 min
March 03 Kathleen Norris on treating spiritual dryness, jealousy, and bad thoughts
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: [email protected]
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52 min
February 24 A Black, gay Catholic priest on living authentically
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: ⁠[email protected]⁠
Become a subscriber today at ⁠Americamagazine.org/subscribe

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52 min
February 17 Praying with the Bible during Lent
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: [email protected]
Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe

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52 min
February 10 "Help, Thanks, Wow": Three prayers that changed Anne Lamott
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: [email protected]
Become a subscriber today at ⁠Americamagazine.org/subscribe

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51 min
February 03 Richard Rohr on God, brokenness and healing
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: [email protected]
Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe

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51 min
January 27 The Catholic sister ministering to migrants at our border
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: [email protected]
Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe

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46 min
January 20Cardinal Nemet’s practical advice for recovering from burnout
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: [email protected]
Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe

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52 min
January 13The spiritual journey behind Sr. Helen Prejean’s fight to end the death penalty
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: [email protected]
Check out Fr. James' new book "Work In Progress" here: https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/jamesmartin

Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe

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57 min

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

From the publisher's feed

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…