Jesuitical

This week on a special episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley, Zac and Jesuitical producer Sebastian have a conversation with Dr. James Finley about first-half-of-life mysticism. Jim is a clinical psychologist and faculty member at the Center for Action and Contemplation where he teaches and writes on the Christian mystical tradition. He’s also the host of the podcast, ‘Turning to the Mystics.’

0:00 A special episode on mysticism

3:00 How Jim Finley discovered monasteries

12:00 An introduction to interior prayer

22:48 Where to start

24:30 How to stay patient

28:40 When life gets busy

34:48 Cultivating silence in your life

39:50 Finding God in trauma

41:45 Trusting your own experiences of God

48:00 Is God really inside of us?

51:00 Where mysticism and formal religion intersect

56:15 Does mystical experience relativize religion?

Links for further reading: 

Jim’s podcast, “Turning to the Mystics with James Finley”

The Center for Action and Contemplation

Merton's Palace of Nowhere

The Healing Path: A Memoir and an Invitation

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This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and Zac speak with Timothy Shriver, chairman of Special Olympics and founder of the nonprofit UNITE, which incubated the Dignity Index, a language evaluation tool that aims to bring greater dignity to our public discourse.

0:00 Welcome back Zac Davis!

2:35 A new papal nuncio to the U.S.A.

6:27 Cardinals respond to Iran war

9:04 Synod report on women released

10:27 Tim Shriver's holy family

13:04 What is the dignity index?

18:57 Contempt is the problem

24:00 What's your dignity score?

30:52 What dignity really means

38:20 Responding to contempt with dignity

46:00 How to do it

51:48 Is the Catholic Church a model?

54:32 Influence of Pope Leo XIV

58:50 Updates and faith sharing

 Links for further reading: 

Pope Leo appoints Archbishop Caccia as nuncio to the United States

Iran’s Cardinal Mathieu evacuated to Rome

Pope Leo expresses ‘deep sorrow’ for Lebanese Maronite Catholic priest killed by Israeli tank fire

Final synod report on women’s leadership does not address female diaconate

The Dignity Index

Need a Lift? With Tim Shriver

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This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley sits down with America’s chief correspondent, Kevin Clarke, to discuss the widening conflict with Iran and whether the U.S. intervention in the conflict can be justified under just war theory.

Then, we re-share one of our favorite interviews from last year: a conversation with Jamie Baxter, the founder & C.E.O. of Exodus 90. The program, which helps men to strengthen their faith through prayer, asceticism and fraternity, faced some early skepticism from some in the church—and the “Jesuitical” team—that gave way to greater understanding and valuable innovation. 

 Links for further reading: 

Against Unjust and Unjustified War with Iran

I regret supporting the Iraq War. We shouldn’t repeat our mistakes in Iran now.

Cardinal Parolin on Iran war: ‘The force of law has been replaced by the law of force’

Lebanese archbishop: Innocents are ‘paying the price’ of Middle East war

Pope Leo urges a halt to ‘spiral of violence’ across Iran and Middle East

Sorrow, shock for Catholics in Middle East as US and Israel strike Iran amid negotiations

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This week on a special, interview-only episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian talk with James Martin, S.J., editor at large for America, about his new memoir Work in Progress: Confessions of a busboy, dishwasher, caddy, usher, factory worker, bank teller, corporate tool, and priest. 

Ashley, Sebastian and Father Jim discuss:


The differences in writing an autobiography vs. a book on prayer


Balancing ambition and meaning


Jim’s eventual decision to choose a life and career in the Jesuits

 Links for further reading: 


Buy Father Jim’s book here


Father James Martin: Lessons from mowing lawns, riding bikes and a fateful walk to school


Check out the book’s Spotify playlist here

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Timecodes

0:00 Jim Martin has a new book: “Work in Progress”

2:13 Why Jim decided to write an autobiography on his jobs

8:19 The importance of menial labor and service 

11:45 Getting free of our desire to be liked and popular

16:36 How Jim learned to distinguish ambition v. meaning

21:14 The impact of Thomas Merton on Jim’s spiritual life

25:30 Jim’s first mystical experience in the beauty of nature

35:36 Called to the Jesuits

42:15 Jim would canonize Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J.

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This week on “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian sit down with Kristen Gilger, author of My Son, The Priest: A Mother’s Crisis of Faith and her son, Patrick Gilger, S.J., to discuss their interwoven journeys of faith.

0:00 Critiquing our ashes

3:00 Pope Leo's first Ash Wednesday

4:35 Vatican won't join "Board of Peace"

5:50 St. Peter's has a new snack bar!

8:10 Kristin's shock when Paddy joined the Jesuits

16:58 The challenges of poverty, chastity and obedience

22:00 Giving up marriage and a family

34:45 Cafeteria Catholicism

38:35 Reconciliation without agreement

45:10 Being open to change

50:22 Catholicism's lingering appeal

1:04:25 Faith sharing: love your enemies

 Links for further reading: 

My son became a priest. I still felt conflicted about God and religion.

Buy Kristen’s Book: My Son, The Priest: A Mother’s Crisis of Faith

Pope Leo on Ash Wednesday: It’s ‘rare to find adults who repent’

Vatican will not join Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza, Cardinal Parolin says

Vatican expands visitor experience at St. Peter’s Basilica to mark 400th anniversary

You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.  

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Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe
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