Read The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything Online
Authors: James Martin
REV. JAMES MARTIN, SJ,
is a Jesuit priest, culture editor of
America
magazine, and author of numerous books, including
My Life with the Saints
, which
Publishers Weekly
named one of the best books of 2006. Father Martin is a frequent commentator in the national and international media, having appeared in such diverse outlets as
The Colbert Report, Fresh Air, The O’Reilly Factor, NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
, the
New York Times, The Wall Street Journal
, and
The Boston Globe
, and on the History Channel, BBC, and Vatican Radio. Before entering the Jesuits in 1988 he graduated from the Wharton School of Business.
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“An extraordinary blend of theological insight and flat-out sanity, both enhanced by James Martin’s wonderful capacity for creativity and connection. Martin connects insights drawn from the wells of Jesuit spirituality and spirituality in general to the heartaches and headaches of everyday life. Martin is a poet, an artist, a theologian, and a Jesuit of whom we have here at his finest.”
—Ronald Rolheiser, O.M.I., author of
The Holy Longing
“This book is filled with wisdom and wit. Even Dominicans should read it!”
—Timothy Radcliffe, O.P., former superior general of the Dominican Order
“We Franciscans are often very grateful for Jesuits! Their clear heads and clean hearts both complement and complete our own romanticism. Read on for a clear head and a clean heart!”
—Richard Rohr, O.F.M., author of
Everything Belongs
“The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola is a text to be performed and not merely read. Jesuit writer James Martin shows how this is done with pages that sparkle and shine in a voice that is, by turns, deeply personal and generously inviting.”
—Lawrence S. Cunningham, John A. O’Brien Professor of Theology, The University of Notre Dame
“If you find yourself at the place where deep spirituality meets everyday life, let James Martin be your guide. In this candid, insightful guide to ‘almost everything,’ he takes us, with both wisdom and lightness of heart, into what it means to be a Jesuit, a Christian, and a searcher after truth in today’s world, and reminds us that, truly, God can be found in everything we will ever encounter.”
—Margaret Silf, author of
Inner Compass
“In this book James Martin provides a straightforward and down-to-earth program for a deeper spiritual life. Based largely on the profound wisdom of St. Ignatius Loyola, the
Jesuit Guide
shows that Ignatius’s wisdom is perennial, marvelously suited to women and men of our own day. You will profit very much as you learn the lessons Ignatius teaches us through Father Martin’s lens.”
—John W. O’Malley, S.J., author of
The First Jesuits
“In
The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything,
Father James Martin—as usual—provides us with wonderful guidance with his characteristic light touch. It is a delight to read.”
— Cardinal John Foley, Grand Master, Order of the Holy Sepulcher, Vatican City
“James Martin has struck gold again. This talented Jesuit brings his welcoming wit, honed writing skills and comprehensive knowledge of Ignatian spirituality to the reader with an amazing balance of depth and buoyancy. This is a superb resource for receiving valuable information about the essentials of spiritual growth.”
—Joyce Rupp, author of
The Open Door
“For believers of all kinds, and many nonbelievers, too, the Jesuit tradition is the strongest bridge across the growing gulf between religious faith and the modern world. That is thanks to the wisdom of the Society’s founder, St. Ignatius Loyola. And now, thanks to Father James Martin, we have a wonderful ‘how-to’ guide to Ignatian spirituality that can renew the faith of believers and help any pilgrim on their daily struggle to cope and to find meaning. And it will make you smile! This book is a delight and a treasure.”
—David Gibson, author of
The Coming Catholic Church
“Martin’s new book is a treasure! It is filled with precious gems of spiritual insight, clear applications of various aspects of St. Ignatius Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises, as well as Martin’s fabulous humor. Overflowing with moving stories and engaging history, this book will be a blessing for both beginners and longtime pilgrims on the spiritual journey.”
—Maureen Conroy, R.S.M., author of
The Discerning Heart
“The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything
accomplishes the seemingly impossible—a book on spirituality so interestingly written that it becomes a page-turner. Father James Martin describes Ignatian spirituality in ways that are both engaging and practical, very often humorous, filled with examples, and clearly intended to be a guide to discovering how God can be found in every dimension of a person’s life. The author tackles the hard questions directly, such as ‘How do I know who I’m supposed to be?,’ ‘How can I face suffering?,’ ‘How can I be happy?,’ and ‘How can I find God?’ Martin doesn’t give you pat answers but rather points out ways that Ignatian spirituality can help you, the reader, to find and to live those answers, to be alive.”
—John W. Padberg, S.J., Director, Institute of Jesuit Sources
“Almost everyone will surely benefit from this compassionate, humane, and always entertaining ‘guide to almost everything.’ Drawing on the classic teachings of Jesuit spirituality, Father Martin shows how to find God in all things—including our own struggles to grow, make decisions, and find the path to our true and best selves. In this brilliant book, written with humor and love, Jim Martin comes across as the wise friend and spiritual advisor we all wish we had.”
—Robert Ellsberg, author of
The Saints’ Guide to Happiness
“Through
The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything,
Father James Martin provides an accessible resource, firmly grounded in the teaching and tradition of St. Ignatius Loyola, for charting a path through life with God. In order to fully develop our personal gifts and share them with one another, we need a means of incorporating into our lives the truth that each one of has a part to play in God’s plans for the world. We need a means of including God in the myriad of decisions we make every day, particularly the ones that will have significant implications for ourselves and the people we love. Father Martin’s book gives us the tools to accomplish these goals and, indeed, guides us along the way. I recommend it to you for your own use and for those whom you hold close to your heart.”
—Cardinal Seán O’Malley, O.F.M., Cap., archbishop of Boston
“This book is a practical guide for living an authentic life, for ‘being who you are’ in a way that enhances your relationships with others and the world around you. Generously sharing from his own experiences, Martin introduces the major themes of Jesuit spirituality in a remarkably hospitable way, so that anyone—believer or non-believer—might come away with useful insights into the importance of shedding needless guilt, determining when religion has become a hindrance to one’s spiritual growth, and the value of desire and imagination in a life of faith.”
—Kathleen Norris, author of
The Cloister Walk
and
Acedia & Me
“James Martin is a brilliant thinker with a nimble mind that constantly catches you by surprise. He is a truth teller with a marvelous sense of humor, as he provides unique insights and connections between contemporary life and the great Jesuit tradition.”
—Anne Lamott, author of
Traveling Mercies
and
Bird by Bird
“Most Jesuits are preternaturally interesting guys, yet even in that company James Martin stands out. He is arguably the best writer on Catholic spirituality, but he’s hardly just a spiritual writer, bringing wit and depth to an astonishing array of topics. Reading Martin on his own storied order is therefore my five-star, slam-dunk, can’t-miss tip of the year: This book is a winner!”
—John L. Allen, Jr., author of
The Future Church