by James Martin
Sin: contemplating one’s sinfulness, 20, 76, 89–91; guilt, conscience, and, 88, 89, 90; Jesus and, 81; “loved sinner,” 76, 81, 91; meeting God and, 85; religion and, 45, 47; sins of omission, 90
Sisters of St. Joseph, 127
Six Paths (to God), 29–44; Path of Belief, 30–32, 138; Path of Confusion, 42–43; Path of Disbelief, 34–36; Path of Exploration, 39–42, 138; Path of Independence, 32–34; Path of Return, 36–39, 138
Sketches of God(Vallés), 139
Sobrino, Jon, S.J., 363
Society of Jesus (Jesuits): accomplishments, 4, 16; account of conscience, 268; anecdote, Suntne angeli?, 232–33; chastity and, 224–26; in China, 365–66; community life of, 232–34, 247, 270; Constitutions, 16, 21–23, 135; desire, importance of, 62–63; director of novices, 368; discernment and, 268–69, 272; dismissal from, 273; early Jesuits, 15, 17; education as mission, 4, 17, 24, 365–66, 390; everyday life of a Jesuit and obedience, 271–73; “explicit articulation” of charitable works, 196–97; “faith sharing,” 254–58; first American cardinal, 86; first Jesuits, 240–41; flexibility of, 366–67; founder, St. Ignatius Loyola, 1; founding of, 1, 15–16; “fourth vow” of, 270; friendship and, 231–34; future of, 364; goal of, 16; ingenuity and, 365–68; Italian Jesuit saying on opinions, 5; jokes, 208, 268, 317, 363–64; kindness in governance, 368; as loving and supportive place, 369; Lowney’s four pillars of Jesuit leadership secrets, 364; martyrdom of Jesuit saints, 296; mission of, 196; obedience and, 266–85; “particular friendships” and, 262; personalia (monthly stipend), 194; plague victims of Perugia and, 197; in Portugal, 249; as practical, 2, 4–5, 22; pride and, 4, 16; promise not to “ambition” for high office, 48; restoration of (1814), 19; saints of, 24–25, 120; S.J., meaning of, 24; superior in, 266–68, 271–73, 276–79, 305; suppressed by Clement XIV (1773), 18; theatrical productions, 367–68, 379; Thirty-Day Retreat or Long Retreat, 19; training of Jesuit priest, 153; “way of proceeding,” 364; work and, 348; work aptitudes and God’s desire, 269, 271; working with the poor, 195–201; worldview, 188–90, 294; yearly list of assignments (status), 271. See also Ignatian spirituality
Solitude, 355–59
So Long, See You Tomorrow (Maxwell), 131–32
Song of Songs, 126
Song of the Bird, The (de Mello), 102
Sophia (Wisdom), 138
Soul: good and evil spirits and, 328–29; saving of, 50
Spellman, Francis Cardinal, 275
Spiritual but not religious (SBNR), 44–50
Spiritual Exercises, The, 14, 19–21, 50, 51, 395–97; author Martin and, 298–304; Call of the King, 293–94; centering prayer (Third Method), 162–67; clarity and, 75; colloquy, 167–68, 298; Contemplation to Attain Divine Love, 395–96; contemplative or imaginative prayer in, 145–55; date of writing, 9; decision-making and spiritual consolation or desolation, 308–9; discernment/decision making practices in, 305–38; examen, 87–97; experiencing, not reading, 20–21, 393; First Method, 155; First Week, 20, 168, 299, 395; Fourth Week, 20, 264, 395; four weeks of, 20; gratitude references, 264; imagining yourself speaking with God, and God’s reply, 128–29; “laboring” with God in, 373; lectio divina (Second Method), 155–62; on love, friendship, and human relationships, 252, 253; 19th Annotation Retreat or the Spiritual Exercises in Daily Life, 19–20; Peter Favre and, 238–39; praying for our desires, 62, 343; Presupposition, 234–36, 249, 256; Principle and Foundation, 293; “Riches to honors to pride,” 188–92; Second Week, 20, 76, 147, 293, 294, 299; Suscipe, 396–97; Third Week, 20, 295–98, 299–304; Thirty-Day Retreat or Long Retreat, 19, 299; Three Degrees of Humility, 207–8; the “three times” of decision making, 313–25; Two Standards, 188–90, 207, 294–95, 386
Spiritual Exercises Reclaimed, The (Dyckman, Garvin, and Liebert), 58, 129, 214, 313
Spiritual Freedom (English), 151, 336
Spirituality, a: bridge analogy, 3; charism (founding spirit), 3, 21; “family tradition,” 3; types of Christian spiritualities, 2, 3; what it is, 2; of work, 347–63
Spiritual poverty, 205–11, 289; as path to freedom, 211; relying on God not oneself and, 209; saying no and, 358
Stretched for Greater Glory (Aschenbrenner), 207
Studies in the Spirituality of Jesuits, 241
Suffering (“mystery of evil”), 27, 292, 391; acceptance, obedience and, 282–83, 296; belief in God and, 54; choosing the more difficult path and, 295; Christian life and, 294; explanations in Scripture, 286–87; finding a personal perspective on, 290; finding God in the midst of, 39, 285–92; Job and, 286, 289; meditation on life of Christ and, 20, 292–304; as only one question to ask about God, 38; “reality of the situation” and, 283, 284, 285, 289, 300; some Ignatian perspectives, 292–98; vulnerability and God, 78–80; working world and, 376
Surprised by Joy (Lewis), 70
Suscipe prayer, 396–97
Talking About God (Polish), 286
Tang, Dominic, S.J., 26
Teilhard de Chardin, Pierre, S.J., 26, 120, 164, 386–87
Temptation: author Martin and, 335; three ways the “enemy” works, 332–36
Teresa of Ávila, St., 44, 45, 114
Teresa of Calcutta, Mother, 45, 196, 217, 293; “dark night” of, 139; hearing God’s voice, 127
Testimonial to Grace, A (Dulles), 86
Tetlow, Joseph A., S.J., 150, 312
Theater, 367
Thérèse of Lisieux, St., 17, 49–50
Thibodeaux, Mark, S.J., 113, 126
Thirty-Day Retreat or Long Retreat, 19
“Thou Art Indeed Just, Lord” (Hopkins), 124–25
Three Degrees of Humility, 207–8
Time: for contemplation, 351; the examen for busy people, 349–50; finding time for God and you, 348–51
Time to Keep Silence, A (Fermor), 345
“To Be More Like Christ” (Daley), 208
Together for Mission (de Jaer), 188
Tolkien, J. R. R., 189
True Church and the Poor, The (Sobrino), 363
Two Standards, 188–90, 207, 294–95, 386
Tylenda, Joseph, S.J., 100
U2, 64
Uelmen, Amelia, 349
Understanding the Spiritual Exercises (Ivens), 309
Vallés, Carlos, S.J., 139
Vidal, Gore, 185
Vocation, 339–88; being called to, 341; confirmation as “rightness of our choice,” 347; desire and, 342–47; dream job, 344; finding meaningful work, 27; having it revealed, 343–47; how to bring your best self to work, 363–78; identity or true self, 378–88; individuality and, 381–85; overwork danger, 350; patience and, 386–87; “The Salt Doll,” 388; a spirituality of work, 347–63
Voltaire, 4
Waugh, Evelyn, 46, 74
Way of Ignatius. See Ignatian spirituality
“Way of proceeding,” 1–28, 241, 250, 362, 364, 389
Weston Jesuit School of Theology, 283
What Is Ignatian Spirituality? (Fleming), 263, 297
Whitman, Walt, 41
“Why Become or Remain a Jesuit?” (Rahner), 374
Why Do We Suffer? (Harrington), 286
Why We Hate Us (Meyer), 363
Wilder, Thornton, 101–2
Wisdom of Solomon, 138
Wise Choices (Silf), 343, 346
With God in Russia (Ciszek), 30, 31, 281
Women: desires, naming, 58; feminine imagery of God, 137–38
Woodstock College, Maryland, 275
Work, 341, 342; acceptance of failure, 374–76; acting as a leaven agent of change, 355, 360–61; best practices, 372–78; as “cocreator” with God, 373; dignity of work, 372–74; doing better, greater, 369; finding God around you at, 351–55; finding time for God and you, 348–51; finding time for solitude, 355–59; heroism and leadership, 364, 369; how to bring your best self to work, 363–78; Ignatius Loyola on “overloading,” 357; ingenuity and leadership, 364, 365–68; Jesuit way of proceeding and best practices, 364; love and leadership, 364, 368–69; Lowney’s four pillars
of Jesuit leadership secrets, 364; magis in, 36971; overbusyness, 358–59; parable of the stone-carver, 373; reliance on God, 378; remembering the poor, 362–63; “riches to honors to pride” danger, 362; self-awareness and leadership, 364, 365; a spirituality of work, 347–63; suffering and, 376; working ethically, 359–62. See also Vocation
Work, 341. See also Vocation
Workaholism, 209
Working world. See Job
Wright, Jonathan, 4
Wright, Vinita Hampton, 129
Xavier, St. Francis (Francisco Javier), 15, 237, 239, 240, 241–43, 244, 260, 271, 365; on the Examen, 90; failure and, 377; relic of, 379–80
About the Author
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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Praise for The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything
“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 g
reat 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
Copyright
Fratribus carissimis in Societate Jesu
Grateful acknowledgments are made to the following sources for granting permission to use their material: The poems of Gerard Manley Hopkins, S.J., are used with the permission of the British Province of the Society of Jesus. Selections from A Pilgrim’s Testament: The Memoirs of St. Ignatius Loyola, translated by Parmananda Divarkar, S.J.; The Spiritual Exercises: A Translation and Commentary, by George E. Ganss, S.J.; and One Jesuit’s Spiritual Journey: Autobiographical Conversations with Jean-Claude Dietsch, by Pedro Arrupe, S.J., are used with the permission of the Institute of Jesuit Sources. Selections from The Song of the Bird, by Anthony De Mello, S.J., and He Leadeth Me, by Walter Ciszek, S.J., are used with the permission of Random House, Inc. Selections from With God in Russia, by Walter Ciszek, S.J., are used with the permission of America Press, Inc.
THE JESUIT GUIDE TO (ALMOST) EVERYTHING: A SPIRITUALITY FOR REAL LIFE. Copyright © 2010 by James Martin, S.J. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.