The Jesuit Guide To (Almost) Everything - James Martin [198]
—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