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

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]

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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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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

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On our debut episode of 2026 and the second season of “The Spiritual Life,” host James Martin, S.J., welcomes Trappist monk, poet and photographer, Br. Paul Quenon, onto the podcast. Br. Paul entered the Trappists in 1958 at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, where Thomas Merton was his novice master. Together they discuss:

- What it was like to have Thomas Merton as a novice master

- How a monastery can be like a montessori school, where playing with different elements and forms of prayer, leads to one’s own spiritual practice

- Responses to listener questions: how to do a spiritual reset at the beginning of a new year, how to build a personal relationship with God, and how to try to make sense out of tragedy.

Link to Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode: https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2026/01/01/new-year-prayer-james-martin

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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Fr. Jim introduces this special episode on "The Coventry Carol" which is part of a new season of the podcast, "Hark! The Stories Behind Our Favorite Christmas Carols," from America Magazine, the Jesuit Review (AmericaMagazine.org).

Listen to more episodes including, "O Holy Night," "The Little Drummer Boy," and "Silent Night" on:

Apple Podcasts, Spotify and at America Magazine: https://www.americamagazine.org/hark

Episode description: Most Christmas carols celebrate the birth of Jesus. But not “The Coventry Carol." This song centers on a biblical horror: the “massacre of the innocents,” King Herod’s order to kill all male babies two years old and under in Bethlehem. It’s a lullaby sung by mothers to children who may not survive the night. In this podcast episode, host Maggi Van Dorn travels to Coventry, England, to trace how this centuries-old lament survived the Reformation, a devastating library fire and the 1940 bombing of Coventry Cathedral during the Second World War— and how it has served the city’s witness to grief and reconciliation.

Happy Advent and merry Christmas from Fr. Jim!
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