James Martin (priest, born 1960)

The Reverend
James Martin
SJ
Orders
Ordination 1999
Personal details
Born (1960-12-29) December 29, 1960
Plymouth Meeting, PA, U.S.
Nationality American
Denomination Roman Catholic, Latin Church
Residence Manhattan, New York, U.S.
Occupation Jesuit priest, author
Alma mater University of Pennsylvania

James J. Martin SJ (born December 29, 1960), also known as Jim Martin, is an American Jesuit priest, a writer, and editor-at-large of the Jesuit magazine America.[1] In 2017, Pope Francis appointed Martin as a consultant to the Vatican's Secretariat for Communications.[2][3] Some of Martin's theological views, especially on homosexuality, are controversial in the Catholic Church.[4][5]

Education and career

Martin grew up in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, United States, and attended Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School.[6] He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business in 1982 and worked in corporate finance at General Electric for six years.[7]

Dissatisfied with the corporate world, he became more deeply involved in the Catholic Church and decided to enter the Society of Jesus (more commonly known as the Jesuits) in 1988. During his studies to become a Jesuit priest, Martin earned a M.A. in philosophy from Loyola University Chicago in 1994, a M.Div. from the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in 1998, and a Th.M., also from the Weston School, in 1999. [8] He was ordained a priest in 1999.[7]

In addition to his work at America magazine, Martin has written or edited more than 10 books, many of which are largely about his own experiences. He is a frequent commentator for CNN, NPR, Fox News Channel, Time magazine, The Huffington Post,[9] and other news outlets, and has written several op-ed pieces and blogged for The New York Times.[7]

Theatre

Martin is a member of the LAByrinth Theater Company.[10] His involvement with the 2005 stage production of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, written by Stephen Adly Guirgis, directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman, and featuring Sam Rockwell, John Ortiz, Eric Bogosian, and Callie Thorne, is the subject of Martin's book A Jesuit Off-Broadway: Center Stage with Jesus, Judas, and Life's Big Questions (Loyola Press, 2007). Publishers Weekly gave the book a starred review.[11]

The Colbert Report appearances

On September 13, 2007, Martin appeared on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report to discuss Mother Teresa's fifty-year sense of abandonment by God which had much coverage in the media at the time. Martin appeared several more times on The Colbert Report, once to discuss Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the U.S. in April, 2008,[12] and again on February 23, 2009, to discuss how poverty (or, at least, reducing the importance one places on material goods) can bring one closer to God.[13]

On March 18, 2010, Martin was invited to the program in the wake of Glenn Beck's suggesting that Catholics run away from priests who preach "social justice".[14] Martin noted that "social justice addresses the things that keep people poor" and "asks you why are these people poor." He added that "Christ asked us to work with the poor. ... In the Gospel of Matthew He says that the way that we're going to be judged at the end of our lives is not what church we prayed in or how we prayed but really ... how we treated the poor." On August 10, 2011, Martin appeared on The Colbert Report to discuss God's "approval rating" and to promote his book The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life.[15] On November 9, 2011, he appeared once again to promote his book concerning humor and religion, Between Heaven and Mirth. On February 11, 2013, he went on the show to discuss the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. On September 24, 2013, he was on the show, talking about an interview where Pope Francis said that love, compassion, and mercy are more important than the rules (within a subtext of Pope Francis washing the feet of criminals, wanting a more prominent role for women, saying atheists can be redeemed, not judging gays and lesbians, and that we cannot serve money and God at the same time),[16][17][18] and introducing Metallica.[19] On January 7, 2014, he appeared to discuss income inequality and the Pope's emphasis on economic justice and on the importance of caring for the poor.[20]

Critique of anti-Catholicism in the media

Martin has written about anti-Catholicism in the entertainment industry. He argues that, despite an irresistible fascination with the Catholic Church, the entertainment industry also holds what he considers obvious contempt for the Catholic Church. He suggests: "It is as if producers, directors, playwrights and filmmakers feel obliged to establish their intellectual bona fides by trumpeting their differences with the institution that holds them in such thrall."[21]

Awards

Martin's book My Life with the Saints (2006) was the winner of a 2007 Christopher Award.[22]

In May 2007, he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Wagner College on Staten Island, New York.[23]

In May 2012, Martin served as commencement speaker at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia,[24] Saint Louis University in St. Louis, and Immaculata University in Immaculata, Pennsylvania. He received an honorary degree from each school as well.[25]

In May 2014, Martin served as commencement speaker at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and received an honorary degree.

In November 2015, Martin was awarded an honorary doctorate in divinity from Regis College, the Jesuit theological college at the Toronto School of Theology.

Publications

Books authored

  • This Our Exile: A Spiritual Journey with the Refugees of East Africa (Orbis Books, 1999), which tells of Martin's experiences in the early 1990s working with the Jesuit Refugee Service in Nairobi, Kenya, and helping East African refugees start small businesses.
  • In Good Company: The Fast Track from the Corporate World to Poverty, Chastity and Obedience (Sheed & Ward, 2000), which is the story of Martin's call to the priesthood and the early days of his Jesuit vocation.
  • Searching for God at Ground Zero (Sheed & Ward, 2002), which contains Martin's reflections on God, evil, love, and hope as he ministered to rescue workers at Ground Zero in the days following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
  • Becoming Who You Are: Insights on the True Self from Thomas Merton and Other Saints (Paulist Press, 2006) tells of the influence the writings of Catholic spiritual writers Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen have had on Martin's life.
  • My Life with the Saints (Loyola Press., 2006), Martin's memoir, chronicling the lives of some Catholic saints and other holy men and women and how they have touched and guided his life.
  • Lourdes Diary: Seven Days at the Grotto of Massabieille (Loyola Press, 2006), an account of a pilgrimage to Lourdes.
  • A Jesuit Off-Broadway: Center Stage with Jesus, Judas, and Life's Big Questions (Loyola Press, 2007).
  • The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life (Harper One, 2010), Martin explains how Jesuit founder St. Ignatius of Loyola helps people with practical spirituality.
  • Between Heaven and Mirth: Why Joy, Humor, and Laughter Are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life (HarperOne 2011) looks at the connection and relationship between humor, joy, and faith.
  • Jesus: A Pilgrimage (HarperOne, 2014): Martin describes his personal travels in the Holy Land, expounds on Bible passages associated with the sites that he visited during his travels, and relates the passages to current life.
  • Seven Last Words: An Invitation to a Deeper Friendship with Jesus (HarperOne, 2016) Offers a portrait of Jesus, using his last words on the cross to reveal how deeply he understood our predicaments, what it means to be fully human, and why we can turn to Christ completely, in mind, heart, and soul.
  • The Abbey: A Story of Discovery (HarperOne, 2016) A novel about how God works in our lives. The protagonists discover the power of God to bring healing and wholeness to our lives.
  • Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity (HarperOne, 2017).

Books edited

  • How Can I Find God? The Famous and Not-So-Famous Consider the Quintessential Question (Triumph Books, 1997).
  • Professions of Faith: Living and Working as a Catholic (with Jeremy Langford) (Sheed & Ward, 2002).
  • Awake My Soul: Contemporary Catholics on Traditional Devotions (Loyola Press, 2004).
  • Celebrating Good Liturgy: A Guide to the Ministries of the Mass (Loyola Press, 2005).

References

  1. ↑ "James Martin, S.J." America Magazine. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
  2. ↑ "Pope taps James Martin and EWTN chief as communications consultants". Crux. 2017-04-12. Retrieved 2017-05-02.
  3. ↑ "Father James Martin appointed by Pope Francis to Vatican department for communications". America Magazine. 2017-04-12. Retrieved 2017-05-02.
  4. ↑ "In rare WSJ op-ed, Cardinal Sarah says Fr. Martin's LGBT outreach falls short". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2017-09-01.
  5. ↑ "Vatican cardinal critiques Jesuit Martin on homosexuality". Crux. 2017-09-01. Retrieved 2017-09-01.
  6. ↑ Holmes, Kristin E. (December 2, 2006). "Every saint's a sinner". Philadelphia Inquirer. (Subscription required (help)). Available at www.philly.com (Philadelphia Inquirer Archive).
  7. 1 2 3 http://www.americamagazine.org/content/staff.cfm?id=8
  8. ↑ http://www.beliefnet.com/Video/Preachers-and-Teachers/Bios/Father-Jim-Martin-Preacher-and-Teacher-Bio-Page.aspx
  9. ↑ Rev. James Martin, S.J The Huffington Post.
  10. ↑ "LAByrinth Theater Company website".
  11. ↑ "Nonfiction Book Reviews - A Jesuit Off-Broadway: Center Stage with Jesus, Judas, and Life's Big Questions". www.publishersweekly.com.
  12. ↑ "The Colbert Report". Comedy Central.
  13. ↑ "The Colbert Report". Comedy Central.
  14. ↑ "The Colbert Report". Comedy Central.
  15. ↑ "The Colbert Report". Comedy Central.
  16. ↑ Spadaro, S.J., Antonio. "A Big Heart Open to God". America magazine. American Jesuits. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  17. ↑ Roewe, Brian. "Colbert puts Pope Francis 'on notice'". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  18. ↑ "The Colbert Report". Comedy Central.
  19. ↑ "The Colbert Report". Comedy Central.
  20. ↑ "The Colbert Report". Comedy Central. Retrieved 2017-05-02.
  21. ↑ "The Last Acceptable Prejudice". Archived from the original on 2007-04-03.
  22. ↑ "The Christophers, Inc". www.christophers.org.
  23. ↑ "Sorry! Page not found - Wagner College".
  24. ↑ "St. Joseph's University Website".
  25. ↑ "Four Jesuits Receive Honorary Degrees".
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