Jesuitical

Latest Episodes:

How to become a mystic (and keep your day job) Nov 04, 2022

Show notes

What does it mean to be a mystic in the modern age? Many of us think of mysticism as something for spiritual masters who lock themselves away from the world in monasteries and convents and dedicate their lives to constant prayer. But we are all called to a close and yes mystical relationship with God and to lead lives of contemplation. And today's guest, Kelly Deutsch, wants to help people do just that.

After entering a convent, Kelly came down with an illness that left her bedridden for 18 months—and spurred great spiritual desolation and growth. She went on to found Wanderlust, a center for contemplative formation, which provides podcasts, courses and other spiritual resources to those hunger for a closer union with the divine.

And in Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss a new report on clergy burnout and the at-times deceptive ways Catholic political groups try to sway voters.

Links from the show

New study of priests shows a distrust of bishops, fears of false sex abuse allegations and widespread burnout

‘The Catholic Church is always politically nonpartisan’: Arizona bishops warn voters of groups claiming to represent the church

Spiritual Wanderlust

People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States

What’s on tap?

Seltzer Water with Lime

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Catholic parishes are booming in the Southwest–what does that mean for the U.S. church? Nov 01, 2022

Show notes

Catholic parishes are growing quickly in the Southwest, and that’s raising important questions for the U.S. church: How are Anglo and Latino communities integrating on the ground? Why aren’t Latinos adequately represented in parish, diocesan and national church structures? Ashley and Zac welcome Jim McDermott, S.J., and Sebastian Gomes to discuss Part One of America Media’s new, groundbreaking documentary, “People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States.” The film begins in the suburbs of Phoenix, Ariz., where one parish built a second church to accommodate the new families joining the parish on an almost daily basis.

Watch "People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States"

Stay tuned to the Jesuitical feed for more bonus episodes on the film!

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Hell, dead bodies and burial practices: What does the church say? Oct 28, 2022

Show notes

To get in the sPoOkY spirit, this week’s episode of Jesuitical is getting a little macabre. Zac and Ashley are joined by Candida Moss, a columnist for the Daily Beast and the Edward Cadbury Professor of Theology at University of Birmingham. We talk to Professor Moss about how the church and the culture’s understanding of hell has changed over the centuries, what some sure signs of demonic possession are, and why the church teaches what it does about cremation and burial practices.

After the conversation with Candida Moss, stick around for a special new episode of “Voting Catholic,” which is out with a brand new season ahead of the midterm elections.

Links from the show:

The church forbids ‘human composting’ at death. But what about ‘green’ burials?

When Did Satan Go From Inmate to Warden?

Why Did the Catholic Church Ban the Spreading of Ashes?

Listen to the Voting Catholic podcast from America

What’s on tap?

Moscow Mule

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How Father Mike Schmitz balances a popular media ministry with being a college campus priest Oct 21, 2022

Show notes

Podcast episodes and YouTube videos featuring Father Michael Schmitz rack up thousands, even millions, of views. His latest project, “The Bible in a Year,” has even made it to the top of the Apple Podcast charts since it debuted in 2021. But for students at the University of Minnesota Duluth, Father Mike isn’t just another celebrity priest. He’s their chaplain.

This week, we talk to Father Mike about the big questions Catholics (and non-Catholics) on campus are asking today, the challenges and opportunities of ministering at a big state school and how he balances life in the public eye and being present to his students.

And in Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley chat with Colleen Dulle about Inside the Vatican’s latest deep dive into the synod on synodality. The global church has just finished up the listening phase of the synod and reports from at least 112 of the 114 bishops’ conferences around the world are in. What have we learned so far from this yearlong consultation? And what comes next?

Topics:

04:10 - Colleen Dulle of "Inside the Vatican" breaks down the Synod on Synodality at the end of phase one

14:55 - A day in the life of Fr. Mike Schmitz

20:55 - The joys and challenges of doing campus ministry on a secular university campus

32:53 - How 'The Bible in a Year' project changed Fr. Mike's engagement with Scripture

42:07 - How Fr. Mike balances being a celebrity priest and a chaplain to his students

Links from the show:

Podcast: Synod reports from all over the world are in. What happens next?

The Bible in a Year podcast

Watch America’s new documentary, People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States

What’s on tap?

An IPA that was not made in Father Mike’s brother’s brewery

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Does God evolve? How evolution and A.I. are pushing the horizons of theology Oct 14, 2022

Show notes

Most Catholics these days don’t think there is a conflict between the theory of evolution and their faith. But it’s harder to wrap our heads around the idea that we’re still evolving—and that God might be, too. This week, we talk with Sister Ilia Delio, a theologian who thinks we can’t separate the evolving nature of our universe and consciousness from our faith. We ask Sister Delio what it’s like to work at the cutting edge of theology, where rapidly changing technology and artificial intelligence might be taking us as a species, and what that means for the church.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss the still-open questions about the legacy and implementation of the Second Vatican Council, which opened 60 years ago this week. Did the council fail? What would success look like, and what would the church look like today if Vatican II hadn’t happened?

Links from the show:

Did Vatican II fail? Are we allowed to ask the question?

Pope Francis marks 60th anniversary of Vatican II by warning against worldly ‘progressivism’ and backward-looking ‘traditionalism’

The Emergent Christ, Ilia Delio

People of God: How Catholic Parish Life is Changing in the United States

What’s on tap?

Pinot Noir

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The Hillbilly Thomists on Bluegrass, Catholic Culture and liturgical music Oct 07, 2022

Show notes

This week, Ashley and Zac are joined by Father Thomas Joseph White, O.P., of the all-Dominican bluegrass group, The Hillbilly Thomists. They discuss what the Order of Preachers could teach the wider church about preaching, liturgically appropriate music as well as The Hillbilly Thomists new album, Holy Ghost Power.

During Signs of the Times, America’s national correspondent, Michael O’Loughlin, discusses a shakeup at the Newman Center at The Ohio State University.

Links from the Show:

Holy Ghost Power (Spotify)

Who owns the Newman Center? Shake-up at Ohio State highlights the tension between students and older parishioners

Pope Francis: The devil knows the passwords to our heart. We must know them too.

What’s on tap?

High Screamer: 2 oz. bourbon, 1 oz. Cointreau, 0.5 oz simple syrup, 1/2 of a lime, juiced. Best served on ice.

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What it's like to lead the world's largest religious order–the Jesuits Sep 30, 2022

Show notes

Zac and Ashley are unpacking from their recent pilgrimage to Italy. So, they're bringing back an interview from 2021 with the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Fr. Arturo Sosa, S.J. Behind the mic, Ashley is joined by Colleen Dulle, host of America Media's "Inside the Vatican" podcast to discuss with Fr. Sosa his relationship with Pope Francis (another Jesuit!) and how he interprets the pope's reforming agenda. They also discuss how the Jesuits are increasing their collaboration with women around the world.

Links:

Read the transcript of this interview here

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Debt, inflation, the soaring cost of living–why Pope Francis wants young Catholics to transform the economy Sep 23, 2022

Show notes

Does it seem like the economic deck is stacked against young people today? Inflation, debt, the cost of living and an overvalued housing market can be soul-crushing to younger generations trying to get on their feet and start their lives. The feelings of helplessness and isolation are not lost on Pope Francis, who is calling young Catholics working to transform economic systems to Assisi, Italy, this week. It’s the first ever in-person meeting of The Economy of Francesco!

Elizabeth Garlow, an American economist and new mom, will be there, and she joins Zac and Ashley on the podcast to discuss why the current system is failing young people. She’s convinced that it is not enough to tweak the current system; a bold reimagining is necessary. And with the help of Pope Francis, these young Catholics are moving to the frontlines of the movement.

Links from the show:

Wondrium

The Economy of Francesco

Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future, by Pope Francis and Austen Ivereigh

Anna Rowlands on Catholic Social Teaching

Humanizing the Economy: Co-operatives in the Age of Capital, by John Restakis

Francesco Collaborative

What’s on tap?

Oberon Ale from Bell’s Brewery

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So, why is Rome so important to the Catholic Church? Sep 16, 2022

Show notes

This week, Zac and Ashley are putting the Rome in Roman Catholic. Why did Peter go to Rome? Is he actually buried under St. Peter’s Basilica? And why has Rome remained the center of the Roman Catholic Church for 2,000 years?

To help answer these questions, they are joined by Professor Kenneth Bartlett. Professor Bartlett is a Renaissance historian, author and professor at the University of Toronto. He is also the guide of “Smithsonian’s: The Guide to Essential Italy,” which is available for streaming on Wondrium, our partners who provided support for this episode.

Links from the show:

Wondrium

What Catholics need to know about Kazakhstan before Pope Francis’ visit

Diocese of Phoenix creates Office of Mental Health Ministry

What’s on tap?

Brunello di Montalcino

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The Problem with Celebrity Christians (and Christian Celebrities) Sep 09, 2022

Show notes

What do Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Britney Spears and Shia LaBeouf have in common (besides being famous)? All four of these celebrities made waves by announcing they had become Christian in recent years. Rightly or wrongly, we ordinary Christians often celebrate when a high-profile figure joins our “team.” But what should we think when our church leaders become celebrities?

It’s a question Katelyn Beaty explores in her new book Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits Are Hurting the Church. Katelyn looks at the phenomenon of “celebrity Christians” in the evangelical church, but the trend of priests and pastors gaining massive followings—online and IRL—exists across many denominations and in the Catholic Church. (After all, who’s a bigger celebrity than the pope?) We ask her the dangers of having a faith that is centered on charismatic individuals, how social media is changing the ways we relate to church leaders and how people in the pews can build real community in our celebrity-obsessed era.

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley break down some of the top Catholic news stories you might have missed while on summer vacation.

Links from the show:

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Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits Are Hurting the Church

Pope Francis releases new letter on liturgy: Catholics need a better understanding of Vatican II’s reforms

Full text: Pope Francis’ apology to Indigenous Peoples in Canada

Pope Francis names 21 new cardinals, including Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego

Lessons for evangelization from Britney Spears’ journey with the Catholic Church

The missing piece of Shia LaBeouf’s conversation with Bishop Barron: the stories of abuse victims

What’s on tap?

Dirty gin martinis

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