Jim's Books
Spirituality
Now the Work of Christmas Begins
The feast of Epiphany today brings the Christmas season to an end. To mark the day, here's a litany called "The Work of Christmas" composed by Howard Thurman, an African-American...
Discernment
“I want, I want”
Susan Stabile, an Ignatian spiritual director and law professor, distinguishes between the desire that causes pain and the desire that motivates us:
Attachment (what might be called disordered desire) always...
Reflections
Advent and Christmas Retreat: Christmas Time, Second Week
We conclude our seasonal retreat with one final week-starter reflection. In the coming days, take a few moments to evaluate your experience with the entire Advent and Christmas retreat....
Reflections
Advent and Christmas Retreat: Christmas Time, First Week
Merry Christmas! We continue our seasonal retreat by reflecting on Christmas. Please share your retreat experience with others here in the comments.
Christmas Time, First Week: Jesus Is Light in...
Poetry
Annunciations All the Time
My wife disturbed my Advent bliss a couple of days ago when she showed me a poem. I had been sailing along smoothly, humming “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,”...
Meditation
Gabriel Is Surprised
Fr. Jim Martin, SJ, notes something unusual in a Renaissance depiction of the Annunciation: Mary is surprised, but the angel Gabriel seems to be surprised too. That's the beginning...