This week on a special, interview-only episode of “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian talk with James Martin, S.J., editor at large for America, about his new memoir Work in Progress: Confessions of a busboy, dishwasher, caddy, usher, factory worker, bank teller, corporate tool, and priest.

Timecodes

0:00 Jim Martin has a new book: “Work in Progress”
2:13 Why Jim decided to write an autobiography on his jobs
8:19 The importance of menial labor and service
11:45 Getting free of our desire to be liked and popular
16:36 How Jim learned to distinguish ambition v. meaning
21:14 The impact of Thomas Merton on Jim’s spiritual life
25:30 Jim’s first mystical experience in the beauty of nature
35:36 Called to the Jesuits
42:15 Jim would canonize Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J.

Ashley, Sebastian and Father Jim discuss:
-The differences in writing an autobiography vs. a book on prayer
-Balancing ambition and meaning
-Jim’s eventual decision to choose a life and career in the Jesuits

Links for further reading:
Buy Father Jim’s book here: https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/jamesmartin

Father James Martin's article: Lessons from mowing lawns, riding bikes and a fateful walk to school: https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2026/01/15/james-martin-lessons-from-mowing-lawns-riding-bikes-and-a-fateful-walk-to-school/

Check out the book’s Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1K92kxUACx7uHJNdkmGHoq

You can follow us on ⁠X⁠ and on ⁠Instagram⁠ @jesuiticalshow.
You can find us on Facebook at ⁠facebook.com/groups/jesuitical.⁠

Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe

You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.
You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical.

Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at https://www.americamagazine.org/subscribe

Sign-up for our newsletter: http://bit.ly/2Ka4SOi

Follow us on Social Media:
• America Media on Facebook: http://bit.ly/2Kal3Ll
• America Media on Twitter: http://bit.ly/2viJosZ