“The Spiritual Life” host James Martin, S.J., talks with the notable spiritual author and theologian, Ron Rolheiser O.M.I. about not giving up on prayer and what we've misunderstood about chastity.

00:00 Who is Fr. Ron Rolheiser?
1:22 Audience Question: What spiritual practices do you think will be useful to young men as they navigate changing and often unhealthy visions of masculinity today?
4:10 What is spirituality?
7:54 Living an ordinary "monastic" life without being a monk
10:22 How to balance prayer and work
16:13 How Fr. Ron prays
18:53 How centering prayer can change your life
19:58 What happens inside of us when we pray?
24:21 What happens when our commitments to marriage, church or family become a drag?
28:05 Fr. Ron didn't become a priest because he wanted to. He felt he had to.
31:00 How we misunderstand chastity and celibacy
38:00 Prayer during suffering: the risk of turning in on ourselves
42:10 Audience Question answered by Fr. Ron: What spiritual practices do you think will be useful to young men as they navigate changing and often unhealthy visions of masculinity today?

Link to Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice article on this episode: https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2025/08/26/father-james-martin-ronald-rolheiser-spiritual-life

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