James J. Martin

Author profile

born

in The United States

December 29, 1960

gender

male

About this author

edit data

James J. Martin, born 29 December 1960, is a Jesuit priest, writer and Culture Editor of the Jesuit magazine America.

Education and Career

Martin grew up in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, United States, and attended Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School. 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. 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 and was ordained a priest in 1999. In addition to his work at America Magazine, Fr. Martin has written or edited more than 10 books, many of which are largely about his...more James J. Martin, born 29 December 1960, is a Jesuit priest, writer and Culture Editor of the Jesuit magazine America.

Education and Career

Martin grew up in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, United States, and attended Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School. 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. 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 and was ordained a priest in 1999. In addition to his work at America Magazine, Fr. 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, FoxNews, Time Magazine, and other news outlets, and has written several op-ed pieces and blogged for The New York Times.

Theatre

Martin is a member of the LAByrinth Theater Company.His involvement with the LAByrinth Theater Company's 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 (LoyolaPress., 2007). Publishers Weekly, which gave the book a coveted starred review, named A Jesuit Off-Broadway one of the Best Books of 2007.

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 the most obvious contempt for the Catholic Church. He suggests that, "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."

Father Martin's best known book, My Life with the Saints (2006), was named by Publishers Weekly as one of the "Best Books of the Year" and was the winner of a 2007 Christopher Award.

In May, 2007, he received an honorary doctor of divinity degree from Wagner College in Staten Island, NY.
(less)

combine editions
James J. Martin's Books

Average rating: 4.18 · 3,385 ratings · 553 reviews · 133 distinct works · Similar authors

	My Life With the Saints 4.29 of 5 stars 4.29 avg rating — 1,233 ratings — published 2006 — 8 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life 4.28 of 5 stars 4.28 avg rating — 981 ratings — published 2010 — 9 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Between Heaven and Mirth: Why Joy, Humor, and Laughter Are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life 3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 avg rating — 389 ratings — published 2011 — 8 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Becoming Who You Are: Insights on the True Self from Thomas Merton and Other Saints 3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 avg rating — 198 ratings — published 2006 — 2 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Jesuit Off-Broadway: Center Stage with Jesus, Judas, and Life's Big Questions by James J. Martin, Stephen Adly Guirgis (Foreword) 4.06 of 5 stars 4.06 avg rating — 99 ratings — published 2007 — 4 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	In Good Company: The Fast Track from the Corporate World to Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience 4.13 of 5 stars 4.13 avg rating — 94 ratings — published 2000 — 4 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	This Our Exile: A Spiritual Journey With The Refugees Of East Africa 4.22 of 5 stars 4.22 avg rating — 36 ratings — 2 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Searching for God at Ground Zero 4.06 of 5 stars 4.06 avg rating — 17 ratings — published 2002	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	How Can I Find God?: The Famous and the Not-So-Famous Consider the Quintessential Question 3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 avg rating — 17 ratings — published 1997	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Together On Retreat: Meeting Jesus in Prayer 4.5 of 5 stars 4.50 avg rating — 8 ratings — published 2013	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by James J. Martin…

Upcoming Events

No scheduled events. Add an event.

Quotes by James J. Martin

“Religion can provide a check to my tendency to think that I am the center of the universe, that I know better than anyone about God, and that God speaks most clearly through me.”
― James J. Martin, The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life

3 people liked it

“In our deepest longings we hear echoes of God's longing for us. And the more we can follow these deep-down desires, those that God places within us for our happiness, the more joyful we will find ourselves.”
― James J. Martin, Between Heaven and Mirth: Why Joy, Humor, and Laughter Are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life

1 person liked it

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Catholic Readers: Group Read	43	59	Feb 09, 2012 06:14pm
Book Nook Cafe: In This House of Brede ~ May 2012	151	43	May 26, 2012 07:36am
Gigi's Company: Book Cover Challenge	1055	299	5 hours, 49 min ago

More…

Is this you? Let us know. If not, help out and invite James to Goodreads.

Add New
Videos

James's Fans (71)

James J. Martin

Author profile

combine editions
James J. Martin's Books

Upcoming Events

Quotes by James J. Martin

Topics Mentioning This Author

Add NewVideos

James's Fans (71)

James J. Martin

Author profile

combine editionsJames J. Martin's Books

Upcoming Events

Quotes by James J. Martin

Topics Mentioning This Author

Add New
Videos

combine editions
James J. Martin's Books