Rev. James Martin, S.J. Joins Holy Cross Community to Discuss How to Cope During a Time of Crisis Using Ignatian Tools

Renowned Jesuit priest Rev. James Martin, S.J. joined the Holy Cross community on September 28 for a live webinar, "">Ignatian Tools During a Time of Crisis," which included a talk followed by a Q&A session. The event, hosted by the Holy Cross Alumni Association, was open to alumni, students, parents, faculty and staff, who also had the opportunity to submit questions to Fr. Martin ahead of the event.

Initially planned as an in-person event for the 2020-2021 academic year that would have accommodated approximately 200 people, the move to a virtual format ultimately enabled a wider audience to hear from Fr. Martin. The event had over 1,400 participants, with over 100 questions submitted by registrants.

Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., president of the College, kicked off the hour-long session by introducing Fr. Martin as "an outspoken advocate for dialogue across differences and a strong promoter of Ignatian spirituality and the great tradition of the Society of Jesus. If you read Jim's works carefully, you know well that he sees in Jesus' ministry to us the essence of what it means to embody compassion and mercy."

Fr. Martin began his remarks by sharing his appreciation for Holy Cross, noting, "I am a New England province Jesuit originally, and so Holy Cross played a big part in my Jesuit life, even though I'm not an alum." He noted that he has long had a "fondness" for Holy Cross and enjoys meeting alumni from the College.

In the first half of the webinar, Fr. Martin shared his thoughts on how to use the tools handed down from St. Ignatius to help us navigate life in a time of crisis. Using the current pandemic as a framework for the discussion, Fr. Martin detailed three Ignatian tools that can be used on a daily basis during this challenging time: discernment of spirits, examination of conscience and Ignatius contemplation. He emphasized the need to focus on feelings of gratitude in what may otherwise seem like a time of despair. "In difficult times, we tend to focus just on the problems," said Fr. Martin. "That can work against us, though. As much as we are trying to figure things out, we can overlook the graces and the blessings that God has given us."

For the moderated Q&A session, Michael Shanahan '78, president of the Holy Cross Alumni Association, posed questions to Fr. Martin that had been submitted ahead of the webinar by members of the Holy Cross community. The questions focused on a range of subjects, from politics to the church to spirituality tools he uses in his own life. When asked how to ensure that the presence of the Jesuits is felt years into the future, Fr. Martin projected a positive outlook, using the College as his example, remarking, "Let's look at campus ministry at College of the Holy Cross and all the wonderful work that they do… It's not all Jesuits. It’s not all men. It's people who are animated by Jesuit spirituality and by the Ignatian charism. So I do think that Jesuits are essential at a Jesuit university… but the gifts of Ignatian spirituality are for everyone."

Fr. Martin is a daily spiritual resource for thousands through social and news media outlets. After entering the Society of Jesus in 1988 following a career in corporate finance, he was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood in 1999. He is the editor-at-large of the Jesuit magazine America, a consultant to the Holy See's Dicastery for Communication, and the author of many books, including The New York Times bestsellers “The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything” and “Jesus: A Pilgrimage.” His book “Learning to Pray: A Guide for Everyone” will be published in February.

Watch the entire recording of the Holy Cross Alumni Association's webinar with Fr. Martin, "">Ignatian Tools During a Time of Crisis" on the Holy Cross YouTube channel.