“The Spiritual Life” host James Martin, S.J., talks to Mary Karr, author of the New York Times best-selling memoirs The Liars' Club, Cherry, and Lit, as well as the Art of Memoir, and five poetry collections, most recently Tropic of Squalor.

00:00 Who is Mary Karr?
1:25 What is "spiritual direction?" And, what are the "Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius?"
3:54 Audience question: How can we break free from making selfish choices and feeling unworthy?
7:55 How Mary Karr and Fr. Jim met and become friends.
10:12 Mary's early perceptions of Catholicism (good and bad) and her unexpected journey into the church
26:24 How life changed for Mary after becoming Catholic, and doing the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius
34:45 Mary's self reflection on her sinfulness, and a memorable, spooky, mystical experience
41:30 Mystical experiences can happen to anyone. How can we pay attention to them?
43:11 How to respond to our sin and become less judgmental
46:15 What is sin? Hint: most people misunderstand it
52:41 Audience question answered by Mary: How can we break free from making selfish choices and feeling unworthy?
56:38 How to understand mystical experiences

Link to Fr. Jim’s spiritual advice column on this episode: https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2025/07/01/spiritual-life-james-martin-mary-karr-251044

Link to Fr. Jim’s book, “The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life”: https://www.harpercollins.ca/9780061432699/the-jesuit-guide-to-almost-everything

Do you have a spiritual question for Fr. Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org

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