I’ve always wondered why the Jesuits don’t have a women’s religious counterpart as do the Francuiscans, Dominicans, Carmelites, etc. I’m a Franciscan sister and am very much enamored with the Ignatian approach to spirituality. Could you please satisfy my curious interest in the “problem” St. Ignatius had with extending his order to include women religious?
Thanks much for your help!
Ruth

Augustine … here’s Father Martin’s response to your comment: James Martin, SJ, on the broader Jesuit family

But given that God has not abandoned me and has blessed me with a wife and a family, I’m grateful to Him, although I carry a certain remorse for not having pursuing further His calling before.

Anyways, I’m now in the novitiate of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites. It’s been wonderful to grow in the charisms of this religious order as a secular member. I still pause in awe at the wisdom of the Church for providing so many ways for the faithful to strengthen their relationship with the Lord.

However, even though the Jesuits don’t have a third order, it seems to me that secular orders are often overlooked if not downright dismissed at the parish and diocesan level. Evidently, vocation to the priesthood and to the religious life should be a priority, but I think that vocations to religious orders as seculars should also be fostered. What are Fr. Martin’s views on third orders?

This question is sort of off-topic, but I was wondering if you could say a bit about the Ignatian style of imaginative prayer that is a conversation with Jesus. Thanks

God Bless You, and thank you for taking the time to visit on Sister Julie’s blog today.

I first heard you conducting an interview on the Saintcast podcast talking about your books. Then, not too long after, I was attending the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress and found myself at the Loyola Press display. ‘My Life with the Saints’ was on sale at a special price for the exhibit – so I purchased a copy.

The only other biographical style book I have ever purchased prior to your book is ‘The Story of a Soul’. I bought that book because St. Therese helped to bring me back into the Church in my mid 30’s. I focused on St. Therese because she is the Patroness of my Diocese (Fresno, CA). Oh, and did I mention my parish is the Shrine of St. Therese in Fresno. Coming back to the Church and listening to homilies relating to an ordinary girl from Lisieux made me realize that any of us can be called to do something extraordinary. It also inspired me to get her story in her words.

Your stories on how you were introduced to each of the Saints in your book are enjoyable, but it leads me to my question. How does an ordinary lay person cull through all of the Saints and find some biographies and other stories about these amazing lives and find the right one that might affect our own lives in some way. Additionally, how can we use these Saints to help better spread the word of God and the Church today.

I look forward to reading ‘A Jesuit Off-Broadway’. Thank you again for your time.