The greatest Catholic writers you (probably) haven’t heard of

Jesuitical

America Media

Spirituality, Christianity, News, News Commentary, Religion & Spirituality

4.8 • 949 Ratings

🗓️ 24 January 2025

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week’s episode of “Jesuitical” features a conversation with James T. Keane, senior editor at America and columnist for the Catholic Book Club, a weekly newsletter on literature and the arts. Jim’s new book, Reading Culture Through Catholic Eyes, explores 50 Catholic writers, thinkers, and “firebrands” who have influenced Catholic culture—and yes, as Jim’s colleagues, we may sound a little biased when we say it’s well worth the read. Just take our word for it. Even better, grab a copy and see for yourselves. Zac, Ashley and Jim discuss: - What makes someone a “Catholic writer” - Why so many of us get stuck on the same Catholic writers - The works of three lesser-known Catholic authors: Myles Connolly, Andre Dubus and Mary Karr In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss inauguration prayers for the 47th U.S. president Donald J. Trump offered by Pope Francis, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Father Frank Mann and Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde; the Cuban government’s plan to release 553 prisoners in response to Pope Francis’ Jubilee request to set the captives free; and increased family benefits for Vatican City-State employees. Links for further reading: Reading Culture through Catholic Eyes: 50 Writers, Thinkers, and Firebrands Who Challenge and Change Us Pope Francis assures Donald Trump of his prayers, but says mass deportations would be a ‘disgrace’ If the Catholic Church is pro-life, why is its maternity leave so bad? After the election, people may know your political party—but will they know you’re a Christian? God lifts up the underdogs Lean into love, not fear, this World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Beirut Jesuit pastor tells preachers You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow. You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical. Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America Media at americamagazine.org/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:44.7	Hello and welcome to Jesuitical, a podcast from America Media for saints and sinners.
0:50.5	You can join us each week for honest conversations about the Catholic Church in our world today, sometimes over drinks.
0:53.4	I'm Ashley McKinless, and I'm joined by Zach Davis.
0:54.3	Good to be with you, Ashley.
1:00.7	Good to have you here. And just follow up on last week, tie a bow on one thing. Notre Dame,
1:06.5	good game, but congratulations to my Ohio State Buckeyes. Yes, very gracious of you.
1:10.4	You know, I could have said, I could have been a lot meaner. You could have. That's true. Well, I feel like the college football national championship is sort of my marker for the
1:15.8	official end of the sort of Happy New Year period.
1:18.9	It's like now it's now it's just January from here on out.
1:22.6	But it does remind me about we talked a couple times about New Year's resolutions and
1:26.4	reading goals.
1:45.7	And I feel like this is a, if you're looking to read more in 2025, this is the episode for you. Yes, it sure is. We are talking to our friend and colleague James T. Keene. He is a senior editor here at America. And he's the author of a great new book. It's called Reading Culture Through Catholic Eyes,
1:53.2	50 writers, thinkers, and firebrands who challenge and change us. So we brought Jim on to talk about his book, and it's kind of, it's a tour through Catholic writers in the U.S. and abroad.
1:59.5	And Jim is just, he himself is a wonderful Catholic writer who
2:03.5	he gives you some back stories into these people who have very fascinating lives in addition to being
2:08.7	interesting writers. So it's a very fun conversation. Yeah, I took a couple of Catholicism and
2:13.8	literature courses in college and they were my favorite classes. And so I was happy to talk to Jim.
	...

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