Podcast Summary: The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J.

Episode: Adriana Trigiani on the Spirituality of "Showing Up"

Host: Fr. James Martin, S.J. (America Media)
Guest: Adriana Trigiani, bestselling author
Date: October 7, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode explores the spirituality of “showing up” with acclaimed author Adriana Trigiani. Fr. James Martin and Adriana discuss how Adriana’s Italian Catholic roots shaped her faith, her deep devotion to the Eucharist and the Blessed Mother, and her reflections on prayer, presence, and living an authentic spiritual life. Listeners are invited to consider the roles of memory, community, creativity, and honest prayer in their daily encounters with God.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Adriana’s Catholic Upbringing and Italian-American Family (07:37–11:04)

• Influence of Family & Heritage: Adriana describes faith woven into the very fabric of her Italian-American household: “It’s the fabric of my family life.” (08:22, Adriana)
  • Stories about her devout grandparents and attending daily Mass, often under her grandmother’s watchful eye—even when faint with hunger due to fasting before Communion.
  • Family as both the anchor and vehicle for spiritual learning, bonding, and resilience.

2. Devotion to the Eucharist: A Spiritual Center (09:47–11:47)

• Centrality of "Breaking the Bread":
  • The Eucharist is described as “not as symbolism, but really God and spirituality made manifest.” (09:53, Adriana)
  • She connects the sacred meal to her Italian family’s tradition of gathering around food: “It wasn’t like a special thing. It was the thing always.” (11:01, Adriana)
  • Adriana made the connection between the Last Supper and both family and church tables at a young age.

3. Love for the Blessed Mother and The Rosary (11:45–14:18)

• Rosary as Meditation:
  • Adriana reveals ongoing devotion: “The rosary…is the grandmother of them all. It’s very meditative. You feel a sense of accomplishment.” (12:03, Adriana)
  • She shares about being part of a “proud island of Misfit Toys”—a minority Catholic group in rural Virginia—strengthened by devotion and perseverance.
  • The presence of Mary in her home and heart is a source of “comforting” and encouragement, especially in difficult moments.

4. Mary and the Spirituality of Showing Up (14:16–18:18)

• A Teenage Encounter: Adriana tells a powerful story of helping her pregnant friend as a teen, connecting Mary’s example to “showing up” for others.
  • “Notice how she [Mary] shows up when things are at their worst… That’s what I get from Mary.” (17:40, Adriana)
• Mary as Real and Relatable: By seeing echoes of Mary in her frightened friend, Adriana experiences the presence and solidarity of the Blessed Mother in concrete ways.

5. Jesus and the Last Supper (18:30–21:15)

• Jesus as Host and Companion: Adriana emphasizes the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and at the family’s table, seeing him as both leader and fellow participant rather than isolated divinity.
  • “That’s his dinner party. That’s his table.” (20:01, Adriana)
• Memory as Spiritual Anchor: The command “Do this in memory of me” carries deep significance:
  • “To remember someone outside the context of this present moment is really huge. It’s the calling of your soul.” (21:02, Adriana)

6. Navigating Faith and Womanhood (21:33–26:32)

• Challenges of Growing Up Female in Both Faith and Culture:
  • Adriana candidly addresses gender double standards in Catholic and Italian culture, highlighting both obstacles and family support.
• St. Mary’s College Influence: The role of Holy Cross sisters as models of independence, business acumen, and dignity is celebrated.
  • “I watched them run a business… They know what they’re doing.” (28:47, Adriana)

7. Prayer Practices and Attitude Toward Petition (26:32–37:51)

• Prayer for Others Over Self: Adriana focuses her prayer on others’ needs rather than her own: “Prayer should be for people.” (26:41, Adriana)
  • She admits occasionally asking God for strength, but finds it “ridiculous” to pray for material things for herself.
• Praying to Be Heard, Not Necessarily Answered:
  • “It’s not essential that I be answered. It’s essential that I be heard.” (37:48, Adriana)
  • Direct, candid dialogue with God is central, whether in frustration or gratitude.

8. Creative Process as Spiritual Practice (30:24–33:36)

• Writing as Grace:
  • Adriana sees her creative abilities as “God-given,” tapping into a “creative well that sustains me,” asserting: “Creativity is the work of God. Destruction is the work of you-know-who.” (31:49, Adriana)
• Keeping Spiritual Channels Open: She encourages engaging the subconscious (the “seat of your soul”) through intention-setting and trust in its wisdom, using simple rituals and faith that “everything is within you.” (33:01, Adriana)

9. Practical Spirituality: Journaling & Sacred Space (38:10–39:31)

• Spiritual Journaling Tips:
  • Use one notebook dedicated solely to spiritual matters.
  • Don’t judge what you write—allow for honesty and flow.
  • Always date entries and pose your key spiritual questions in writing.
  • Create a “sacred space,” even if it’s just a chair or candle, to foster focus and habit.
    • “You need light to go into this state.” (38:53, Adriana)

10. Audience Reflections and Notable Moments (41:10–46:28)

• Prayer as Honesty: Both host and guest emphasize the importance of honesty in prayer, echoing Jesus’ example in Gethsemane (45:00, Fr. James).
• Eucharist as Presence: Adriana’s focus on the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is described by Fr. James as “really quite powerful and moving.” (44:04)
• Being Heard vs. Being Answered: A recurring theme is the radical trust in God that arises from being content with “just being heard” (44:41).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (w/ Timestamps)

• On the Eucharist:
  • “I see the breaking of the bread not as symbolism, but really God and spirituality made manifest.”
    — Adriana, (09:53)
  • “It wasn’t like a special thing. It was the thing always.”
    — Adriana, (11:01)
• On Mary as Inspiration:
  • “Notice how she shows up when things are at their worst… Don’t shy away from a problem. Run to it and help out if you can.”
    — Adriana, (17:40)
• On Creative Process:
  • “Creativity is the work of God. Destruction is the work of you know who.”
    — Adriana, (31:49)
• On Spiritual Journaling:
  • “You must have an area, a place, whether a little table or a chair… that is only there for your spiritual connectivity.”
    — Adriana, (38:32)
  • “You need light to go into this state.”
    — Adriana, (38:53)
• On Prayer:
  • “It’s not essential that I be answered. It’s essential that I be heard.”
    — Adriana, (37:48)
  • “Prayer should be for people.”
    — Adriana, (26:41)
• On Community:
  • “By coming in those doors, you’re admitting you need help… I feel better that we’re all in this together, even if I don’t know them.”
    — Adriana, (34:37)

Timestamps of Key Segments

| Time | Segment Description | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------| | 07:37 | Adriana’s family, Italian Catholic upbringing | | 09:47 | Devotion to the Eucharist | | 11:45 | Rosary and Mary in daily life | | 14:16 | “Showing up” for others — story of Maryanne | | 18:30 | First impressions of Jesus, Last Supper | | 21:33 | Navigating faith, gender roles, adolescence | | 26:32 | Approach to prayer and petitioning God | | 30:24 | Writing as a spiritual calling | | 33:46 | Adriana’s daily spiritual practices | | 35:01 | How she “talks to God” in prayer | | 38:10 | Advice for spiritual journaling | | 41:10 | Host and producer reflect on Adriana’s insights | | 44:18 | Eucharist and memory, being heard by God | | 46:28 | Connection between being heard and presence |

Summary Takeaway

Adriana Trigiani’s approach to spirituality is rooted in memory, presence, openness, and service. Her strong Italian Catholic heritage provided a foundation for a life centered around the Eucharist, the Blessed Mother, and a deep sense of “showing up” for others. She sees her creativity as a gift from God, cultivates honest and direct prayer, and believes in the vital importance of community. Through stories and practical advice, she encourages listeners to forge an authentic dialogue with God, remain open to others, and cherish the spiritual meaning in everyday life.