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

Episode: How to do a spiritual reset for 2026
Date: January 1, 2026
Host: Fr. James Martin, S.J.
Guest: Brother Paul Quinin, OCSO (Trappist monk, Abbey of Gethsemani)
Producer: America Media (Maggie Van Dorn)

Episode Overview

The first episode of Season 2 launches on New Year's Day, focusing on the idea of a "spiritual reset" for the year ahead. Fr. James Martin and producer Maggie Van Dorn introduce a special guest: Brother Paul Quinin, a Trappist monk whose life and reflections are deeply tied to contemplative prayer and spiritual simplicity. Together, they field listener questions about reigniting one’s spiritual life, navigating suffering, prayer “dryness,” loving God for God’s sake, charity, and discerning God’s voice. The episode is rich in personal stories (especially involving Thomas Merton), practical advice, and spiritual encouragement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing Brother Paul Quinin and the Trappist Life

• Background: Entered monastic life at Gethsemani in 1958 under Thomas Merton ("Father Louis") as novice master.
• Attraction to Monasticism: Drawn by a desire for constant prayer and to live in God’s love.
  • "It was focused on prayer, and it was in prayer that I was finding love...So I took a shot and seemed to hit the target because I’m still here." (Brother Paul, 10:31)
• Nature of Prayer: Prayer as presence rather than dialogue or words—emphasizes the Jesus Prayer in times of labor and fatigue.

2. Experiencing God’s Love

• Discovery Over Time: Shift from seeking God’s love to awareness of being already immersed in it.
  • "I came here looking for God’s love. And since then I’ve discovered I am in God’s love. It’s just a matter of me being attentive to it and open to it." (Brother Paul, 12:42)
• Advice for Religious Life: Practice docility (teachability)—not a popular concept today, but vital for spiritual growth.

3. Thomas Merton as Novice Master

• Personal Reminiscences: Merton, known to the monks by his religious name, was vivacious and an example-setter.
• On Teaching Prayer: Merton didn’t give concrete techniques; trusted the structure and rhythm of monastic life would naturally cultivate prayer.
  • "You give kids the right materials...they just start playing around...In the play, they learn how to spell. So a monastery should be like that. You just be there, and then things, you begin to learn things." (Brother Paul, 16:32)

4. Listener Q&A: Practical Spirituality

A. How to Do a Spiritual Reset [19:23]

• Brother Paul: Humorously skeptical of resolutions but values returning to basics and being gentle with oneself.
  • "Maybe my next resolution will be not to make any resolutions, and I might break that one, too." (19:23)
• Fr. Martin: Suggests reading inspiring spiritual books and experimenting with new forms or environments for prayer.
  • Book recommendations: In Praise of the Useless Life (Paul Quinin), Sacred Fire (Rolheiser), Cloister Walk (Kathleen Norris).
• Changing Prayer Spaces: Both agree even a small, external change (e.g., praying outdoors) can help.

B. Navigating Dryness & the Dark Night [21:17]

• Brother Paul: Dryness is inevitable after decades of prayer; don’t expect too much—just persist in faith.
  • "My whole spiritual life is pretty dry after 65 years...just take that for granted that God loves you. You don’t have to see it, you believe it." (21:23)
• Fr. Martin: Encourages seeing dryness as a normal ebb and flow, not a sign of failure.
  • "Eventually you say, oh, I have a cold, right. And it’ll go away. I think dryness is like that." (22:33)

C. Suffering and the Presence of God in Tragedy [24:51]

• Brother Paul: Christ identifies with all human suffering; sometimes the best response is simply silent presence.
  • "Sometimes you trivialize something by giving advice...the best thing to do is just share it with them. Like Christ shares wordlessly with our suffering." (26:13)
• Fr. Martin: Warns against offering easy theological explanations for suffering; focuses on God’s accompaniment, recognizing God's small consolations amid pain.

D. Prayer & the State of Grace [29:58]

• Brother Paul: God’s mercy is not transactional; even in sin, the act of turning to prayer is itself a sign of grace.
  • "God sees something pathetic in your pride or your hubris...he said, oh, the poor guy, look where he’s headed for." (30:15)
• On Scrupulosity: Self-condemnation can become a form of spiritual self-sabotage. God is more merciful than our "inner accuser."
  • "If you do something where you’re accusing yourself, you are in the hands of the devil...maybe that’s where the devil wants you to be." (32:48)

E. Serving the Poor vs. Providing for Family [35:41]

• Brother Paul: Not everyone is called to radical poverty; each state of life has its own mode of generosity.
  • "Even in the monastery...I share a great wealth...but I pray for these people. I just leave it to the monastery to take care of that." (36:02)
• Fr. Martin: Cites “resident disciples” idea—many followers of Jesus supported him while living ordinary lives; keep a spirit of simplicity and generosity in each context.

F. Self-Focus in Prayer [39:19]

• Brother Paul: Cautions against navel-gazing and narcissism in prayer; recommends moving beyond self by focusing on God or embracing “the cloud of unknowing.”
  • "Don’t watch yourself in the prayer...you don’t pray just in order to be spiritually beautiful, and that’s narcissism." (39:38)
• Fr. Martin: Honesty with God is good but dwelling on one’s own struggles excessively can become counterproductive; sometimes, shifting to scriptural reflection or community prayer helps break self-absorption.

G. Personal Relationship with God & Discerning God’s Voice [43:53]

• What does it mean to have a personal relationship with God?
  • Brother Paul: Found most deeply in solitude, prayer that simply “is”—loving God for God’s sake.
    • "You can cultivate that personal quality simply by solitary prayer...that is the relationship." (44:34)
  • Fr. Martin: Analogy of friendship—honesty, time, listening, letting the relationship grow.
    • "You can speak to God, quote, as one friend speaks to another." (46:32)
  • Brother Paul: Remembers Abbot Dom James—“Jesus is my pal.”
• How do you distinguish God’s voice from your own?
  • Brother Paul: Fruitfulness is a sign—it produces good. Doesn’t look for direct “locutions.”
    • "If there seems to be something fruitful in the idea...when I carry through on the thing, it turns out to be a good thing." (47:34)
  • Fr. Martin: Offers a discernment checklist—Does what arises in prayer make you more loving? Is it consistent with the Gospel? Is it distracting or wish-fulfillment? Does it stay with you over time?
    • "When God really speaks to us, it’s important and it will stick with you." (49:54)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Brother Paul on discovering God’s love:

  "I came here looking for God’s love. And since then I’ve discovered I am in God’s love. It’s just a matter of me being attentive to it and open to it." (12:42)

• On prayer after 65 years:

  “My whole spiritual life is pretty dry after 65 years...just take that for granted that God loves you. You don’t have to see it, you believe it.” (21:23)

• On self-accusation in spirituality:

  "The devil is called the accuser. And so if you do something where you’re accusing yourself, you are in the hands of the devil…maybe that’s where the devil wants you to be." (32:48)

• On finding God in suffering:

  “Sometimes you trivialize something by giving advice, and the best thing to do is just share it with them. Like Christ shares wordlessly with our suffering.” (26:13)

• On the mystery of God and others:

  "If I could sense that mystery in other people…you don’t really see beyond the surface with most people." (35:39)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 04:31 — Discussion: Dryness versus the dark night of the soul
• 09:01 — Brother Paul’s vocation story
• 14:36 — Reflections on Thomas Merton as novice master
• 19:23 — How to do a spiritual reset for the new year
• 21:17 — Coping with spiritual dryness
• 24:51 — Making sense of suffering and tragedy
• 29:58 — Does being in a state of grace affect prayer?
• 35:41 — Charity, simplicity, and caring for the poor
• 39:19 — Moving beyond self-centeredness in prayer
• 43:53 — What is a personal relationship with God?
• 47:34 — Discerning God’s voice

Closing Notes

This episode blends the practical and the mystical, illustrating the continuity of spiritual struggle from novice to seasoned monk. Listeners come away with reassurance: dryness and doubt are normal, striving for honesty and fruitfulness in prayer is key, and God’s mercy is always greater than our failings. The real “reset” is less about changing everything and more about deepening attention, presence, and trust in God’s love—no matter how it feels.

For deeper exploration:

• Fr. James Martin’s article at americamagazine.org
• Brother Paul Quinin’s book: In Praise of the Useless Life
• Recommended authors: Ronald Rolheiser, Kathleen Norris

For questions and feedback: thespirituallife@americamedia.org