Loading...
Loading...
Click here if you don’t see subscription options
JesuiticalFebruary 14, 2025
A painting of Julian of Norwich by Stephen Reid, 1912. (Wikimedia Commons)

On “Jesuitical” this week, Zac and Ashley chat with Simon Critchley, the Hans Jonas Professor of Philosophy at the New School for Social Research in New York and a Director of the Onassis Foundation, about his new book, Mysticism. Among the most prolific of modern academic philosophers, Simon has written over twenty books, from works of philosophy to studies on topics from Greek tragedy and dead philosophers to David Bowie, football and suicide.

Zac, Ashley and Simon discuss: 

  • The historical development of the concept of “mysticism,” how it was suppressed during the Reformation and its resurgent relevance for today.
  • Emotionally-charged forms of piety in the high Middle Ages among women mystics like Julian of Norwich
  • How modern mysticism can provide access to the sacred and transcendent in a melancholic world

In Signs of the Times, Zac is joined by Sam Sawyer, S.J., editor-in-chief of America, for a conversation about Pope Francis’ strongly worded letter of support to the Catholic bishops of the United States in which he denounced the mass deportation of undocumented migrants initiated by President Donald Trump, and corrected Vice President JD Vance’s theology. 

Links for further reading: 

What’s on tap?
Gin Martini

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

The latest from america

As we enter into Holy Week, join America Media for a subscriber-only virtual event with James Martin, S.J., and ‘Jesuitical’ hosts Zac Davis and Ashley McKinless.
America StaffApril 01, 2025
“Having a sensory room in a place of worship is probably more important than anywhere else because everyone should feel welcome in their faith.”
Sean QuinnApril 01, 2025
Sports hasn't always been the most popular topic among America's editors and contributors—unless it was the Grand Old Game, baseball.
James T. KeaneApril 01, 2025
A joint Catholic-Evangelical report found that an overwhelming majority of people impacted by the Trump administration's mass deportations are Christian.