'Jesuit's Guide to Almost Everything'

This transcript is automatically generated

Well here's a question to stump you what as a trap door a dictionary.

And the -- not I'll have in common.

Well they all are discoveries or inventions of jesuit priests father James Martin is here to explain it all from his book.

The jesuit guide to almost everything.

A spirituality for real life welcome father Martin thank you great to be here this really -- they had no idea that just puts it so much we're very busy guys.

Who are the jazz with it's not so secretive organization like you know that he did.

-- -- -- -- -- -- It is not as -- -- -- most people would analysis educators we run a lot of colleges universities and high schools so.

Georgetown Fordham Boston College you know whenever the NCAA comes on people know about the judgment -- -- can we are we're founded in 1540 and and we do all sorts of things priests and Brothers all around the world we do missionary work on but mostly we're known as educators.

And teachers.

Even then I didn't know the -- -- for so inventive and -- needed and it.

Is that when he wrote the book is to kind of show -- who we are what we do.

-- -- we are and also more importantly what are spirituality is and it's a very.

Practical spirituality.

It's very inviting and the -- -- spirituality is one of finding god in all things.

Not just you know in the church and in scriptures although that's an important place to find got.

But in your daily life and so the book is trying to show people.

The judgment ways of finding -- in your daily life.

About what's the -- what we're finding a trap door that I -- -- What what's the connection there how you do how do you decide that a trap -- is something that is you know it it enhances your walk with god or something.

Well if you find -- -- all things and we're educators what happened was.

In the sixteenth century hijackers started put on plays you know for the students and -- they try to help the students do all sorts of things and in the process we invented things like the trap door.

You know if people know from -- exactly.

We discovered down -- nine the material that the chemical helps prevent malaria those guys who -- a great explorers.

And we're one of the earliest some groups of explorer's in the new world and came up with on native American dictionaries to help us communicate with -- native American people's.

So this idea of kind of -- finding out and all things means that you're very sound open to different.

Experiences and an open to the world basically.

Thank you mentioned that you educating the -- great educators and the list of people listen this is some of the list of people that adjustments have.

Educated Andy card Voltaire Moliere.

James Joyce.

Fidel Castro and -- people Alfred Hitchcock.

Bill Clinton.

Bing Crosby Vince Lombardi Robert Altman.

Salma Hayek Denzel Washington this is quite a large.

Variety of folks here well -- -- our our schools are not just the United States we have colleges universities all across the the world there's a funny story about Bill Clinton.

He was asked when he was at Georgetown a jesuit school I want -- his gesture -- so I know.

You know I think he'd make a great jesuit and Clinton said well I'm not really Catholics those big guys that yeah I guess that's a little back thing I wrote -- -- It -- a little bit -- little problem there but it what is it about the jesuit philosophy that creates this.

Educational.

Blossom.

Well what -- was early on -- Ignatius the founder of the -- was asked to open schools weren't started as an educational.

Religious order.

And we we immediately embrace that as a way of kind of helping people to you know.

Better themselves and contribute to society -- the jesuit way of educating someone is what's called care of the person it's not just.

Their mind if they're sold to.

Their mind their -- and their body.

Care of a whole person.

Which is a little different than some of the schools at the time that we're all about the intellect to the judge who wanted to.

To form people in the -- young men and young women to be active contributing.

Christians in society so it's a Medicare the whole person who thinks Philip a lot of parents appreciate when they send their kids to school.

Don't want Catholic schools -- lot of religious schools -- -- but but it seems that just what they're doing things a little bit differently and me even.

And what is the philosophy behind what do they emphasize more than any well it's an emphasis on the intellect.

I think all Catholic schools.

What do something like that but you know we have a certain way of approaching on the world I think that maybe a little more inviting to people there's nothing that's kind of like sort of pushed off.

So for example theatre we would never say oh you know theatre is something that's against god -- against religion.

It's more like -- how we find out and how -- you experienced god.

Through the community -- the theater is always on the Paul the second senator what exactly so it's that.

It's a very world embracing spirituality and I think that's -- that's what it feels a lot of parents and kids the school.

You know and he said did magic of evil words world.

Embracing right there -- who actually think that just -- -- are just sort of this little rule.

Group out there that it has nothing to do with religion or doesn't do that with -- the Catholic faith but our.

-- more harm than good in because they are they thinking very different ways.

Yeah -- we will have -- detractors but you know we also have for example the holy father Pope Benedict.

Just made one of the -- with the cardinal.

Cardinal Avery Dulles who taught at Fordham university for a -- great guy you know was rewarded by the -- so.

I think that that's you know probably unfair critique but you know we will always in any group we'll get critiques so.

I think that comes with the territory know what is the thing that you.

Believe is the most important discovery or invention of adjustments.

I think there's spirituality.

And in a sense.

You know saint Ignatius really tried to help people find god in their daily lives and I think before he came along there was this tendency.

To say that will really got it's just in church right Oregon is just what the priest tells me we're managed just -- the Bible.

But the idea that got to be found in your work client among your friends in nature in music.

You know by looking -- your game finding work -- has been and where you felt move that got the Mercury in her life I think was really revolutionary.

And it actually got him into trouble he was thrown in jail by the inquisition.

Because this idea -- got communicating with people directly Wright was really kind of threatening to people so I think that was the great contribution that god is.

Right here -- have to be aware of where guys.

-- and my notes -- say it's of their forty saints.

And then at 35 readers on a man named for just what scientists.

And this really illustrates how science and religion are not at odds of -- actually quite close.

They're both searches for the truth basically I mean a good friend of mine works at the Vatican observatory he is that an expert in meteorites can play.

And you know he's worked for the Vatican and he explores meteorites and I have friends who are physicians who are Jesuits and and all sorts of research scientist biochemist and so there's no.

Sort of contrast between you know the search for truth in the scientific world and the religious world.

I think both worlds so to say that there are parts that we don't understand.

Yes I think that's the approach of a certain humility but you know just with scientists everywhere and some of them are good friends of mine.

Okay but -- how do you get a crater named after you have another -- guess acquire and we have -- -- -- -- -- and -- out as well Landis.

This crater after I think it's whether you're good jesuit -- -- senator Landrieu these guys who are astronomers and I'm meteorologist and things like that.

I'm not gonna get a creator of the moon aimed -- me just to them you know good writer good teacher I think it's the guys that are doing the real scientific work that that happens for.

Still there's also controversy that today in that a lot of the Catholic universities -- -- among -- -- -- have found in Georgetown University one of them.

Are not Catholic enough of them that they have become too secular and this whole.

Debate over the health care mandate has really brought back to the forefront in Andy's look at Fordham and Georgetown.

Even Notre Dame have been out there that says what's but I mean the end but.

They've really.

Illustrated how perhaps.

The Catholic universities the traditional Catholic universities are not are not Catholic enough.

Well that's been a critique I think what happened as long story that basically.

I think you're in the 1960s they started to say we need to reach out to more than just happens we want to be sort of world class universities right.

And of the process I think some of them did lose the sense of the Catholic identity that's changing radically though.

I think there's been a much greater emphasis certainly jesuit colleges and universities and in places like Notre Dame another county schools.

About what's called the -- -- is Catholic identity cannot say they're they're much stronger about that.

And I also think from a practical point of view -- they they have recognized that this is one reason why people come.

Right I mean it is because they are in fact Catholic and so there is a much greater.

Emphasis on things like campus ministry and and Catholic teaching and those kinds of things we're gonna think is appropriate and I think makes sense and contributes to the greater society.

-- got to ask you about the Vanderbilt University situation room talk about that a little later in the panel discussion but you heard.

The other in the headlines -- Catholic -- they have out of the university is basically said it's a nondiscrimination policy all students are -- in all groups and can run for office and that the Catholic group.

On campus at Vanderbilt has now begun to sever its ties with that -- of the university.

Do you see this attack on religion in places like Vanderbilt and other religious and another -- -- universities.

Well when -- hear that I really haven't read the story other than what we were discussing -- but.

I would say that down.

The I would think that a Catholic group should be open to all people certainly and I can't bar the door from people coming into a church on Sunday I.

The idea that it Catholic group would -- elected non Catholic as a member of the Catholic group just seems a little weird to me I mean that was my first reaction like.

Where would that ever happened and and the idea that that the university would sort of force that as an issue seems a little odd to me to be to be.

-- well let me give -- the background information because it really was instigated by one particular group and -- was the Christian legal society.

That.

Objected to 1 of the members -- Homosexuality or that -- but it or an acceptance of -- -- -- or that he was.

Our about it and it they consider that ascendant I think they had a conflict over and so they expelled from the group that is -- instigated an -- A lawsuit or complaint filed against the group and then the university.

In reaction to that then -- this nondiscrimination policy but what they're saying is that.

It means that a personally it doesn't have a police can actually become part of the group.

And eighties could become part of the in and Kelly group or if you have a bone to pick with a certain group into the strategy could be -- infiltrate the group.

And then.

Take it over and then to -- You have my gas and that's really bizarre I guess on the one hand you could say.

That churches don't close their doors -- is some kind of say you know our unit is you're not making great Richard.

But it does seem like a little bit of over reaching -- university and I mean it's probably a fairly small group and why pick on this this group of Catholics the idea though that a non Catholic would be.

The head of a Catholic group on campus to strikes me as bizarre -- I can see not wanting to discriminate against people but I I also think that it's important.

To recognize that certain groups have religious freedom and -- need to be elicited -- Their own -- within they're groups though.

Very let me just am glad I'm not president of Vanderbilt University right.

I think that.

Cooler -- and a now also to ask you since you are BM jesuit priest sitting -- and then -- and the -- right now I have to ask you about -- heavenly -- visit to Cuba and Mexico because.

It loses it of course an historic visit to Cuba.

And it what do you think is -- -- events -- a lot of comments coming other from people I don't think it'll do anything it's our people think it's great to see him here I mean this is a country that was almost officially atheist up until emotional well yeah.

Why -- that's a great question I think that you know John Paul's -- was a huge success in Cuba.

I think just in terms of reminding people of the part of the universal church.

You know I think a lot of people look at these some things from political standpoint you know what is welcome with Bill Kennedy going to say to Fidel Castro -- -- -- Castro and what's it say.

Terms of this political.

-- sure that political issue.

But I think he's primarily coming as a Pastor Wright and so anytime a Catholic group is going to have their pastor their leader.

I've come to them I think it's going to give them a shot in the arm you know it's a sense -- that the church is saying you know we hear you we know that you are here than we love you.

And you know let's celebrate the mass together and let's celebrate being -- together so.

I don't think that that can failed to lift people's spirits -- I would like to focus on the pope's visit -- pastoral visits than on political list since they are both.

I mean because he he often speaks about political topics but.

I think if you're Catholic in -- or pure Mexican Catholic -- you see the Pope it's hard not to be inspired by that.

And even having had to bet that in their Catholic church and the Christian church in general isn't growing in places like Latin American and -- -- Africa.

Right and there's a sense of you know.

That as as these cultures become more materialistic there's a sense of -- greater desire for meaning.

And the church and christianity provides that a lot of people who might feel a little lost so I was delighted and I I think that the pictures of the Pope made him looked -- very happy as well.

-- going to -- thank you very much the book is called the jesuit guide to.

Almost everything spirituality for the real life thank you so much.

-- James Martin thank Larry my pleasure thank you.

And we will be.

Watch Live

'Jesuit's Guide to Almost Everything'

Details

Clips

Editor's Picks

Gutfeld: Media still cast Tea Party as villains, not victims

Sen. Paul: 'Someone has to be fired' over IRS scandal

Search, rescue efforts still underway at tornado-hit school

Survivor: Family will 'stay together and just rebuild'

Scandals affecting public opinion of Obama administration?

Oklahoma: How you can help rescue teams on the ground

First responders raise flag after devastating tornado

Moore, Oklahoma resident: 'God, protect me. Protect me'

White House offers new timeline of IRS scandal

'Worst case scenario' for Moore, Oklahoma

First responders raise flag after devastating tornado

Tornado survivor: 'Loudest noise I've ever heard'

Transcript

Recommended