Marist Laity Australia

Introduction to Marist Laity

Brené Brown - on Jesus and vulnerable spirituality

In this Spiritual Life podcast finale, Father James Martin and Brené Brown explore faith, vulnerability, and authenticity through Brown’s spiritual journey from her Jesuit-influenced Catholic childhood to her present life as an Episcopalian with a “mystical Catholic” heart. She reflects on loving God yet struggling with church hypocrisy, finding God’s presence in community and daily practice through adapted prayers and the Ignatian Examen. Discussing courage and leadership, she parallels emotional “armor” with spiritual disconnection, seeing Jesus as the model of courageous vulnerability—unarmored love in action. Both emphasize returning to faith without judgment, dismantling false images of God, and embracing the mystery of divine love as something to live rather than solve.

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Top Rated Web pages for November 2025

Number	Page	Likes
1	The Superiority of Paper as a Learning Medium - A Review of Research In the digital age, the debate between the efficacy of traditional paper and electronic screens as learning mediums has garnered significant attention. Numerous studies have examined various dimensions of this issue, consistently demonstrating that paper often provides a superior medium for learning compared to digital screens like computers or iPads. This essay explores the existing research that highlights the advantages of paper over electronic media in educational contexts.	4
2	Authentic Transformation - Father Richard Rohr At the core of authentic spirituality is the invitation to transformation—a radical change in how we see. Paul’s words in Romans 12, “Do not be conformed… but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,” point not to new dogmas but to new perception. Religion often tells us what to see, but rarely teaches us how to see. True transformation is not about checklist Christianity—baptism, sacraments, or membership—but about a new consciousness, a new “motherboard” that processes reality differently. Until we recognize our addiction to our own ways of thinking, we remain trapped in old patterns, even while claiming to be religious.	2
3	Homelessness - Social Justice Statement 2026 In recent years, Australia has faced a severe cost-of-living crisis, with the prices of essential goods and services—such as food, household necessities, mortgages, and rent—rising dramatically. This financial strain has left many Australians struggling to cope, with some relying on family or friends for shelter, and others tragically ending up on the streets. The growing number of people experiencing homelessness has placed immense pressure on support services, many of which are unable to assist everyone in need.	2
4	The Beauty - of Slowing Down- Rediscovering Joy - in the Everyday At the beginning, the speaker experienced a deep sense of emptiness, despite having the freedom they once longed for. A new truck, initially a symbol of success, quickly lost its luster, revealing that external rewards couldn't replace the inner sense of purpose and direction lost with the end of structured work life. The speaker came to realize that peace and meaning couldn’t be bought, but needed to be cultivated through presence and reflection. Instead of chasing the next achievement, they began noticing life’s quiet details—the way morning light moved, the comfort of routine, and the joy of stillness.	2
5	Ground breaking - look at the impact - of screen time - on kids brains This explores a groundbreaking scientific study led by researchers in Ohio, particularly at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, examining how screen time impacts children’s brain development. The research follows hundreds of children from birth, using MRI scans to track brain changes over time. One example is a five-year-old named Rose, who participates in the study by undergoing brain imaging while watching movies to keep her still. These scans are compared with images taken when she was a newborn, helping scientists observe how exposure to screens and other environmental factors affect areas of the brain linked to reading, decision-making, and language development.	2