Fr. John Bartunek, LC

Fr. John Bartunek, LC, S.Th.D, received his BA in History from Stanford University in 1990. He comes from an evangelical Christian background and became a member of the Catholic Church in 1991. After college, he worked as a high school history teacher, drama director, and baseball coach. He then spent a year as a professional actor in Chicago before entering the religious Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ in 1993. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 2003 and earned his doctorate in moral theology in 2010. He provided spiritual support on the set of Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” while researching the 2005 Catholic best seller, “Inside the Passion”–the only authorized, behind-the-scene explanation of the film. Fr. John has contributed news commentary regarding religious issues on NBC, CNN, Fox, and the BBC. He also served as the English-language press liaison for the Vatican’s 2005 Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist. His most widely known book is called: “The Better Part: A Christ-Centered Resource for Personal Prayer”. His most recent books are “Spring Meditations”, “Seeking First the Kingdom: 30 Meditations on How to Love God with All Your Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength”, and “Answers: Catholic Advice for Your Spiritual Questions”. Fr. John currently splits his time between Michigan (where he continues his writing apostolate and serves as a confessor and spiritual director at the Queen of the Family Retreat Center) and Rome, where he teaches theology at Regina Apostolorum. His online, do-it-yourself retreats are available at RCSpirituality.org, and he answers questions about the spiritual life at SpiritualDirection.com.

Articles By Fr. John Bartunek, LC

Is it a Sin to ask for Death?

Does asking for death constitute sin? And, what does despair have to do with it? Find out when Father John Bartunek responds to a reader’s question.

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Understanding Dreams

How should we understand our dreams, especially nightmares? Father John answers a reader’s question about negative kinds of sleep disturbances.

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Deacon Seeking New Spiritual Director

What various approaches to spiritual direction might one encounter? What principles or questions underlie all good spiritual direction no matter what the approach? Find out as Father John Bartunek answers a deacon’s question.

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Changing Spiritual Directors

What is the proper etiquette for changing one’s spiritual director? Find out when Father John Bartunek answers a reader’s question about this concern which may come up during various periods of one’s spiritual life.

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Spiritual Direction and Confession

What’s a good “ratio” for confession and for spiritual direction? Find out when Fr. John Bartunek answers a reader’s question with a short explanation of what is expected in each one situation.

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Exorcising the Specter of Discouragement

What is the difference between sadness and discouragement? Why is one OK in the spiritual life and the other not? Find out when Father John Bartunek reflects on how these things affect evangelization and spiritual life.

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