Deacon James Keating, Ph.D. joins WCAT Radio Host, Dr. Mary Anne Urlakis for Episode 22 of “Vows, Vocations, and Promises: Discerning the Call of Love,” as part of the on-going series spotlighting authors who have contributed chapters to the new book, entitled Spiritual Husbands-Spiritual Fathers: Priestly Formation for the 21st Century. Deacon Keating brings his extensive background of over 30 years in seminary formation to each the three chapters which he has contributed to this unique text.

Deacon James Keating is a nationally recognized seminary theologian, spiritual director and formator who received his Doctorate in Moral and Spiritual Theology from Duquesne University. Deacon Keating is widely published in respected peer-reviewed journals, and has authored numerous books and book chapters, including his three chapters in Spiritual Husbands-Spiritual Fathers: Priestly Formation for the 21st Century: ”Real Celibacy as an Invitation from Divine Beauty” (Chapter 1), “Imagination, Prayer, and the Spousal Gift,” (Chapter 5), and “Seminary as Nazareth,” (Chapter 21); which are the subject of today’s interview. Deacon Keating has given over 800 presentations in the last 30 years, including more than 40 retreats for bishops, vocation directors, diocesan priests, deacons, and married couples since 2017.

He has recently accepted an appointment by Archbishop Robert J. Carlson to the Formation Staff and as a Professor of Spiritual Theology at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. Additionally, Deacon Keating has also served as the Director of Theological Formation for the Institute for Priestly Formation at Creighton University, in Omaha, Nebraska. Prior to his appointment with the Institute for Priestly Formation Deacon Keating was a Professor of Moral and Spiritual Theology at the Pontifical College of the Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. Additionally, Deacon Keating has served as the Director for Deacon Formation in the Archdiocese of Omaha.

In this interview, Deacon Keating and Dr. Urlakis survey the three chapters which he has contributed to Spiritual Husbands-Spiritual Fathers: Priestly Formation for the 21st Century, beginning with a discussion of the vocation to priestly celibacy as an invitation to embrace Divine Beauty. In this interview, he describes the inherent danger of reducing the concept of celibacy to a mere pragmatic component of priestly ministry and identifies essential components of affective masculine maturity that must develop for seminarians to become fully integrated men.

Spiritual Husbands-Spiritual Fathers: Priestly Formation for the 21st Century, is edited by Bishop Felipe Estevez and Bishop Andrew Cozzens, and published by Holy Apostles College and Seminary’s En Route Books and Media, and is available at: https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/spiritualhusbands/. (October 1, 2020)