Catholic Classics

Learn from the Catholic Church's greatest saints as teachers as you are led through classic Catholic spiritual writings.

About the show

Welcome to Catholic Classics from Ascension! Each season we'll read through a great Catholic spiritual writing providing insightful commentary and practical guidance along the way. Informative and enriching, these 20-30 mins episodes will allow you to learn from the Catholic Church’s most revered saints and teachers as you seek to cultivate your spiritual life.

This season, Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. and Fr. Jacob Bertrand Janczyk, O.P. will guide you through "Confessions of St. Augustine" by St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church. In 60 days, you'll discover the powerful witness of St. Augustine’s spiritual journey that shows us that our weakness is not a barrier to holiness.

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Episodes

  • Day 25: Modesty in the Moral Life (Introduction to the Devout Life)

    November 17th, 2022  |  31 mins 17 secs
    ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic classics, catholic faith, catholic spiritual reading, catholic spirituality, catholicism, classic text, devout life, dominicans, faith, father gregory pine, father jacob bertrand, fr gregory pine, fr jacob bertrand, intro to devout life, introduction to the devout life, prayer, saints, spiritual reading, spiritual writings, spirituality, st francis de sales

    Saint Francis de Sales continues paving the path to a Devout Life by addressing our overall manner of life. He charges us to recognize the importance of modesty in action, dress, and speech. Fr. Gregory and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand discuss the various messages people can send through their appearances and demeanors.

  • Day 24: Mortification for Purification (Introduction to the Devout Life)

    November 16th, 2022  |  26 mins 48 secs
    ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic classics, catholic faith, catholic spiritual reading, catholic spirituality, catholicism, classic text, devout life, dominicans, faith, father gregory pine, father jacob bertrand, fr gregory pine, fr jacob bertrand, intro to devout life, introduction to the devout life, prayer, saints, spiritual reading, spiritual writings, spirituality, st francis de sales

    In today’s episode, Saint Francis de Sales addresses the importance of external mortifications and, in particular, the practice of fasting and sleeping. He explains that mortification is a tool for purification. Fr. Gregory and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand discuss the importance of putting to death the desires in our lives that have become idols.

  • Day 23: Council on Friendship (Introduction to the Devout Life)

    November 15th, 2022  |  26 mins 40 secs
    ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic classics, catholic faith, catholic spiritual reading, catholic spirituality, catholicism, classic text, devout life, dominicans, faith, father gregory pine, father jacob bertrand, fr gregory pine, fr jacob bertrand, intro to devout life, introduction to the devout life, prayer, saints, spiritual reading, spiritual writings, spirituality, st francis de sales

    Completing his examination of friendship, Saint Francis de Sales offers advice on companionship for those seeking to live the Devout Life. He discusses the presence of imperfection and sin within friendship. Fr. Gregory and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand encourage us to analyze the good and evil of our own relationships.

  • Day 22: The Necessity and Caution of Friendship (Introduction to the Devout Life)

    November 14th, 2022  |  29 mins 33 secs
    ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic classics, catholic faith, catholic spiritual reading, catholic spirituality, catholicism, classic text, devout life, dominicans, faith, father gregory pine, father jacob bertrand, fr gregory pine, fr jacob bertrand, intro to devout life, introduction to the devout life, prayer, saints, spiritual reading, spiritual writings, spirituality, st francis de sales

    Today we return to the theme of friendship. Saint Francis de Sales describes the necessity and danger of communion, arguing that true friendship communicates in virtue. Fr. Gregory and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand discuss friendships between men and women, pointing out concrete and practical examples of how to approach such relationships virtuously.

  • Day 21: True Poverty and False Friendship (Introduction to the Devout Life)

    November 13th, 2022  |  27 mins 21 secs
    ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic classics, catholic faith, catholic spiritual reading, catholic spirituality, catholicism, classic text, devout life, dominicans, faith, father gregory pine, father jacob bertrand, fr gregory pine, fr jacob bertrand, intro to devout life, introduction to the devout life, meditation, prayer, prayer life, saints, spiritual life, spiritual reading, spiritual writings, spirituality, st francis de sales

    Today, Saint Francis de Sales completes his consideration of poverty. He reminds us that to live a Devout Life means to embrace poverty as the dear friend of Jesus Christ. Fr. Gregory and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand explain what true friendship looks like and the shared life it entails.

  • Day 20: Aim for the Highest Good (Introduction to the Devout Life)

    November 12th, 2022  |  23 mins 30 secs
    ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic classics, catholic faith, catholic spiritual reading, catholic spirituality, catholicism, classic text, devout life, dominicans, faith, father gregory pine, father jacob bertrand, fr gregory pine, fr jacob bertrand, intro to devout life, introduction to the devout life, meditation, prayer, prayer life, saints, spiritual life, spiritual reading, spiritual writings, spirituality, st francis de sales

    St. Francis de Sales continues his examination of chastity and poverty. Fr. Gregory and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand help us to understand that St. Francis de Sales is aiming to help us strive for the highest good and not lower goods.

  • Day 19: The Need for Chastity, Poverty, and Obedience (Introduction to the Devout Life)

    November 11th, 2022  |  29 mins 49 secs
    ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic classics, catholic faith, catholic spiritual reading, catholic spirituality, catholicism, classic text, devout life, dominicans, faith, father gregory pine, father jacob bertrand, fr gregory pine, fr jacob bertrand, intro to devout life, introduction to the devout life, meditation, prayer, prayer life, saints, spiritual life, spiritual reading, spiritual writings, spirituality, st francis de sales

    After covering patience, humility, and meekness, St. Francis de Sales shifts the conversation towards poverty, chastity, and obedience. Fr. Gregory and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand help us to understand why these virtues are not reserved only for religious or clergy, but are important for all pursuing the Devout Life.

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    Day 18: Meekness and Controlling Anger (Introduction to the Devout Life)

    November 10th, 2022  |  27 mins 4 secs
    ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic classics, catholic faith, catholic spiritual reading, catholic spirituality, catholicism, classic text, devout life, dominicans, faith, father gregory pine, father jacob bertrand, fr gregory pine, fr jacob bertrand, intro to devout life, introduction to the devout life, meditation, prayer, prayer life, saints, spiritual life, spiritual reading, spiritual writings, spirituality, st francis de sales

    St. Francis de Sales continues to walk us through some of the virtues that he believes are important to cultivate in the Devout Life. In this episode, he shares about the virtue of meekness. He explains what it is and how we can put it into practice towards our neighbors and ourselves.

  • Day 17: Abjection and Reputation in Humility (Introduction to the Devout Life)

    November 9th, 2022  |  29 mins 35 secs
    ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic classics, catholic faith, catholic spiritual reading, catholic spirituality, catholicism, classic text, devout life, dominicans, faith, father gregory pine, father jacob bertrand, fr gregory pine, fr jacob bertrand, intro to devout life, introduction to the devout life, meditation, prayer, prayer life, saints, spiritual life, spiritual reading, spiritual writings, spirituality, st francis de sales

    Today, St. Francis de Sales treats the ideas of abjection and reputation when it comes to the virtue of humility. Fr. Gregory and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand help us to understand how abjection is not a bad thing and why it is important. They also explain how to appropriately care about your reputation.

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    Day 16: Interior Humility (Introduction to the Devout Life)

    November 8th, 2022  |  23 mins 36 secs
    ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic classics, catholic faith, catholic spiritual reading, catholic spirituality, catholicism, classic text, devout life, dominicans, faith, father gregory pine, father jacob bertrand, fr gregory pine, fr jacob bertrand, intro to devout life, introduction to the devout life, meditation, prayer, prayer life, saints, spiritual life, spiritual reading, spiritual writings, spirituality, st francis de sales

    In this episode, St. Francis de Sales continues his examination of humility, but now turns to the more interior aspects of it. Fr. Gregory and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand discuss how to understand humility and also how to work through some of the difficulties in practicing it.

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    Day 15: Patience and External Humility (Introduction to the Devout Life)

    November 7th, 2022  |  25 mins 53 secs
    ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic classics, catholic faith, catholic spiritual reading, catholic spirituality, catholicism, classic text, devout life, dominicans, faith, father gregory pine, father jacob bertrand, fr gregory pine, fr jacob bertrand, intro to devout life, introduction to the devout life, meditation, prayer, prayer life, saints, spiritual life, spiritual reading, spiritual writings, spirituality, st francis de sales

    St. Francis de Sales offers patience and humility as two virtues that need our particular attention as we strive for the Devout Life. Fr. Gregory and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand help us to understand how St. Francis de Sales is getting to the real meaning of each virtue.

  • Day 14: Choosing Virtues (Introduction to the Devout Life)

    November 6th, 2022  |  28 mins 27 secs

    Here in the third part of Introduction to the Devout Life, we are focusing primarily on virtue. Today, St. Francis de Sales is taking us through how to choose which virtues, in particular, we need to cultivate in our lives.

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    [BONUS] Intro to Part 3: Certain Counsels for the Practice of the Virtues

    November 6th, 2022  |  5 mins 51 secs
    ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic classics, catholic faith, catholic spiritual reading, catholic spirituality, catholicism, classic text, devout life, dominicans, faith, father gregory pine, father jacob bertrand, fr gregory pine, fr jacob bertrand, intro to devout life, introduction to the devout life, meditation, prayer, prayer life, saints, spiritual life, spiritual reading, spiritual writings, spirituality, st francis de sales

    In this special bonus episode, Fr. Gregory offers an overview of what we can expect in the third part of Introduction to the Devout Life. He summarizes the primary theme of this section: the life of virtue.

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    Day 13: Receiving Holy Communion (Introduction to the Devout Life)

    November 5th, 2022  |  19 mins 13 secs
    ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic classics, catholic faith, catholic spiritual reading, catholic spirituality, catholicism, classic text, devout life, dominicans, faith, father gregory pine, father jacob bertrand, fr gregory pine, fr jacob bertrand, intro to devout life, introduction to the devout life, meditation, prayer, prayer life, saints, spiritual life, spiritual reading, spiritual writings, spirituality, st francis de sales

    At the conclusion of Part 2, St. Francis de Sales offers advice on how to best receive Holy Communion. In addition, Fr. Gregory and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand review what we have learned in this second part of Introduction to the Devout Life.

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    Day 12: The Importance of Eucharist and Reconciliation (Introduction to the Devout Life)

    November 4th, 2022  |  29 mins 21 secs
    ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic classics, catholic faith, catholic spiritual reading, catholic spirituality, catholicism, classic text, devout life, dominicans, faith, father gregory pine, father jacob bertrand, fr gregory pine, fr jacob bertrand, intro to devout life, introduction to the devout life, meditation, prayer, prayer life, saints, spiritual life, spiritual reading, spiritual writings, spirituality, st francis de sales

    As St. Francis de Sales continues to guide us in how to actively pursue the Devout Life, he shares practical steps in making a good confession and receiving Holy Communion well. Fr. Gregory and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand offer advice and encouragement on taking these steps in our own lives today.

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    Day 11: The Source and Summit (Introduction to the Devout Life)

    November 3rd, 2022  |  28 mins 34 secs
    ascension, catholic, catholic church, catholic classics, catholic faith, catholic spiritual reading, catholic spirituality, catholicism, classic text, devout life, dominicans, faith, father gregory pine, father jacob bertrand, fr gregory pine, fr jacob bertrand, intro to devout life, introduction to the devout life, meditation, prayer, prayer life, saints, spiritual life, spiritual reading, spiritual writings, spirituality, st francis de sales

    In this second part of Introduction to the Devout Life, St. Francis de Sales has been sharing about two of the tools that will help us grow in the Devout Life: prayer and the sacraments. In this episode, we will begin to look at the sacraments, especially the Eucharist.