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
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Day 10: Praying Throughout the Day (Introduction to the Devout Life)
November 2nd, 2022 | 29 mins 37 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 acknowledges that one of the greatest struggles in prayer is how busy life can be. In today’s readings, he explains that each of us should still be finding time throughout the day for brief moments with the Lord. Fr. Gregory and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand explain how this might look in practice.
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Day 9: Dryness in Prayer (Introduction to the Devout Life)
November 1st, 2022 | 27 mins 38 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
How do you enter into prayer when you don’t want to pray? Fr. Gregory and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand continue to explore the advice offered by St. Francis de Sales on how to enter into prayer. In particular, this episode deals with the difficulty of dryness in prayer and how to persevere through it.
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Day 8: Preparing for Prayer (Introduction to the Devout Life)
October 31st, 2022 | 27 mins 22 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 teach about the process of entering into prayer, primarily meditative prayer. Fr. Gregory and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand also take us through St. Francis de Sales’ explanation of moving from aspiration to action when it comes to the Devout Life.
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Day 7: The Necessity of Prayer (Introduction to the Devout Life)
October 30th, 2022 | 26 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
The second part of Introduction to the Devout Life begins with an explanation on the necessity of prayer. Fr. Gregory and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand help us to understand why prayer is so important and how we can begin to establish a habit of mental prayer with the guidance of St. Francis de Sales.
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[BONUS] Intro to Part 2: Instructions for Elevating the Soul to God Through Prayer and the Sacraments (Introduction to the Devout Life)
October 30th, 2022 | 5 mins 37 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. Jacob-Bertrand offers an overview of what we can expect in the second part of Introduction to the Devout Life. He summarizes the primary theme of this section which is prayer and the sacraments and how those draw us into a closer relationship with God.
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Day 6: Allow Christ into Your Life (Introduction to the Devout Life)
October 29th, 2022 | 29 mins 6 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 we come to the end of the first part of Introduction to the Devout Life, Fr. Gregory and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand walk us through a profession to serve God. They also help us in understanding the continued need for purification and letting go of attachments. In addition, they share some advice on making a general confession.
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Day 5: Choose Heaven (Introduction to the Devout Life)
October 28th, 2022 | 25 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 the final meditations from St. Francis de Sales, he takes time to meditate upon Heaven. Fr. Gregory and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand explain how this leads us to a point where we must choose between Heaven and Hell.
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Day 4: Focus on God (Introduction to the Devout Life)
October 27th, 2022 | 25 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
Fr. Gregory and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand continue through four more meditations from St. Francis de Sales. These meditations focus primarily on sin, death, judgment, and hell. Fr. Gregory and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand explain how to keep these things in mind while also keeping our focus on God and his mercy.
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Day 3: By God’s Grace (Introduction to the Devout Life)
October 26th, 2022 | 25 mins 12 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
Fr. Gregory and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand continue discussing how to begin the journey towards the devout life. They explain how God’s grace moves through all of it. Lastly, they go through three of St. Francis de Sales’ meditations to help us develop better contrition.
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Day 2: Preparing for the Journey (Introduction to the Devout Life)
October 25th, 2022 | 29 mins 26 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
What do we need in this journey towards the devout life? Fr. Gregory and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand share that some of the essentials for this journey are accompaniment, purgation, and the sacraments. However, one of the greatest essentials is the sacraments.
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Day 1: Start with God (Introduction to the Devout Life)
October 24th, 2022 | 29 mins 20 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
Welcome to Day 1 of Introduction to the Devout Life. Today, Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk begin by explaining how important it is to get the principles right when starting out in the spiritual life. They also share what devotion is and how it functions in our walk towards holiness.
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[BONUS] Intro to Part I: On the Counsels and Exercises (Introduction to the Devout Life)
October 24th, 2022 | 6 mins 6 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 this special bonus episode, Fr. Gregory Pine gives an overview of what we can expect in the first part of Introduction to the Devout Life. Fr. Gregory’s summation and helpful outline of Part 1 will equip you to receive the wisdom of St. Francis de Sales.
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Dedicatory Prayer and Author’s Preface (Introduction to the Devout Life)
October 17th, 2022 | 13 mins 23 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 preparation for the beginning of Catholic Classics Season 1: Introduction to the Devout Life, Fr. Gregory Pine reads through the Dedicatory Prayer and the Author’s Preface.
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[BONUS] All About Catholic Classics and Introduction to the Devout Life
October 3rd, 2022 | 27 mins 28 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
What should you expect from this podcast? In this special pre-launch episode, Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk share all about the Catholic Classics podcast. They also offer you a brief overview of Introduction to the Devout Life which is the book we will be reading this season.