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. In season three of Catholic Classics, join Fr. Jacob Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph Paris as they read and explain Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. In her “Little Way,” St. Thérèse shows us that, despite our weakness, (or perhaps because of it) God can make us saints through unbounded confidence in his love. Find out more about the Catholic Classics podcast at ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics.
Latest episodes
Showing 20 · updated from the feed
Day 20: The Whole Task of Life
What do you want your life to be about when it's all said and done? As we reach the final episode of The Practice of the Presence of God, Fr. Gregory and Rebecca highligh
Jun 27 19 min
Day 19: The Solid Soul
As Brother Lawrence approaches the end of his life, we encounter one of the most striking marks of authentic holiness: stability. Fr. Gregory Pine and Rebecca Dougherty e
Jun 26 13 min
Day 18: Forgetting Ourselves
Do you think about yourself too much? Brother Lawrence emphasizes that the closer we draw to God, the less preoccupied we become with ourselves. Fr. Gregory and Rebecca c
Jun 25 15 min
Day 17: Beyond the Checklist
Jesus is a person to be loved, not a box to be checked off on a list. Fr. Gregory Pine and Rebecca remind us that while discipline, practices, and spiritual "checklists"
Jun 24 15 min
Day 16: Joyful Freedom
Brother Lawrence's holiness was marked not by severity, but by a joyful freedom rooted in faith. Fr. Gregory and Rebecca explore how the practice of God's presence frees
Jun 23 15 min
Day 15: Living Towards Heaven
Heaven is more than a future destination—it is a reality that begins to shape our lives today. Fr. Gregory and Rebecca offer practical wisdom for navigating discouragemen
Jun 22 14 min
Day 14: The Eternal Perspective
In light of eternity, what really matters in our lives? Fr. Gregory and Rebecca discuss how keeping our eyes fixed on the Lord helps us see our struggles, failures, and d
Jun 21 21 min
Day 13: Holding On To Hope
When our spiritual life feels dry, uncertain, or stripped of the consolations we expect, God may be doing some of His deepest work. Fr. Gregory and Rebecca discuss Brothe
Jun 20 22 min
Day 12: How to Make Space for God
Growing in God’s presence requires both fidelity and surrender. Fr. Gregory and Rebecca reflect on mortification, creating space for God in our daily lives, and letting g
Jun 19 19 min
Day 11: The Secret to Union with God
Brother Lawrence describes the practice of God’s presence as a simple attentiveness to the Lord that soon becomes the soul’s place of rest. Fr. Gregory and Rebecca reflec
Jun 18 19 min
Day 10: Identity Begins with God
What does it mean to know who we are in light of who God is? Fr. Gregory and Rebecca begin our entry into the Spiritual Maxims by exploring identity, baptism, adoration,
Jun 17 19 min
Day 9: Take Courage and Persevere
How do we remain faithful when prayer feels repetitive, life feels exhausting, or suffering lingers longer than we expected? Fr. Gregory and Rebecca explore how steadfast
Jun 16 19 min
Day 8: God Is Near in Our Suffering
The Christian life is not about escaping suffering but discovering God within it. Fr. Gregory and Rebecca reflect on the powerful reality that God is near to us even in o
Jun 15 20 min
Day 7: Staying Faithful in the Waiting
We should not rush the work of grace, but rather trust in God's care of our souls. Fr. Gregory and Rebecca reflect on the virtues of patience and perseverance, and teach
Jun 14 18 min
Day 6: Peace Through Holy Conversation
Brother Lawrence reminds us that holiness is not found in extraordinary experiences, but in simple and consistent attentiveness to God's presence. Fr. Gregory and Rebecca
Jun 13 21 min
Day 5: The Goal of Devotions
Devotions are meant to lead us into loving communion with God. Fr. Gregory and Rebecca explain how practices like the Rosary, novenas, and spiritual reading can help lead
Jun 12 18 min
Day 4: A Gentle Gaze Toward God
Prayer is less about having extraordinary experiences and more about faithfully turning our hearts toward God throughout the day. Fr. Gregory and Rebecca unpack what they
Jun 11 19 min
Day 3: Practicing the Presence of God
How do we actually practice the presence of God in our lives? Fr. Gregory and Rebecca explore how prayer is not meant to be confined to just the chapel or a quiet hour in
Jun 10 20 min
Day 2: The Way of Love
Holiness is not about completing a checklist—it’s about love. Fr. Gregory and Rebecca explain what it means to act “purely for the love of God" and how we can foster the
Jun 9 21 min
Day 1: Pure Abandonment to God
Do you actually trust God with your life? In this first conversation, Brother Lawrence invites us to begin the spiritual life by trusting in God’s providence rather than
Jun 8 15 min
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Where Catholic Classics ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 23, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
I sort of stumbled upon this podcast looking for some kind of spiritual enrichment while I do my daily work. I feel as though I’ve come upon a hidden treasure! Not only have I been exposed to great works of two phenomenal saints, the priests’ commentary has really opened up these works and deepened my understanding of them. I am very grateful for this work and look forward to future series!
Yes my hands are full · Feb 2025
I listened to both books after they had all been posted, so I usually listened to several episodes at once. They give you a brief intro, the reading of the book, and then a couple of priests Discuss the books. I found their conversation useful both to remember what I've heard before and place the reading in context of spiritual development and see the Saint's Journey. It is More like listening to a class conversation about a book than hearing a lecture. Very much, enjoyed it and look forward to future books.
Francoise-SWMHS · Jan 2025
I’ve listened to both The Confessions by St. Augustine, and Story of a Soul, and they are great! IMHO, The Confessions was sort of dry to read on its own, and I would just sit there reading the same paragraph not absorbing anything. Being able to listen to it in little chunks, with the commentary and perspectives of the hosts was a huge help. And the Story of a Soul!! Wow, just amazing! I love the way Story of a Soul was produced - with a French narrator reading St. Therese’s writing your able to be fully immersed in what St. Therese was writing, and then to have the Fathers discussing it, It was outstanding! My only complaint is that these aren’t available on CD or to purchase so that they can permanently be on my music library! I need St. Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle next!
Dauntlessss · Jan 2025
I’m enjoying reading and listening to Story of a Soul. I wasn’t sure about the narration at first but she really brings Therese’s voice to life. I first read the book about 20 years ago and didn’t really like it. I read it again a few years ago and got it!! Her Little Way — there is so much there! I agree that every reading reveals something new! Thank you Fathers for doing this! Your commentaries are wonderful!!
AMKINNC · Oct 2024
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