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!

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.

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!

Great podcast except for the French narrator. Her accent is overwhelmingly distracting. She simply has too strong an accent and it is unpleasant to listen to. Disappointed.

Thank you very much to Ascension and to Father Jacob-Bertrand and Father Michael-Joseph for this podcast. It has been a great blessing to me to get to know St. Therese better. St. Therese, pray for us!

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!!

How wonderful this is! I love that you found a French professional voice for St. Therese. I feel like she is speaking to me and it makes her seem alive. Thank you!

To read these books together is enormously touching and uplifting. Can’t say enough good things about this podcast, especially St Therese of Liseaux Story of a Soul.

I am way behind as I just found this series of podcasts.I have opened and trued this book before but felt overwhelmed or stupid.So far these two priests have been wonderful and being able to work at my pace going back and forward for things I need to listen too again is wonderful.Thank you so much,you are in my prayers.

Really enjoying listening and learning from these spiritual classics. So glad I found this podcast.

I love this podcast. Great reading and conversation. When will there be more?

I love the intelligent conversation and practical tips. Father Gregory Pine is amazing and I enjoy his sense of humour The topics are so edifying and help me grow in faith

OK, so I am only on day one. But that does not diminish my excitement over being able to read this book with some assistance. I’ve cracked the book open a few times, only to feel a little overwhelmed and under intellectual. But having these two priests to help me read along, I know is going to help me to absorb the wisdom contained in this book and hopefully I can learn from this great Saint.

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and interpretation of Augustine’s beautiful words. I truly appreciate your discussion after the reading each day. And I appreciate the readings without hearing each reference (psalm, Bible verse), which keeps one more focused on the reading. Can’t wait to see which work will be next on this podcast. 🙏🏻

Such a helpful way to incorporate more spiritual reading, and the books chosen are true classics for a reason. Love this podcast!

I tried reading the confessions by Saint Augustine several times and have been unsuccessful. This podcast is not only informative, but introspective and well worth listening.

Reflecting on the past 60 days of this journey thru The Confessions of St Augustine. Thank you for virtually “walking” me thru this book. It was eye opening to see that I could relate to a father of our church from the late 3rd century and amazed at some of the topics that I had never really given much thought to such as God never changing. I am truly appreciative of this podcast. Looking forward (hopefully 🙏🏻) to the next book.

I am truly enjoying this for book! Thank you and totally recommend!

So thankful for this podcast, what a gift!

Such a wonderful way to help understand the beauty and power of our faith through the example of the humanity of St. Augustine. Thank you for making this podcast so easily accessible to us all. 🙏🏼

This book has had so much of a personal connection with my own feelings and thoughts. A blessed find.

It’s so great to have a guide for these Catholic Classics! I’ve always been curious about them but too intimidated to undertake reading them. This podcast is helping me explore the richness of my faith and take it to a new level in small manageable pieces.

I love the success of this amazing apps. I especially love that they are being downloaded from Apple Podcasts. Zing…every time someone downloads the app an angel gets their wings. Every time a podcast is played it’s a prayer ascending to heaven and a wonderful witness to the hope that only Jesus Christ can bring to souls!

In this time & age & era, this is much NEEDED, not only by people who have less problems, BUT, those who are Confuse, LOST, ambivalent, DESPERATE, hopeless & overwhelmed with what’s going on in their life.

Just found this podcast. Into 4 sessions on St Augustine’s Confessions. The content is superb…lighthearted and spontaneous, clear and consistent. Looking forward to trekking with the Padres thru Confessions. Keep up the great work, gents!

So grateful for this podcast. I’ve been looking for a way to read some of these classics. What better way than this podcast?!😊❤️

Yay, I was hoping you would do Confession of St. Augustine next. So excited for this one to start.

I’m so glad that I found this podcast! This is what I have been longing for to work through these classics! Yay! Can’t wait for the next one!

I have always wanted to read more Catholic books but don’t have the time. This podcast is just what I needed. Thank you!

Knowledgeable presenters. I am ready for our next book! When will you be back?

Absolutely wonderful! Looking forward for the next book!

It’s hard to find substantive, spiritual literature that is also digestible. I don’t have the time to sit down and read so being able to play this has been a game changer! Thank you

I am glad you were talking about this. To me I always felt it was depressing because during lent you need the images to carry on to be reminded why are you doing this lent Jesus , our mother and all his saints have gone this path for the greater glory of God …we are not alone.

Great podcast. Thank you Fr Gregory and Fr Jacob for reading and reflecting on Introduction to The Devout Life. The book & your reflections are very thought-provoking. I’m looking forward to the next Catholic classic! Thank you for answering God’s call to the priesthood.

Thank you Ascension, for choosing Fr. Janczyk and Fr. Pine to host this podcast. At first I was hesitant to dive into St. Francis de Sales’ spiritual writings because they’re ancient. This dynamic duo from the O.P. show us that the saint’s spiritual guidance is fit for our current times, and has a universal value for any Christian in any state of life.

Thank you for putting this together. As a new Catholic, it can be difficult to know what to take away from different spiritual writings. Having the wisdom of St. Francis along with the teaching of these two great priests is such a blessing. Every day I grow more grateful for the heroic service our bishops, priests, and deacons perform daily.

When Fr Pine speaks truth flows. I love to listen and pause and write out some of the sections of his comments in longhand, helps it sink in. Beautiful words and so much goodness

Thanks Ascension for making this Catholic Classic so accessible. Fr. Pine’s and Fr. Janczyk’s narration helped me stay focused and their commentary was so helpful in deepening my understanding. The Ascension version of the book completed the experience and is a beautiful addition to my Catholic library. Thanks to Ascension and the Fathers for revealing St. Francis de Sales’ brilliance in helping us grow in holiness. The next season can’t start soon enough.

I loved listening to this classic. I didn’t plan it but I finished listening to it today, on the Memorial of St. Francis de Sales. Thank you for your insights and especially the humor sprinkled in. I’m looking forward to the next classic. Thank you both for your priestly vocations.

Because of illness and other interruptions I am late in doing this podcast. I am just now getting caught up with it as well as the book. I enjoy listening to Father Gregory and Father Jacob. The book could be a little daunting without their guidance. Learning things I didn’t know about the devout life is well worth my time. Thank you fathers and thank you Ascension.

So far I’m loving the book! I’m probably going to end up buying it. Cuddos to the brothers, they are doing an excellent job with the narration and with the comments!

Introduction to the Devout Life is a great book, but the commentary is such that it will twist St Francis’ recommendations around. They mean well and are trying to stop people from thinking the spiritual life is utterly programmatic, but their attempts to do so damage the delightful structure that St Francis builds and talks down the firm behavioral ideal which he proposes. An example: book 5 is describing a retreat meant to be made annually. St Francis is very insistent about the necessity of this, yet the commentary never addresses it, instead treating the various exercises in that part as things to be done either on a frequent basis, or at will. A possible way to address this concern would be for their conversation to start with “How does the reading answer these questions” rather than “how do we answer these questions”, which is how it feels. They are certainly welcome to disagree with St Francis’ specific recommendations, however they should at least engage them. Although this review may seem rather strong, I did still listen carefully to the entire season and enjoyed it, so these are just ways it could improve, not reasons to not listen.

Thank you for helping to make sense out of a challenging book. I would have never read it on my own. I’m looking forward to seeing what your next season brings!

I almost gave up, I wasn’t sure if I had the time. I’m so grateful I didn’t. The Holy Spirit truly moved me to persevere. The book was presented in digestible chunks. The priests are a wonderful team. Having different personalities really gave a dimension to the discussion you don’t find with a one person reflection. Thank you so much for this labor of love. I can’t wait for the next book.

I can’t wait to see what we are reading next! This was a great book! Thank you for this podcast

This translation is incredible and it’s amazing how relevant and applicable this writing is 400+ years later. While the commentary was good, it was somewhat cerebral/high-brow when compared to Fr. Mike’s BIAY (more what I was expecting) which I found to be much more relatable. Overall, though, well done and worth the listen. Looking forward to the next Catholic Classic!

I have read pieces and bits here and there of this book. Listening to this podcast was the perfect occasion to finally “read” it cover to cover. Not only is Ascension’s edition beautifully made with a wonderful, very understandable translation, the commentaries by the two Dominican priests (Fr. Gregory and Fr. Jacob) help us have practical applications for our day to day life. This podcast is a must for any Christian, not only Catholics, to help us keep our spiritual life nourished with timeless advice.

I really like this podcast and it’s goal of reading great spiritual books. However, I wish the Fathers would slow down their reading a bit. I often feel like they are speed reading.

This is so good. Thank you. God Bless!!

Thank you for undertaking this project ☀️ God bless you both. I’m not sure how I came to decide to listen in, but Providence is so merciful. It was for this time and in this way that healing ❤️‍🩹 is being made possible. The balm in the hands of His faithful. Thanks guys! I will be in solidarity of prayer 🙏🏻 St Francis Pray for us ! Becky