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.
28 min
Like a small boat carried by a powerful wave, the soul can be swept into a profound encounter with God. Sr. Katie Flanagan explores St. Teresa of Ávila's teaching on the flight of the spirit, a remarkable form of prayer in which God carries the soul beyond itself. Today we read The Sixth Dwelling Places: Chapter 5. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
38 min
Why would growing closer to God require courage? Sr. Katie Flanagan reflects on St. Teresa of Ávila's teaching about extraordinary experiences of prayer and the courage needed to remain faithful through suffering, criticism, and misunderstanding. Today we read The Sixth Dwelling Places: Chapter 4. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
47 min
Not every thought or inspiration comes from God, so how do we know the difference? Sr. Katie Flanagan reflects on St. Teresa of Ávila's wisdom about discerning God's voice, looking for the peace and lasting fruits that accompany His guidance. Today we read The Sixth Dwelling Places: Chapter 3. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
The newest 50 of 210 episodes
28 min
Like a small boat carried by a powerful wave, the soul can be swept into a profound encounter with God. Sr. Katie Flanagan explores St. Teresa of Ávila's teaching on the flight of the spirit, a remarkable form of prayer in which God carries the soul beyond itself. Today we read The Sixth Dwelling Places: Chapter 5. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
38 min
Why would growing closer to God require courage? Sr. Katie Flanagan reflects on St. Teresa of Ávila's teaching about extraordinary experiences of prayer and the courage needed to remain faithful through suffering, criticism, and misunderstanding. Today we read The Sixth Dwelling Places: Chapter 4. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
47 min
Not every thought or inspiration comes from God, so how do we know the difference? Sr. Katie Flanagan reflects on St. Teresa of Ávila's wisdom about discerning God's voice, looking for the peace and lasting fruits that accompany His guidance. Today we read The Sixth Dwelling Places: Chapter 3. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
29 min
Have you ever missed someone so much that it actually hurt? Sr. Katie Flanagan reflects on St. Teresa of Ávila's description of a soul that longs so deeply for God that being apart from Him becomes painful. Even in that longing, God is drawing the soul closer to Himself. Today, we read The Sixth Dwelling Places: Chapter 2. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
44 min
What happens when you’ve drawn closer to God than ever, and suddenly everything seems to fall apart? As we enter the Sixth Dwelling Places, St. Teresa of Ávila describes the trials that purify the soul: gossip, misunderstanding, illness, doubting confessors, and an interior darkness where God feels far away. Sr. Katie Flanagan and Sr. Elfie Del Rosario reflect on how suffering united with love can strengthen us. Today, we read The Sixth Dwelling Places: Chapter 1. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
31 min
Can even good things get in the way of our relationship with God? Sr. Katie Flanagan explores St. Teresa of Ávila's warning that not every distraction looks like something bad. Sometimes the things we love, the people we care about, or the work we do can take our attention away from what matters most. Today we read The Fifth Dwelling Places: Chapter 4. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
34 min
It's easy to say we love others, but putting that love into practice isn't always easy. Sr. Katie Flanagan reflects on St. Teresa of Ávila's teaching that growing closer to God means learning to put others before ourselves. Through small acts of kindness, patience, and humility, we can learn to love more like Christ. Today we read The Fifth Dwelling Places: Chapter 3. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
41 min
A silkworm doesn't stay a silkworm forever, and God doesn't want us to stay the same, either. Sr. Katie Flanagan explores St. Teresa of Ávila's image of the silkworm and butterfly, reminding us that growing closer to God means being willing to change. Today, we read The Fifth Dwelling Places: Chapter 2. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
31 min
What if the treasure you’ve been searching for has been inside you all along? As we enter the Fifth Dwelling Places, St. Teresa of Ávila describes the prayer of union, a gift no amount of effort can earn, where the soul is certain it was in God and God was in it. Sr. Katie Flanagan and Sr. Elfie Del Rosario reflect on surrender, receptivity, and asking Our Lady to help us open the places we’ve walled off from the Lord. Today, we read The Fifth Dwelling Places: Chapter 1. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
39 min
The real test of our prayer isn't how extraordinary the experience feels, but whether it bears good fruit in our lives and helps us faithfully live out our responsibilities. Sr. Katie Flanagan reminds us that God meets us not only in the chapel, but in the ordinary moments of everyday life. Today, we read The Fourth Dwelling Places: Chapter 3. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
24 min
What happens when prayer stops being something we try to accomplish and becomes something we simply receive from God? Sr. Katie Flanagan explains the transition from our own efforts in prayer to the mysterious work of God within the soul—and reminds us that we cannot force or manufacture His grace. Today, we read The Fourth Dwelling Places: Chapter 2. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
38 min
What if your distracted mind doesn’t mean you’re failing at prayer? As we enter The Fourth Dwelling Place, Sr. Katie Flanagan and Sr. Elfie Del Rosario reveal the difference between consolation and spiritual delight, and remind us that God works in His own time to unite us more fully with Him. Today, we read The Fourth Dwelling Places: Chapter 1. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
34 min
Ever caught yourself calling something a virtue when it was really an attachment? Sr. Katie Flanagan explains the flaw of souls whose lives look well-ordered but who fall apart at the smallest trial, and who mistake clinging to their own will for holiness. She highlights how humility, obedience, and holy companions help us let go, and invites us to ask what God is calling us to surrender in each hardship. Today, we read The Third Dwelling Places: Chapter 2. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
30 min
What happens when we’re doing all the “right” things in our spiritual life—but something deeper still needs to change? As we enter The Third Dwelling Place, Sr. Katie Flanagan and Sr. Eflie Del Rosario invite us to look beyond our exterior actions and allow God to purify our hearts, detach us from approval and consolation, and conform our wills more fully to His. Today we read The Third Dwelling Places: Chapter 2. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
36 min
What do you do when you fall, struggle, or feel discouraged in your prayer life? Keep going. As we enter The Second Dwelling Place of The Interior Castle, Sr. Katie Flanagan and Sr. Eflie Del Rosario remind us that perseverance is essential on the journey toward deeper union with God. Trials and failures will come, but they do not mean the journey is over. Today, we read The Third Dwelling Places: Chapter 1. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
35 min
What happens to the soul when mortal sin darkens our relationship with God—and where is God in the midst of it? Sr. Katie reminds us of the ugliness of sin while reminding us that God’s light never stops shining. Through the sacraments, the intercession of Our Lady and the saints, and a humble reliance on God’s mercy, we can keep moving deeper into the castle and toward true freedom. Today, we read The First Dwelling Places: Chapter 2. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
22 min
What would happen if we spent as much time caring for our souls as we do caring for our bodies? As we enter the First Dwelling Place of St. Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle, we’re invited to move beyond worldly distractions and begin the journey inward through prayer, reflection, and silence. Today we read The First Dwelling Places: Chapter 1. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
15 min
What does it take to truly know God—and ourselves? Sr. Katie Flanagan explores the importance of self-knowledge, humility, and compassion as we begin the journey of prayer. Today we read the Prologue. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
18 min
What can St. Teresa of Ávila teach us about drawing closer to Jesus? Sr. Katie Flanagan and Sr. Elfie Del Rosario give us an overview of what we can expect from our journey through St. Teresa of Ávila's The Interior Castle this season. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
19 min
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 highlight Brother Lawrence's final days and discover the remarkable simplicity that defined both his life and his death. Facing eternity, he was not consumed by fear, regret, or uncertainty. Instead, his heart remained fixed on one thing: loving and adoring God. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
13 min
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 explore how God's grace anchors us and gives us the strength to navigate life confidently. Today, we are reading Part 4: The Ways of Brother Lawrence, pages 130-132. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
15 min
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 challenge us to let go of our tendency to constantly self-analyze so that we can focus on God's presence and action in our lives. Today, we are reading Part 4: The Ways of Brother Lawrence, pages 127-130. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
15 min
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" are important, they are meant to lead us into a simple, loving friendship with God. Today, we are reading Part 4: The Ways of Brother Lawrence, pages 125-127. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
15 min
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 us from anxiety, self-importance, and the temptation to overcomplicate the spiritual life. Today, we are reading Part 4: The Ways of Brother Lawrence, pages 123-125. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
14 min
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 discouragement, suffering, and those moments when life feels anything but heavenly. Through friendship, gratitude, rest, and a renewed awareness of God's presence, we can learn to see beyond the valley and keep our eyes fixed on heaven. Today, we are reading Part 4: In Praise of Brother Lawrence, pages 119-121. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
21 min
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 daily concerns in their proper light. As God's presence becomes more real to us, our problems lose their power to overwhelm. Today, we are reading Part 4: In Praise of Brother Lawrence, pages 115-119. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
22 min
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 Brother Lawrence’s life and witness through the lens of hope and detachment, reminding us that in trials God doesn't invite us to be tough but rather to trust him more deeply. Today, we are reading Part 4: In Praise of Brother Lawrence, pages 111- 115. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
19 min
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 go of whatever keeps us from deep union with Him. Today, we are reading Part 3: Means to Acquire the Presence of God and The Benefits of the Presence of God. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
19 min
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 reflect on union with God, holy habits, and learning to live in quiet conversation with Him. Today, we are reading Part 3: On the Union of the Soul with God and On the Presence of God. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
19 min
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, and the spiritual battle at the heart of the Christian life. Today, we read Part 3: Intro to Spiritual Maxims, Necessary Practices for Acquiring the Spiritual Life, and How We Must Adore God in Spirit and in Truth. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
19 min
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 conversation with God gives us the courage to persevere in the spiritual life. Today, we read Part 2: Thirteenth Letter, Fourteenth Letter, Fifteenth Letter, and Sixteenth Letter. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
20 min
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 our sufferings. They encourage us to continue trusting God through illness, distraction, and uncertainty while learning to desire Him above every consolation. Today, we read Part 2: Tenth Letter, Eleventh Letter, and Twelfth Letter. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
18 min
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 us how to wait on the Lord with confidence and peace. Today, we are reading Part 2: Seventh Letter, Eighth Letter, and Ninth Letter. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
21 min
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 reflect on the gift of holy conversation, the role of Christian friendship in the spiritual life, and the peace that comes from surrendering ourselves completely to God. Today, we read Part 2: Fifth Letter and Sixth Letter. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.
18 min
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 us into God’s presence. They also encourage us not to lose sight of the One those practices are meant to draw us toward. Today, we are reading Part 2: Third Letter and Fourth Letter. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
19 min
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 call Brother Lawrence’s “Little Way” — a life of gentle attentiveness to God in every moment. Today, we are reading Part 2: First Letter and Second Letter. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
20 min
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 the morning, but woven into cooking meals, opening laptops, caring for children, working, studying, and everyday responsibilities. Today, we are reading Part 1: Third Conversation and Fourth Conversation. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
21 min
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 interior confidence that God is always present to us, loving us in and through all the moments of our lives. Today, we are reading Part 1: Second Conversation. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
15 min
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 relying on techniques or various devotions. Through a simple reflection on a winter tree, he shows us how God is already at work, patiently bringing about growth in our lives. Today, we are reading Part 1: First Conversation. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics
22 min
The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence is known to be Pope Leo XIV's favorite spiritual book—what makes this text so special? In this pre-launch episode, Fr. Gregory Pine and Rebecca Dougherty introduce season 5 of Catholic Classics. Together, they explain the significance of the book, unpack the life of Brother Lawrence, and provide an overview of the book's structure and key themes. Whether you’re new to the life of prayer or looking to deepen it, this classic text helps everyone cultivate a constant awareness of God’s presence in our lives. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics.
31 min
Fr. Mike Schmitz joins Fr. Gregory Pine for a special conversation about Season 4 of Catholic Classics! Beginning October 22, 2025, Fr. Mike will guide listeners through The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis. Together, he and Fr. Gregory explore this spiritual classic's structure and central themes, highlighting why it has been of enduring value for Catholics throughout the centuries. To get your copy of the complete 30-day reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics Season Four of Catholic Classics: The Imitation of Christ is available for free exclusively in the Ascension App. To get started, download the Ascension App in the app store on your mobile device or visit ascensionpress.com/imitationofchrist
25 min
A new "Catholic Classics" season with Fr. Mike Schmitz is coming this fall! In the meantime, Ascension has released a new book in the Catholic Classics series titled "Saints of the First Monasteries." Fr. Boniface Hicks, a contributor to the book, joins Fr. Gregory Pine to explore the key patristic texts featured in the book and the lives of early saints, including St. Anthony, St. Benedict, and St. Basil. They highlight the significance of monastic traditions and the profound spiritual lessons these saints imparted that remain relevant for living a holy life today. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.
30 min
As a conclusion to this season of Catholic Classics and to the life of St. Thérèse, Fr. Michael-Joseph provides an introduction to the epilogue of Story of a Soul. His introduction is followed by the reading of the epilogue. In the epilogue, we are given an account of the final months of St. Thérèse’s life. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.
27 min
What does one reflect on in the days leading up to death? In these last pages of Story of a Soul, St. Thérèse is also very near to the day of her death. She reflects on prayer being the source of all good. She writes about intercessory prayer and how the people entrusted to us can be our treasures. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph offer their final insights into the text and the life of St. Thérèse. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.
33 min
It can be challenging to let the small things go. For St. Thérèse, it was the small things that she saw as the greatest opportunities for love. She recounts in these pages several instances where she struggled with the behavior of fellow sisters in the convent. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph explain how St. Thérèse’s perception of herself was not necessarily scrupulosity, but an understanding of who she was and how God loved her still. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.
34 min
Not many people would describe prayer as something simple. However, the way in which St. Thérèse describes it conveys the possibility of simplicity in prayer. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph reflect on prayer as friendship with God and how prayer may not be easy, but it can be simple. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.
31 min
Love is not always easy. In fact, love can be very hard. In this final chapter of Story of a Soul, St. Thérèse is drawing near to the end of her life. As she does, she contemplates the mysterious depths of charity. She ponders what it means to love and how Christ loves through us. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph discuss how each of us is called to live charity. They remind us that there is always an opportunity to love. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.
38 min
Are there people in your life that you struggle to get along with or even be around? St. Thérèse admits in her writings to there being sisters within the convent that she struggled to show charity towards. She uses these examples to reflect on Christ’s love acting within her. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.
38 min
A common temptation is the temptation to doubt. St. Thérèse was faced with this temptation in a significant way and she explains it within her writings. She also shares insight on fraternal charity. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph ponder some of the triggers that may have contributed to St. Thérèse’s trial of faith. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.
36 min
Are relationships ever easy? In her third manuscript, St. Thérèse focuses on her life in Carmel. She shares about the new prioress and how she gets along with the other sisters in the convent. St. Thérèse also begins to describe her trial of faith. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph use St. Thérèse’s writings to draw the distinction between the virtue of humility and the virtue of magnanimity. To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.
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