Catholic Classics

Bonus Episode: Epilogue (Story of a Soul) Oct 29, 2024

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.

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Day 28: Union with God (Story of a Soul) Oct 28, 2024

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.

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Day 27: Loving in Little Ways (Story of a Soul) Oct 27, 2024

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.

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Day 26: The Simplicity of Prayer (Story of a Soul) Oct 26, 2024

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.

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Day 25: The Depths of Charity (Story of a Soul) Oct 25, 2024

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.

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Day 24: Not Me, But Christ (Story of a Soul) Oct 24, 2024

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.

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Day 23: Temptation of Doubt (Story of a Soul) Oct 23, 2024

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.

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Day 22: Suffering with Joy (Story of a Soul) Oct 22, 2024

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.

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Day 21: The Vocation of Love (Story of a Soul) Oct 21, 2024

What is my vocation? This is a question St. Thérèse pondered even after entering Carmel. As she continues to convey her Little Way, St. Thérèse contemplates the vocation of love. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph discuss how the vocation of love is for all and that this vocation does not require a felt love, but is, instead, an act of the will.

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Day 20: A Worthy Ambition (Story of a Soul) Oct 20, 2024

What is the Little Way? Today’s reading brings us to the second manuscript of Story of a Soul. This manuscript is also known as the charter for the Little Way. Within her writings, St. Thérèse expresses to her sister Marie some of what God has revealed to her as well as her intense desire to love. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph also discuss the dream that St. Thérèse has of Ven. Anne of Jesus.

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Day 19: Doubts of Heaven (Story of a Soul) Oct 19, 2024

For some, doubtful thinking can be very distressing. As St. St. Thérèse continues to experience dryness in her spiritual life, she is also plagued with doubts, including doubts about Heaven. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph encourage us that even in times of struggle, we can persevere with faith and hope just like St. Thérèse.

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Day 18: Experiences of Death (Story of a Soul) Oct 18, 2024

St. Thérèse recounts a trying time within Carmel during which almost the entire monastery was overcome with influenza. During this trial, St. Thérèse experienced death very closely as a number of nuns who fell ill did pass away. St. Thérèse recounts the tasks that fell to her as she was one of the few that was not bedridden. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph discuss St. Thérèse’s challenge with dryness in prayer and what each of us can do when we experience a similar dryness.

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Day 17: Learning Poverty (Story of a Soul) Oct 17, 2024

Change almost always brings challenges with it. This is true for St. Thérèse as she begins her life in Carmel. She expresses some of the challenges she faced in this drastically different way of life. However, she also shares how she sought growth in virtue through all of it. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph explain the typical stages of religious formation.

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Day 16: Entering Carmel (Story of a Soul) Oct 16, 2024

The day has finally come! Today’s episode brings us to a pivotal moment in St. Thérèse’s life: her entrance into Carmel. St. Thérèse describes her final moments with her family and the emotions she felt as she bid them farewell. She also describes what her reception was like at Carmel. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph reflect on these moments as well as their own experiences of entering religious life.

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Day 15: Patience in Following God’s Will (Story of a Soul) Oct 15, 2024

Even a young person can offer great wisdom. In these pages, we walk with St. Thérèse through the aftermath of her encounter with Pope Leo XIII. She reveals her patience with the will of God and her refusal to be discouraged. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph discuss how there is never a good reason to delay a pursuit of holiness.

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Day 14: Holy Boldness (Story of a Soul) Oct 14, 2024

Seeing the city of Rome through the eyes of a saint is a delight. St. Thérèse provides the details of her visit to Rome and some of the sites she visited. She writes of the most significant part of her time in Rome: meeting Pope Leo XII. She describes the visit itself but also her feelings through the whole process. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph reflects on how St. Thérèse must have been tempted towards discouragement, but instead abandons herself to God’s will.

To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.

Day 13: Being in the World (Story of a Soul) Oct 13, 2024

The world holds so much beauty and wonder. In today’s reading, we go with St. Thérèse as she begins her pilgrimage to Rome. She outlines what it is like for her to be out in the world and seeing some of nature’s beauties for the first time. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph explain the significance of what St. Thérèse shares in these pages, especially, praying for priests, Our Lady of Victory, and the impact of nature’s beauty.

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Day 12: Overcoming Timidity (Story of a Soul) Oct 12, 2024

The growth of an individual can happen very gradually, and therefore, be unnoticeable. In the case of St. Thérèse, her growth is quite tangible. It is clear in her writing that she is making conscious efforts to overcome her timidity. This is clear in her visit to the bishop as she requests his special permission for entrance into Carmel. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph discuss St. Thérèse’s experience of meeting the bishop and ponder how she must have felt after his denial. They point out how St. Thérèse is continuing to show great tenacity in her pursuit of Carmel.

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Day 11: Humility & Perseverance (Story of a Soul) Oct 11, 2024

Revealing our greatest desires can be a very vulnerable experience. St. Thérèse describes the circumstances of sharing her desire for Carmel to both her father and uncle. As she faces the initial denial of her uncle and the rector of Carmel, we begin to see the perseverance St. Thérèse possessed when it came to her vocation, and ultimately, her path towards holiness. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph explain why St. Thérèse needed her uncle’s permission to enter Carmel. They also describe the factors of granting permission for an individual to enter a religious community.

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Day 10: A Christmas Conversion (Story of a Soul) Oct 10, 2024

Many of us are able to look back on our lives and point to significant moments of change or growth. St. Thérèse is no different. In today’s readings, St. Thérèse reflects on one of the more significant moments in her life: her Christmas conversion. She outlines what happened exactly and how it impacted her. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph discuss the changes that St. Thérèse strove to make due to her conversion. They also reflect on the reality that we cannot accomplish holiness ourselves and we must let God in.

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Day 9: Loss & Loneliness (Story of a Soul) Oct 09, 2024

There is great heartache that can come with the experience of loneliness. St. Thérèse continues to struggle in developing friendships and writes of the loneliness she feels. She also shares her reaction to learning that her sister Marie will be entering Carmel. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph share the testimony of one of St. Thérèse’s sisters and what this sister saw in St. Thérèse’s struggle with friendship and her experience of isolation.

To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.

Day 8: Dealing with Scrupulosity (Story of a Soul) Oct 08, 2024

It is a good thing to be concerned about doing what is right. However, fear of not doing the right thing can become excessive and turn into something called “scrupulosity.” St. Thérèse struggled with scrupulosity and details how her sister Marie helped her in this struggle. She also outlines the challenges she faced in making friends. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph explore the reasons for why St. Thérèse struggled with developing friendships and how many of us face the same difficulties in developing our own friendships.

To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.

Day 7: The Source & Summit (Story of a Soul) Oct 07, 2024

How good is it when great joy follows great suffering? In today’s reading, St. Thérèse describes a number of significant moments of joy in her life. She shares about the reception of her future religious name, her growth in prayer, and the reception of her First Holy Communion. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph reflect on their own experiences of preparation and reception of their First Holy Communions.

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Day 6: The Strange Sickness (Story of a Soul) Oct 06, 2024

It can be very difficult to say “good-bye” to someone. For St. Thérèse, the departure of her sister Pauline to Carmel was almost unbearable. This experience leads to a significant sickness for St. Thérèse. She describes her experience in the sickness and the miraculous healing she received. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph reflect on St. Thérèse’s sickness and what God was able to do within her suffering.

To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.

Day 5: The Most Difficult Years (Story of a Soul) Oct 05, 2024

The experience of loneliness is one that many people can relate to. What St. Thérèse describes as her “saddest” years are marked with loneliness. Her years at school found St. Thérèse without many friends and even bullied. Another element of her suffering in these years was the entrance of Pauline into Carmel. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph ponder the hardships that St. Thérèse endured and how God’s presence was evident throughout them.

To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.

Day 4: Liturgical Living in the Family (Story of a Soul) Oct 04, 2024

Each family is unique and may come with their own traditions or day to day practices. St. Thérèse describes some of the practices held in her own family that were majoritively centered around liturgical living. She also shares a vision she had of her father and her experience of visiting the ocean for the first time. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph ponder the ways in which the Martin family entered into liturgical living and the influence this had on St. Thérèse.

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Day 3: The Love of a Mother and Father (Story of a Soul) Oct 03, 2024

The presence of a mother and father is important for every child. St. Thérèse was no different. However, as described in today’s reading, she lost her mother at a very young age. Out of this experience, St. Thérèse describes how her sister Pauline stepped into the role of mother and how her father’s love was the greatest witness of God the Father’s love for her. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph discuss the impact that her mother’s death had on her life.

To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.

Day 2: First Memories (Story of a Soul) Oct 02, 2024

It is not common to have first hand accounts of the early lives of saints. However, St. Thérèse gives a thorough account of some of her earliest memories. She shares about each of her sisters and her relationships with them. In these pages, we also read through the story surrounding St. Thérèse’s prophetic statement “I choose all!” Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph discuss how St. Thérèse’s family is the foundation for who she is.

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Day 1: The Mercies of God (Story of a Soul) Oct 01, 2024

St. Thérèse begins her autobiography explaining why she is writing it. She describes her reluctance to write, but also her sense of obedience to Mother Agnes. In these first pages, St. Thérèse touches on the importance of her family’s influence as well as the prevalence of God’s mercy throughout her life. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph consider what we can garner from St. Thérèse’s reluctance to write her autobiography.

To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.

Bonus Episode: Prologue (Story of a Soul) Oct 01, 2024

To help set the scene for the autobiography of St. Thérèse, Fr. Michael-Joseph provides an introduction to the prologue of Story of a Soul. His introduction is followed by the reading of the prologue. In the prologue, we are given a deeper look at the family of St. Thérèse’s, especially her parents. The prologue also gives insight into the first year of St. Thérèse’s life.

To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.

Novena of St. Thérèse of the Little Flower (Day 9) Sep 30, 2024

O St. Therese, seraphic virgin, beloved spouse of our Crucified Lord, you who on earth did burn with a love so intense toward your God and my God, and now glow with a bright and purer flame in paradise, obtain for me, I beseech you, a spark of that same holy fire which shall help me to put things of the world in their proper place and live my life always conscious of the presence of God. As I conclude my novena I also beg of you to secure for me the special favour I seek at this time...
St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

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Novena of St. Thérèse of the Little Flower (Day 8) Sep 29, 2024

O glorious St. Therese, who, burning with the desire of increasing the glory of God, invariably attended to the sanctification of your soul by the constant practice of prayer and charity so that, becoming in the Church a model of holiness, you are now in Heaven the protector of all those who have recourse to you in faith, look down upon me who invokes your powerful patronage and join your petition to mine that I be granted the favour I seek in this novena...
St. Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

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Novena of St. Thérèse of the Little Flower (Day 7) Sep 28, 2024

Therese of the Child Jesus, most loving Saint, in union with you I adore the divine Majesty. My heart is filled with joy at the remembrance of the marvellous favours with which God blessed your life on earth and of the great glory that came to you after death. In union with you, I praise God, and offer him my humble tribute of thanksgiving. I implore you to obtain for me, through your powerful intercession, the greatest of all blessings -- that of living and dying in the state of grace. I also beg of you to secure for me the special favour I seek in this novena...
St. Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.

Novena of St. Thérèse of the Little Flower (Day 6) Sep 27, 2024

O Little Flower of Jesus, you have shown yourself so powerful in your intercession, so tender and compassionate toward those who honour you and invoke you in suffering and distress, that I kneel at your feet with perfect confidence and beseech you most humbly and earnestly to take me under your protection in my present necessity and obtain for me the favour I ask in this novena...Vouchsafe to recommend my request to Mary, the merciful Queen of Heaven, that she may plead my cause with you before the throne of Jesus, her divine Son.. Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted.
St. Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

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Novena of St. Thérèse of the Little Flower (Day 5) Sep 26, 2024

O Little Flower of Carmel, Almighty God endowed you, consumed by love for him, with wondrous spiritual strength to follow the way of perfection during the days of your short life. Sickness touched you early but you remained firm in faith and prayer was your life. O pray for me that I may benefit by your intercession and be granted the favour I ask in this novena...
St. Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.

Novena of St. Thérèse of the Little Flower (Day 4) Sep 25, 2024

O Little Flower of Jesus, who at an early age had your heart set on Carmel and in your brief earthly life did become the mirror of angelic purity, of courageous love and of whole hearted surrender to Almighty God, turn your eyes of mercy upon me who trusts in you. Obtain for me the favour I seek in this novena...and the grace to keep my heart and mind pure and clean. O dear saint, grant me to feel in every need the power of your intercession; help to comfort me in all the bitterness of this life and especially at its end, that I may be worth to share eternal happiness with you in heaven. Amen.
St. Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.

Novena of St. Thérèse of the Little Flower (Day 3) Sep 24, 2024

O Therese of the Child Jesus, lily of purity, ornament and glory of Carmel, I greet you, great saint, seraph of divine love. I rejoice in the favours our Lord so liberally bestowed on you. I humility and confidence I ask you to help me, for I know God has given you love and pity as well as power. Tell Him, now, I beseech you, of the favour I seek in this novena... Your request will crown my petition with success and bring joy to my heart. Remember your promise to do good here on earth. “I shall spend my heaven doing good on the Earth. After death I shall let fall a shower of roses.”
St. Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.

Novena of St. Thérèse of the Little Flower (Day 2) Sep 23, 2024

Almighty God, giver of all good gifts, who did will that Blessed Therese, being watered by the heavenly dew of your guiding grace, should bloom in Carmel with the beauty of virginity and patience in suffering, grant that I your servant may go forward in the order of her sweetness an may be found worthy to become a devoted and loyal follower of Christ. Amen.
St. Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.

Novena of St. Thérèse of the Little Flower (Day 1) Sep 22, 2024

Thérèse of the Child Jesus, well beloved and full of charity, in union with you, I reverently adore the majesty of God, and since I rejoice with exceeding joy in the singular gifts of grace bestowed upon you during your life, and your gifts of glory after death, I give Him deepest thanks for them; I beseech you with all my heart’s devotion to be pleased to obtain for me (...mention request here). But if what I ask of you so earnestly does not tend to the glory of God and the greater good of my soul, do you, I pray, obtain for me that which is more profitable to both these ends. Amen.
St. Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.

An Overview of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and Story of a Soul Sep 16, 2024

Who is St. Thérèse? Why did she write Story of a Soul? The answers to these questions will help you as you prepare to begin Season 3 of Catholic Classics: Story of a Soul. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk and Fr. Michael-Joseph Paris offer a broad overview of St. Thérèse’s life and what Story of a Soul covers. Drawing from their own experiences, they also offer advice on how best to approach the text.

To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.

Introducing Fr. Michael-Joseph Paris, O.C.D. Sep 09, 2024

We are excited to welcome the guest co-host for Season 3 of Catholic Classics: Fr. Michael-Joseph Paris, OCD. In this bonus episode, Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk and Fr. Gregory Pine get to know Fr. Michael-Joseph and learn more about his knowledge of Story of a Soul and his deep appreciation for the writings of St. Thérèse. Fr. Gregory also gives an update on his current assignment and his future involvement in Catholic Classics.

To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.

Announcing Season 3 of Catholic Classics! Aug 22, 2024

A new season of Catholic Classics is starting this fall. We are so excited to announce that for this season of Catholic Classics, we will be reading Story of a Soul by St. Thérèse of Lisieux. You can download the reading plan and order your copy of the book at ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics.

To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.

Day 60: Rest in Him (The Confessions of St. Augustine) Nov 30, 2023

In this final episode, St. Augustine reflects on the height of creation: humanity. He ponders how men and women are oriented towards God because God has created them in his goodness and they are made to rest in him. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk and Fr. Gregory Pine discuss what this means. They also address how God has healed humanity and why we are worthy of love. Today’s readings are Book 13, Chapters 31-38.