Catholic Classics with Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob Bertrand Janczyk
Welcome to Catholic Classics! Each season we’ll read through a classic text in just 20-30 mins a day, providing insightful commentary and practical guidance along the way.
Starting October 2, 2023, join Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. and Fr. Jacob Bertrand Janczyk, O.P. as they read and explain The Confessions of St. Augustine. Learn more.

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 “Introduction to the Devout Life” by St. Francis de Sales, Doctor of the Church. In just 43 days, you’ll discover what generations of Catholics have learned from this treasured book: that it is possible to have a personal relationship with Jesus, regardless of your vocation and the demands of daily life.
Who is St. Augustine? Why did he write the Confessions? The answers to these questions will help you as you prepare to begin Season 2 of Catholic Classics: The Confessions of St. Augustine. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk offer a broad overview of St. Augustine’s life and faith journey. They also explain what the Confessions is about and what you can expect as you begin reading.
To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text ”CONFESSIONS” to 33-777.
Please note: The Confessions of St. Augustine contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children – parental discretion is advised.


Following along with the version read in the podcast!
This beautiful edition uses an easy-to-understand translation and includes expert commentary from the podcast hosts Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. and Fr. Jacob Bertrand Janczyk, O.P.

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Meet the Hosts

Fr. Gregory Pine
Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. is a Dominican friar (Order of Friars Preachers) of the Province of Saint Joseph, which is located in the Northeastern portion of the United States.
Crediting the intercession of St. Thomas Aquinas in his discernment, Fr. Gregory joined the Order after graduating from Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he studied math as well as humanities and Catholic culture. After being ordained as a priest in 2016, he served as parochial vicar at St. Louis Bertrand Parish in Louisville, KY, where he also worked as an adjunct professor at Bellarmine University. He then served as the assistant director of campus outreach for the Thomistic Institute based in Washington, D.C.
Fr. Gregory is currently a doctoral candidate in dogmatic theology at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland, concentrating on the Christology of St. Thomas Aquinas. He has recently released a new book for Catholics on the virtue of prudence.
In addition to his role as one of the hosts of Ascension’s new podcast Catholic Classics, Fr. Gregory is also a regular contributor to the popular podcasts Pints with Aquinas, Godsplaining, and The Thomistic Institute and has traveled widely to preach and teach the Catholic Faith.
When he’s not reading medieval tomes or administering the sacraments, Fr. Gregory spends his time enjoying great works of fiction and hiking in the nearby mountains.

Fr. Jacob Bertrand Janczyk
Fr. Jacob Bertrand Janczyk, O.P. is a Dominican friar of the Province of Saint Joseph, which ministers in the Dominican tradition to the Northeastern portion of the United States, and is also the pastor of St. Denis Catholic Church in Hanover, NH.
After graduating from Marist College with a degree in biomedical science, Fr. Jacob Bertrand joined the novitiate for the Dominicans and was ordained as a priest in the Dominican Order in 2017.
From there, he went on to work with college students at Dartmouth College, serving as assistant chaplain and then as director of vocations for the Province of Saint Joseph from 2018-2022.
In addition to co-hosting Ascension’s new podcast, Catholic Classics, Fr. Jacob Bertrand is also a host of the popular Dominican podcast, Godsplaining.