Catholic Classics

St. Augustine offers his insight on the language of the two wills that is found in Scripture. One of his primary reasons for addressing this was in order to disprove the Manichaeans. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk address the life of sin and vice versus the life of grace and virtue. They discuss the common circumstance in which a person may look as though they have it all together...

St. Augustine finds himself incredibly close to conversion. He conveys two stories regarding the conversion of other men. He shares how these men were inspired by the story of St. Anthony of the Desert to convert to Catholicisim. The conversion stories of other people move St. Augustine greatly and play a key role in his own conversion. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk discuss why i...

St. Augustine has settled his theological and philosophical challenges when it comes to Catholicism. However, an area that he continues to struggle with is chastity. He finds himself stuck in lust. St. Augustine also shares his perspective of the institutional Church and describes the conversion of an individual named Victorinus. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk explain why the conv...

Book 8 finds St. Augustine at the moment of his conversion. In this book, St. Augustine surrenders to the will of God and consents to grace. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk point out the importance of Scripture in the moment of St. Augustine’s conversion. They encourage everyone to read Scripture and remember that the Holy Spirit works through the Word of God. Finally, Fr. Gregory...

As he continues his studies, St. Augustine realizes his knowledge of God, theology and Jesus are incomplete. He also concludes Book 7 with a comparison of the Neoplatonic texts he’s been reading with what he has been studying in Scripture. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk discuss the humility with which we must approach our study of God. Today’s readings are Book 7, Chapters 19-21....

What is the role of the human will? As St. Augustine resumes his expression of gratitude to God, he acknowledges the goodness of creation and God's yearning for us. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk clarify that the human will is the faculty through which we interact with the world. Through our wills, we have the capacity to rightly name everything, love in accordance with its worth,...

St. Augustine embarks on a contemplation of key Catholic concepts, notably the Word or Logos. While he grasps the significance of the opening verses of John's Gospel, he encounters difficulty comprehending the notion of the Incarnate Word. In the discussion, Fr. Gregory explains the meanings of these terms and highlights St. Augustine's struggle with this concept. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk unders...

If God is all-powerful and loving, why does he permit evil? This is what St. Augustine wonders as he ponders astrology and its allures. He recognizes the dangers in ascribing to astrology. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk explain that this is also a common enticement for modern people. They remind us that if we abandon ourselves to Divine Providence, we can be confident that God wil...

St. Augustine considers the nature of God in Neoplatonic terms. Searching for a way to explain his reality, St. Augustine broadens his philosophical understanding of what God is. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk discuss free will, the root and cause of evil, and our freedom to turn toward or away from God. Today's readings are Book 7, Chapters 1-4. To get your copy of the complete r...

Setting the scene for Book 7, St. Augustine begins considering God differently. He is now 30 years old and no longer holds a dualistic understanding of who and what God is. Turning from all the previous notions he had, he looks to Plato. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk explain what Neoplatonism is and why this is important for us to prepare for Book 7. To get your copy of the compl...

As we conclude Book 6, St. Monica arranges a marriage for St. Augustine. Still a slave to lust, he thinks this could be the only solution to living a chaste life. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk explain that growth in virtue doesn't mean suffering through temptation but instead the flourishing of human love. Today's readings are Book 6, Chapters 11-16. To get your copy of the compl...

Enter St. Alipius. Alipius is a follower of St. Augustine who eventually converts with him. St. Augustine describes Alipius’ struggle with curiosity. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk affirm that the desire to know is good. However, they caution that curiosity can become bad when it distracts us from our responsibilities. Today’s readings are Book 6, Chapters 8-10. To get your copy o...

How do you know what authority to trust? St. Augustine finds himself struggling with the abusive authority of Manichaeism versus the authority of Sacred Scripture. As he works through these authorities, he finds himself questioning the source of happiness. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk discuss how to identify true happiness in our own lives. Today’s readings are Book 6, Chapters...

We need companions on the journey! In the chapters of Book 6, a greater emphasis is placed on the relationships in St. Augustine’s life. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk discuss some of those relationships. St. Monica, of course, continues to be a pivotal person for St. Augustine. We are also introduced to St. Augustine’s companion St. Alipius. And finally, there is the continued pr...

What about Monica? In these chapters, St. Augustine writes extensively about his mother. He describes her devotion and persistence especially in regards to his own conversion. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk discuss the struggle we sometimes face when dealing with our past wrongs. They explain how St. Augustine let his own failings be a blockade to the progression of his faith. Tod...

Kindness can go a long way. St. Augustine now finds himself in Milan after he quickly becomes frustrated with life in Rome. It is at this time that he encounters St. Ambrose for the first time. It is the kindness of St. Ambrose that draws St. Augustine in the most. It is through this that St. Augustine finds renewal and chooses to become a catechumen. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczy...

Is a hasty decision ever a good decision? Unsatisfied with his life in Carthage, St. Augustine decides to leave for Rome. Although his mother Monica discourages his move, he still goes. St. Augustine shares honestly about his decision making. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk discuss how God works with our choices, even our wrong choices. Today’s readings are Book 5, Chapters 8-9. To...

St. Augustine's long-awaited encounter with Faustus, the Manichaeans' Bishop, disappoints him. Finding Faustus incapable of answering his questions, St. Augustine is disillusioned by this leader and Manichaeism. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk discuss how this experience is another step in St. Augustine's pursuit of wisdom. Today's readings are Book 5, Chapters 5-7. To get your cop...

What is the difference between the Catholic and the Manichaean account of evil? St. Augustine anticipates his meeting with Faustus, the Bishop of the Manichaeans. He prepares to ask Faustus many questions, hoping for understanding and truth. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk explain what heresy is and the background of the Manichaean sect. Today’s readings are Book 5, Chapters 1-4. T...

Get ready for an exciting journey! In Book 5 of Confessions, we'll embark on a thrilling adventure to Carthage, Rome, and Milan. Join us as Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk delve into the fascinating experiences of St. Augustine at the age of 28 and his relentless quest for answers. As St. Augustine's dissatisfaction with Manichaeism and Faustus's teachings deepens, he eventually fi...

With the help of Aristotle’s philosophy, St. Augustine attempts to make sense of reality. He meditates on his natural understanding of challenging texts, realizing his intelligence did not immediately bring him to God. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk discuss the gift of intelligence and the need to use this gift to discern the true and beautiful. Today’s readings are Book 4, Chapte...

How does time come to be? Considering the fleeting nature of reality, St. Augustine dives into what it means for us to exist within time while God exists eternally. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk explain how we must pass through the shifting sands of our present experience to arrive on the solid rock of God’s eternity. Today’s readings are Book 4, Chapters 11-14. To get your copy...

Sifting through the grief of losing his friend, St. Augustine analyzes whether he is more attached to his friend or to the suffering itself. He notes that while the Lord wants us to grieve, there is a holy way to mourn the loss of loved ones. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk discuss our call to love, recognizing that we will be united in heaven with God and each other. Today’s readi...

The world offers many opportunities to satisfy our carnal desires. Such opportunities were also present in St. Augustine’s time and he pursued them. In these chapters, St. Augustine outlines some of what marked this time in his life. He describes his distaste for astrology, his intimate relationship with a woman, and the discovery and loss of a dear friendship. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertr...

Relationship, fatherhood, heresy, and loss are all things that St. Augustine will face in the coming chapters. In Book 4 of St. Augustine, we will see him enter into a lengthy relationship which will result in his son. St. Augustine will also experience the loss of a dear friend. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Gregory Pine address the desire each person has for love and intimacy and how this desire wa...