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.

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Please note: The Confessions of St. Augustine contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

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 readings are Book 4, Chapters 5-10.

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Please note: The Confessions of St. Augustine contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

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-Bertrand Janczyk discuss the goodness of searching even if you stumble along the way. Today’s readings are Book 4, Chapters 1-4.

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Please note: The Confessions of St. Augustine contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

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 was the impetus for many of St. Augustine’s decisions.

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Please note: The Confessions of St. Augustine contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

What does it mean to love God? What is our capacity for love of God? St. Augustine reflects on these questions and also ponders the origins of sin. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk discuss the movement from sin to holiness. Lastly, St. Augustine shares about St. Monica’s experiences at this point in his life. Today’s readings are Book 3, Chapters 8-12.

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Please note: The Confessions of St. Augustine contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

In his latter teenage years, we find St. Augustine diving into Scripture, Cicero, and the Manichaeans. It is at this point in his life that St. Augustine turns to Manichaeism. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk explain why St. Augustine joined the Manichaeans. They share what problems St. Augustine felt they answered. Today’s readings are Book 3, Chapters 5-7.

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Please note: The Confessions of St. Augustine contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

St. Augustine desires a lot as he begins living in Carthage. Two significant desires are his desire for wisdom and his desire for love. He describes at length the temptations he feels in regards to love. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk comment on the reality of temptation. They note its limits, but also clarify that temptation can be very intense and feel unbearable. Today’s readings are Book 3, Chapters 1-4.

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Please note: The Confessions of St. Augustine contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

In the upcoming chapters, St. Augustine begins his time in the city of Carthage. His time in Carthage from the ages of 16-19 years old is marked by his studies and his search for wisdom. In this search, St. Augustine encounters the writings of Cicero. In this bonus episode, Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk prepare us for what we can expect in the upcoming chapters. They also give us a better understanding of the Manichaeism heresy.

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.

Continuing his analysis of immoral acts, St. Augustine considers the communal dimension of sin. Do we ever sin simply because of the company we keep or the community we live in? Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk challenges us to take stock of who we spend our lives with, reminding us that true friendship should help you flourish, not falter. Today’s readings are Book 2, Chapters 8-10.

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.

There are never good reasons for wrong actions. Today, we read and learn about a part of St. Augustine’s life that proved significant to his moral formation: his theft of the pears. Doing his best to make sense of this sin, St. Augustine reflects on why man ever chooses evil over God’s goodness. Fr. Gregory Pine and Fr. Jacob-Bertrand Janczyk warn us not to allow our sins and failures to act as stumbling blocks in our pursuit of God. Today’s readings are Book 2, Chapters 4-7.

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.