Exton, PA, August 22, 2024
Beginning on October 1, a 28-day podcast hosted by Fr. Michael-Joseph Paris, O.C.D., and Fr. Jacob Bertrand Janczyk, O.P., will guide Catholics through the beloved autobiography of God’s “Little Flower.”
Ascension, the Catholic media company behind the Apple-chart-topping podcast The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)™,has announced a new podcast season for its popular Catholic Classics series. Season 3 of Catholic Classics will launch on October 1, the feast day of one of the best-known Catholic saints: Thérèse of Lisieux.
Following the format from previous years, daily podcast episodes will feature a complete reading of Story of a Soul text along with helpful Catholic commentary. This year, Catholic Classics veteran host Fr. Jacob Bertrand Janczyk is joined by a new co-host, Fr. Michael-Joseph Paris. Fr. Michael-Joseph is a Carmelite friar, a member of the same religious order St. Thérèse belonged to in the late 1800s. Ascension brought on a professional female French narrator to read the Story of a Soul passages, allowing listeners to imagine themselves reading alongside St. Thérèse herself.
In a video announcing the podcast, Fr. Michael-Joseph invites audiences to listen along for a spiritually enriching experience. In Story of a Soul:
“[St. Therese shows us that] holiness is not only possible, but it’s truly attainable through confidence in God’s mercy. [God] will make you who you are supposed to be. St. Thérèse shows us what she calls “The Little Way,” which precisely is this way of confidence and love. Through confidence in God’s grace and through expressing our love for the little things of each day, no matter what our vocation may be, we can truly attain great holiness.”
New Ascension Edition of Story of a Soul Available for Purchase
Story of a Soul, the third book of the Catholic Classics series, is created in collaboration with the Institute of Carmelite Studies and uses the only Carmelite-authorized English translation of this classic work.
The Ascension edition of Story of a Soul includes:
- Leatherlike cover
- Foil stamped lettering
- Ribbon bookmark
- 25 photos from the life of St. Thérèse throughout the book
- Original artwork of St. Thérèse, newly painted by Catholic artist Tianna Williams
- A foreword by Cardinal Anders Arborelius, O.C.D., himself a professed Carmelite
- Expert commentary by Fr. Jacob Bertrand Janczyk, O.P., and Anne-Elisabeth Giuliani, a consecrated member of Notre-Dame de Vie, a secular institute that works to bring the Carmelite charism to the secular world
A Facebook Group for Catholic Classics
In addition to the podcast audience, a particularly dedicated Facebook Group with 6,800 members will closely follow along with the podcast. Facilitated by Ascension, the group members will have a space to discuss and share their insights from Story of a Soul.
New Sacred Art Painting of St. Thérèse of Lisieux
In celebration of St. Thérèse’s legacy, Ascension commissioned Catholic artist Tianna Williams to create a new oil painting of St. Thérèse to add to the company’s growing collection of original Sacred Art. This beautiful devotional image of the Little Flower features rose petals falling from the saint’s hands, a symbol of her intercession for those here on earth.
This image is included in the Ascension Edition of Story of a Soul above. It is additionally available as a 24” x 36” canvas print for communities, as an 8” x 10” photo print for individuals and families, and as a pack of ten 5” x 7” prayer cards.
About Fr. Michael-Joseph Paris, O.C.D.
Fr. Michael-Joseph Paris is a Discalced Carmelite of the Province of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, for which he serves as the Subprior and Director of Postulants in the Community of Holy Hill in Hubertus, Wisconsin. Fr. Michael-Joseph has studied Carmelite spirituality in both Ávila and Madrid, obtaining a License in Spiritual Theology from the Pontifical University of Comillas in 2022. He professed his final vows with the Carmelites in February of 2023. In addition to his work with Ascension, Fr. Michael-Joseph is a member of the Institute of Carmelite Studies (ICS) and a host of the ICS Publications podcast, Carmelcast. Full bio here.
About Fr. Jacob Bertrand Janczyk, O.P.
Fr. Jacob Bertrand Janczyk is a Dominican friar (Order of Friars Preachers) of the Province of St. Joseph, located in the Northeast portion of the United States. An ordained priest, Fr. Jacob Bertrand currently serves as the provincial director of vocations for the Province as well as the assistant chaplain for Dartmouth College. Fr. Jacob Bertrand has been a podcast co-host on all 3 seasons of Catholic Classics and is also well-known for his podcast with fellow Dominican friars, Godsplaining. Full bio here.
About Ascension
Ascension is the leader in Catholic faith formation and digital content. Over the past 25 years, Ascension has helped nurture the faith of over 10 million Catholics through award-winning books, the chart-topping Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)® podcast, more than 50 unique faith formation programs, and the Ascension Presents media and YouTube platforms.
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