Episodes

  • The Confessions – Episode 7
    Apr 30 2025

    Father Fessio, Vivian, and Joseph continue to explore the most profound sections of the Confessions in book 11. Father Fessio draws an insightful connection between evolution and Augustine’s claim that God’s creative act unfolds sequentially to us. Augustine’s claims about God’s omnipresence then launches our three hosts to reflect on the paradox of time.

    SUBSCRIBE to our channel and never miss an episode of the Ignatius Press: Off the Shelf. You can also listen to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms. Stay up-to-date with past, current, and future books we will discuss on our website: https://offtheshelf.ignatius.com/

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    26 mins
  • The Confessions – Episode 6
    Apr 23 2025

    Book 10 of Augustine’s Confessions is a notoriously dense book, and in this episode, Father Fessio, Vivian, and Joseph take the plunge. Join them in the deep waters of this great text as they unpack Augustine’s thoughts on memory, knowledge, and Aristotle’s Categories. Their discussion ends by reflecting on St. Augustine’s famous passage “Late have I loved thee, beauty so ancient and beauty so new.”

    SUBSCRIBE to our channel and never miss an episode of the Ignatius Press: Off the Shelf. You can also listen to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms. Stay up-to-date with past, current, and future books we will discuss on our website: https://offtheshelf.ignatius.com/

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    28 mins
  • The Confessions – Episode 5
    Apr 16 2025

    Moving to book 9, Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro begin by examining Augustine’s views on hymns and singing before discussing St. Monica and her past weakness with alcohol. Then they begin to read the more philosophical texts in book 10 where Augustine writes about the movement of the soul from the things of this world to the divine.

    SUBSCRIBE to our channel and never miss an episode of the Ignatius Press: Off the Shelf. You can also listen to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms. Stay up-to-date with past, current, and future books we will discuss on our website: https://offtheshelf.ignatius.com/

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    32 mins
  • The Confessions – Episode 4
    Apr 9 2025

    In this episode, the dynamic trio cover Augustine’s conversion and the moments leading up to it in book 8 of the Confessions. Father Fessio highlights the importance of friendship and the stories of holy men in St. Augustine’s conversion while Vivian and Joseph discuss the importance of true freedom from sin.

    SUBSCRIBE to our channel and never miss an episode of the Ignatius Press: Off the Shelf. You can also listen to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms. Stay up-to-date with past, current, and future books we will discuss on our website: https://offtheshelf.ignatius.com/

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    27 mins
  • The Confessions – Episode 3
    Apr 2 2025

    Picking up with books 6 and 7 of Augustine’s Confessions, Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro discuss the various sources of St. Augustine’s conversion, including prayer, his friendships, St. Anselm, and his mother. They reflect on Augustine’s struggles, the workings of God’s grace, and the reality of “spiritual substances.”

    SUBSCRIBE to our channel and never miss an episode of the Ignatius Press: Off the Shelf. You can also listen to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms. Stay up-to-date with past, current, and future books we will discuss on our website: https://offtheshelf.ignatius.com/

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    37 mins
  • The Confessions – Episode 2
    Mar 26 2025

    Continuing with books 4 and 5 of Augustine’s Confessions, Father Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro take a deep dive into the profundity of marriage and the Church’s deepening understanding of the sacraments throughout the ages.

    SUBSCRIBE to our channel and never miss an episode of the Ignatius Press: Off the Shelf. You can also listen to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.

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    30 mins
  • The Confessions – Episode 1
    Mar 19 2025

    Want to get more out of reading books?

    Join Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro every Wednesday as they take an important book off the shelf and steadily unpack the most important passages over the coming weeks.

    Not only can you enjoy their delightful and engaging banter, but their discussion will help you get more out of the text as you follow along.

    SUBSCRIBE to our channel and never miss an episode of the Ignatius Press: Off the Shelf. You can also listen to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.

    Follow us on social media:

    Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/IgnatiusPress

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    35 mins