What do you think?
Rate this book
Training the Tongue and Growing Beyond Sins of Speech
Gossip. Lying. Flattery. Crass words. As we grow in Christian maturity, many of us are aware that we fall frequently into sins of speech. We realize instinctually that these faults are holding us back from the fullness of life. But what can we do about them?
Training the Tongue and Growing Beyond Sins of Speech promises to help us attain verbal virtue. As this brief book shows, by cultivating healthy habits, we can effectively crowd out sinful speech and experience the gift of our tongue as God intended. Dynamic preacher and teacher Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P., directs our attention to the primary purpose of speech—communion with God and each other—and considers a whole range of methods to develop our humanity in service of that end.
Fr. Gregory invites us to consider the importance of practices like truth-telling, correction, humor, and prayer within the context of our earthly and heavenly conversations. Enter more whole-heartedly (and freely) into relationships. Harness the power of speech for the good of your soul. And, with Training the Tongue as a delightful guide, reclaim communication as a tool for true communion with God and man alike.
Training the Tongue and Growing Beyond Sins of Speech promises to help us attain verbal virtue. As this brief book shows, by cultivating healthy habits, we can effectively crowd out sinful speech and experience the gift of our tongue as God intended. Dynamic preacher and teacher Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P., directs our attention to the primary purpose of speech—communion with God and each other—and considers a whole range of methods to develop our humanity in service of that end.
Fr. Gregory invites us to consider the importance of practices like truth-telling, correction, humor, and prayer within the context of our earthly and heavenly conversations. Enter more whole-heartedly (and freely) into relationships. Harness the power of speech for the good of your soul. And, with Training the Tongue as a delightful guide, reclaim communication as a tool for true communion with God and man alike.
176 pages, Paperback
Published February 6, 2026
About the author
Fr. Gregory Pine O.P.
7 books29 followersFr. Gregory Pine, O.P. is an Assistant Professor of Dogmatic and Moral Theology at the Dominican House of Studies and the Assistant Director of the Thomistic Institute. He was ordained a priest in 2016 and holds a doctorate from the University of Fribourg (Switzerland). He is the author of several books including "Prudence", "Your Eucharistic Identity", and "Training the Tongue". He is a regular contributor to several podcasts including "Godsplaining" and "Catholic Classics".
Early Life and Education
Born on June 6, 1988, in Newtown, Pennsylvania, he grew up in a devout Catholic family that deeply influenced his eventual vocation. He attended the Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he initially planned to study engineering and physics but switched his focus to graduate with a degree in mathematics and humanities & Catholic culture. It was during his college years that a lecture on St. Thomas Aquinas inspired him to join the Order of Preachers (Dominicans).
Religious Formation and Academia
Entering the Dominican Province of St. Joseph in 2010, he was ordained in 2016, later serving as a parochial vicar and adjunct professor in Louisville, KY. He holds an STL from the Dominican House of Studies and a Doctorate in Dogmatic Theology from the University of Fribourg, specializing in Christology. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor at the Dominican House of Studies and Assistant Director of the Thomistic Institute.
Authorship and Media Ministry
Father Gregory is a notable figure in Catholic digital media, known for applying Thomistic theology to daily life. He hosts the Godsplaining Podcast, contributes to Pints with Aquinas, and co-hosts Catholic Classics with Ascension Press. His published works include Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly (2022), Your Eucharistic Identity (2025), and Training the Tongue (2026)
Early Life and Education
Born on June 6, 1988, in Newtown, Pennsylvania, he grew up in a devout Catholic family that deeply influenced his eventual vocation. He attended the Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he initially planned to study engineering and physics but switched his focus to graduate with a degree in mathematics and humanities & Catholic culture. It was during his college years that a lecture on St. Thomas Aquinas inspired him to join the Order of Preachers (Dominicans).
Religious Formation and Academia
Entering the Dominican Province of St. Joseph in 2010, he was ordained in 2016, later serving as a parochial vicar and adjunct professor in Louisville, KY. He holds an STL from the Dominican House of Studies and a Doctorate in Dogmatic Theology from the University of Fribourg, specializing in Christology. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor at the Dominican House of Studies and Assistant Director of the Thomistic Institute.
Authorship and Media Ministry
Father Gregory is a notable figure in Catholic digital media, known for applying Thomistic theology to daily life. He hosts the Godsplaining Podcast, contributes to Pints with Aquinas, and co-hosts Catholic Classics with Ascension Press. His published works include Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly (2022), Your Eucharistic Identity (2025), and Training the Tongue (2026)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Read
September 23, 2026Gonna think - and think again - before I speak after reading this
Fr. Gregory>>>>>>
Fr. Gregory>>>>>>
March 14, 2026
I’ll be returning to this book again as I aim to implement its wonderful and practical instruction in my life. If you are someone who often comes away from conversations slightly mortified, thinking, “What on earth compelled me to say that?” or even, “Why didn’t I speak up?” in the face of falsehood or vicious talk—then Training the Tongue is for you.
Fr. Pine offers a deeply informed approach to cultivating a holy and healthy verbal culture in our speech, always ordered toward the ultimate goal of communion. The book is teeming with accessible and profoundly encouraging nuggets of wisdom for anyone who knows they often fall short of virtue in speech.
I might be biased because I think at this point I can claim the title of being Fr. Gregory Pine’s biggest fan, but I wholeheartedly recommend this book.
Fr. Pine offers a deeply informed approach to cultivating a holy and healthy verbal culture in our speech, always ordered toward the ultimate goal of communion. The book is teeming with accessible and profoundly encouraging nuggets of wisdom for anyone who knows they often fall short of virtue in speech.
I might be biased because I think at this point I can claim the title of being Fr. Gregory Pine’s biggest fan, but I wholeheartedly recommend this book.
October 10, 2026
Very good balance of philosophical and practical. Taking away awe for this gift and renewed dedication to use the tongue for good :)
March 5, 2026
I have read a lot of religious books, but this is one I will remember forever. It had me highlighting with almost every section, which reminds me of the same way I read “Searching for and Maintaining Peace”. Such simple advice, but truly so powerful to hear. I am excited for a fresh outlook on how to continue to grow in virtue, especially with my words!
March 6, 2026
This book is so clearly Dominican. I love the Dominicans, but I just don't think this style of writing is for me. I kinda felt like I was reading an essay? It was great content, don't get me wrong, but I just kept getting bored. I think I was also expecting something less direct (?) and maybe something more engaging of the heart. I'd still recommend it as a read but meh
March 15, 2026
Great book. It's like if St. Thomas Aquinas wrote a self help book. A deep dive in how and why to speak and listen better
July 30, 2026
“Our tongues don’t need to be as much tamed as they need to be unleashed in the service of God and man.”
Fr. Pine covered many ways in which we can glorify God with our speech, and conversely, many of the sins of speech we should correct. This is a book I will revisit, I’m sure.
My wife and I read most of this aloud on a couple of consecutive long drives, which was a great conversation catalyst.
Fr. Pine covered many ways in which we can glorify God with our speech, and conversely, many of the sins of speech we should correct. This is a book I will revisit, I’m sure.
My wife and I read most of this aloud on a couple of consecutive long drives, which was a great conversation catalyst.
May 31, 2026
This book was almost 5 stars for me, for most of the book, and he didn't ruin it or anything, but I will say that it is not necessarily a book for the ages... what I mean is, his advice is really great for us 21st century folk, and the way he writes it is fantastic. Much like his book about prudence, it's clear, concise, enjoyable in a friendly tone. But was it always good advice? I don't know. I liked that he talked about the positive uses of our speech that are worth training up, vs just sins of the speech. But did that sort of downplay the sins of speech? Arguably, no. But maybe also arguably yes? Let's say though that he didn't really discuss our over-talkativeness the way the saints of the past did. Overall, I think Fr Gregory Pine is pretty great and this book is worth the read.
July 7, 2026
I was looking forward to reading this based on the premise, but I find myself with mixed sentiments. Fr. Pine is relatable, sharing personal stories throughout the book, and definitely sets the reader at ease with his encouraging language and focus on positive uses of the tongue/gift of language. There were many impactful nuggets throughout the book, and I did find myself highlighting with regularity.
However, I found many of the passages to be rudimentary in their focus on how to be a good conversant, much of which is already familiar for anyone who’s studied etiquette or conversational skills before. As another reviewer mentioned, it’s written much like an essay, which both makes the book accessible to a broad audience. That same accessibility means it does not veer measurably into original Greek or Hebrew or focus on highly academic dissection of Biblical perspectives on speech; if that’s what you’re seeking, this is likely not the book for you. Consequently, I felt the book could’ve been much shorter, or used its length to delve much deeper and more richly into the topic by replacing the basic etiquette with in-depth explorations of Biblical texts. Of course, this is subjective—another reviewer wished the book was heavier on encouragement!
An additional note that does not factor into the star rating I’ve given, but some readers may wish to consider: The book is very much written for Catholic Christians, or those familiar with Catholic rhetoric and/or theology. That’s to be expected to some degree, given Fr. Pine’s training and current faith affiliation. Still, I’ve read books by authors of denominations other than my own without finding their perspective limiting in that sense. For those not raised Catholic, the repeated references to venial vs moral sins, confession and penance, as well as allusions to works-supported salvation, may be prohibitive (or confusing). There were several areas, in greater numbers toward the end of the book, that I found completely inapplicable to due to the (again, understandably) Catholic-specific theology around sin. Furthermore, saints and Catholic Church fathers are routinely cited, which is certainly not an issue in itself, but it seemed they were cited at least as much as (if not more frequently than) the Bible itself, which I find problematic in Biblical exegesis.
I think this book is well-suited for new Christians of the Catholic faith, or Catholic believers of a more mature faith who are looking for encouragement and hope in this area. As a Protestant looking for a quick but still academic read analyzing specific Biblical perspectives and passages, this wasn’t what I was looking for. Focusing solely on the exegesis and writing that I’d expect for any faith-based work, I gave the book 3 stars for a few reasons: (1) 4 is typically the highest I give a book unless it’s life-changing for me, which this was not, and I didn’t give it a 4 because it wasn’t as deeply researched or Biblically substantiated as I would’ve expected; (2) I don’t think it’s fair to score the book lower because it wasn’t what I assumed it would be or (3) because I clearly wasn’t the intended audience. That doesn’t mean it’s not exactly what someone else may be seeking, so if you’re reading this review and don’t share the concerns above, I encourage you to give it a try!
However, I found many of the passages to be rudimentary in their focus on how to be a good conversant, much of which is already familiar for anyone who’s studied etiquette or conversational skills before. As another reviewer mentioned, it’s written much like an essay, which both makes the book accessible to a broad audience. That same accessibility means it does not veer measurably into original Greek or Hebrew or focus on highly academic dissection of Biblical perspectives on speech; if that’s what you’re seeking, this is likely not the book for you. Consequently, I felt the book could’ve been much shorter, or used its length to delve much deeper and more richly into the topic by replacing the basic etiquette with in-depth explorations of Biblical texts. Of course, this is subjective—another reviewer wished the book was heavier on encouragement!
An additional note that does not factor into the star rating I’ve given, but some readers may wish to consider: The book is very much written for Catholic Christians, or those familiar with Catholic rhetoric and/or theology. That’s to be expected to some degree, given Fr. Pine’s training and current faith affiliation. Still, I’ve read books by authors of denominations other than my own without finding their perspective limiting in that sense. For those not raised Catholic, the repeated references to venial vs moral sins, confession and penance, as well as allusions to works-supported salvation, may be prohibitive (or confusing). There were several areas, in greater numbers toward the end of the book, that I found completely inapplicable to due to the (again, understandably) Catholic-specific theology around sin. Furthermore, saints and Catholic Church fathers are routinely cited, which is certainly not an issue in itself, but it seemed they were cited at least as much as (if not more frequently than) the Bible itself, which I find problematic in Biblical exegesis.
I think this book is well-suited for new Christians of the Catholic faith, or Catholic believers of a more mature faith who are looking for encouragement and hope in this area. As a Protestant looking for a quick but still academic read analyzing specific Biblical perspectives and passages, this wasn’t what I was looking for. Focusing solely on the exegesis and writing that I’d expect for any faith-based work, I gave the book 3 stars for a few reasons: (1) 4 is typically the highest I give a book unless it’s life-changing for me, which this was not, and I didn’t give it a 4 because it wasn’t as deeply researched or Biblically substantiated as I would’ve expected; (2) I don’t think it’s fair to score the book lower because it wasn’t what I assumed it would be or (3) because I clearly wasn’t the intended audience. That doesn’t mean it’s not exactly what someone else may be seeking, so if you’re reading this review and don’t share the concerns above, I encourage you to give it a try!
July 3, 2026
“Training the Tongue” is a brief, but rich read for those who desire to tame their tongue, but are unsure where to begin. Fr. Gregory Pine focuses on crowding out sins of the tongue by cultivating virtuous speech. The book is broken down into 7 primary “tools” of the tongue we can use to promote communion with others.
Overall, I found this to be a very quick read and perfect for a daily meditation! There are 9 chapters, including the introduction and epilogue, that could pair well with a novena. This would be a great book for a book club as it could easily foster group discussion.
Rich with Dominican spirituality, and characteristically wordy ;), Fr. Gregory Pine’s “Training the Tongue” is both convicting and encouraging for the Christian looking to deepen their faith and friendships. I highly recommend!
Overall, I found this to be a very quick read and perfect for a daily meditation! There are 9 chapters, including the introduction and epilogue, that could pair well with a novena. This would be a great book for a book club as it could easily foster group discussion.
Rich with Dominican spirituality, and characteristically wordy ;), Fr. Gregory Pine’s “Training the Tongue” is both convicting and encouraging for the Christian looking to deepen their faith and friendships. I highly recommend!
October 4, 2026
Wow!!!
I really enjoyed Training the Tongue. It gave me a lot to think about when it comes to the way we speak to others and how much our words really matter. I especially liked that it goes beyond simply telling us what not to say and focuses on growing in virtue and using our speech in a better way.
There is a lot of information packed into this book, so it’s definitely one I think is better read slowly rather than rushed through. I found myself stopping and thinking about different parts and how I could apply them to my own life.
Overall, this was a very informative and worthwhile Catholic read. It challenged me to pay closer attention to my words and reminded me that growing in holiness includes something as ordinary as the way we speak every day. I’m glad I read it!
I really enjoyed Training the Tongue. It gave me a lot to think about when it comes to the way we speak to others and how much our words really matter. I especially liked that it goes beyond simply telling us what not to say and focuses on growing in virtue and using our speech in a better way.
There is a lot of information packed into this book, so it’s definitely one I think is better read slowly rather than rushed through. I found myself stopping and thinking about different parts and how I could apply them to my own life.
Overall, this was a very informative and worthwhile Catholic read. It challenged me to pay closer attention to my words and reminded me that growing in holiness includes something as ordinary as the way we speak every day. I’m glad I read it!
February 8, 2026
For the past few years, I’ve struggled to examine my conscience for sins of speech, because I did not have a clear idea of what actually constitutes gossip or detracting. Fr Gregory not only clarified my understanding of these sins, but also encouraged and inspired me to view speech as beautiful and noble. The book covers conversation, truth-telling, teaching, correction, humor, and prayer, and Fr Gregory gives a complete picture of the virtues required and what’s at stake. This book was released YESTERDAY which should tell you how readable I’ve found it. Highly recommend!
March 20, 2026
This book provide such insightful and practical information on how we can grow in the virtue of speech. Fr. Gregory Pine did an amazing job breaking down abstract concepts that is valuable for all audiences and connecting it back to God and communion with one another. I believe this book is an effective and cool way to evangelize the Catholic faith! I highly recommend reading this, I was looking forward to reading this after reading's Fr. Pine's book about Prudence and he exceeded my expectations!
May 31, 2026
I confess, I find Father Pine a bit abrasive in his YouTube appearances, but the concept of this book intrigued me, so I decided to give it a try. It was excellent. Fr. Pine examines speech from different angles in different situations. His analysis is clear and very well thought out. This is a book that I will revisit in the future.
Did Not Finish
June 8, 20266/8/26: To be honest, I initially started a part of Chapter 6, then moved to Chapter 2-3 and completed, realizing that I never read the introduction or Chapter 1 (Fr. Gregory Pine O.P. told me it's intended to be read from beginning to end). Started around March of 2026. Given that I didn't have a bookmark and the many-folded pages, I don't know where I left off, so I'll restart the book.
August 9, 2026
This book made me laugh so much, it is so relatable. I felt so called out. FG is so patient in answering all of my questions. Also so many delightful quotes, I have never read a book with so many wonderful quotes.
Read
March 28, 2026read to review for a campus publication
March 31, 2026
A skillfully crafted work that offers both guidance and encouragement to those seeking improvement. I found it both instructive and uplifting.
April 2, 2026
Exactly what I needed to wrap up Lent. So happy I chose it & took my time to sit with it. I can’t wait to recommend it to my friends!
May 11, 2026
I disagree with some of the theological presuppositions and conclusions, but there are some really good thoughts here
June 11, 2026
Amazing book and easy to put into practice!!
Thos book is very handy. Easy to put into practice. A great guidance to us. Not so religious as I thought it would be. A lot of difficult words. Read it with a dictionary next to you-lol. Great to build your vocabulary 😊🙃👏👏
Thos book is very handy. Easy to put into practice. A great guidance to us. Not so religious as I thought it would be. A lot of difficult words. Read it with a dictionary next to you-lol. Great to build your vocabulary 😊🙃👏👏
August 7, 2026
An excellent philosophy for focusing on all the things TO say in order to facilitate a kinder, better world.
July 12, 2026
Los primeros capítulos creo que son los más necesarios para leer (el de las mentiras, gossip…). Los últimos, en especial el de “teaching”— redundante para el propósito del libro.
Be aware of this:
- usa vocabulario “sofisticado” parece que a propósito
- Es un poco politico (con lo de covid vaccines, o fake news)
- Es un generalista hater. Pero al mismo tiempo eso ayuda a spoke the facts
- Aveces siento que es un autista queriendo darle explicación a la vida social🤡. Teton puess
- En como iniciar conversaciones y etc— lit es queriendo darle estructura y explicación a la vida social.
- Truth however, truth.
- Muchas cosas son MUY common sense , que puede ser como no tan útil o necesario.
Be aware of this:
- usa vocabulario “sofisticado” parece que a propósito
- Es un poco politico (con lo de covid vaccines, o fake news)
- Es un generalista hater. Pero al mismo tiempo eso ayuda a spoke the facts
- Aveces siento que es un autista queriendo darle explicación a la vida social🤡. Teton puess
- En como iniciar conversaciones y etc— lit es queriendo darle estructura y explicación a la vida social.
- Truth however, truth.
- Muchas cosas son MUY common sense , que puede ser como no tan útil o necesario.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews