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26 Apr 2016
WOF 020: Listener Q&A w/ Bishop Barron
00:28:06
Normally, in each episode we take one listener question. But
today, we've devoted the entire episode to questions from listeners
like you. Bishop Barron answers several questions, rapid fire, on
many different topics.
Atheism is on the rise, especially among young people and notably on the Internet. Bishop Robert Barron and Brandon Vogt discuss the most popular atheist arguments and how to respond. They also talk about Bishop Barron's new study program, "The Mystery of God", and take a question from a new father wondering how to properly describe God to his young child.
We’re all hyper-distracted, pulled in so many directions from our phones, to TV, to social media. We’re plagued by notifications, texts, pings, and alerts. Why do we put up with all these distractions? How can we avoid them? Bishop Barron shares how to fight back and find pleasure in “useless things.”
A listener asks how to prove there’s a transcendent dimension if it’s not mathematically or scientifically provable.
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
31 Dec 2022
BONUS: 5 Enduring Lessons from Pope Benedict XVI
00:37:13
Friends, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the 265th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, has passed away at the age of 95 years old.
In this special “Word on Fire Show” discussion, Brandon Vogt and I reflect on his life, impact, and key ideas and contributions.
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03 Sep 2018
WOF 143: Why People Become “Nones”
00:28:30
Bishop Barron was recently appointed as a representative of the U.S. Bishops for the upcoming Synod in Rome on "Youth, Faith, and Vocational Discernment." In this episode, he shares why he thinks this Synod is more important that other recent gatherings, and some of the main reasons why people become "nones" and leave the Church. He also explains why accompaniment involves apologetics and how the two are mutually implicative. A listener asks when Bishop Barron says "love the other, as other," what does he mean by "as other"?
Topics Discussed
0:04 - Introduction
3:30 - Why is the upcoming synod so important?
5:00 - Why are young people becoming "nones"?
9:45 - What is the number one reason people leave the Church and why?
12:00 - Why do accompaniment and apologetics go hand and hand?
19:30 - What questions does the New Apologetics need to respond to?
24:30 - Listener Question: When you say "love the other, as other," what do you mean by "as other"?
15 Oct 2018
WOF 149: Who was Hans Urs von Balthasar?
00:25:53
Today we share a sample lesson from Bishop Barron's flagship course inside our new Word on Fire Institute. His 12-part course is on Hans Urs von Balthasar, and it explores Balthasar's impact, his major works, and his key ideas. This first lesson covers Balthasar's life and times. Enjoy!
NOTE: To get the other 11 lessons from the course, sign up today for the Word on Fire Institute >> https://wordonfire.institute
29 Mar 2016
WOF 016: Bill Nye and Science vs. Philosophy
00:32:09
Today we discuss a viral video from Bill Nye the Science Guy, a pop-science leader, who wonders whether philosophy can provide any real answers to the questions of life. A listener asks whether Bishop Barron would accept an invitation to appear on HBO's "Real Time" with religious skeptic Bill Maher.
According to YouVersion, the popular Bible app, 2020’s most-read Bible verse was Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Bishop Barron discusses this verse, the Bible's repeated encouragement not to be afraid, and how we can overcome our fears of sickness, loss, and death.
A listener asks, was Jesus subject to things like doubt and ignorance?
NOTE:Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
10 Feb 2020
WOF 218: The Intellectual Life
00:36:06
How did Bishop Barron get drawn into the life of the mind? What are his reading and writing habits like? In this episode, he discusses the intellectual life and gives advice to aspiring intellectuals.
A listener asks which literature books Bishop would recommend for a Catholic high school English class.
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
22 Jan 2018
WOF 111: Sex, Babies, and a Prophetic Pope
00:32:30
This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of Humanae Vitae, the controversial encyclical by Pope Paul VI which defended the classic sexual framework and prophesied the devastating consequences that would result upon its rejection. As Bishop Barron reveals, those prophecies have since been strongly vindicated. A listener asks whether God hates anything since he is defined by love.
Today we’re bringing you the first half of a conversation that Bishop Barron had with Brenden Thompson during a trip to London. Brenden is Programme Manager of the Word On Fire Institute in the United Kingdom where he works to promote the faith in a deeply secularized culture. In this conversation, they explore Bishop Barron’s unique methods for public speaking and preaching, among other related topics. Enjoy!
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a Word on Fire IGNITE member! Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners . . . like you! So become a part of this mission and join IGNITE today to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
“Wokeism” is arguably the most influential public philosophy in our country today. It has worked its way into the minds and hearts of our young people, into the world of entertainment, and into the boardrooms of powerful corporations. But what is it precisely, and where did it come from?
Bishop Barron argues in his presentation that “wokeism” is a popularization of critical theory, a farrago of ideas coming out of the French and German academies in the mid-twentieth century. Until we understand its origins in the thinking of Adorno, Horkheimer, Derrida, Marcuse, and Foucault, we will not know how critically to engage this dangerous philosophy.
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
05 Aug 2019
WOF 191: Googling God
00:34:38
Today, we use Google's autocomplete feature to have Bishop Barron respond to some of the top questions people search for beginning with the phrase "Does God...". Does God love everyone? Does God change his mind? Does God have a name? Listen and find out!
A listener asks what evidence we have for the existence of Jesus.
NOTE:Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
25 Oct 2016
WOF 046: 7 Keys to the New Evangelization (Part 1 of 2)
00:19:57
How do we proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in today's culture? In a talk he gave at the Religious Education Congress, Bishop Barron offers recommendations for effective evangelization, aimed to permeate our densely secularized society with the beauty and joy of Catholicism. In Part One of the Bishop's great talk we hear him discuss three of his "7 Keys to the New Evangelization".
Friends, as you may have heard, Pope Francis recently appointed me the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester (Minnesota). I will be formally installed on July 29.
On today's episode of “The Word on Fire Show,” Brandon Vogt and I discuss how I found out, how the process works, how it will affect Word on Fire, and what I'm looking forward to most in my new diocese.
A listener asks, what is it like to act in persona Christi from a physical and emotional perspective?
23 Sep 2019
WOF 198: How We Come to Believe in God (Part 2 of 2)
00:28:56
This week, we share the second half of a talk from Bishop Barron on John Henry Newman’s book, The Grammar of Assent. We shared the first half last week, so be sure to listen to that first.
The Grammar of Assent concerns question about how we come to believe in God, and is widely considered Newman’s most important text.
Also, it’s a timely topic, since John Henry Newman will be canonized in just a couple weeks, on October 13. Bishop Barron will be attending the canonization, then a few days later will deliver a talk at Oxford University on “John Henry Newman and the New Evangelization.” That talk, which we’re planning to livestream, will focus primarily on The Grammar of Assent.
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
15 Apr 2019
WOF 175: Stations of the Cross with Bishop Barron
00:55:16
As Holy Week begins, listen to Bishop Barron's reflections on the 14 stations of the Cross. Stream it all at once, or throughout the week, as we approach the memorial of Christ's Passion.
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
17 May 2016
WOF 023: The Right Way to Read Genesis
00:26:37
There's a common tendency to read the opening chapters of Genesis as scientific texts. But is this the best way? Or even the right way? Bishop Barron offers guidance on how to properly understand the Biblical creation story. A listener wonders how we should manage the relationship between Church and state.
Topics Discussed
1:05 - The most surprising part about being a bishop
2:29 - How do people often misread Genesis?
5:01 - Why the Genesis narratives cannot be scientific
6:23 - What genre is Genesis 1-2?
7:43 - The main theological insights in Genesis 1-2
9:41 - How Genesis 1-2 points forward to the non-violence of Jesus
11:29 - The objects of creation are not worshiped
14:39 - Why it's important that the world is created, not divine
16:49 - What it means that man was made in God's "image and likeness"
18:25 - The first man as the first philosopher
20:24 - How the Church Fathers read Genesis
21:58 - What Genesis 1-2 is ultimately trying to teach us
23:16 - Question from listener: how do we balance the relationship between Church and state?
Today we celebrate the hundredth episode of “The Word on Fire Show”! It's hard to believe we've reach that mark. But to celebrate, we decided to focus on you, our listeners, and your wonderful questions. Bishop Barron answers several listener questions about a whole range of topics.
SPECIAL: Pick up your FREE copy of Bishop Barron's “Advent Gospel Reflections” booklet and get inspiring reflections throughout this holy season. The book is free, you just cover the shipping. Just click here to order.
Topics Discussed
0:04 - Introduction
2:30 - What are Bishop Barron's thoughts on Stoicism?
5:15 - What if "willing the good" of one person causes problems for another?
8:30 - Why are angels commonly depicted as children in artwork?
10:45 - What are the first steps for someone who is considering becoming Catholic?
13:10 - Was Jesus made in the image of God or is Jesus God?
16:50 - Does Jesus want us to follow all of the laws of the Old Testament?
21:30 - Why did God create the world?
23:30 - Does Bishop Barron plan on starting a Catholic movement?
At the recent USCCB meeting, Bishop Barron gave a presentation to all the American bishops in which he offered five ways to draw young people back to God. Today, we discuss each way.
A listener asks which books Bishop Barron would recommend to counter his biology teacher who tells him to read Bertrand Russell and Christopher Hitchens.
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
21 Aug 2023
WOF 400: Three Paths Beyond Scientism
00:56:40
Today we share with you Bishop Barron’s keynote talk from the 2023 Wonder Conference, hosted by Word on Fire.
His keynote addressed scientism, the view that authentic truth claims can be made only in regard to those matters treatable through the scientific method, and offered three paths of scape: the intelligibility of the world, the immateriality of the mind, and the inescapability of metaphysics.
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
17 Apr 2023
WOF 382: The Beauty of Hope w/ Fr. John Riccardo
00:46:45
Friends, in his talk at the 2022 Good News Conference, Fr. John Riccardo speaks about the unwavering trust and hope that Christians are called to.
When tempted to despair, we are challenged to hope that the Lord is addressing the storms in our lives, the lives of others, and the life of the Church.
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
07 Jun 2017
WOF Bonus Episode: Kids Interview
00:11:46
Word on Fire Show host Brandon Vogt stopped into the Santa Barbara studio with his five children while on a cross-country road trip. The Vogt children were given the chance to ask Bishop Barron about God, Mary, and bananas in this special bonus episode of the Word on Fire Show.
Topics Discussed
0:01 - Introduction, about the road trip and hellos
1:15 - How did Bishop feel when he first became a priest?
2:07 - How can Mary be "Queen" and Jesus be "King" if she's his mother?
3:05 - How is Jesus King?
3:50 - How old is Jesus?
4:46 - How does it feel to be a bishop?
6:05 - How to explain God to young children?
7:35 - What is God's favorite color?
8:00 - Was Bishop Barron an alter server?
8:55 - What's Bishop Barron's favorite way to pray
Friends, we all strive to be spiritually great. We want to be magnanimous, great-souled men and women. But how do we get there? The Church offers a concrete seven-fold path, and that’s what Brandon Vogt and I discuss on today’s “Word on Fire Show” episode.
A listener asks, I’m coming back into the Church after a 15 year absence, and all the words [of Mass] have changed. What happened?
00:00 | Intro 00:55 | Bishop Barron’s California recap 02:18 | How spiritual works of mercy relate to corporal works of mercy 05:08 | Why loving others includes meeting spiritual needs 05:44 | 1) Admonish the sinner 08:24 | 2) Instruct the ignorant 10:17 | 3) Counsel the doubtful 13:32 | 4) Comfort the sorrowful 15:54 | 5) Bear wrongs patiently 19:00 | 6) Forgive all injuries 22:18 | 7) Pray for the living and the dead 26:18 | Listener question 28:32 | New book—Ethics for Beginners by Peter Kreeft
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
01 Mar 2021
WOF 273: Abandonment to Divine Providence
00:38:09
Fr. Jean-Pierre de Caussade's spiritual classic, Abandonment to Divine Providence, taught that everything falls under God's will, from our delights to our challenges, and our happiness will only be fully realized in cooperating with that will. But does this include painful and traumatic experiences? What about COVID? Bishop Barron and Brandon discuss these questions as well as a priest, Fr. Walter Ciszek, who heroically embodied this spiritual principle.
A listener asks, if all of us were like Jesus, wouldn't the world be really boring?
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26 Sep 2022
WOF 353: God, Elon Musk, and Space
00:24:15
Friends, on today’s episode of the “Word on Fire Show,” Brandon Vogt and I discuss some comments recently made by Elon Musk, founder of Tesla and SpaceX, about space and religion.
What does Catholicism have to say about the universe and the possibility of alien life? Should we be curious about the cosmos? And what opportunities might space exploration introduce to Catholic evangelists?
A listener asks, given recent research on anti-aging, is aging a disease?
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
24 Apr 2023
WOF 383: What Christianity Brings to the Public Conversation
00:29:09
Friends, does Christianity still have a place in the public square? What can it contribute to the broader culture?
On today’s episode of “The Word on Fire Show,” Brandon Vogt and I discuss some of the unique ways that Christianity has shaped the modern world.
A listener asks, what is the Catholic response to post-modernity, specifically the claim that everything is predicated on power?
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
29 May 2017
WOF 077: God and the New Media
00:30:19
Statistics show that more people own a smartphone (4 billion) than own a toothbrush (3.5 billion). In this episode of our new series called The Eight Principles of the Word on Fire Ethos, Bishop Barron discusses how readily available Internet access has made the new media an essential route of evangelization. The listener questions asks how virtue can possibly turn to vice.
Topics Discussed
0:17 - Introduction, Bishop's recent trip to Saint Anselm College
2:30 - What is the power of the new media?
5:19 - Why is the new media effective for evangelization?
7:50 - What's the danger in not using the new media to spread the Gospel?
9:30 - What made Fulton Sheen so effective at using the media of his time?
16:10 - Why are people feeling less connected and more lonely despite the technology advances?
19:35 - How might we cope with internet attacks while sharing the Gospel?
25:00 - How do we become more effective at sharing our faith online?
26:55 - Question from listener: How can virtue possibly turn into vice?
WOF 001: Pope Francis and His Four American Heroes
00:35:04
Bishop Barron covered Pope Francis' recent visit to America for NBC. In this episode, he and Brandon Vogt reflect on four American's the Pope mentioned in his speech to Congress: Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., Dorothy Day, and Thomas Merton.
Friends, did you know that the birth rate in America is the lowest it’s ever been? Why have families stopped having so many kids, and what can we do about it?
On today’s episode of “The Word on Fire Show,” Brandon Vogt and I discuss a recent First Things article by Kevin DeYoung titled “The Case for Kids”.
A listener asks, how do you reconcile the fact that we have to honor our parents but also Jesus asking us to leave our parents to follow him?
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
28 Oct 2019
WOF 203: Joe Rogan, Richard Dawkins, and God (Part 1 of 2)
00:45:56
Joe Rogan, host of the one of the world’s most popular podcasts, recently interviewed Richard Dawkins about Dawkins’ new book, Outgrowing God: A Beginner’s Guide. It’s a follow-up book to Dawkins’ bestselling The God Delusion, although this one is aimed at younger readers. The Rogan/Dawkins interview went immediately viral, drawing over a million views within 48 hours.
Today, Bishop Barron and Brandon Vogt talk through the first half of the interview, responding to arguments raised against God and religion. (Check back next week for our discussion of the second half!)
A listener asks whether Bishop Barron has considered making Word on Fire into a religious order.
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
27 Jan 2020
WOF 216: “1917,” War, and Faith
00:34:02
The hit movie 1917 vividly depicts the horrors of World War I, including its great spiritual peril. In this episode, Bishop Barron reflects on the Great War, discussing its impact on twentieth-century theology and philosophy, the Pope, and the Catholic Church’s relationship to the world.
A listener asks why Jesus chose to live a quiet, mostly obscure life.
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
18 Sep 2023
WOF 404: Understanding Flannery O’Connor w/ Ethan and Maya Hawke
01:18:52
Today, we’re thrilled to share with you the newest episode in our “Bishop Barron Presents” series. In this discussion, Bishop Barron talks with well-known Hollywood actors Ethan and Maya Hawke. Ethan has starred in many excellent movies while Maya is probably best known for her roles in the BBC adaptation of Little Women and the hit Netflix series Stranger Things.
But more recently, Ethan and Maya joined forces to produce a new film titled Wildcat, a biopic about the Catholic writer Flannery O’Connor. Ethan wrote and directed the film, while Maya stars as Flannery herself.
Bishop Barron and the Hawkes enjoy a delightful and wide-ranging conversation about the film, Flannery O’Connor’s stories, and so much more.
So sit back and take in this latest conversation in our series “Bishop Barron Presents”. Enjoy!
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
14 Oct 2024
WOF 459: Five Lessons to Learn from the African Church
00:32:04
Parts of the global Church have a very different kind of challenge on their hands than we do in the West: how to handle explosive growth. In many parts of Africa, the Church is running out of room in their seminaries, convents, and monasteries because of rising vocations, and the laity are collectively practicing their faith in ways that put the Church in the West to shame. In Nigeria, upwards of 94 percent of Catholics go to Mass every week, while the U.S. can’t even reach 30 percent in weekly Mass attendance among Catholics.
What explains this wide discrepancy? What are we in the West getting so wrong about evangelization, and what is the Church in Africa getting so right?
A listener asks how she and her family can practice Sabbath rest.
00:00 | Intro 01:50 | DOWR Chancery dedication 03:00 | The African church as a robust exemplar 05:35 | Does Africa’s numerical strength translate to ecclesial strength? 07:12 | Lesson 1: Primacy of the supernatural 10:56 | Lesson 2: Hold fast to theological orthodoxy 12:08 | How the Church engages cultures 16:13 | Lesson 3: Commitment to evangelize the culture 17:49 | The rhythm between “hunkering down” and “diving in” 19:50 | Lesson 4: Praise in public, criticize in private 23:13 | Lesson 5: Courage in the face of opposition 25:19 | Counter-claims for Africa’s religious success 28:49 | Listener question 31:28 | Join the Word on Fire Institute
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20 Apr 2020
WOF 228: The Quest for the Historical Jesus
00:38:06
Jesus has naturally been a key person of interest for Western thought, but over the last few hundred years, there have been some major shifts in what scholars describe as the “quest for the historical Jesus.”
Bishop Barron provides an overview of these developments and the problematic attempt to separate the “Jesus of history” from the “Christ of Faith.”
A listener asks what Bishop Barron would say about Jesus walking on water.
NOTE:Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
01 Jan 2018
WOF 108: Lead with Beauty
00:27:21
How is beauty a route of access to God? In this episode of the Word On Fire Show, Bishop Barron explains how leading with beauty is the best way to evangelize.
Topics Discussed
0:04 - Introduction, Thomas Fire continues to blaze
3:15 - What does it mean to lead with beauty?
5:52 - Why has there been a resurgence of the way of beauty?
8:15 - What are some forms of beauty outside of high art?
10:00 - How have the martyrs become a way of beauty?
13:15 - Why is Brideshead Revisited a great example of the way of beauty?
17:23 - How is the Christian life a way to evangelize through beauty?
19:15 - How can we evangelize through beauty?
23:15 - Listener Question: How can we speak with certainty about our faith if we are struggling with our faith?
24 Oct 2022
WOF 357: Athens, Jerusalem, and Silicon Valley
00:29:00
Friends, Tertullian famously asked in the third century, “What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?” What does philosophy have to do with theology, or reason with faith?
However, on today’s “Word on Fire Show,” Brandon Vogt and I discuss a provocative new article that wonders what Athens and Jerusalem have to do with Silicon Valley. How should we understand the intersection of reason, faith, and technology?
A listener asks, how do you feel about neuroscience, and how does it fit in with your understanding of the soul?
WOF 372: Christianity and the Crisis of the Universities w/ Jessica Hooten Wilson
00:48:21
Friends, when universities turn to the secular narrative of the ego drama, which views education as directed to self-advancement alone, they suffer a loss of identity.
In her talk at the recent Good News Conference, Jessica Hooten Wilson offers a different vision of education that is based on an apprenticeship to tradition and is oriented toward a contemplative life for both educators and students.
Moving toward this vision creates a university system that orders its teachers and students to a good beyond themselves.
Gnosticism was one of the earliest heresies of the Church, and it remains among the most enduring. With an emphasis on special knowledge acquired only by a small group of enlightened elites, as well as a sharp division between spirit and matter, with spiritual things being good and material things being evil, Gnosticism still thrives today everywhere from crack conspiracy theories to Hollywood movies to our culture of self-invention. Bishop Barron discusses Gnosticism and why it ultimately fails to satisfy.
A listener asks Bishop to help her understand the resurrection of the body.
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05 Apr 2021
WOF 278: The Identity of Jesus
00:25:27
Today we share Bishop Barron's talk from the FOCUS SEEK 2021 conference. The talk is titled “The Identity of Jesus” and explores how Christ had the authority to fulfill the Law of the Old Testament and bring about the will of God through the Church.
NOTE:Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
12 Oct 2020
WOF 253: Catholicism and Politics
00:28:15
With the presidential election around the corner, Bishop Barron and Brandon Vogt consider principles that should inform our voting decisions. They also discuss a recent Pew Research Center report titled “8 facts about Catholics and politics in the U.S” and explore the voting guidance provided by the U.S. bishops through their document, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.
A listener asks, what can a person of faith do that an atheist can’t do?
08 Jan 2018
WOF 109: Fire and Mission
00:24:01
Since Bishop Barron is out of town this week, we decided to share his talk from the FOCUS Student Leadership Summit in Chicago. Over 8,000 young Catholic leaders gathered to hear Bishop Barron speak about the Acts of the Apostles and our summons to mission. Enjoy the talk!
06 Sep 2016
WOF 039: St. Catherine of Siena, The Mystic
00:26:35
We are taking the next few episodes of the show to discuss each of the great men and women featured in Word on Fire's epic new film series, CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players. Today we're focusing on St. Catherine of Siena. One of the most beguiling figures in Church history, St. Catherine had a profound connection to the Lord that was displayed by her miraculous mysticism, her impact on the papacy, and her love for the poor. Our listener question asks Bishop Barron how he chose the Pivotal Players and what's next on the horizon for Word On Fire.
*In this episode we include a limited time Word on Fire Show discount on CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players with Coupon Code: SIENA33
Click on www.PivotalPlayers.com to purchase and act now because this offer expires soon!
Topics Discussed
1:15 - Bishop Barron discusses his upcoming trip to Rome
2:44 - Who was Saint Catherine of Siena?
7:33 - How does St. Catherine represent the power of women in the Church?
10:20 - What is found in St. Catherine's "Dialogues with God"?
13:31 -Why does St. Catherine use the metaphor of a bridge for Christ?
15:13 - How is St. Catherine a doctor of grace?
16:23 - How is St. Catherine accessible to people unfamiliar with mysticism?
19:00 - Why is it significant that she is named a "Doctor of the Church"?
21:00 - Why is Saint Catherine a pivotal player?
22:35 - Listener Question: How did Bishop Barron choose the Pivotal Players?
Our journey continues through Dante's poetic imagery of the seven deadly sins. As Bishop Barron describes them in order of their severity, we discover that in order to atone for each sin, those in purgatory are punished with the repetitive practice of a countervailing virtue.
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04 Oct 2021
WOF 304: Understanding Genesis: Creation
00:31:38
Today we begin a five-part series of discussions on the book of Genesis. In this first episode, we focus on the Creation story.
Genesis is of course the first book in the Bible and perhaps the most foundational, but it’s also the source of so much confusion. Bishop Barron clarifies what the author is intending to convey and the theological and spiritual truths we can pull from the narrative.
A listener asks, how do I start mental prayer, especially if I’m always distracted?
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06 Aug 2018
WOF 139: Get Out of the Sacristy
00:29:55
Pope Francis has encouraged priests to "get out of the sacristy into the streets," to find the Church's lost sheep and evangelize them. Bishop Barron agrees with this advice, and in this episode, he offers his take on the best ways to do that. A listener asks why we need to repent if God's love is unconditional.
Topics Discussed
04:00 - Bishop Barron's favorite memories from the Pivotal Players film trip
4:00 - What is Bishop Barron's article about?
8:15 - How does a parish shift gears to evangelization?
14:00 - What has been the common perspective on evangelization?
17:30 - How will the Word on Fire Movement serve this mission?
22:00 - What advice does Bishop Barron have for evangelizers, both lay and clergy?
26:15 - Listener Question: Is the love of God really unconditional?
30 Aug 2021
WOF 299: Bishop Barron Presents: Larry Chapp
01:01:44
Today we share the latest “Bishop Barron Presents” discussion, featuring theologian and educator Dr. Larry Chapp.
Larry and Bishop Barron discuss topics such as:
Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker Movement
Traditionalism and liberalism in the Catholic Church
The Second Vatican Council
And several other topics
Stay tuned for future “Bishop Barron Presents” conversations. These intellectually invigorating discussions feature varying religious and political perspectives to encourage greater understanding and civility.
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27 Nov 2023
WOF 414: What Makes a University Catholic?
00:49:48
Today, we’re excited to share with you a talk that Bishop Barron recently gave at the University of Notre Dame titled “What Makes a University Catholic?”
The talk was cosponsored by the Notre Dame Student Government, the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture, the McGrath Institute for Church Life, and Campus Ministry.
Enjoy!
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03 May 2021
WOF 282: Called Into the Depths (Naval Academy Address, Part 1 of 2)
00:25:59
Today we share the first half of Bishop Barron's 2020 address at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, titled “Called Into the Depths.” He discussed three sailors from the Bible: the patriarch Noah, the prophet Jonah, and our Savior Jesus Christ.
The sea can be thought of as something frightening and terrifying, standing athwart the purposes of God with its unforgiving power and discouraging darkness. However, when we allow ourselves to be swallowed up by the Lord’s will, we will find a peace that is sure and unshakable, even in the midst of the worst storms.
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05 Jun 2017
WOF 078: Joining the Great Saints
00:27:24
The best theological movements present the Church as an organism, not an organization. In this episode of our new series on the eight principles of Word on Fire, Bishop Barron explains how how the Communion of Saints works in and through the Mystical Body of Christ to evangelize the world. The listener questions asks about Catherine of Siena's three levels of prayer.
Topics Discussed
0:17 - Introduction, filming B-roll footage for Pivotal Players Volume II
2:00 - How are the saints powerful?
5:55 - How can the stories of the saints aid in evangelization?
8:30 - What is the impact of the Little Flower?
11:15 - How can Saint Thomas Aquinas become accessible for the current culture?
15:30 - How was Saint John Paul II able to contribute so much to the Church and evangelization?
19:20 - What is the great contribution of Bl. John Henry Newman?
24:00 - Question from listener: How might we aspire to attain the third level of prayer as described by St. Catherine of Siena.
One day in 1961, the famous physicist Richard Feynman stepped in front of a Caltech lecture hall and posed this question to a group of undergraduate students: “If, in some cataclysm, all of scientific knowledge were to be destroyed, and only one sentence was passed on to the next generation of creatures, what statement would contain the most information in the fewest words?”
In today’s episode we apply that same thought experiment to some of the greatest thinkers and saints from our tradition. What one sentence would encapsulate their thought? We look at Moses, Jesus, Paul, Augustine, Aquinas, Merton, and even Bishop Barron’s own “cataclysm sentence”!
A listener asks whether God made a mistake in creating humans.
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19 Dec 2022
WOF 365: What is Synodality?
00:30:18
Friends, many people in the Church, including the Holy Father, have been talking about “synodality.” But what is it? What does it mean? How can it help the Church, and what are possible dangers? That’s what Brandon Vogt and I discuss on today’s episode of “The Word on Fire Show.”
A listener asks, what is appropriate to bring with you into Eucharistic Adoration?
We have arrived at the end of our journey with Dante. At the top of Mount Purgatory, Dante ascends the Paradiso and in the highest heaven, he beholds the divine glory of the beatific vision: God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
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27 May 2024
WOF 439: Is Christianity Useful to the West?
00:30:24
Is Christianity a useful religion to the West? Atheist Richard Dawkins recently claimed that, while still an atheist, he considers himself a “cultural Christian” because of Christianity’s utility in supporting Western cultural and political values, which he laments are under attack. Former atheist Ayaan Hirsi Ali also recently shared that she became a Christian upon realizing that Christianity is necessary to preserve Western political norms.
There are some complex and even troubling underlying questions about making the connection between Christianity and utility, especially as it relates to contemporary “Western values.” How is the utility defined and in response to what specific societal goals? Is Christianity’s utility limited to the West alone? Aren’t there some “Western values” that are antithetical to Christianity?
A listener asks how to respond to the common criticism from atheists that Christians only believe in God because they are scared of death.
00:00 | Intro 01:32 | Bishop Barron’s recent farm visit 03:00 | Recapping Richard Dawkins and the New Atheism 07:14 | Unpacking Richard Dawkins as a “cultural Christian” 12:38 | Can Christianity be culturally useful without a fixed cultural aim? 14:13 | Making moral judgments without a fixed standard 16:43 | The fundamentality of Christian thought in the West 19:51| Remembering the doctrinal dimension of Christianity 21:51 | Other influences in Western thought 25:16 | Is linking Christianity and Western thought evangelically helpful? 27:23 | Listener question 29:44 | Join the Word on Fire Institute
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We previously explored why forgiveness has faded in our culture. Today, we focus on the path forward, how we can practice and encourage more forgiveness.
A listener asks, what is, for Bishop Barron, the most annoying passage in the Bible?
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13 Dec 2021
WOF 314: Non-Catholic Q&A w/ Bishop Barron
00:33:35
Bishop Barron takes several questions from non-Catholics, including:
How does the Catholic Church think about sola Scriptura and Bible interpretation?
Since we can’t know beyond a reasonable doubt that Christianity is true, why should I become a Christian?
Any tips for a Protestant transitioning to Catholicism?
Why are some sins considered mortal?
Is there a realistic possibility of reuniting the Christian churches, and if not, what are the major stumbling blocks?
What is the role of saints? Why aren't they considered to be idols?
What is the Catholic view of the apocrypha (deuterocanonical books)?
What about apparent contradictions in the Bible? Does this undermine the Bible’s inerrancy?
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24 Mar 2020
SPECIAL: Hope During the Coronavirus w/ Bishop Barron
00:31:21
Friends, the coronavirus outbreak has left countless people all over the world asking themselves: Why is God allowing this to happen? How do we respond? And where can we find hope? In this bonus episode of “The Word on Fire Show,” we discuss these and other questions, exploring the ancient problem of evil, the impact of the virus on Catholic sacramental life, and other spiritual dimensions and effects of this crisis. Please listen and share!
09 Dec 2024
WOF 467: The Fall—and Rise?—of Men
00:31:29
Despite the enduring, progressive narrative that society favors and privileges men, the sociological data reveals men have and continue to experience devastating declines in education, earning power, economic mobility, relationship stability, and physical and mental health. Often vilified by secular culture as “toxic” merely for existing, men are often far sicker, poorer, more addicted, more depressed, more incarcerated, and more likely to commit suicide than women.
However, more men than women now regularly go to church; numerous religious movements have been founded with the aim of helping men to overcome their spiritual, mental, and even physical weaknesses; and a new class of Christian men have been emerging on the political and cultural scene unapologetically calling for a return to traditional biblical values. How should we interpret this apparent masculinization of the faith and its effect on revitalizing the role of men in society? What insights does the Church offer, and what can we all learn from this to better evangelize both men and women?
A listener asks why—procreation aside—God created a woman for Adam as opposed to another man.
00:00 | Intro 01:49 | Bishop Barron back from Rome 02:25 | Assessing grim statistics about men 04:27 | Contributing cultural movements to masculine discouragement 11:04 | Channeling masculine aggression 14:47 | A complementary view of male and female 17:52 | The return of men to the Church 22:35 | Resources for recovering masculinity from its shadow side 25:21 | Holy male exemplars 27:15 | What the Church offers for masculine vision 28:49 | Listener question 30:53 | Join the Word on Fire Institute
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15 Apr 2024
WOF 433: Healing Antisocial America
00:30:13
A recent article in The Atlantic magazine highlights the crisis of isolation befalling the United States. Americans have never been—or felt—more solitary, especially the younger generations. And the consequences are often fatal: loneliness is a major cause of the recent spikes in depression, anxiety, and suicide, which are at unprecedented levels. Today, we discuss the loss of our social bonds and how Catholic thought can help heal and re-unite us.
A listener asks, given free will, does God know what choices we will make?
00:00 | Intro 01:23 | Bishop Barron’s recent USCCB and diocesan work 02:22 | Why should a person’s chosen isolation matter to anyone else? 04:34 | Individuality vs. the Catholic conception of the individual 09:11 | Distinguishing between solitude and isolation 12:43 | Why in-person communities matter 14:00 | The role of unchosen communities in an individual’s development 16:09 | How to view the company of others 17:34 | Can one adequately substitute animal companionship for community? 22:06 | New media, smart devices, and screen time 26:45 | Advice to encourage more in-person gatherings 27:53 | Listener question 29:32 | Join the Word on Fire Institute
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06 Jul 2020
WOF 239: International Q&A w/ Bishop Barron (July 2020)
00:36:37
In today’s episode, Bishop Barron fields questions from people all over the world, including:
How do we reconcile love as willing the good of the other with more exclusive love, such as the love between a husband and wife?
Some Protestant theologians say that John 6 is not talking about transubstantiation because this dialogue took place before the institution of the Eucharist. What do you think?
What does the Catholic Church say about predestination and free will?
Why does God need to be worshipped and glorified, and need sacrifices? On human terms, this sounds like his love is conditional and he is insecure.
Can dogma be changed or overthrown?
Was Jesus a socialist?
What are the essential qualities/qualifications needed for evangelism? Degrees or degree program recommendations?
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
02 Dec 2024
WOF 466: Bishop Barron on the Theology of Balthasar (3 of 12)
00:19:40
Today we bring you the third lesson of Bishop Barron's lecture series on one of the most important and influential Catholic theologians of the twentieth century, Han Urs von Balthasar. We will come to understand his life, his theology, and his ongoing impact on the Church and our work to evangelize the culture. Enjoy!
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24 Dec 2018
WOF 159: Understanding the Incarnation
00:29:12
On Christmas Eve, the night before the great Solemnity of the Nativity of Jesus, Bishop Barron talks about the Incarnation. What do we mean by this? What do people often get wrong about the Incarnation? And how is the Incarnation extended throughout space and time? A listener asks about Buddha's famous maxim, "Life is suffering."
NOTE: Click here to support Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire ministry as we move into 2019 >> wordonfireshow.com/religion
16 Feb 2016
WOF 010: The Power of Confirmation
00:31:26
Bishop Barron recently celebrated his first Confirmations as bishop, confirming several people at Holy Cross Parish in Moore Park, CA. He shares about that, and also discusses the purpose of Confirmation and the gifts of the Holy it provokes. For this week's listener question, Richard wonders why Jesus had to die on the cross instead of God just snapping his fingers and forgiving everyone.
WOF 280: Catholics, Media Mobs, and the Culture of Contempt
00:42:59
Today we share Bishop Barron's talk at the 2021 Los Angeles Religious Education Congress titled “Catholics, Media Mobs, and the Culture of Contempt.” The talk focuses on how to address the swell of negative and nasty behavior we're seeing online, not just in general but especially among Catholics.
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11 Mar 2019
WOF 170: Can Doctrine Really Develop? (Part 1 of 2)
00:32:53
John Henry Newman's classic book, An Essay on the Development of Doctrine, shows how doctrine isn't stagnant but in fact develops over time, much like an acorn grows into a sprouting oak tree. In today's episode, we share the first half of a talk Bishop Barron gave on the book and its influence. (Pick up your Word on Fire Classics edition of Newman's Development of Doctrine, which includes an Introduction by Bishop Barron!)
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14 Feb 2022
WOF 323: Reading Scripture with the Early Church Fathers
00:21:16
Friends, today we share a sample lesson from Bishop Barron's new Word on Fire Institute course titled “Reading Scripture with the Early Church Fathers.” In this course, Bishop Barron introduces the spiritual dynamics of Biblical exegesis in Origen and St. Augustine of Hippo. The Church Fathers did not separate Scripture and spirituality but saw the form of the spiritual life within the Scripture. As the key of the Scriptures, Christ is the key to the spiritual life. This course delves into the riches of how the Church reads Scripture, greatly inspired by the writings of Origen and St. Augustine.
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
09 Apr 2018
WOF 122: God at the Googleplex
00:33:57
In this episode, Bishop Barron recounts his visit to the headquarters of both Google and YouTube. He was there to deliver a talk to Catholic Googlers on "Religion and the Opening of the Mind." He reflects on the hungering intellect and why wealth, power, pleasure, and honor all fail to satisfy its restless longings. A listener asks why Jesus didn't appear to more people after his Resurrection.
0:04 - Introduction, Holy Week in Bishop Barron's Santa Barbara pastoral region
2:20 - What was Bishop Barron's impression of the Google and YouTube offices?
7:00 - Why did Bishop Barron choose the topic "Religion and the Opening Up of the Mind"?
10:10 - How does Thomas Aquinas's epistemology explain the "agent intellect"?
13:40 - Why does Bishop Barron bring up Elijah and the priest of Baal while at Google?
17:00 - Why can't wealth, power, pleasure or honor be the greatest good?
25:00 - What can satisfy the questing mind?
32:30 - Question: After his Resurrection, why did Jesus show himself only to a few people and not to the Pharisees, Pontius Pilate, or to a large crowd?
07 Aug 2023
WOF 398: The Most Important Decision in Life
00:21:28
Today we share Bishop Barron’s 2023 Commencement Address at Hillsdale College, delivered on May 13, 2023.
In his address, Bishop Barron examined not the question of what we are to do in life—important as that is—but rather what kind of person we ought to be? Do we hunger and thirst for righteousness or do we seek our own advantage? In a way, he says, there is no question in the moral and spiritual order more fundamental than that.
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31 May 2021
WOF 286: Sanctifying the World
00:15:10
Bishop Barron recently visited the University of St. Thomas in Houston, where he had the great privilege of preaching at their baccalaureate Mass. In his homily, shared today on the podcast, he said we must remember that the primary purpose of a Catholic university is evangelization, the proclamation of the lordship of Jesus Christ. Therefore, education must equip and form graduates to sanctify the world, so that the light of Christ can be brought into workplaces, classrooms, and trades.
22 Jul 2024
WOF 447: The Crossroads of Religion & Politics—Part 2
00:32:12
We bring to you the second part of Bishop Barron’s discussion with Dr. Tod Worner on the way a Catholic, and indeed all Christians, should approach the crossroads of Religion and politics.
Enjoy!
00:00 | Intro 00:26 | The relationship between morality, religion, and democracy 04:03 | The public nature of Christianity 06:04 | Is vitriol built into democratic politics? 09:34 | Argument over quarrel 14:32 | What is "the herd" doing today and how should Catholics respond? 15:57 | Life without transcendence 19:00 | The role of mediating institutions 22:07 | Catholic social teaching on wealth and power 23:50 | Remembering humanity's fallenness 26:06 | Principles for voting faithfully 27:28 | Is democracy worth retaining? 31:37 | Join the Word on Fire Institute
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20 May 2024
WOF 438: Damned Alone—But Saved Together
00:24:22
Continuing the journey in the fourth lecture of Bishop Barron’s course, “Dante’s Catholic Imagination,” we see notion that “we’re damned alone, but we’re only saved together” on full display as Dante climbs Mount Purgatory. While hell was a place of violence and self absorption, purgatory is a place of charity, hope, and faith.
This timeless and ever-relevant course is available in its entirety in the Word on Fire Institute.
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a Word on Fire IGNITE member! Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners . . . like you! So become a part of this mission and join IGNITE today to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
04 Apr 2017
WOF 069: Following the Right Jesus
00:32:27
Thomas Joseph White's book The Incarnate Lord discusses the importance of Jesus' identity. The classical tradition of Christology understood Jesus ontologically, that is to say, in terms of his fundamental being or existential identity; whereas modern and contemporary Christology tends to understand Jesus psychologically or relationally. The transition from an ontological Christology to a consciousness Christology has conduced toward all manner of relativism, subjectivism, indifferentism, and the attenuation of evangelical zeal. In this episode, Bishop Robert Barron unpacks these theological concepts and explains their consequences in familiar terms. The listener question asks about the Jesus Seminar of the Westar Institute.
Topics Discussed
0:17 - Introduction, Chesterton, and Bishop's recent trip.
3:00 - What is Christology and why does it matter?
4:55 - Why does high-level theology matter?
7:28 - What is the major difference with modern Christology?
10:58 - Who is Jesus?
13:20 - What are the ramifications of reading Jesus with a psychological priority rather than an ontological priority?
15:00 - How is the emphasis on Jesus' ontology make Christianity unique compared to other religions?
18:20 - What was the theological priority of the early Church?
19:45 - What are some of the insights we learn about Jesus from Saint Thomas Aquinas?
25:15 - What books does Bishop Barron recommend for studying Christology?
27:00 - Question from listener: What does Bishop Barron think about the Jesus Seminar of the Westar Institute?
Friends, many people are familiar with the Thomistic tradition, following St. Thomas Aquinas, but what about the Franciscan intellectual tradition, following St. Francis? Who are some of the great Franciscan theologians, and what can they teach us today? That’s what Brandon Vogt and I discuss on today’s episode of “The Word on Fire Show.”
A listener asks, does God the Father love us as much as he loves Jesus and the Holy Spirit?
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
15 Jan 2018
WOF 110: Word on Fire in 2018
00:31:43
What does Bishop Barron have in store for 2018? Find out in this episode where he talks through several exciting new projects, talks, and initiatives. A listen asks how to choose good books, ones that help your faith rather than harm it.
We are taking the next few episodes of the show to discuss each of the great men and women featured in Word on Fire's epic new film series, CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players. Today we're focusing on the joyful English journalist and evangelist, G.K. Chesterton. A larger-than-life figure, Chesterton charmed his way into the heart of the modern culture and illuminated the dull philosophy of the age with his clever, Catholic brilliance. Our listener question asks Bishop Barron about praying for intercession from those souls who've not yet been named saints.
*In this episode we include a limited time Word on Fire Show discount on CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players with Coupon Code: FrBrown
Visit PivotalPlayers.com to purchase and act now because this offer expires soon!
Topics Discussed
1:30 - Bishop Barron discusses the Pivotal Players World Premier Party
2:40 - Who was G.K. Chesterton?
5:03 - What is G.K. Chesterton's impact on modern evangelism?
6:10 - What inspiration can married laypeople find in Chesterton?
7:37 - How was G.K. Chesterton an artistic evangelist?
9:21 - Why is Chesterton called a "happy warrior"?
10:48 -How did Chesterton separate ideas from people?
11:33 - Why did Chesterton love the paradoxical?
14:17 - How did Chesterton highlight the vibrant paradoxes of Catholicism?
16:45 - What is Chesterton's Orthodoxy?
21:56 - What is Chesterton's Everlasting Man?
23:48 - How did Chesterton take on religious relativism?
27:35 - Listener Question: How do we know when it is appropriate to pray for intersession from the holy departed?
How many Christmas cards and nativity scenes have you seen presenting the baby Jesus as soft and saccharine? Well, that’s not how the Bible describes him. There, Jesus is presented as a warrior king, who came with a heavenly army to battle against the dark powers of the world.
In this episode, excerpted from Bishop Barron’s CATHOLICISM film series, discover the real meaning of Christmas, and the extraordinary infant king at its center.
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
17 Aug 2020
WOF 245: Catholic Morality 101
00:33:56
Our culture holds many different concepts of morality. In this episode, Bishop Barron and Brandon Vogt discuss three major theories–consequentialism, deontology/legalism, and virtue ethics–and how compatible each is with Catholicism.
A listener asks about the Word on Fire strategy for discipleship after we evangelize someone.
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
In this episode, Bishop Barron and Brandon Vogt walk through his findings and discuss what actually helps our kids to retain their faith into young adulthood.
A listener asks, how do we know which religion is right, Catholicism or Protestantism?
NOTE:Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
03 Jan 2017
WOF 056: Evangelizing Through Social Media
00:27:50
The Internet has produced the most profound shift in communications since the printing press, and many in the Church are using it to spread the Gospel. But how best to do it? How do we share our faith online without succumbing to the toxicity and vitriol that saturate much of the digital world? Bishop Barron discusses these questions today and shares his own advice for becoming an online missionary. A listener asks how he should respond when sharing his faith on Facebook provokes criticism.
Topics Discussed
0:18 - Three digital milestones at Word on Fire
2:25 - How Bishop Barron got started with new media evangelization
5:35 - Most surprising part about YouTube
6:44 - Engaging YouTube commenters
7:37 - How the Internet is like a "new Areopagus"
9:15 - Why Bishop Barron's online style is effective
11:03 - How Bishop Barron handles online vitriol
15:32 - Social media's unique dynamic
16:55 - Do we need a theology of new media?
21:08 - Bishop Barron's advice for new media evangelists
23:19 - What role should new media play in priestly formation?
24:38 - Question from listener: How should we discuss our beliefs on social media?
Today we share Bishop Barron’s presentation entitled “Breaking Through the Buffered Self,” which he offered for the prestigious 2022 Albert Cardinal Meyer Lecture series hosted at Mundelein Seminary back in March 2022.
In the talk, Bishop Barron looks at the intellectual matrix that has made the army of the disaffiliated possible, namely, what Charles Taylor calls the culture of the “buffered self,” the ego cut off from any living contact with the transcendent. Then, using the three great transcendentals—the good, the true, and the beautiful—as his framework, he proposes ways to break through the buffered self and to open the restless heart to a consideration of God and the things of God.
(This is Part I of his lecture series. We will share Part II on a future episode.)
17 Feb 2025
WOF 477: 5 Ways Faith Can Free You from Anxiety & Depression
00:37:56
Depression and anxiety have exploded in the past decade in the United States, especially, though not exclusively, among young people. Tragically, anxiety and depression frequently contribute to suicide and suicide attempts, with young men in particular taking much of the brunt of this epidemic of self-harm. Many suffer in silence, with neither family members nor friends aware of their mental, spiritual, and sometimes even physical anguish. What can we do to reintroduce hope, purpose, peace, and perhaps even joy into the lives of those who are feeling lost? What can both Catholic belief and practice offer in particular?
A listener asks: How can I help my kids return to church?
00:00 | Introduction 01:51 | Bishop Barron visits Catholic schools 02:56 | Addressing the US depression epidemic 07:57 | The insufficiency of non-spiritual tools for depression 14:02 | Secularism’s role in depression 17:32 | 1) Faith frees us from the illusion of control 19:09 | 2) Faith offers us metaphysical hope 20:38 | A Christian response to hopeless feelings 21:46 | 3) Faith moves us to focus on the here and now, not on future worries 25:25 | 4) Faith helps us live for the good of the other 28:07 | 5) Faith liberates us from fear of death and the insignificance of labors 30:18 | Distinguishing dark nights of the soul from depression 32:37 | Practical advice for those in the dark 34:33 | Listener question 37:20 | Join the Word on Fire Institute
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18 Nov 2024
WOF 464: Bishop Barron on the Theology of Balthasar (2 of 12)
00:21:54
Today we bring you the second lesson of Bishop Barron’s lecture series on one of the most important and influential Catholic theologians of the twentieth century, Han Urs von Balthasar. We will come to understand his life, his theology, and his ongoing impact on the Church and our work to evangelize the culture. Enjoy!
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a Word on Fire IGNITE member! Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners . . . like you! So become a part of this mission and join IGNITE today to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
20 May 2019
WOF 180: Priests, Confessions, and Prison
00:27:16
A recent bill proposed in the California Senate will force priests to report any crimes of sexual abuse they hear about in the confessional, breaking the seal of Confession. Bishop Barron speaks about the sacredness of this sacrament and what the Church should do if, suddenly, the sacrament of Confession becomes functionally illegal.
NOTE:Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
30 Apr 2018
WOF 125: Catholicism and Beauty (Part 1 of 2)
00:28:39
Part One of Bishop Barron's talk on Catholicism and beauty.
15 Mar 2021
WOF 275: Understanding Violence in the Old Testament
00:48:44
Parts of the Old Testament depict God commanding the Israelites to massacre entire populations—every man, woman, child, and animal. How should Christians make sense of these passages? They seem to present God as angry, vindictive, and genocidal, contradicting the New Testament presentation of God as loving and merciful. That’s what Bishop Barron and Brandon Vogt discuss in today’s episode.
A listener asks, what are your thoughts on Carl Jung? What do you agree with and disagree with?
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
10 Mar 2025
WOF 480: Are We Required to Love Everyone Equally?
00:30:29
Are Christians required to love everyone equally? This question has recently become a matter of public and even political debate. So how should we answer? It seems necessary to ask what “loving thy neighbor” means in practice; for example is the love between friends, the love between spouses, the love within a family, the love among compatriots, and even the love of an enemy all the same kind of love? Do these relationships all entail the same kinds of moral responsibilities? Might it be reasonable to say, for example, that we have a greater obligation to care for our own children over others’ children, our own friends over strangers, and our own country over other countries? If so, however, how can Christians coherently claim that we love all people equally?
A listener asks how to forgive and let go of bitterness. I help my kids return to church?
00:00 | Introduction 01:43 | Bishop Barron’s recent trip to London 02:08 | Understanding love in the great commandments 03:50 | Love for specific relationships 06:13 | Properly framing love of self 06:58 | Love your enemies 08:03 | Critiquing love as granting another’s desires 09:07 | The distinct love for God 11:17 | Who is my neighbor? 12:55 | Ordo amoris: the order of love 17:52 | Equal regard vs. equal treatment 20:36 | Is it ever okay to circumvent ordo amoris? 22:20 | Does the Good Samaritan counter ordo amoris? 23:40 | Does Luke 9:60 counter ordo amoris? 26:52 | The evangelical impact of understanding love 27:43 | Listener question 29:54 | Join the Word on Fire Institute
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a Word on Fire IGNITE member! Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners . . . like you! So become a part of this mission and join IGNITE today to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
04 Nov 2024
WOF 462: Bishop Barron on the Theology of Balthasar (1 of 12)
00:23:46
Today we bring you the first lesson of Bishop Barron's lecture series on one of the most important, intriguing, strange, and influential Catholic theologians of the twentieth century, Han Urs von Balthasar. We will come to understand his life, his theology, and his ongoing impact on the Church and our work to evangelize the culture. Enjoy!
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a Word on Fire IGNITE member! Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners . . . like you! So become a part of this mission and join IGNITE today to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
18 Oct 2016
WOF 045: Why Young People are Leaving the Church
00:35:15
After perusing the latest Pew Study on why young people are leaving the active practice of Christianity, Bishop Barron noticed that (once again) the reasons they offer for abandoning Christianity are entirely not compelling. That is to say, any theologian, apologist, or evangelist worth his salt should be able easily to answer these objections to faith and hopefully encourage the youngster to reconsider the Truth of the Church. With this in mind for today's episode, Bishop offers smart, passionate responses to the common misconceptions and objections that continue to lure young people away from God. The listener question asks which books are best for evangelizing atheists from both a rational and emotional standpoint.
Topics Discussed
0:17 - Introduction, Bishop's trip to Lake Placid and current reading list
3:25 - Bishop's reaction to young people leaving the church?
5:15 - Should we avoid pressuring them and let young people return on their own?
7:48 - Some common objections: Is religion the opiate of the people?
11:10 - Has science disproven religion?
15:15 - If religion causes so much violence, how can it possibly be right?
17:50 - Does the sex abuse scandal invalidate the Church?
20:53 - Is it better to be open-minded to all world religions?
26:48 - What if church is too boring and you don't have time?
30:40 - How would Bishop Barron encourage young people to return to the Church?
32:09 - Question from listener: What are some good books to battle atheism both from a rational and emotional standpoint?
WOF 292: Bishop Barron Presents: Jessica Hooten Wilson
01:09:53
Today we share the latest “Bishop Barron Presents” discussion, featuring literary and theological scholar Jessica Hooten Wilson. Jessica recently sat down with Bishop Barron and Jared Zimmerer to discuss caring for the soul through human formation, focusing on topics such as:
- The humanities within education - Flannery O’Connor - Dostoevsky - Walker Percy
Stay tuned for future “Bishop Barron Presents” conversations. These intellectually invigorating discussions feature varying religious and political perspectives to encourage greater understanding and civility.
NOTE:Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
07 Feb 2022
WOF 322: Strange Rites
00:31:25
Friends, today we discuss an interesting new book titled Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World by Tara Isabella Burton. Burton argues that while younger generations are supposedly the most secular according to surveys, they’re actually notably religious—it’s just that they have adopted strange new religions. She claims today's Americans are embracing a kaleidoscopic panoply of spiritual traditions, rituals, and subcultures, from astrology and witchcraft to SoulCycle and the alt-right. In search of the deep and the real, they are finding meaning, purpose, ritual, and communities in ever-newer, ever-stranger ways.
A listener asks, if religious faith is based on our response to the revealing God, how do we reconcile this with the plurality of religions?
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
Friends, today we conclude our “Word on Fire Show” series on how to understand Genesis by focusing on Joseph, the great figure who went from slave to ruler of Egypt.
How should we understand his sinking into slavery and prison? Or his gift for interpreting dreams? As Christians, what’s the big takeaway from the Joseph story?
A listener asks, how do you begin learning philosophy casually without getting bogged down?
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
24 Jul 2023
WOF 396: Why Parishes Fail to Engage 93% of Parishioners w/ Matthew Warner
00:50:22
We know Church leaders need to be trained well in theology, morality, scripture, liturgy, and pastoral ministry. But if we want them to be able to wield those skills as effective leaders, they must also be great communicators.
After all, sharing the Good News is, at its heart, the task of communicating. Communication is a linchpin skill that unlocks the full potential of all other skills, and church leaders often get very little training in it.
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
As Bishop Barron explains, freedom for excellence is not self-determination. It is the disciplining of desire so as to make the achievement of the good first possible and then effortless.Enjoy!
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
25 Sep 2023
WOF 405: Why We Love Distractions
00:22:48
Friends, why do we love being distracted from the important things of life? The great French philosopher Blaise Pascal observed, “The sole cause of man’s unhappiness is that he does not know how to stay quietly in his room.”
On today’s episode of “The Word on Fire Show,” Brandon Vogt and I discuss why it is so hard to be still and contemplate reality, and how we can get better at it.
A listener asks, what are some things laity can do to build unity in the Church?
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
28 May 2018
WOF 129: Bishop Barron Speaks at Google (Part 1 of 2)
00:29:25
Bishop Barron was recently invited to speak at the Google headquarters (aka the Googleplex). in Mountain View, CA. He addressed a room full of Google and YouTube employees on how religion doesn't shut down the questing intellect, but in fact opens up our minds, causing us to seek the fulfillment of our deepest longings.
NOTE: This episode includes the first half of Bishop Barron's talk. We'll play the second half next week, including the post-talk Q&A with Google/YouTube employees.
18 Apr 2022
WOF 332: How to Start Praying the Liturgy of the Hours
00:29:37
Friends, the Liturgy of the Hours is the highest form of prayer after the Mass. It is an ancient, structured way of praying Scripture throughout the day, focusing especially on the Psalms. In today’s episode of the “Word on Fire Show,” Brandon Vogt and I discuss why this prayer is so powerful and how to get started with it.
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!
28 Jan 2019
WOF 164: The Return of Paganism
00:34:11
Ross Douthat recently published an op-ed in the New York Times titled "The Return of Paganism." He argues that maybe there actually is a genuinely post-Christian future for America, one that mixes pantheism with civic religion.Bishop Barron and Brandon Vogt discuss the article. A listener asks why God needed a second coming of Christ and couldn't have accomplished everything during his first coming.
07 Mar 2017
WOF 065: Viral Videos and Labels
00:29:47
Is it ever necessary to label ourselves? Is it ever ok to label anyone else? Not according to internet celebrity and spoken-word poet, Prince Ea, whose viral video entitled "I Am Not Black, You Are Not White" claims that labels are the root of all social ills and that our identity is entirely separate from our physical reality. The video has reached over 100 million views on Facebook and over 11 million views on Youtube with an overwhelming approval rating (300 to 1 like to dislike ratio). The most liked comment on Youtube reads, "They showed this to us in school." In this episode of The Word on Fire Show, Bishop Barron critiques each segment of the argument posed by the young poet and explains the philosophical history behind this radical, yet widely accepted argument. The listener question asks for a book suggestion that encourages teens to return to the Church.
At Mundelein Seminary you'll find a statue of St. George slaying a dragon below which reads, "Athleta Christi Nobilis" —The Noble Athlete of Christ. As we head into the spiritual desert of Lent, we benefit by examining the lives of those saints who courageously embraced a life of profound asceticism and self-sacrifice. In this episode of the Word On Fire Show, Bishop Barron discusses three great spiritual athletes from across the centuries. The listener question asks how to remain charitable when you disagree with your interlocutor.
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