Word on Fire

Poverty is not only a complex problem to address economically–not to mention sociologically, psychologically, and culturally; it is also often caught up in political and ideological currents, both domestically and internationally, that run counter to a Catholic understanding of human dignity and the common good. So what, then, is the authentically Catholic way of caring for the poor? What does it mean to say that Catholicism has a preferential option for the poor? How, moreover, can the Church coherently both advocate for reducing poverty on the one hand while praising the embrace of voluntary poverty on the other?

A listener asks advice on how God being in a non-competitive relationship with human beings applies to his mission as an evangelist.

Topics Covered:

00:00 | Introduction
01:53 | Bishop Barron at the annual meeting of US bishops
03:39 | The three essential tasks of the Church
07:48 | The necessity of charity in true worship
09:04 | Understanding and identifying poverty
10:58 | The margins, the marginalized, and Catholic social teaching
16:08 | Understanding institutional sin
18:40 | The salvific dimension of poverty
21:17 | The voluntary poverty of the Church
22:57 | What about spending money on cathedrals?
26:03 | Beauty as service to the poor
27:11 | Defining "preferential option for the poor"
31:16 | The Church, policy, and the poor
35:18 | Right to private property or universal distribution of goods?
37:42 | The evangelical dimension of caring for the poor|
40:06 | Listener question: If God exists noncompetitively, does my mission matter?
41:45 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Links:

• Dilexi Te: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/apost_exhortations/documents/20251004-dilexi-te.html
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

 

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Newman's articulation of the nature of university education in his ​The Idea of a University ​is crucial today in that a polytechnic model has replaced classical liberal education and theology has been exiled from most institutions. 

Topics Covered:

• Why theology is a science 
• Why secularism destroys the university 
• Oxford ideal

Links:

• Read: Fifteen Sermons by John Henry Newman
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

 

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Charlie Kirk's assassination revealed a disturbing new cultural and political reality for those who share any of Kirk's views: it is possible, in our day and age, to be shot for speaking your mind. How can we recover from this dark event, whose effects have reverberated across the globe? How can we reclaim the possibility of disagreement with each other without resorting to violence? What conditions must be in place to make civil debate both possible and productive again, especially as our society appears to be growing more polarized?

A listener asks for advice on a healthy way to end an argument when it's clear you're at an impasse.

 

00:00 | Introduction
02:19 | Praying at Planned Parenthood
03:17 | Bishop Barron and Charlie Kirk
08:58 | Athens, Jerusalem, and the West
14:49 | Two necessary conditions for meaningful dialogue
22:08 | Belief in God—the fundamental condition
24:50 | God and the priority of logos over will
26:34 | Do we really need God for human rights?
28:44 | The Catholic case for freedom of speech
29:54 | Public celebration of evil
33:05 | Violence as a response to speech
34:18 | How can we debate those who reject necessary conditions for dialogue?
35:27 | How forgiveness is possible when justice is wanted
36:42 | Evangelical lessons from Charlie Kirk
37:40 | Listener question: How do you walk away from an impasse?
39:57 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Links:

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

 

In this lesson, Bishop Barron explains how Newman distinguishes between doctrinal development and corruption. A thorough explanation of this crucial issue requires a robust presentation of Newman's seven notes. Bishop Barron does just that!

Topics Covered:

• Doctrinal development and corruption 
• The Seven Notes 
• Examples of doctrinal development and corruption 

Links:

• Article: Henri de Lubac on the Development of Christian Doctrine
• Read: John Henry Newman on Truth and its Counterfeits
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

 

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Pope Leo XIV has recently formally declared St. John Henry Newman—who was canonized only in 2019 by Pope Francis—a doctor of the Catholic Church, a recognition given only to 37 other saints in Catholicism's over 2000 year history. This places Newman among great figures like St. Augustine, St. Gregory the Great, St. Jerome, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Theresa de Avila, St. Catherine of Sienna, and the Little Flower, St. Therese of Lisieux. What is the significance of giving St. John Henry Newman—an Englishman and Anglican convert to Catholicism who was born over 200 years ago—this title? What is it about Newman's approach to communicating the faith that earned him this great honor—and why now?  Equally important, how can contemporary evangelists draw inspiration from his work to proclaim the Gospel in a drastically different world, religiously and morally, from Newman's 19th century Victorian England?

A listener asks for advice on how to give better homilies at Mass.

00:00 | Introduction
01:26 | Bishop Barron's recent domestic travels
03:20 | Defining "Doctor of the Church"
04:55 | Distinguishing doctors from saints
05:50 | John Henry Newman's brief biography
12:18 | Understanding the development of doctrine
17:41 | Safeguards against corruption
22:33 | The wholeness of the truth
25:34 | Newman: "To live is to change"
29:28 | The "illative sense" of the mind's assent to propositions
34:10 | Difficulties vs. doubt
35:54 | How Newman speaks to England now
37:55 | Listener question: How can priests improve preparation for homilies?
39:58 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

 

Links:

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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Newman thinks that the fullness of an idea can best be manifested when it enters the play of lively minds. It grows and develops through the Church. Newman's organic imagery opens up an interesting way of thinking about the difference between development and corruption in matters of doctrine. 

Topics Covered:

• The unveiling of ideas through the lively play of minds 

• Difference between development and corruption 

• The Prophetic Office 

• The Kingly Office 

Links:

• Article: A Theory on the Development of Dogma?

• Video: Bishop Barron on the Development of Christian Doctrine

• Read: Newman's Challenge by Stanley L. Jaki

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.

Newman's ​Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine​ is perhaps his greatest contribution to theology. In this essay, Newman considers why "development" is an important lens through which to understand the Church and her teachings. 

 

Topics Covered:

• How ideas and doctrines tend to evolve over time
• How Newman avoids historicism 
• The inexhaustible richness of Christ

Links:

 

• Podcast: WOF 511: Newman as a Catholic (3 of 12)
• Read: An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine
• Article: Development or Corruption
• Video: Development of Doctrine: What it is and Why it Matters
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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In this lesson, Bishop Barron explains what led Newman to enter the Roman Catholic Church. Newman's study of Church history was part of it, giving a personal tinge to his famous quote: "To be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant."

Topics Covered:

Newman's study of the Fourth Century theological controversies
Newman's suspicion of the Via Media
Newman's conversion to Catholicism
Attempts at reviving Catholic intellectual life

Links:

Article: Newman on Conversion
Video: Newman, Vatican II, and the Hermeneutic of Continuity
Read: Arians of the Fourth Century

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.

In this lesson, Bishop Barron presents Newman's autobiographical ​Apologia Pro Vita Sua​, focusing on Newman's years as an Anglican prior to his conversion to the Catholic Church. ​​  

Topics Covered:

The Oxford Movement 
Newman's study of the Arian Controversy 
The Via Media 
Tract 90

Links:

• Podcast: WOF 509: The Importance of John Henry Newman
• Article: Newman and the Study of Church Fathers
• Read: Apologia Pro Vita Sua
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

 

In this lesson, Bishop Barron introduces St. John Henry Newman and explains his theological significance in his own day and ours. He is a pivotal player in Church history, being compared to St. Thomas Aquinas for his brilliance. 

Topics Covered:
Major themes in Newman's writings
Biography of St. John Henry Newman 
Influence on Vatican II
Apologia Pro Vita Sua

Links:

• Article: Two False Newmans
• Book: Newman: His Life and Legacy

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We recently looked at some of the reasons that may be contributing to the resurgence or interest in Catholicism out in the culture. Today, we look at five suggestions on how we can preserve that momentum and hopefully increase it.

00:00 | Introduction
00:40 | Bishop Barron's European trip to film new documentary
02:45 | The importance of a thinking Catholicism
06:18 | Recovering Catholic beauty
09:40 | Increasing online Catholic presence
12:51 | Continuing to engage the culture
14:54 | Examining evangelical courage
16:32 | Listener question
18:43 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Links:

• Part 1 on The Word on Fire Show: WOF 506: Why Are So Many Young People Becoming Catholic?
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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For 1,700 years, the universal church has confessed the Nicene Creed. This anniversary year, Bishop Barron spoke at a Greek Orthodox church in Rochester, Minnesota, to reflect upon the creed's origins. Enjoy.

Link:

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

Both interest and conversions to the Catholic Church have been surging both here and in parts of Europe, especially among young adults. To be sure, secularism still dominates the culture, but the once common wisdom that an increasingly secular society would eventually lead to the death of Christianity and its evacuation from the public square doesn't seem so common anymore. What are the causes of this apparent religious revival among young people? What can we do as evangelists to maintain and build on the momentum?

A listener asks about the most effective way to make an initial evangelical impact on young people.

00:00 | Introduction
01:20 | Concluding Bishop Barron's first diocesan synod
03:18 | Growing interest in Catholicism
08:45 | Men and Catholic interest
11:50 | Considering our recent isolations
14:08 | The rise and decline of wokeism
17:10 | Attraction to tradition
18:48 | Attraction to the liturgy
25:50 | The attraction of moral teachings
28:53 | Evangelical challenges
31:46 | Religious liberty
35:45 | Listener question: How do you best engage the young?
38:40 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Links:

• E&C Online article: https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/its-true-young-people-are-seeking-the-faith/
• New York Post article: https://nypost.com/2025/04/17/lifestyle/why-young-people-are-converting-to-catholicism-en-masse/
• Fox News article: https://www.foxnews.com/media/catholicism-sees-major-resurgence-among-gen-z-young-men-leading-revival
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

 

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This week, we bring you the rich question and answer session from Bishop Barron's recent Jubilee address to Irish pilgrims in Rome. He takes on a variety of questions about faith, doubt, mission, happiness, and more. Enjoy.

Link:

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

 

This week we bring you the second half of a recent discussion about the meaning, purpose, and objectivity of the transcendental of beauty between the Editor-in-Chief of Evangelization & Culture at the Word on Fire Institute, Dr. Tod Worner, and Bishop Barron.

00:00 | Introduction
00:38 | The deformation of beauty
08:23 | Does beauty civilize?
10:49 | Beauty and the Catholic faith
17:43 | The awesome nature of beauty
22:30 | Can you get stuck on beauty?
24:16 | Beauty within a challenging world
30:32 | Word on Fire and beauty
32:28 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Links:

• Full episode on the Evangelization & Culture Podcast:  https://www.wordonfire.org/videos/evangelization-and-culture-podcast/ep54-what-is-beauty-bishop-barron/
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

Bishop Barron gave a Jubilee address in Rome recently to Irish pilgrims in which he looked at the great Old Testament figures and examined what it looks like to be called out of one's self into radical self gift. Enjoy.

Link:

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

This week we bring you the first half of a recent discussion between Managing Editor of the Word on Fire Evangelization & Culture Journal, Dr. Tod Worner, and Bishop Barron. The two discuss the meaning, purpose, and objectivity of beauty.

00:00 | Introduction
00:56 | What is beauty?
09:24 | What is a transcendental, and why does beauty qualify?
13:08 | What is it about beauty that quickens the heart?
16:54 | Is beauty a means to an end or an end in itself?
23:58 | Does beauty lie in the eye of the beholder and is it ephemeral or eternal?
36:05 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Links:

• Full episode on the Evangelization & Culture Podcast: https://www.wordonfire.org/videos/evangelization-and-culture-podcast/ep54-what-is-beauty-bishop-barron/
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

Today, we're listening to a talk Bishop Barron gave within one of his classic study programs, the Eucharist series. He addresses Christ's Real Presence in the Eucharist. Enjoy.

Link:

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

In taking the name Pope Leo XIV, the new pope has signaled that the Church finds itself in an era marked by tumultuous social change. The question remains whether the Catholic social thought of his predecessor Leo XIII's time is still applicable today given the radically different world we now live in—a world increasingly defined by the rise and possible dominance of artificial intelligence, robotics entering into mainstream life, the breakdown of regular physical contact among people, and the rise of transhumanism. Can Catholic social thought help us to navigate these uncharted waters?

A listener asks: How does one respond to "Science doesn't care what you believe"?

00:00 | Introduction
01:45 | Episode 500!
02:51 | What is Catholic social thought?
03:59 | Pope Leo XIII and Catholic social thought
06:05 | The Catholic conception of human dignity
08:00 | How Catholics understand the common good
09:36 | Defining solidarity
11:39 | Understanding subsidiarity
13:45 | Factoring in the question of sin
17:19 | The significance of the name Leo XIV
18:08 | Examining the nature of artificial intelligence
23:23 | Humanity and the machine
29:09 | Limiting principles
31:35 | Virtual reality, avatars, and companions
35:38 | AI and the workforce
40:43 | AI and art
43:14 | Listener question: How does one respond to "science doesn't care what you believe"?
45:16 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Links:

• Goldman Sachs citation: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2023/03/31/goldman-sachs-predicts-300-million-jobs-will-be-lost-or-degraded-by-artificial-intelligence/
• Word on Fire resources on artificial intelligence: https://www.wordonfire.org/topics/artificial-intelligence/
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

We bring you the second half of Bishop Barron's keynote address at this year's inaugural international Evangelisation & Culture conference in London. In the first half, Bishop Barron focused on the first two of four themes of the Bible, namely, creation and the God of Israel. Today, we conclude his address with the final two themes, right praise and kingship, and we learn how these patterns are gathered together in Christ Jesus.

Link:

• Part 1 of this keynote address: https://www.wordonfire.org/videos/wordonfire-show/wof-497-four-culminating-themes-of-the-bible-part-1/
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

If Catholic schools are already Catholic, why would they need to become more so? The unfortunate reality, however, is that some Catholic educational institutions are not living up to their name. As some frustrated parents, priests, and even teachers who are afraid of losing their jobs for being "too Catholic" around their colleagues know well, some schools actively promote values that contradict Church teachings. What has led to Catholic education in some instances to deviate from its mission? And what, more importantly, can we do about it?

A listener asks how to love God if God is love.

00:00 | Introduction
01:47 | Alma mater, Tucker Carlson, and diocesan work
03:29 | Changes in Catholic schools over time
05:27 | What makes a Catholic school Catholic?
07:35 | A Catholic approach to teaching math
09:37 | Teaching science
12:08 | Teaching the humanities
13:54 | Encountering ideas in school
15:16 | Teaching religion
16:52 | A unifying principle for Catholic education
17:54 | Where we've missed the mark
24:35 | Being distinctly Catholic
26:05 | Gender ideology, anthropology, and Catholic identity
27:57 | Mass attendance in school
31:12 | Adoration during school hours
31:49 | Can a non-Catholic teach Catholic theology?
32:35 | Signing statements of faith in Catholic schools
33:02 | Catholic homeschoolers and local parish schools
34:42 | When do you reform and when do you close?
36:15 | Listener question: How can I love God if God is love?
38:27 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Links:

• Bishop Barron interview on The Tucker Carlson Show: https://youtu.be/SUedSE78Mo0?si=hokxzcll3kQwZIR4
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

Earlier this year, we hosted Word on Fire's first international Evangelisation & Culture conference in London, at which Bishop Barron gave the keynote address. He focused on four themes of the Bible, examined the themes of creation, the God of Israel, right praise, and kingship. Today, we'll hear the first of those themes as we prepare for how those culminate in the person of Jesus Christ. Enjoy. 

Link:

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

The Nicene Creed was written 1,700 years ago and is one of the earliest summations of the core doctrinal beliefs of the Christian faith. We continue to recite it to this day at almost every Sunday Mass. Yet despite its foundational importance to Catholic belief and practice, the Creed remains an underutilized resource not only for catechesis but also evangelization. Today we discuss the enduring importance of the Creed and how we can employ its truths about the Trinity, the Incarnation, the Virgin Mary, the dark reality of sin, the hope of salvation, and much more to evangelize the culture.   

A listener asks how he can love his neighbor as himself if he doesn't love himself.

00:00 | Introduction
01:21 | An Introduction to Prayer is now available in Chinese
03:30 | Do creeds matter?
08:55 | Relating the Apostle's Creed to the Nicene Creed
11:02 | Christianity centers around a man and an event
12:14 | Why the book What Christians Believe matters now
15:36 | The Christian creeds as defensible
19:19 | "I believe" or "we believe"?
22:48 | Faith, reason, and adventure
27:54 | God and creation
31:53 | The hardest but most important doctrine
34:33 | The Nicene Creed and the story of salvation
35:48 | Practical tips for using the Nicene Creed in evangelical work
36:58 | Listener question: How can I love my neighbor as myself, if I don't love myself?
39:20 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Links:

• What Christians Believe: https://bookstore.wordonfire.org/products/what-christians-believe-box-of-20
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

Today we bring you the second half of a conversation between Bishop Barron and biblical scholar, N.T. Wright, at Word on Fire's recent Evangelisation & Culture Conference in London. We hear the conclusion of the conversation and dive into some of the listeners' questions, ranging from questions on artificial intelligence and motivations for reading the Bible, to the varying opinions of the show The Chosen. Enjoy! 

Link:

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

On May 8, 2025, the college of cardinals stunned the world by electing Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a native of the South Side of Chicago, as our new pope. What kind of papacy should we expect from this American pope? How should we interpret his papal name, Leo XIV, and his background as the former head of the Augustinian religious order? Are there any early signs of what his priorities will be? And how should we think about him in relation to his predecessors, including Pope Francis?

A listener asks about contemporary misunderstandings of Catholic theology.

00:00 | Introduction
01:45 | The Religious Liberty Commission
06:03 | What Rome was like during the conclave
10:27 | Before the conclave
13:06 | Defining "liberal" and "conservative" in ecclesial circles
13:53 | Why Catholic conclaves attract so much interest
16:14 | Addressing Bishop Barron's hat
17:10 | Pope Leo XIV as first American pope
18:50 | Pope Leo XIV as first English-speaking pope
20:07 | Pope Leo XIV as first Augustinian pope
24:00 | Pope Leo XIV's motto
25:07 | A return to the supernatural aspects of the Gospel
26:52 | The significance of Pope Leo XIV's name
30:55 | Pope Leo XIV as a bridge
33:10 | The pressing issues before Pope Leo XIV
34:42 | Listener question: What is the most misunderstood Catholic teaching?
37:04 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Links:

• Article: "'Habemus Papam!' Meet the First Pontiff from the United States"
• Article: "Pope Leo XIV and the New Social Question of AI"
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

Today we bring you the first half of a conversation from earlier this year between Bishop Barron and biblical scholar, N.T. Wright, at Word on Fire's Evangelisation & Culture Conference in London. The two discussed approaching the Bible as a bigger story—one that's holistic, hopeful, and invitational. Enjoy. 

Link:

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

 

The meaning and socio-political implementation of the term "multiculturalism" has become a flashpoint throughout the West. Supporters of multiculturalism argue that societies that embrace diverse norms and values are not only more dynamic and vibrant, they are also more just and represent the ideal form of the modern democratic state. On the other hand, critics of multiculturalism argue that permitting or deliberately engineering a society that embraces different and even contradictory norms and values is not only incoherent, it undermines the very foundation of a stable civic order. What can Catholicism contribute to this often rancorous debate? Amidst all the diversity within the Church, it remains theologically, morally, and institutionally unified. What makes this possible, and what lessons does it have for the wider world?

A listener asks for tips on how to evangelize young people.

00:00 | Introduction
01:43 | Bishop Barron's confirmation season
02:57 | Defining culture
03:43 | Does "cultural appropriation" contain an accurate understanding of culture?
08:25 | Defining multiculturalism
09:28 | Are all cultures equally valid? 
12:58 | Evaluating majority rule
14:44 | Evaluating minority rule
17:51 | Understanding a multiplicity of cultures as good 
22:25 | Insights from natural law for addressing multiculturalism
24:19 | Unity as a prerequisite for diversity 
28:29 | Unpacking the Catholic conception of inculturation
30:16 | Practical advice for applying these principles
31:40 | How does one evangelize an unlovable culture?
33:55 | Listener question: How does one catechize the young?
36:23 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Links:

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

In February 2025, Bishop Barron returned to the Palace of Westminster in London, UK, to address religious leaders and members of Parliament. The focus of his talk was the rhythm of divine mercy—the abounding love that arises within us when we accept the grace of Christ. Today we bring you the second half of that talk. Enjoy!

Link:

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

We continue celebrating twenty-five years of proclaiming the Gospel; evangelizing the culture; supporting the faithful; and inviting the disaffiliated, the forsaken, and those who have fallen away back to Christ and his church. However, over the years, attacks against Bishop Barron and Word on Fire have come from many sources, including online anti-evangelists who hate religion in general and Christianity in particular and from those who posture themselves as the Church's greatest defenders. What is the substance of these detractions? What motivates them? Do they pose an actual threat to the ministry? What can they teach us as evangelists about how to respond constructively to public criticism, especially when it's vicious?   

A listener asks how we should understand the meaning and implications of "turning the other cheek." 

00:00 | Introduction
01:32 | Standing for life with the DOWR seminarians
02:27 | Do any of your critics surprise you?
03:40 | Early interaction with YouTube comments
05:28 | Criticism #1: You're too conservative—or too liberal
06:38 | Your critique of "beige Catholicism" is unfair and trivializing
09:45 | Criticism #2: Prioritizing beauty is a luxury
14:00 | Criticism #3: The thinkers you reference are only appropriate in academic settings
17:18 | Criticism #4:You've joined Balthasar in promoting universal salvation
20:01 | Criticism #5: You're too political—or not political enough
25:46 | Criticism #6: Your critiques of wokeism are one-sided and unfair to social justice
31:57 | Criticism #7: You're too supportive of Vatican II—or not supportive enough
35:50 | Criticism #8: You don't discern the platforms on which you appear
41:29 | Advice for responding to public criticism
42:33 | Listener question: How do I "turn the other cheek" without enabling the offender?
44:54 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Links:

• "Dare We Hope" Resource Page: https://www.wordonfire.org/hope/
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

In February 2025, Bishop Barron returned to the Palace of Westminster in London, UK, to address religious leaders and members of Parliament. The focus of his talk was the rhythm of divine mercy—the abounding love that arises within us when we accept the grace of Christ. Today we bring you the first half of that talk.

Link:

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

Pope Francis passed away at the age of eighty-eight on Easter Monday. He was the first pope from Latin America, the first Jesuit pope, and the first pope to take the name "Francis," after St. Francis of Assisi. What stood out in his twelve-year pontificate? How does his papacy compare with those of his immediate predecessors, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope St. John Paul II? What should we continue to champion from Francis' legacy as the Church charts her course into the future? Today we discuss Pope Francis' influence on both the Church and the world.

A listener asks how to deal with regret from the past. 

00:00 | Introduction
01:21 | Meeting Pope Francis
04:33 | Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI
06:36 | Pope Francis as first Latin-American pope
08:10 | Pope Francis as first Jesuit pope
10:22 | Pope Francis as first to be called "Francis"
11:09 | Master of the beau geste
13:36 | The Church as "field hospital"
15:16 | Resisting a "technocratic mindset"
19:01 | Clarifying the "universal designation of goods"
21:24 | Understanding the "two popes"
26:11 | Concerns about Francis's papacy
29:37 | Pope Francis's perception of the American church
32:25 | Honoring Pope Francis's legacy
33:50 | Listener question: How do I let go of regrets?
35:24 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Links:

• Pope Francis Resources: https://www.wordonfire.org/pope-francis/
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

Today we conclude Bishop Barron's lecture at Charles University in Prague. During the talk, he focuses on St. Thomas Aquinas' distinctive notion of God as "ipsum esse" and its connection with some of the principal themes of Catholic social teaching. Enjoy!

Link:

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

Word on Fire is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. That's twenty-five years of proclaiming the Gospel, evangelizing the culture, and working hard to bring people to—or back to—Christ and his Church. It's worth pausing to look back to remember where it all began and how the ministry has grown along the way. What is Word on Fire's origin story? When, where, and why did Bishop Barron—then Fr. Barron—first conceive of the idea to found Word on Fire? What were the early years like? What have been some major developments along the way? What obstacles were encountered, what lessons learned? And what does the future look like for the next five, ten, and even fifty years?

A listener asks how he might be able to become a part of the Word on Fire religious order. 

00:00 | Introduction
01:22 | Minnesota bishops visit state capital
02:55 | A brief look at Bishop Barron's early priestly life
06:18 | Bishop Barron's cathedral project
06:58 | Word on Fire's beginning
09:49 | Beginning the Catholicism series
11:24 | Cardinal Francis George
14:30 | Early days with Fr. Steve Grunow
15:41 | Reddit's "Ask Me Anything"
18:48 | Sunday Sermons
23:22 | Bishop Barron Presents
25:45 | The Word on Fire Show
27:07 | Public speaking events
28:32 | Speaking at Google and Facebook
29:57 | Expanding into the United Kingdom
31:17 | Word on Fire's Institute and Publishing
33:58 | The Word on Fire Bible
37:08 | Looking into the future
38:32 | A message to donors
39:17 | Listener question: How can I join Word on Fire's Third Order?
40:35 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Links:

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

Today we bring you the first half of Bishop Barron's lecture at Charles University in Prague. In this talk, Bishop focuses on St. Thomas Aquinas' distinctive notion of God as "ipsum esse" and its connection with some of the principal themes of Catholic social teaching. Enjoy!

Link:

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

Today we're bringing you the second half of a conversation between Bishop Barron and 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!

Links:

• Brenden Thompson interview: https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/meet-uk-program-director-brenden-thompson/
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

 

Today we conclude Bishop Barron's lecture series on one of the most important and influential Catholic theologians of the twentieth century, Han Urs von Balthasar. Throughout these lectures, we came to understand his life, his theology, and his ongoing impact on the Church and our work to evangelize the culture. Enjoy the final lesson!

Links:

• Full lecture series available at the Word on Fire Institute:  https://institute.wordonfire.org/
• Podcast: WOF 149: Who Was Hans Urs von Balthasar?
• More Resources: https://www.wordonfire.org/topics/hans-urs-von-balthasar/

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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.

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!

Links:

• Brenden Thompson interview: https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/meet-uk-program-director-brenden-thompson/
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

Here is the eleventh 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. As we journey through these lectures, we will come to understand his life, his theology, and his ongoing impact on the Church and our work to evangelize the culture. Enjoy!

Links:

• Full lecture series available at the Word on Fire Institute:  https://institute.wordonfire.org/
• Podcast: WOF 149: Who Was Hans Urs von Balthasar?
• More Resources: https://www.wordonfire.org/topics/hans-urs-von-balthasar/

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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.

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

Links:

• Ordo amoris article: https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/first-love-locally-jd-vance-and-ordo-amoris/
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

We bring you the tenth 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!

Links:

• Full lecture series available at the Word on Fire Institute:  https://institute.wordonfire.org/
• Podcast: WOF 149: Who Was Hans Urs von Balthasar?
• More Resources: https://www.wordonfire.org/topics/hans-urs-von-balthasar/

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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.

Today we continue with lesson nine on our walk through 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!

Links:

• Full lecture series available at the Word on Fire Institute:  https://institute.wordonfire.org/
• Podcast: WOF 149: Who Was Hans Urs von Balthasar?
• More Resources: https://www.wordonfire.org/topics/hans-urs-von-balthasar/

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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.

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

Links:

• Anxiety and depression stats: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr213.pdf
• Suicide stats: https://wisqars.cdc.gov/fatal-injury-trends/
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

We continue our walk through Bishop Barron's lecture series with lesson eight 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!

Links:

• Full lecture series available at the Word on Fire Institute:  https://institute.wordonfire.org/
• Podcast: WOF 149: Who Was Hans Urs von Balthasar?
• More Resources: https://www.wordonfire.org/topics/hans-urs-von-balthasar/

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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.

A debate has been raging on social media recently about the role work should play both in our individual and communal lives. One side argues that Americans are not only spending too few hours at work, but at a deeper cultural level, they believe the United States and much of the West has become lazy and prone to immediate gratification that undermines efficiency, personal wealth, and national power and prosperity. The other side maintains that, although work is good and necessary for individual and societal wellbeing, time spent at work also compromises individuals' creativity and ingenuity. This debate is not only rhetorical; how we conceive of the relationship between work and leisure has very real cultural, economic, and even political consequences. What principles should we appeal to to get the balance right?

A listener asks: Does Jesus have a last name?

00:00 | Introduction
01:36 | Word on Fire turns 25!
02:54 | What is work?
04:53 | Understanding work within a fallen world
09:46 | Connecting human dignity and the dignity of work
12:59 | Prosperity vs. the prosperity gospel
15:28 | Is intellectual work better than manual, or vice versa?
17:37 | What if I'm unwilling to work?
20:50 | What if I'm unable to work?
21:35 | Understanding leisure
25:38 | How the Mass relates to play
29:57 | Relating work to leisure
32:24 | Listener question: Does Jesus have a last name?
33:50 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Links:

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

Today we present the seventh 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!

Links:

• Full lecture series available at the Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/
• Podcast: WOF 149: Who Was Hans Urs von Balthasar?
• More Resources: https://www.wordonfire.org/topics/hans-urs-von-balthasar/

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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.

What is the nature and purpose of prayer? The question may sound simple, but it unearths some complex philosophical and theological issues. If God is omniscient, what is the point of speaking with him, either out loud or in our thoughts if he already knows what we have to say? If God is all good and all powerful, why does it sometimes appear that our prayers go unanswered? More practically, what are we to make of the great diversity of prayers—liturgical prayer, petitionary prayer, worship prayer, the Rosary? Are some forms of prayer more efficacious than others? Here are some tips on how we can understand and grow in our prayer life. 

A listener asks why Catholics pray for the dead and if we should pray for the souls of non-Catholics too.

00:00 | Intro
01:34 | Bishop Barron's holiday season recap
02:45 | What prompted the publication of An Introduction to Prayer?
03:37 | What does it mean to pray?
05:31 | If God knows everything, why do we pray?
07:38 | If God is unchanging, how does prayer change things?
15:53 | If God is all-good, why do prayers go unanswered?
18:40 | How is prayer different for the Christian?
21:56 | The importance of liturgical prayer
23:47 | Understanding contemplative prayer
28:24 | Properly understanding the intercession of the saints
31:25 | Practical principles for growing in prayer
33:41 | Forgiveness as a prerequisite for answered prayers
35:07 | Listener question
37:31 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Links:

• An Introduction to Prayer by Bishop Robert Barron: https://bookstore.wordonfire.org/products/an-introduction-to-prayer
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

 

We bring you the sixth 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!

Links:

• Full lecture series available at the Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/
• Podcast: WOF 149: Who Was Hans Urs von Balthasar?
• More Resources: https://www.wordonfire.org/topics/hans-urs-von-balthasar/

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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.

 

A cultural shift seems to be underway, at least within the United States, that is potentially making society more open—perhaps even more positively disposed—to the wisdom of the Catholic social thought tradition. If there is an opportunity for Catholic teachings to have more cultural and political traction now, how should the Church take advantage of it? What counsel can the Church give on complex policy issues like education, immigration, the economy, and foreign policy? Today we discuss the Catholic understanding of the common good and how it is especially relevant in this moment.

A listener asks, what is the kingdom of God?

00:00 | Intro
01:41 | Bishop Barron visits a mentor
02:52 | Religion: public or private?
06:56 | Assessing recent shifts in culture
08:09 | Common good vs. utilitarianism
10:49 | Dignity vs. autonomy
14:35 | Common good vs. social justice
18:37 | Common good vs. generic conservatism
21:25 | Nonnegotiable moral principles vs. variable prudential judgments
24:27 | Common good and education
28:23 | Common good and the economy
30:30 | Common good and immigration
33:38 | Common good and foreign policy
35:38 | Listener question: What is the kingdom of God?
37:38 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Links:

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

Today we share the fifth 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!

Links:

• Full lecture series available at the Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/
• Podcast: WOF 149: Who Was Hans Urs von Balthasar?
• More Resources: https://www.wordonfire.org/topics/hans-urs-von-balthasar/

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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.

One of the defining features of the Christian moral and spiritual life is the supernatural virtue of hope. What is hope? What makes hope more than a mere superstition? How does hope help us live both individually and in community? Can hope have negative consequences, like motivating people to remain passive in the face of injustice? And what, if any, evangelical significance does hope have? Bishop Barron gives us five reasons why we should be hopeful in the new year.

A listener asks how he can find the strength to pray again.

00:00 | Intro
01:14 | Bishop Barron's 2024 highlights
02:47 | The Christian concept of hope
04:15 | Hope's relationship to reason
05:12 | Hope's practical value in life
06:24 | Distinguishing hope from faith
08:27 | Distinguishing hope from optimism
10:21 | Responding to critiques of hope
15:37 | Reason 1: Bible sales increase while "nones" appear to have peaked
19:53 | Reason 2: Woke ideology is losing its grip on the culture
23:27 | Reason 3: Protestants and Catholics have increased cooperation
25:36 | Reason 4: The public response to the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral
30:01 | Reason 5: The Church continues to grow
31:27 | Listener question
33:53 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Links:

• Article on Bible sales: https://www.foxnews.com/media/bible-sales-surge-thanks-fresh-editions-new-buyers-looking-things-feel-more-solid-report-finds
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

We bring you the fourth 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!

Links:

• Full lecture series available at the Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/
• Podcast: WOF 149: Who Was Hans Urs von Balthasar?
• Article: "Just a Little Stone in God's Mosaic"
• More Resources: https://www.wordonfire.org/topics/hans-urs-von-balthasar/

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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.

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

Links:

• Article on book about issues facing men: https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/books/book-reviews/of-boys-and-men-by-richard-v-reeves-males-face-bigger-issues-than-toxic-masculinity/41990575.html
• E&C Online article: https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/richard-v-reeves-and-jocko-willink-take-on-male-malaise/
• NYT article: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/29/opinion/crisis-men-masculinity.html
• Prison Stats: https://www.bop.gov/about/statistics/statistics_inmate_gender.jsp
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

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!

Links:

• Full lecture series available at the Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/
• Podcast: WOF 149: Who Was Hans Urs von Balthasar?
• Article: "Just a Little Stone in God's Mosaic"
• More Resources: https://www.wordonfire.org/topics/hans-urs-von-balthasar/

 

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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.

After spending nearly a month in Rome, Bishop Barron has just returned from the concluding session of the Synod on Synodality. However, numerous basic questions remain among the faithful: What challenges were discussed during this synod and what solutions, if any, did the attendees reach? What impact, if any, does either the structure or content of the synod have on the Church's ability to evangelize effectively both in the US and abroad?

A listener asks how parishes should adapt to today's needs.

00:00 | Intro
01:27 | A visit to the Czech Republic
03:10 | What is synodality?
06:58 | The Instrumentum Laboris and its role in the synod
07:56 | Who attended the synod?
09:14 | Relating 2023's synodal gathering to 2024's
11:09 | Bishop Barron's daily routine in Rome
16:20 | Communio theology as represented at the synod
19:27 | The teaching status of the recent synodal document
21:01 | Assessing the synod's benefit to the Church
22:35 | Limitations of synodality as a ruling principle
25:23 | The question of women's ordination
28:00 | Concerns for the authority of the local bishops' conferences
29:41 | Has this synod perennially changed the Church?
31:15 | The possibility of future synods
32:01 | Listener question
34:04 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Link:

• EWTN article: https://www.ewtnvatican.com/articles/synod-on-synodalitys-final-document-what-you-need-to-know-3645
• E&C Online article: https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/barron/some-thoughts-upon-returning-from-the-second-session-of-the-synod/
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

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!

Links:

• Full lecture series available at the Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/
• Podcast: WOF 149: Who Was Hans Urs von Balthasar?
• Article: "Just a Little Stone in God's Mosaic"
• More Resources: https://www.wordonfire.org/topics/hans-urs-von-balthasar/

 

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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.

Through a litany of trials and grace, Tammy Peterson found her way to the Catholic Church. We bring you the second half of an hour-long conversation she had recently with Bishop Barron. The two explore transubstantiation, the power of prayer, grace in suffering, and more.

00:00 | Intro
00:28 | Prayer as sustenance and as intercession across space and time
06:00 | What is transubstantiation?
11:50 | Praying Scripture
13:30 | Prayerful examination of a day
18:33 | Examining Dante's Divine Comedy
20:08 | Dark nights of the soul
23:31 | Grace in suffering
31:27 | Remembering the body
32:58 | Singing and prayer
34:16 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Link:

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

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!

Links:

• Podcast: WOF 149: Who Was Hans Urs von Balthasar?
• Article: "Just a Little Stone in God's Mosaic"
• More Resources: https://www.wordonfire.org/topics/hans-urs-von-balthasar/
• Full lecture series at the Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

 

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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.

Through a litany of trials and grace, Tammy Peterson found her way to the Catholic Church. Today we bring you the first half of an hour-long conversation she had recently with Bishop Barron. The two explore the call of God, the power of the Rosary, the wisdom of Thomas Merton, and more.

00:00 | Intro
01:24 | Relating to God as a called child
06:25 | Attracting people into community
10:16 | Understanding true love
13:20 | Begin with prayer
14:19 | Prayer: sacred, centering, habitual, and "useless"
20:43 | The beauty of monastic life and practice
22:34 | The wisdom of Thomas Merton
24:18 | Distinguishing a natural spirituality from a properly supernatural one
28:05 | Learning to pray the Rosary
38:18 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Link:

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

Today we bring you the second half of Bishop Barron's May 2024 address at the Star of the North Eucharistic Congress in Bemidji, Minnesota. He concludes his discussion of Eucharistic Adoration, wisdom from saints and holy people, and the power of "staying close to the fire." Enjoy!

Show Notes:

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

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

 

Show Notes:

• Stats for Nigerian Church attendance: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253488/where-is-mass-attendance-highest-one-country-is-the-clear-leader
• Stats for American Mass attendance: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/04/12/9-facts-about-us-catholics/
• National Catholic Register article: https://www.ncregister.com/news/same-sex-blessings-and-the-catholic-church-in-africa
• E&C Online article: https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/pope-francis-isnt-actually-visiting-peripheries-hes-leaving-them-behind/
• Crux article: https://cruxnow.com/news-analysis/2023/01/running-the-numbers-africa-isnt-the-catholic-future-its-the-present
• Vatican News article: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2023-04/over-50000-christians-killed-in-nigeria-by-islamist-extremists.html
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

Today we bring you the first half of Bishop Barron's May 2024 address at the Star of the North Eucharistic Congress in Bemidji, Minnesota. He discusses Eucharistic Adoration, wisdom from saints and holy people, and the power of "staying close to the fire." Enjoy!

Link:

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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 o f 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.

 

How should we respond when the culture becomes inhospitable if not actively hostile to Christian values? Sadly, biblical and natural law points of view are unwelcome now in many of the institutions that constitute the core of our society, including corporations, public schools, higher education, Silicon Valley, Hollywood, the legacy media, and even government entities themselves. What can Christians do to resist persecution by these secular powerhouses? How can we understand what it means to resist those who undermine Christians in light of Christ's command to love our enemies?

A listener asks how she can share the faith with her non-religious family members.

00:00 | Intro
01:48 | Matt Walsh's recent "Am I Racist?" film
02:50 | Distinguishing bigotry from disagreement
03:56 | Distinguishing inhospitality from hostility
06:12 | Anti-Christian sentiment in history
08:43 | Taking opposition at its word
12:47 | How the Olympics opening ceremony provoked response
14:58 | Provocative acts of nonviolence
18:08 | Unpacking "turn the other cheek"
22:24 | Recent revival of religious interest
23:38 | Resistance as an act of love
25:07 | What's to be done with anger?
26:22 | Pacifism and forceful resistance
28:51 | How the martyrs inform the Church
30:09 | Resistance to culture as a form of evangelization
31:11 | Listener question: How do I share my faith with non-religious family and friends?
32:49 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Links:

• Bishop Barron's article in Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/olympics-anti-christian-display-reflects-cultural-decline-opinion-1933565
•  
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

Today we bring you Bishop Barron's lecture from the 2023 New Ressourcement Conference. The New Ressourcement is a quarterly journal of theology and philosophy published by Word on Fire Academic. It serves the Church and the academy by publishing scholarly articles that demonstrate the depth and relevance of the Catholic tradition.

In the talk, Bishop Barron explains the roots of this theological movement, his own coming-of-age experience in a postconciliar Church, and the particular concerns this movement aims to address. Enjoy!

 

Links:

• The New Ressourcement: https://newressourcement.wordonfire.org/
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

In 1968, a book called The Population Bomb written by entomologist Paul Ehrlich helped spark panic in the west that the global population was reaching a breaking point, saying too many human beings would soon cause widespread famine and social chaos.

This view that a growing human population is an existential threat to humanity remains widespread to this day. For example, University of Chicago political philosopher Martha Nussbaum recently stated that given the world's current population, "no one should be having any children." Contemporary empirical evidence, however, points in exactly the opposite direction. Deaths are already outpacing births in many regions of the world, resulting in precipitous declines in national populations. Is this good news for humanity? Are public policies aimed at population control justified? Is there such a thing as an ideal population size? Should anyone care about whether others choose to have children or not?

A listener asks whether we should continue going to confession if we keep committing the same sin over and over again.

00:00 | Intro
01:49 | Seminarians kick off school year
03:00 | Assessing population decreases across the globe
05:36 | Increased attitudes against having children
08:24 | Unpacking "culture of death," ego-drama, and theo-drama
11:33 | Childbearing as a societal good
12:35 | Population capping through public policy
14:07 | Human population and the environment
17:03 | Utilitarianism as a faulty moral theory for addressing population concerns
18:51 | Foregoing childbirth to spare potential children pain
21:20 | Foregoing childbirth to favor economic security
22:33 | Foregoing childbirth for lack of desire
24:55 | Old age without children
28:00 | The centrality of fruitfulness
29:14 | Pope St. Paul VI's prophetic ban on artificial contraception
30:57 | How does the Church look forward?
34:05 | Listener question: Does repeating sins disqualify me from Confession?
36:35 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

 

Links:

• Data for "Population Bomb": https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/book-incited-worldwide-fear-overpopulation-180967499/
• Article on Martha Nussbaum: https://www.opindia.com/2024/05/india-has-too-many-people-they-dont-have-enough-to-eat-philosopher-martha-nussbaum-makes-drastic-claims-population-reduction/
• Quote citation: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/apr/16/bill-maher-inflames-abortion-debate-by-saying-its-/
• Abortion statistic:  https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/induced-abortion-worldwide
• Pew Research citation: https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2024/07/25/the-experiences-of-u-s-adults-who-dont-have-children/
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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We are happy to share Bishop Barron's keynote address at the historic 2024 National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. Enjoy.

Link:

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

The nature and purpose of the human body was once considered obvious. But it has come under attack from secular culture in some strange and even disturbing ways in recent years. Now, unfortunately, it is up for grabs. The Word on Fire Institute sought to address this confusion surrounding the body at our recent Wonder Conference, "Nature and the Human Body." Drawing on rich theological, philosophical, scientific, medical, moral, political, technological, and artistic resources, the conference sought to reclaim an authentic understanding and deep appreciation for the body—its resilience and fragility, its joys and its sufferings, its transcendence and its temporality, and, above all, its wonder.

A listener asks how Catholics should think about near-death experiences and stories.

 

00:00 | Intro
01:23 | Hosting the Wonder Conference in Bishop Barron's own diocese
02:25 | Why we needed Wonder
03:50 | Understanding the false dichotomy of faith and science
06:20 | Addressing the question of body/soul unity
12:38 | Inherent dangers in dividing body and soul
15:36 | Can Catholic ministries give platforms to evolutionary biologists?
17:11 | Highlights from Dr. Heather Heying's Wonder talk
18:45 | Beginning with the logos and intelligibility
20:04 | The human difference
21:04 | Bishop Barron Presents: liturgical artist Jonathan Pageau
23:06 | Materialism as an incoherent philosophy vs. scientific worldview
26:30 | The intelligibility of creation
27:36 | Fr. Robert Spitzer and the transcendent body
33:46 | Hope for reconciling faith and science in the public square
35:16 | Listener question
37:54 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

 

Links:

• Interview with Selmer Bringsjord: https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/selmer-bringsjord-on-life-and-logic/
• Interview with Charles Camosy: https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/charles-camosy-sounds-the-alarm/
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

 

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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.

Recently, Bishop Barron traveled to the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. He gave a homily during a breakout session to all the priests present there, and now we are bringing it to you. Enjoy!

 

Link:

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

Some recent polling suggests that the number of those who identify with no religion has hit a ceiling, and it may even be declining. At the same time, a number of high-profile cultural influencers—even some formerly hostile to the faith—have either converted to Christianity or announced that they now identify as "cultural Christians." Moreover, religion and politics, once considered verboten to mix, now seem to find themselves deeply intertwined.

How do we assess these cultural and political developments from an evangelical perspective? Is it really the case that society is becoming more receptive to Christianity? Are all these developments positive for the Church, or should we take a more cautious approach to evaluating what all this means for the future? 

A listener asks what he can share with non-Catholics to perhaps change their minds.

00:00 | Intro
01:32 | Bishop Barron's update on the diocesan pastoral center
02:24 | Tracing the decline of Christianity in the West
06:07 | Assessing the decline of "nones" today
09:59 | Men, women, and trends of religious disaffiliation
13:45 | Public conversions and the indispensability of Christianity in culture
18:46 | Christianity, moral principles, and the legal system
23:09 | Is there broader cultural significance for the National Eucharistic Revival?
24:26 | Hopeful signs for Christianity in conversation
27:54 | Is interest in a broad Christianity simply good?
28:59 | What we can learn from the African and Eastern Churches
30:42 | Listener question
33:00 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Links:

• Pew Research Data: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/01/24/has-the-rise-of-religious-nones-come-to-an-end-in-the-us/
•  
• Data on Women Leaving the Church: https://www.americansurveycenter.org/newsletter/young-women-are-leaving-church-in-unprecedented-numbers/
•  
• Washington Examiner: "Faith and flag: Trump allies push for deeply conservative second term"
•  
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

 

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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.

Today, we bring you the latter half of Bishop Barron's conversation with Patrick J. Deneen, a professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame. In this engaging discussion, the two address topics relating to freedom, truth, and the political order.

Links:

 

• Part I of this discussion: WOF 448
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

Does being committed to social justice necessarily entail neglecting the liturgy? Conversely, do reverent liturgies entail downplaying or even ignoring the Church's mission to care for the poor? The answer to both questions is a resounding, no. How should we understand the right relationship between the liturgy of the Church and the virtue of justice, including social justice? And practically speaking, how can we, as a Church, overcome the unnecessary divisions between so-called "liberal Catholics" and "conservative Catholics"? 

A listener asks if someone can be Catholic but not believe in the Resurrection.

 

00:00 | Intro
01:20 | 10th National Eucharistic Congress recap
02:32 | Understanding the role and meaning of the liturgy
05:06 | The power of the spoken word in the liturgy
07:16 | The physicality of the liturgy
09:10 | Distinguishing between authentic and inauthentic liturgies
11:13 | Did Vatican II negatively effect the liturgy?
12:45 | Understanding justice as a cardinal virtue
14:45 | Relating justice and charity
18:24 | Social justice within a Catholic framework
20:34 | The relationship between loving God and loving neighbor
26:00 | Connecting the liturgy and social justice
27:33 | Is social justice possible without the liturgy?
28:51 | How cloistered monks and nuns serve the Church
30:01 | Bridging the divide between separated Catholics
31:40 | Listener question
33:50 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Links:

• Bishop Barron's article: https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/barron/the-higher-you-go-liturgically-the-lower-you-should-go-in-service-of-the-poor/

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

Today, we bring you the first part of Bishop Barron's conversation with Patrick J. Deneen, a professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame. In the discussion, they touch on topics relating to freedom, truth, and the political order.

 

Link:

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

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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We recently hosted a Word on Fire Institute member event in London. At the event, Bishop Barron reflected on five animating sensibilities for evangelization. Enjoy.

Link:

• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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Today, we bring to you the first part of Bishop Barron's discussion with Dr. Tod Worner on the way a Catholic should navigate the crossroads of religion and politics. Enjoy!

 

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Bishop Barron had the privilege of speaking to members of Parliament in London, England. He reflects on the presence of the Church in society, her endurance throughout the ages, and why Christianity is consistently a powerful cultural force. Enjoy.

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Over 83 percent of Americans still believe in miracles, but what, specifically, are miracles? What are the grounds for believing in them, especially for non-eye witnesses? In the Catholic context, who has the authority to deem an event miraculous? Should Catholics incorporate devotions to Church-approved supernatural events like apparitions of the Virgin Mary and post-Ascension appearances of Jesus Christ into their faith life? We discuss the Catholic understanding of miracles and how the miraculous fits with a comprehensive evangelical vision of the life of the Church.

A listener asks if it was a sin when those healed by Jesus in the Bible told others of their miraculous healing, though Jesus had told them not to tell.

00:00 | Intro
01: 20 | Update on Winona-Rochester's new pastoral center
03: 10 | Distinguishing miracles from improbable or impossible events
06:15 | Conditions necessary for the miraculous
10:58 | The relationship between nature and grace
14:10 | How miracles are confirmed
16:44 | Science and miracles
20:09 | Miracles and the Bible
23:19 | If God's revelation is complete, why do miracles continue?
25:50 | The Vatican's recent document on apparitions
27:14 | Addressing skepticism of the miraculous
31:05 | Listener question
32:54 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

Links:

• Poll citation: https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/4400922-americans-ghosts-aliens-devil-survey/
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

Bishop Barron's course, "Dante's Catholic Imagination," is timeless and ever-relevant. Watch it in its entirety in the Word on Fire Institute.

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The atheist political commentator and television host Bill Maher has long been a bitter critic of Christianity. In additional to regular swipes at Christians on his shows, Maher also devoted an entire documentary film, sardonically entitled Religulous, to lampoon what he takes to be Christianity's moral and theological absurdities. However, Maher has recently tempered his anti-Christian rhetoric and started focusing his biting wit on criticizing progressive woke ideology and condemning positions like neo-racism, the denial of biology, and the stifling of free speech in ways that the Catholic tradition would largely agree with.

In light of this apparent shift, is it time for people of faith to reassess Bill Maher? Has one of Christianity's most vocal opponents now become an ally or, perhaps, even a friend? 

A listener asks, "What is truth?"

00:00 | Intro
01:32 | Bishop Barron's recent diaconate ordinations
02:35 | Bill Maher's analysis of religion
04:47 | What rationalism misses in its critique of religion
06:35 | Historic interpretive strategies for reading the Bible
10:31 | Freedom of speech and cancel culture
12:14 | On racial emphases
14:11 | Equality vs. equity
17:05 | Oppressors and the oppressed
18:21 | The philosophical roots of classical liberalism
20:01 | The value of classical liberalism over political progressivism
22:14 | Critiquing classical liberalism
26:18 | Is classical liberalism necessarily doomed?
28:39 | Finding points of agreement
30:41 | Listener question
32:48 | Join the Word on Fire Institute

 

Links:

• Religulous: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0815241/quotes/
• Bishop Barron's CNN article: https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/28/opinions/catholic-bishop-found-an-ally-in-bill-maher-barron/index.html
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

 

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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.

Bishop Barron's course, "Dante's Catholic Imagination," is timeless and ever-relevant. Watch it in its entirety in the Word on Fire Institute.

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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

Show Notes:

• Article: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/257276/famous-atheist-richard-dawkins-says-he-considers-himself-a-cultural-christian
• Article: https://unherd.com/2023/11/why-i-am-now-a-christian/
• Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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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.

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Terms like "safe spaces," "trigger warnings," "harm reduction," "micro-aggression," "emotional wellbeing" and "fragility" are dominating the culture as well as the governance of many institutions. But by some measurements, our society is more physically compromised and mentally delicate than ever. Today, we discuss the contemporary embrace of "safety" and whether it overlaps with a Catholic understanding of the individual and common good.  

A listener asks, can a priest ever deny absolution during confession?

00:00 | Intro
01:51 | Bishop Barron's Confirmation season
02:30 | Understanding the contemporary use of "safety"
07:45 | The relationship between risk, safety, and flourishing
12:23 | The emotional life and its role
16:14 | Physical safety as the highest good
21:36 | Speech as a form of violence
24:04 | The spiritual works of mercy vs. coddling
25:16 | Safety and the cardinal virtues
26:42 | Christ crucified and the value of safety
27:58 | Listener question
30:03 | Word on Fire Institute

Links:

• Learn about the Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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We continue with the third lecture of Bishop Barron's course, "Dante's Catholic Imagination." We uncover the horrors of hell as Virgil takes Dante on a journey to see the three levels of sin and their corresponding punishments. This ever-relevant course is available in its entirety inside the Word on Fire Institute.

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Most in contemporary secular culture have probably never heard of the name "Thomas Aquinas." However, his thought remains more pertinent than ever—not only to theology and philosophy but also to current conversations on how to build a more stable, just, and prosperous political order. Today, we discuss the evergreen genius of St. Thomas Aquinas and how his legacy continues in the life and work of the contemporary Dominican theologian, Fr. Paul Murray.   

A listener asks, does the devil know that his rebellion is ultimately futile?

00:00 | Intro 
01:12 | Bishop Barron in Rome 
02:01 | Aquinas' impact on Bishop Barron's formation 
03:56 | Why medieval thinkers like Aquinas still matter 
06:18 | The relationship between metaphysics and ethics 
07:29 | God as Being itself rather than as the greatest of beings 
12:43 | How God can be both transcendent and immanent 
15:58 | God's non-competitive relationship with Creation 
21:29 | Defining true human and social goods 
23:00 | Does metaphysical speculation have a role in politics? 
25:45 | Fr. Paul Murray, St. Thomas Aquinas, and the Dominican charism 
29:54 | Listener question 
31:49 | Word on Fire Institute

Show Notes:

• Learn about the Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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We continue now with the next lecture from Bishop Barron's popular course, "Dante's Catholic Imagination," available in its entirety inside the Word on Fire Institute. We follow as Dante tries to go forward on his journey, but he is blocked by the beasts of sin. Enjoy this further glimpse into Dante's always-relevant, poetic, moral, and theological genius. 

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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

Show Notes:

• "Why Americans Suddenly Stopped Hanging Out" article in The Atlantic
• Screen time stats: https://www.harmonyhit.com/phone-screen-time-statistics/?clreqid=a5b99b78-5919-4ddd-a2d7-5cb3c4e66e6d&kbid=58587
• Learn about the Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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Today we are excited to bring you the first lecture from Bishop Barron's popular course, "Dante's Catholic Imagination," which is available in its entirety inside the Word on Fire Institute. We hope you enjoy this deep dive into Dante's evergreen, always-relevant poetic, moral, and theological genius. 

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Pope St. John Paul II used the term "culture of death'' in his 1995 encyclical Evangelium Vitae to capture the secular world's dark confluence of poisonous ideas and practices that lead—directly and indirectly—to spiritual and physical ruin.

Sadly, we've seen the the culture of death advance on many fronts. Today, we focus on the increasing legalization of suicide in the United States and abroad. Listen as we discuss the issue and how Catholics can and should respond to it. 

A listener asks why we pray for the dead, and can we pray for the souls on atheists and non-Catholics?

00:00 | Intro 
01:18 | Bishop Barron's recent diocesan work 
02:34 | The role of euphemism in the euthanasia debate 
06:39 | Unpacking "autonomy" and "compassion" 
12:31 | Responding to critics of the slippery slope argument 
20:56 | The State's role in moral disputes 
24:40 | How can Catholics positively respond to euthanasia? 
26:50 | Listener question 
28:15 | Word on Fire Institute

SHOW NOTES:

• Evangelium Vitae
• "It's Not Your Life, It's Not Your Death, It's Not Your Choice" article by Bishop Barron
• https://www.compassionandchoices.org/resource/states-or-territories-where-medical-aid-in-dying-is-authorized
• https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254197/assisted-suicide-in-the-united-states-where-is-it-legal
• Learn more about the Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/

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Today we bring you Bishop Barron's keynote address from the recent Good News Conference. In it, he speaks in depth about what it means to be a full witness to Jesus Christ. Enjoy! 

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According to Fortune magazine, overall undergraduate enrollment experienced the steepest rate of decline on record from 2019 to 2022, and it has only worsened since then. There are several explanations, but one cause is entirely self-imposed: most universities and colleges have now replaced education with ideology, subverting the search for truth with political indoctrination. Today, we discuss the ideological takeover of higher education and how the Catholic conception of the university can help provide an antidote. 

A listener asks, if priests are meant to represent Jesus, are nuns supposed to represent Mary?

00:00 | Intro
01:47 | Catholic social thought tradition and the higher education crisis
03:50 | Differences between Catholic and secular universities
04:50 | Seeking while knowing the truth
07:33 | Resisting relativism
09:30 | Catholic staff ratios for Catholic universities
11:16 | Segregating Catholic identity
13:51 | Academic freedom at Catholic universities
15:46 | Dicy freedom of speech claims
17:06 | Catholic universities and male participation
18:37 | Higher education and vocational training
20:35 | High costs and accessibility
21:51 | What can we do to course-correct universities that have lost their way?
24:50 | Listener question
26:01 | Word on Fire Institute

Links

• "Ivy League Presidents and the Collapse of Moral Reasoning" by Bishop Barron
• Statistic on men in 4-year schools: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/12/18/fewer-young-men-are-in-college-especially-at-4-year-schools/
• Learn more about the Word on Fire Institute: Institute.WordonFire.org

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Today, we are bringing you a recent conversation from the "Bishop Barron Presents" series between Bishop Barron and Congressman Ro Khanna. Congressman Khanna represents California's 17th Congressional District, best known as the home of Silicon Valley. Over the course of the conversation, the Bishop and he discussed his background, Catholic social teaching, various policy matters, finding common ground, and why the American experiment is a great and worthwhile endeavor. Enjoy!

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Friends, the Book of Jonah is one of the shortest books of the Bible, yet it's packed with profound truths about hearing and obeying the voice of God. On today's episode of "The Word on Fire Show," Brandon Vogt and I discuss this powerful little book.

A listener asks, why did Jesus show up when he did and not at a different point in time? What would the world look like had he showed up later, or not at all?

00:00 | Intro
00:46 | Bishop Barron on Catholic Schools Week
01:51 | Bishop Barron's recent conversation with Jordan Peterson
02:47 | Intro to the book of Jonah
04:41 | Jonah's opening narrative
09:25 | Lessons from Luke's road to Emmaus and Jonah
11:00 | The significance of Jonah's storm
14:31 | The significance of Jonah's fish
16:58 | Answering Jonah's critics
18:22 | Jonah's concluding narrative
20:17 | Jesus' words on Jonah
22:48 | More resources on Jonah
23:34 | Listener question
26:17 | New book—Princesses of Heaven: The Flowers
27:13 | Special announcement about future of WOF Show

Links

• A Journey with Jonah: The Spirituality of Bewilderment by Fr. Paul Murray
• Princesses of Heaven: The Flowers by Fabiola Garza

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Friends, what's the proper relationship between liberal democracy and the Catholic Church? Many smart and reflective people, on either side of the Catholic/American divide, have felt that the two systems, democracy and Catholicism, were incompatible. But why?

Using the thought of the 19th century French diplomat and political philosopher, Alexis de Tocqueville, Bishop Barron explores this question in his 2023 Russell Kirk Lecture for the Heritage Foundation, titled "The Breakdown of the Tocquevillean Equilibrium." Enjoy!

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Friends, we are in the midst of a mental health crisis, with many calling it another pandemic. Record-high numbers of Americans are facing depression and suicide. Nearly half of young people report feelings of persistent sadness or hopelessness. What's behind this crisis, and how can the Church help? That's what Brandon Vogt and I discuss on today's episode of "The Word on Fire Show."

A listener asks, is "just war theory" a concession to human weakness? How do we square that with Jesus' teachings on non-violence?

00:00 | Intro
01:09 | USCCB recap on surrogacy
03:49 | Why the mental health crisis matters to bishops
06:00 | Social media's role in damaged mental health
09:39 | Community's role in healing mental health
13:03 | The connection between psychological and spiritual suffering
16:09 | Religious disaffiliation and mental illness
17:47 | Who is St. Dymphna?
18:40 | A word for those wrestling with poor mental health
20:55 | Listener question
24:17 | New book—"Christ Brings All Newness"

Links

• Bishop Barron's statement on surrogacy
• Christ Brings All Newness: Essays, Reviews, and Reflections by Fr. Robert Imbelli

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Today, we're excited to share with you Bishop Barron's recent talk at the 2023 Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) Conference held in London, England. His talk was titled "What is the True Nature of Freedom?"

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!

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Friends, the Catholic Church seems locked in constant disagreements, often between so-called liberal and conservative Catholics. But is there a third way to lead us out of this quagmire?

Cardinal Francis George offers a compelling answer, which Brandon Vogt and I discuss on today's episode of the "Word on Fire Show."

A listener asks, did Jesus ever get sick?

00:00 | Intro
01:13 | New episodes of "Bishop Barron Presents" are back!
03:24 | Who was Cardinal Francis George?
06:31 | Cardinal George's critique of liberal Catholicism
09:45 | Why liberal Catholicism falls short of giving life
12:26 | Cardinal George's critique of conservative Catholicism
18:11 | Cardinal George's solution: simply Catholicism
20:53 | How Is Catholicism for our times and against our times?
23:38 | What Cardinal George might say to us today
24:39 | Listener question
26:41 | 2024 Wonder Conference

Links

• "How Liberalism Fails the Church" by Cardinal Francis George (Commonweal)
• Register for the 2024 Wonder Conference (August 2-4, 2024 – Rochester, MN)

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Friends, today we're excited to share with you the newest episode in our "Bishop Barron Presents" series. In this discussion, Bishop Barron talks with Fr. Joseph Fessio, SJ.

Fr. Fessio was formed by some of the greatest figures of twentieth-century Catholicism, including Henri de Lubac, Joseph Ratzinger, and Hans Urs von Balthasar. This fascinating conversation covers his life story, his education, his experience in Europe, the founding of Ignatius Press, and much more. 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!

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

Links

• Ethics for Beginners by Peter Kreeft

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Today, we're excited to share with you Bishop Barron's recent talk at Harvard University titled "The Catholic Intellectual Tradition," sponsored by the Harvard Catholic Forum.

Bishop Barron explores some foundational themes in the Catholic intellectual tradition, including God, the human person, sin and grace, society, and freedom. All flow from Christology, our understanding of Jesus, so that, as St. Bonaventure said, Christ is truly found at the center of all the disciplines pursued in the university.

Get your copy of Word on Fire's 2024 Lent Reflection booklets: WordonFire.org/Lent2024

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Friends, each of us wants to be a good person. But how do we actually do that? How do we truly become a person of love? That's what Brandon Vogt and I discuss on today's "Word on Fire Show" episode.

A listener asks, if I did not inherit the sins of my parents, why did I inherit the sins of Adam and Eve?

00:00 | Intro
00:46 | Update on Winona-Rochester Diocesan Pastoral Center
02:38 | Dorothy Day and the need for corporal and spiritual works of mercy
04:41 | The seven corporal works of mercy
05:50 | Corporal works of mercy as measuring marks for self-examination
06:36 | 1) Feed the hungry, 2) give drink to the thirsty, 3) clothe the naked
10:53 | Direct aid for the needy vs. indirect aid
12:57 | 4) Visit the imprisoned—is this literal?
14:41 | How acts of love can lead to peace
17:27 | 5) Shelter the homeless
18:53 | 6) Visit the sick
21:02 | 7) Bury the dead
22:57 | How ordinary parents can pursue corporal works of mercy
24:12 | Listener question
27:21 | 2024 Lenten Reflections booklet from Word on Fire

Links

• 2024 Lent Reflections Booklet – FREE copy!

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Friends, the prologue of the Gospel of St. John is one of the richest and most densely textured writings in the scriptures as John expresses the very nature of God and the profundity of the Incarnation that we celebrate every Christmas.

Merry Christmas to you on behalf of my whole Word on Fire team!

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Friends, is the Christmas story little more than a sweet, saccharine tale about a cute baby being born? Or do the Gospels present something more subversive and revolutionary, a battle between two great kings? That's what Brandon Vogt and I discuss on today's "Word on Fire Show" episode.

A listener asks, whose body is the Body of Christ in the Eucharist? Infant, crucified, or resurrected Jesus?

00:00 | Intro
01:31 | Bishop Barron at Good News Conference
03:56 | The surprising subversiveness of the Christmas story
05:44 | Christmas details—Caesar and his census
08:31 | Christmas details—"no room in the inn"
10:37 | Christmas details—swaddling clothes
12:06 | Christmas details—laid in a manger
13:36 | Christmas details—shepherds as first witnesses
15:47 | Christmas details—"do not be afraid"
18:38 | Christmas details—"heavenly host" of angels
23:47 | Why did God come as a baby?
25:16 | Listener question
26:43 | Join the WOF Institute

Links

• Word on Fire Institute – Join Today!

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Today, we're excited to share with you Bishop Barron's keynote talk from the 2023 Acton University conference, hosted by The Acton Institute.

"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.

 

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Friends, can everything in the world be reduced to atoms bumping against each other, and chemical reactions in our brains? Or is there something more to reality than its material elements?

That's what Brandon Vogt and I discuss on today's "Word on Fire Show" episode, with the help of a new book by Justin Brierley, titled The Surprising Rebirth of Belief In God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again.

A listener asks, if feelings are not acts of the will, what is contrition? A feeling, an act of the will, both, or neither?

00:00 | Intro
00:58 | Word on Fire's New Ressourcement Conference
03:10 | The problem with Materialism
07:56 | The problem with Determinism
10:57 | Consciousness and the problem it poses to Materialism
16:34 | Rationality, C.S. Lewis, and atheism
19:44 | Beauty as a path to transcendence
23:25 | Materialism's inadequacy as a source of meaning
26:03 | The Meaning Crisis without the Highest Good
29:48 | Listener question
31:36 | New book—"Popcorn with the Pope"

Links

• The Surprising Rebirth of Belief In God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again by Justin Brierley
• Popcorn with the Pope: A Guide to the Vatican Film List by David Paul Baird, Andrew Petiprin, and Michael Ward

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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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Friends, an exciting group of psychologists, scientists, and thought leaders are rediscovering the beauty and brilliance of the Bible.

What's causing so many of them to look at the Bible with fresh eyes? That's what Brandon Vogt and I discuss on today's "Word on Fire Show" episode, with the help of a new book by Justin Brierley, titled The Surprising Rebirth of Belief In God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again.

A listener asks, how can Jesus be, at the same time, a God and a human being since God's nature and human nature have many differences?

Links

• The Surprising Rebirth of Belief In God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again by Justin Brierley
• The Golden Key and Other Fairy Tales by George MacDonald

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Today, we're excited to share Fr. Robert Spitzer's keynote talk from the 2022 Good News Conference on "The Evidence for God from Science." Fr. Spitzer introduces a growing amount of evidence for God found in contemporary science, along with data suggesting a rising number of young scientists who are open to God.

Fr. Spitzer is the President of the Magis Center of Reason and Faith and the Spitzer Center. He has authored several books including New Proofs for the Existence of God: Contributions of Contemporary Physics and Philosophy (2010) and Science at the Doorstep to God: Science and Reason in Support of God, the Soul, and Life after Death (2023).

Links

• 100 Great Catholic Poems edited by Sally Read

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Today, we're excited to share with you the newest episode in our "Bishop Barron Presents" series. In this discussion, Bishop Barron talks with writer, filmmaker, and activist Chris Rufo.

Chris is the author of a new book titled America's Cultural Revolution: How the Radical Left Conquered Everything. He has directed four documentaries for PBS and is a senior fellow of the Manhattan Institute and a contributing edi­tor of the public policy magazine City Journal. His reporting and activism have inspired a presidential order, a national grassroots movement, and legislation in twenty-two states.

Sit back and take in this latest conversation in our series "Bishop Barron Presents". Enjoy!

Links

• America's Cultural Revolution: How the Radical Left Conquered Everything by Christopher Rufo

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Today, we share a discussion between Brandon Vogt and Fr. Steve Grunow, Word on Fire's CEO and resident Halloween expert.

Several years back, Fr. Steve wrote an article for Word on Fire's website titled "It's Time for Catholic to Embrace Halloween" that went viral and remains one of our most popular articles of all time.

In today's discussion, Fr. Steve explains what Halloween is fundamentally about, whether it is of pagan origin, and what a properly Catholic celebration of Halloween looks like.

00:00 | Intro 
00:56 | Why is Halloween fascinating? 
02:11 | What is Halloween fundamentally about? 
03:10 | All Saints, All Souls, and Halloween 
05:01 | Excesses in how Halloween is sometimes celebrated 
06:36 | Is Halloween essentially a pagan holiday? 
08:33 | Is Halloween evil, a doorway to darkness? 
11:10 | Memento mori and Halloween 
12:34 | Connection between Halloween and costumes 
14:18 | "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"
14:54 | Candy and Halloween 
16:31 | What would a properly Catholic celebration of Halloween look like?

Links

• "It's Time for Catholics to Embrace Halloween" (Word on Fire) – Fr. Steve Grunow

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Friends, the New Atheism movement rose quickly in the early 2000s, led by vicious critics of religion such as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens. What made their polemics so popular and effective? And how did the New Atheist movement decline and fade almost as quickly over the past few years?

That's what Brandon Vogt and I discuss on today's "Word on Fire Show" episode, with the help of an excellent new book by Justin Brierley titled The Surprising Rebirth of Belief In God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again.

A listener asks, does the Catholic Church teach that the Holy Spirit has a gender?

00:00 | Intro
00:50 | Bishop Barron's visit to Harvard University
02:55 | Justin Brierley – The Surprising Rebirth of Belief In God
03:32 | What is the New Atheism?
07:17 | What led to the rise of the New Atheism?
10:22 | Why the New Atheism appealed to young people
12:46 | How the New Atheism began to unravel
15:43 | How the New Atheism revitalized Christian apologetics
17:19 | The New Atheism's failure to provide a satisfying alternative to religion
21:50 | New questions being asked by seekers and skeptics
24:21 | Listener question
26:49 | New book – Know Thyself: Catholic Classical Education and the Discovery of Self

Links

• The Surprising Rebirth of Belief In God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again by Justin Brierley
• Know Thyself: Catholic Classical Education and the Discovery of Self by Andrew Youngblood

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Today, we share a fun discussion between Brandon Vogt and Haley Stewart, Editor of Word on Fire Spark, our new imprint of books for young readers. Topics include:

• Were you a reader growing up? What were some of your favorite books?
• How would you assess the current landscape of childrens' books? What's good? What's missing?
• What is Word on Fire Spark and how did it come to be?
• What is the mission/vision for Spark? How will Spark books stand out among other books for children?
• Upcoming books from Word on Fire Spark
• Forthcoming "Spark the Imagination" podcast
• The Spark Bible – a new Bible for young Catholic readers

Links

• Word on Fire Spark
• Saintly Creatures: 14 Tales of Animals and Their Holy Companions by Alexi Sargeant

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Friends, five years ago, we started what has become the largest online community of Catholic evangelists: the Word on Fire Institute.

Where did this come from, what's the purpose of the Institute, and what's coming next? That's what Brandon Vogt and I discuss on today's episode of "The Word on Fire Show."

A listener asks, will God still create humans in heaven?

00:00 | Intro
01:17 | Bishop Barron's USCCB meeting
02:13 | Updates from the Diocese of Winona-Rochester
04:06 | Where did Word on Fire Institute come from?
08:00 | Building an army of Catholic evangelists
09:36 | St. Thérèse of Lisieux and the Word on Fire Institute
11:04 | Introducing Dr. Petrusek, new Senior Director of the Institute
12:52 | What a fully-formed evangelist looks like
14:53 | Why evangelists should be familiar with popular culture
17:36 | Why Catholic evangelists must understand the "nones"
19:31 | The future of the Word on Fire Institute
21:01 | Master's Degree in Evangelization and Culture w/ University of St. Thomas
22:43 | Listener Question
24:40 | Join the Word on Fire Institute!

Links

• Word on Fire Institute (free 30 day trial!)

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Today we share Bishop Barron's keynote talk from the 2023 Chesterton Conference from July 27, 2023, in Minneapolis, MN. The theme of the conference was "Chesterton and St. Francis" as it is the 100th anniversary of the publication of Chesterton's biography of St. Francis, and Bishop Barron spoke about the enduring genius of that book. Enjoy!

Links

• St. Francis of Assisi by G.K. Chesterton
• Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton (Word on Fire Classics)
• Pivotal Players: G.K. Chesterton (Word on Fire) – Watch FREE when you join the Word on Fire Institute
• Chesterton.org

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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?

Links

• Bishop Barron at World Youth Day
• Christianity for Modern Pagans: Pascal's Pensees Edited, Outlined, and Explained by Peter Kreeft
• Saintly Creatures: 14 Tales of Animals and Their Holy Companions by Alexi Sargeant

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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!

Links

• "Wildcat" film (IMDB)

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Friends, why are we so tempted to scapegoat people, especially online? And how do we escape that trap?

On today's episode of "The Word on Fire Show," Brandon Vogt and I discuss the great Catholic philosopher René Girard and his theory of scapegoating.

A listener asks, what does Bishop Barron think of classical education?

Links

• Bishop Barron Presents: Luke Burgis
• All Desire is a Desire for Being edited by Cynthia Haven
• I See Satan Fall Like Lightning by René Girard
• Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life by Luke Burgis
• Tolkien's Faith: A Spiritual Biography by Holly Ordway

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J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings, is one of the best-selling books ever, selling over 150 million copies. In a 1999 poll of Amazon.com customers, The Lord of the Rings was judged to be their favorite "book of the millennium".

However, few people know that Tolkien was an ardent Catholic. Holly Ordway has written a fascinating new volume titled Tolkien's Faith: A Spiritual Biography, which shows how his faith and his fiction were related, though in subtle and complex ways. This long-overdue spiritual biography gives new insight into his works by shedding fresh light on their author's deepest-held convictions.

Brandon Vogt recently sat down with Holly to discuss her new book and the depth of Tolkien's Catholic life.

Links

• Tolkien's Faith: A Spiritual Biography by J.R.R. Tolkien

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Friends, is work something good or bad? Is it central to being human, or a punishment resulting from sin? And how do we understand our work theologically, tying it to God?

On today's episode of "The Word on Fire Show," Brandon Vogt and I discuss the Catholic Church's view toward the dignity of work and the rights of workers, learning from Dorothy Day, St. Josemaría Escrivá, and several recent popes.

A listener asks, what do you mean by the term "transcendence," and how does it differ from immanent?

Links

• The Theology of Bishop Barron by Matthew Levering
• Catholic Social Teaching Collection by Word on Fire

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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.

Links

• A Grand Slam for God: A Journey from College Baseball Star to Catholic Priest by Fr. Burke Masters

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Friends, death is a topic most of us try to avoid. So, why does Catholicism teach we should meditate regularly on our death?

On today's episode of "The Word on Fire Show," Brandon Vogt and I discuss the ancient Christian practice of memento mori (remember your death), and how Christ solves the four problems that death poses to each of us: identity, futility, loss, and the end of earthly joys.

A listener asks, what should Catholics think about near death experiences and stories?

Links

• Understanding the Hillbilly Thomist: The Philosophical Foundations of Flannery O'Connor's Narrative Art by Fr. Damian Ference
• Remember Death: The Surprising Path to Living Hope by Mathew McCullough
• The Soul's Upward Yearning: Clues to Our Transcendent Nature from Experience and Reason by Fr. Robert Spitzer

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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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Friends, what makes great leaders great? Why do certain men and women seem to lead with such effectiveness?

On today's episode of "The Word on Fire Show," Brandon Vogt and I discuss several great leaders including Jesus, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King, Jr., Pope St. John Paul II, and Queen Elizabeth II.

A listener asks, how can I be sure if I'm acting out a theo-drama or an ego-drama?

Links

• Evangelization and Ideology: How to Understand and Respond to the Political Culture by Matthew Petrusek
• The Thomistic Response to the Nouvelle Théologie: Concerning the Truth of Dogma and the Nature of Theology by Raymond-Léopold Bruckberger

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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.

That's why most parishes fail to engage 93% of parishioners, and it's why Matthew Warner wrote his excellent new book titled Why They Follow: Lessons in Church Communication from That One Lost Sheep, which was just published by Word on Fire.

Today, Brandon Vogt sits down with Matthew to discuss the book and the communications tips and strategies he recommends.

The Church needs great communicators. This book will teach you to be one. It belongs on every church leader's desk.

Links

• Why They Follow: Lessons in Church Communication from That One Lost Sheep by Matthew Warner

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Friends, Christians often speak of "having a personal relationship with Christ" or "knowing Jesus personally," but what does this actually mean? Is it possible? How do we go beyond knowing about Christ to truly knowing him? That's what Brandon Vogt and I discuss on today's "Word on Fire Show."

A listener considering conversion to Catholicism asks, how do I go about looking for a parish?

Links

• Why They Follow: Lessons in Church Communication from That One Lost Sheep by Matthew Warner

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In this talk from the 2022 Good News Conference, Dr. Gianna Emanuela Molla shares the story of her mother, St. Gianna Beretta Molla, patron saint of mothers, physicians, and unborn children. She also discusses her parents' love through their many letters and their devotion to Our Lord, which solidified their union. 

St. Gianna's holiness had everything to do with her beloved husband, Pietro. They were both dedicated to working for the salvation of their spouse's soul, and this commitment to love and holiness inspired their children to trust in divine providence.

Learn more about the Good News Conference and sign up to attend this year's conference at https://goodnewsconference.com.

Links

• Good News Conference

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Friends, my favorite current TV show, "Mrs. Davis," features an adventurous nun, a search for the Holy Grail, and an all-powerful algorithm. It also raises many interesting questions about artificial intelligence, God, free will, and our mystical union with Christ.

In today's "Word on Fire Show," Brandon Vogt and I discuss these themes and more.

(NOTE: This episode does not contain any major spoilers so it's safe to listen before watching the series.)

A listener asks, is artificial intelligence a threat or an opportunity for evangelization?

Links

• The Mystical Body of Christ by Fulton Sheen w/ introduction by Brandon Vogt and foreword by Bishop Barron

In this talk from the 2022 Good News Conference, Fr. Paul Murray reminds us that the God whom we are seeking is endlessly seeking us. It is through beauty that our hearts can be pierced with the desire to know God more deeply, and it is often by stories and poetry that God communicates his message. Our God is a lover, a poet, and he goes after the least of us.

Learn more about the Good News Conference and sign up to attend this year's conference at https://goodnewsconference.com.

Links

• Good News Conference

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Friends, an interesting article was published at The Gospel Coalition titled "Savior or Stoics? Why Modern Men Look for Spiritual Wisdom Outside the Church". The author observed how a growing number of young men are filling a moral and spiritual void in their lives by turning to modern self-help books based on ancient Stoic thinkers. Authors such as Jordan Peterson, Ryan Holiday, and Navy SEAL Jocko Willink have won large followings of men by translating the principles of Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus into modern advice.

Why is Stoicism so appealing to many young men today? And what lessons might Christians learn from this development? That is what Brandon Vogt and I discuss on today's episode of "The Word on Fire Show."

A listener asks for recommendations before receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time.

Links

• "Savior or Stoics? Why Modern Men Look for Spiritual Wisdom Outside the Church" by Shane Morris (The Gospel Coalition)
• Word on Fire Eucharist resources
• This is My Body: A Call to Eucharistic Revival by Bishop Robert Barron ($2 per copy)

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In this talk from the 2022 Good News Conference, Britt Fisk, shares her wisdom on what it means to hand over complete trust to the Lord, particularly in times of great suffering. Though we may feel like we're at a loss when we are not in control, this is the moment when the Lord meets us and asks us to hand over control and trust his will for our lives. As Britt affirms through her story of suffering, untold beauty comes from that surrender of control. 

Learn more about the Good News Conference and sign up to attend this year's conference at https://goodnewsconference.com.

Links

• Good News Conference

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Friends, what fuels our modern "culture of contempt," so prevalent online? And how can Catholics resist it?

A helpful new book by John Allen, Jr., Catholics and Contempt, seeks to answer those questions, and on today's "Word on Fire Show" I discuss the book with Brandon Vogt.

A listener asks, do the three transcendentals include unity?

Links

• Catholics and Contempt: How Catholic Media Fuel Today's Fights and What to Do About It by John Allen, Jr.
• Word on Fire Bible, Vol III: The Pentateuch
• This is My Body by Bishop Robert Barron
• Word on Fire Rosary Initiative

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Friends, in February 2023, at the Sharing the Church's Story Conference in London, I reflected on the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and how these counsels can be lived out by the laity.

Vatican II wanted great Catholic parents, great Catholic lawyers, great Catholic politicians, great Catholic writers and journalists, great Catholic business leaders, great Catholic bankers and investors, and more living their faith vibrantly and publicly. How do we accomplish that? By living out the evangelical counsels.

Links

• Sharing the Church's Story Conference
• Word on Fire Bible, Volume III: The Pentateuch

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Friends, a recent study from the Pew Research Center found that nearly seven-in-ten Catholics (69%) believe that during Mass, the bread and wine used in communion "are symbols of the body and blood of Jesus Christ." Only one-third of U.S. Catholics believe in the doctrine of transubstantiation, which says the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Jesus.

This is a spiritual crisis, and in response, the United States bishops have launched a three-year Eucharistic revival to help Catholics understand the truth and beauty of this sacrament. On today's episode of "The Word on Fire Show," Brandon Vogt and I discuss our hopes for the revival and the special resource Word on Fire created to accompany it.

A listener asks, if the Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, is the Eucharist a person?

Links

• National Eucharistic Revival
• Word on Fire Eucharist resources
• This is My Body: A Call to Eucharistic Revival by Bishop Robert Barron ($2 per copy)

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Friends, in February 2023, award-winning historian, author, and broadcaster Tom Holland and I discussed Western culture, the intellectual and moral aspects of Christianity, and the doctrine of original sin, among many other topics, at the Sharing the Church's Story Conference in London.

Links

• Sharing the Church's Story Conference
• This is My Body: A Call to Eucharistic Revival by By Bishop Robert Barron

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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?

Links

• Venerable Jerome Lejeune Fellowship
• Ordered by Love: An Introduction to John Duns Scotus by Thomas Ward
• This is My Body: A Call to Eucharistic Revival by Bishop Robert Barron

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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?

Links

• As Kingfishers Catch Fire: Selected and Annotated Poems of Gerard Manley Hopkins edited with an introduction and notes by Holly Ordway

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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.

Links

• Good News Conference

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Friends, what are the liberal arts, and why are so many schools getting rid of them? A recent article in The New Yorker titled "The End of the English Major" revealed that during the past decade, the study of English and history at the collegiate level has fallen by a full third.

Do the liberal arts still matter? Why should people study them? That's what I discuss with Brandon Vogt on today's episode of "The Word on Fire Show."

A listener asks, what is your response to the claim that more blood has been shed in history over the name of Jesus Christ than any other individual?

Links

• "The End of the English Major" (The New Yorker) – Nathan Heller
• "Don't Give Up on the Liberal Arts!" (Word on Fire) – Bishop Robert Barron
• Subscribe to Bishop Barron's YouTube channel
• Subscribe to Word on Fire Institute YouTube channel

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In his keynote talk at the 2022 Good News Conference, Bishop Barron speaks on the evangelical power of beauty in the Catholic tradition. True beauty leads by steady steps to the ultimate source of beauty, Christ.

To evangelize, we can show the Sistine Chapel or Chartres Cathedral; show someone how to read Brideshead Revisited, the stories of Flannery O'Connor, or the poetry of T.S. Eliot; listen to Beethoven's "Seventh Symphony." This great tradition of beauty has the power to draw people in.

Links

• Good News Conference

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Friends, one major theme appearing throughout the teachings of Pope Francis is the danger of technocracy. In his 2015 encyclical, Laudato si', he coined the term "technocratic paradigm," using the term five times in the encyclical.

Should we be concerned about our technocratic society, one dominated by tech and science and which, in turn, aims to dominates nature? That's what I discuss with Brandon Vogt today on "The Word on Fire Show."

A listener asks, what's the difference between the Protestant and Catholic understandings of the Church?

Links

• Word on Fire Liturgy of the Hours (Founder's Discount ends 3/31)
• Bishop Barron at The Heritage Foundation
• Bishop Barron w/ Brett McKay on "Art of Manliness"
• Bishop Barron w/ Alex O'Connor on "Within Reason"
• Laudato si' by Pope Francis
• Letters from Lake Como: Explorations in Technology and the Human Race by Romano Guardini
• After Humanity: A Guide to C.S. Lewis's The Abolition of Man by Michael Ward

Friends, in this conversation at the 2021 Good News Conference, Bishop Robert Barron and Fr. Mike Schmitz share about their vocation stories.

This is part of a much longer conversation the two shared. You can hear the full discussion in episode 331 of the "Word on Fire Show," during which they discuss how they began their ministry on YouTube, their favorite movies, and what inspired them to approach their creative presentations to the Bible.

Links

• Good News Conference

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Friends, today we share with you Chris Stefanick's talk from the 2021 Good News Conference. In a world fraught with fear, anxiety, and denial, Chris explores the fundamental rules for living joyfully.

Links

• Good News Conference
• Word on Fire Liturgy of the Hours

Friends, in today's episode of "The Word on Fire Show," we share Lecture 1 from Peter Kreeft's new 12-part video series on "Socrates' Children: The Great Debates of Philosophy." In this lecture series, Dr. Peter Kreeft examines key ideas in philosophy by comparing and contrasting two representative philosophers in each lecture. The first lecture compares the father of philosophy, Socrates, with the Sophists, whose philosophy is marked more by cleverness and emotion rather than by wisdom and truth.

This video series is being released alongside Word on Fire's new book series by Kreeft, titled Socrates' Children: An Introduction to Philosophy from the 100 Greatest Philosophers. In this four-volume series, Kreeft examines with his characteristic wit and clarity, the big ideas of four major eras—ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary—and immerses the reader in the "great conversation" the ongoing dialogue among the great thinkers of history.

Links

• Socrates' Children books + video series

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Friends, we often find two groups in the Church in tension with each other: those concerned with the liturgy and those concerned with social justice.

On today's episode of "The Word on Fire Show," Brandon Vogt and I discuss how to bridge this great divide, and why we should have enthusiasm for both the liturgy and the Church's social doctrine.

A listener asks, can you repeat the argument for God that persuaded you as a high schooler?

Links

• Socrates' Children: An Introduction to Philosophy from the 100 Greatest Philosophers by Peter Kreeft

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Friends, today we share Fr. Stephen Gadberry's keynote talk from the recent Good News Conference in Orlando, Florida.

As Fr. Gadberry explains, every baptized Christian shares in Jesus' offices of priest, prophet, and king. In this talk, Fr. Gadberry focuses on the priestly role and discusses the responsibility of every Christian to pray and work in union with Christ for the sanctification of the world.

Links

• Good News Conference

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Friends, there are thousands of religions out there. So, why think Christianity is the right one? And why Catholic Christianity in particular?

On today's episode of "The Word on Fire Show," Brandon Vogt and I discuss these challenges which have been raised during Bishop Barron's Reddit #AMAs.

A listener asks, do you have any advice for a Muslim considering conversion to Catholicism?

Links

• The Word on Fire Vatican II Collection: Decrees and Declarations

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.

Links

• Good News Conference
• The Power of the Cross: Good Friday Sermons from the Papal Preacher by Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa

Friends, do we have a right to choose how and when we die? Should we be worried about the rapid rise of euthanasia, including in the United States?

Euthanasia has been in the news lately thanks to reports out of Canada, where last year, over 10,000 Canadians ended their lives via euthanasia. Those numbers are sure to go up, as Canada has loosened restrictions so that people can now choose euthanasia not only to avoid pain and suffering in the face of terminal disease, but simply for "mental health reasons."

On today's episode of "The Word on Fire Show," Brandon Vogt and I discuss these alarming trends and how to make the case that life is worth living.

A listener asks, why does it matter where we go to worship the Lord as long as we're doing so?

Links

• The Power of the Cross: Good Friday Sermons from the Papal Preacher by Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa

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Friends, the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life. In the Mass, God is glorified and humans are sanctified.

In his keynote address at the recent Good News Conference, Abbot Jeremy Driscoll walks us through the beauty and richness of the Mass, in which we worship the Lord and then are sent out to proclaim the Good News of Jesus' victory over sin and death.

Abbot Jeremy is a Benedictine monk and was elected the 12th abbot of Mount Angel Abbey, elected by the community in March of 2016. He has taught theology at Mount Angel Seminary and at Sant' Anselmo in Rome. He continues to serve on various Vatican commissions, conducts conferences and retreats throughout the world, and continues to write and publish.

Links

• Good News Conference

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Friends, we just marked the 60th anniversary of the opening of Vatican II, the Second Vatican Council. Six decades later, can we say the Council was a success? A failure? Something in between?

On today's episode of "The Word on Fire Show," Brandon Vogt discuss a provocative pair of op-eds published in the New York Times by Ross Douthat, who argues that the Council was both necessary and a failure, and yet cannot be undone.

A listener asks, if God is without form, then at the Transfiguration, what was Jesus transformed into?

Links

• "How Catholics Became Prisoners of Vatican II" – Ross Douthat
• "How Vatican II Failed Catholics—and Catholicism" – Ross Douthat
• The Word on Fire Vatican II Collection
• The Paschal Mystery: Reflections for Lent and Easter (Word on Fire Lent booklet)

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Friends, how do we educate the whole person? Religious sister and mental health counselor Sr. Josephine Garrett talks about this question in her keynote speech at the recent Good News Conference.

In her talk, Sr. Josephine shares how in order for the whole person to be educated, the object of the education must be properly ordered to the love of God.

Links

• Good News Conference

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?

Links

• "The Case for Kids" by Kevin DeYoung (First Things)

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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.

We specifically touch on five key areas:

1) True reform vs. false reform in the Church

2) Liturgical renewal

3) Importance of the Bible for theology

4) Synthesis of faith and reason

5) Christocentrism

Links

• Bishop Barron's resources on Pope Benedict XVI
• The Pope Benedict XVI Reader (Word on Fire)

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Friends, when society dismisses the natural law tradition, is it any wonder we see voluntarism take its place? I recently spoke with Ben Shapiro on his Daily Wire show about natural law, family, happiness and much more.

Links

• Bishop Barron on Ben Shapiro's "Sunday Special"

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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?

Links

• Good News Conference

Friends, today we share Fr. Mike Schmitz's keynote talk from the recent Good News Conference in Orlando, Florida.

As Fr. Mike explains, joy is a choice, just like love. We can either chase the feeling or choose the reality. Joy comes from the fact that you know that God is here and that you are known and loved by him. The Christian life is a pursuit of the One who loved us first, the One in whom we find our true joy.

Links

• Good News Conference

Friends, why is art important? An uptick in vandalism against famous pieces of art, calling to mind outbreaks of iconoclasm throughout history, has raised questions about art's value and purpose.

On today's "Word on Fire Show," I discuss with Brandon Vogt why art matters.

A listener asks, is God's true nature love or truth? What's the interplay between those two?

Links

• The Great Story of Israel: Election, Freedom, Holiness by Bishop Robert Barron

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Friends, today we share Bishop Barron's 2022 Commencement Address at Benedictine College, which he offered on May 14, 2022.

Well aware that he was on Benedictine ground, a place filled with the mind and spirit of St. Benedict, Bishop Barron shared some simple rules of life that flow from the heart of that great saint.

Friends, in many parts of the world the Catholic Church is shrinking. Parishes are closing or merging, pastors are devising strategies of consolidation. But for the Church to flourish, we can't just manage decline. We need strategies for growth. That's what Brandon Vogt and I discuss on today's "The Word on Fire Show."

A listener asks, why should Catholics be pro-life?

Links

• Newman on Doctrinal Corruption by Matthew Levering

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A new Word on Fire book titled With All Her Mind: A Call to the Intellectual Life features essays by Catholic women who offer a call to pursue what is too often excluded from our picture of femininity: the intellectual life.

Full of practical advice and personal testimonies, and featuring a foreword by celebrated scholar Tracey Rowland, this collection opens readers to the endlessly unique ways for a woman to follow the first and greatest commandment: to love the Lord with all her soul, with all her heart, and with all her mind.

Today we share an interview with the editor of the book, Rachel Bulman, conducted by Haley Stewart, Editing Manager of Word on Fire Spark.

Links

• With All Her Mind: A Call to the Intellectual Life edited by Rachel Bulman

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Friends, what is the role of religion in civic life? Must we bracket religion from the political sphere? Those are pressing questions as we near the midterm elections. On today's "Word on Fire Show," Brandon Vogt and I discuss the relationship between politics and religion and the proper place of tolerance.

A listener asks, do you have any recommendations for explaining the Eucharist to high schoolers?

Links

• Light of the Saints by Cory Heimann and Tricia Dugat

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Friends, today we share a recent discussion between Bishop Barron and the theologian Larry Chapp about Vatican II. The conversation ranges over several topics, including:

• Why evangelize?
• Deification through the Cross
• The 20th-century Biblical Renewal and the Liturgical Renewal
• Evangelization and the Use of Beauty
• Revival of Catholic Art

If you missed the "Bishop Barron Presents" discussion with Larry Chapp, you can listen to that in episode #299 of this podcast.

Links

• Larry Chapp's YouTube channel
• Word on Fire Vatican II Collection

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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?

Links

• "The Three-City Problem of Modern Life" by Luke Burgis
• Food for the Soul: Reflections on the Mass Readings (Cycle A) by Peter Kreeft

Friends, today we share Lesson 1 from our new Word on Fire Institute course titled "Evangelizing Protestants." The course is taught by Andrew Petiprin, the Venerable Fulton J. Sheen Fellow of Popular Culture at the Word on Fire Institute, also a former Episcopal priest who converted to Catholicism.

Andrew takes you inside several important texts that express how the Church thinks about Protestants and explain how they belong with us in the Catholic Church. You'll look at works by St. John Henry Newman, Pope Pius IX, the Second Vatican Council, and Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

In this first lesson of the course, Andrew shares a little about his personal journey and encourages Catholics to support any Protestant friends or family members who may be discerning coming into full communion with the Catholic Church. He also draws on the particular experience of St. John Henry Newman. Andrew sees Newman as a role model for all our Protestant brothers and sisters who are considering making this step.

To watch the other lessons in this course, sign up for the Word on Fire Institute today!

Links

• Word on Fire Institute

Friends, what is a Holy Hour? How do you do it, and why should you start? On today's episode of the "Word on Fire Show," Brandon Vogt and I discuss one of the most powerful spiritual disciplines you can adopt.

A listener asks, if the Eucharist is so important, why isn't it mentioned in the Nicene Creed?

Links

• The Holy Hour: Meditations for Eucharistic Adoration edited by Matthew Becklo
• The Word Became Flesh: Reflection for Advent and Christmas edited by Matthew Becklo

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Friends, today we share a conversation I had with leaders at Biola University on proclaiming and encountering Christ. It was wonderful to sit down with our Protestant brothers and sisters to discuss the importance of evangelization in today's culture.

In this discussion, we explore how to evangelize through the new media, reach the disaffiliated, prepare to become an evangelist, and much more.

Links

• Story of a Soul by St. Thérèse of Lisieux (WOF Classics)

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?

Links

• WonderConference.com
• With All Her Mind: A Call to the Intellectual Life edited by Rachel Bulman
• The Holy Hour: Meditations for Eucharistic Adoration edited by Matthew Becklo

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Friends, today we share a talk I recently gave to the service men and women at the United State Air Force Academy. After previously speaking at the Naval Academy about three sailors from the Bible, then at West Point about three soldiers from the Old Testament, I wondered, what should I speak of to the Air Force Academy?

What came to me was the angels, those famous fliers in the pages of the Bible. I told the Air Force men and women that they are flyers, too, and so they should consider the angelic realm, the realm of pure spirits, those who fly into the very presence of God, becoming radiant by contact with him. I encouraged them to join the angels in flight, trust their life to a higher power, and become a person of right praise.

Links

• The Holy Hour: Meditations for Eucharistic Adoration edited by Matthew Becklo
• With All Her Mind: A Call to the Intellectual Life edited by Rachel Bulman

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Friends, on today's episode of the "Word on Fire Show," Brandon Vogt and I recap two recent discussions I shared with Lex Fridman and Shia LaBeouf. With over two million views combined, these discussions struck a chord with people and I think they reveal several lessons for Catholics interested in drawing others closer to God.

A listener asks, how do you get so many things done?

Links

• Lex Fridman discussion
• Shia LeBeouf discussion
• The Holy Hour: Meditations for Eucharistic Adoration edited by Matthew Becklo
• With All Her Mind: A Call to the Intellectual Life edited by Rachel Bulman
• Wonder Conference

Friends, today we share my recent "Bishop Barron Presents" discussion with Shia LeBeouf. Shia is an actor famous for his roles in Transformers, Honey Boy, and Peanut Butter Falcon, among other films. His most recent role is as the young Padre Pio in a new biopic on the great saint, a role which changed his life as he explains in this discussion. His story of conversion is profound and I think you will find it deeply moving.

Links

• New book – The Holy Hour: Meditations for Eucharistic Adoration edited by Matthew Becklo
• Wonder Conference – WonderConference.com

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Friends, today on the "Word on Fire Show," we conclude our series of discussions called "Understanding the Present Moment." Brandon Vogt and I have examined four massively influential figures who together help explain our present moment, how we arrived at where we are today.

The ideologies undergirding much of the unrest in our culture stem from these four thinkers: Karl Marx, Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Michel Foucault. Once we understand these figures and their key ideas, we will recognize them everywhere and be prepared to engage today's challenges.

In today's fourth and final discussion, we focus on Michel Foucault, perhaps the least known of the four but maybe the one with the greatest direct impact on the way many in our culture think today.

A listener asks, how do we understand God as bring if he's both Father and Son?

Links

• Two new Thomas Aquinas books! – Thomas Aquinas: Spiritual Master by Bishop Barron and Thomas Aquinas: Selected Commentaries on the New Testament edited by Jason Paone
• Bishop Barron discussion with Lex Fridman (Youtube)
• The Holy Hour: Meditations for Eucharistic Adoration edited by Matthew Becklo

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In this new "Bishop Barron Presents" discussion, Bishop Barron sits down with bestselling author Luke Burgis to discuss his new book, Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life.

Why do we want what we want? And how do our desires shape us as people? How are desires related to freedom?

In their conversation, Bishop Barron and Burgis discuss these topics and more, such as:

• René Girard
• Mimetic desire
• Social media
• The scapegoat mechanism

Links

• Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life by Luke Burgis

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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!