The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture

As Holy Week begins, listen to Bishop Barron’s reflections on the 14 Stations of the Cross. Stream it all at once, or throughout the week, as we approach the memorial of Christ’s Passion. NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

Bishop Barron answers questions from non-Catholics around the world, including: If we are beloved children of God, how could he banish anyone to an eternity of Hell? Why do priests have to be celibate? What's the difference between the Jewish Bible, Catholic Bible, and the Koran? How do we read similarities between the Virgin birth and similar stories found in other myths/religions? Why do Catholics need to confess their sins to a priest, and not directly to God? Why is the Church so obsessed with sexual issues but not other sins, such as gluttony? 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, the coronavirus outbreak has left countless people all over the world asking themselves: Why is God allowing this to happen? How do we respond? And where can we find hope? In this bonus episode of “The Word on Fire Show,” we discuss these and other questions, exploring the ancient problem of evil, the impact of the virus on Catholic sacramental life, and other spiritual dimensions and effects of this crisis. Please listen and share!

Join Bishop Barron as he dives into the profound Eucharistic theology of Thomas Aquinas, a historical theologian renowned for his work on the Real Presence. Discover Aquinas's emotional ties to the Eucharist and the concept of transubstantiation, which illustrates how bread and wine transform into Christ's body and blood. The conversation also touches on the Council of Trent's response to Reformation theology and the significance of Christ's presence in the Church. Explore how language shapes our understanding of the divine in this enlightening discussion!

As a result of the coronavirus outbreak, Catholic dioceses throughout the United States have now suspended public Masses. We know this is heartbreaking. The Catechism affirms that "the Sunday celebration of the Lord’s Day and his Eucharist is at the heart of the Church’s life"—making this a particularly difficult day in an already difficult time. For this reason, we would like to invite you to join Bishop Barron online for Mass each day at 8:15am ET from his chapel in Santa Barbara: https://wordonfireshow.com/mass Whether you live alone or with family, you will still be gathering with Catholics around the world to worship God, keep his day holy, and receive the grace of an act of spiritual communion (a prayer for this will be provided on screen). We will continue to offer these daily online Masses for the foreseeable future, so please join us each day, or as often as you can. And please continue to pray for all those impacted by the coronavirus. God bless you all!

Bishop Barron, a prominent religious leader celebrated for his engaging theological insights, dives into the profound importance of the Eucharist. He reveals alarming statistics showing 70% of Catholics doubt Christ's real presence in the sacrament. The conversation highlights the emotional and spiritual connections individuals have with the Eucharist, tracing its biblical roots and early church teachings. Barron also addresses the challenges of understanding the nature of Eucharistic participation, emphasizing its transformative power and deep historical significance.

Gnosticism was one of the earliest heresies of the Church, and it remains among the most enduring. With an emphasis on special knowledge acquired only by a small group of enlightened elites, as well as a sharp division between spirit and matter, with spiritual things being good and material things being evil, Gnosticism still thrives today everywhere from crack conspiracy theories to Hollywood movies to our culture of self-invention. Bishop Barron discusses Gnosticism and why it ultimately fails to satisfy. A listener asks Bishop to help her understand the resurrection of the body. 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!

Just recently, Catholics were devastated to learn of another case of sexual abuse, this time involving Jean Vanier, the esteemed founder of L’Arche and a man once considered to be a living saint. Vanier, who passed away last year, was accused of sexually assaulting six women in France, using his religious position to abuse and manipulate them. How do we make sense of all this? How can a man who produced enormous good fruit fail so abysmally? And how should Catholics respond to this sort of abuse, and prevent it from happening again? Bishop Barron offers advice on all these questions and more. A listener asks how energetic young people, passionate about apologetics and evangelization, can take their study to the next level. Links Word on Fire Institute Centered: The Spirituality of Word on Fire   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!

With the beginning of Lent right around the corner, Bishop Barron talks about this ancient period of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving in preparation for Easter, and offer several recommendations on how to have a more spiritually powerful Lent. A listener asks: If God made us in his image, and the family is composed of a husband, wife and children, then is there a motherly dimension in God? 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! Links Free Daily Lent Reflections from Bishop Barron ENGAGE program, free for Lent

Stoicism is experiencing a cultural moment, especially among Millennial techies. What is this ancient school of philosophy? Why is it experiencing a revival? And how does it compare to Christianity? Bishop Barron discusses all that and more in today's episode of the "Word on Fire Show." A listener asks if the word “holy” means set apart for a particular purpose, what exactly does it mean when we say God himself is holy? Links/Books The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday The Porch and the Cross by Dr. Kevin Vost   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!