The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture

In 2015 Bishop Robert Barron gave the opening keynote speech at the famous World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. In front of this massive crowd of Catholics, Bishop Barron explained how Christianity is the greatest form of humanism because of its unique claim that all humans are made in the image and likeness of God. As representatives of God, we share in the responsibility of bringing the power, wisdom, heart, and mind of God out into the world. This episode of the Word on Fire Show features Part Two of the Bishop's powerful talk. Bonus Resources Videos Bishop Barron on the Rise of the "Nones" Bishop Barron on God's Existence and The Argument from Desire DVD's CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players (Word On Fire) CATHOLICISM: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith (Word On Fire) The Mystery of God (Word On Fire) Faith Clips (Word On Fire)  Articles   Playing at Atheism (Bishop Barron) The Glory of God is a Human Being 'Fully Alive' (Bishop Barron) Apologists, Catechists, Theologians: Wake Up!  (Bishop Barron) Books The Priority of Christ by Bishop Barron Word On Fire: Proclaiming the Power of Christ  by Bishop Barron CATHOLICISM by Bishop Barron Study Program  The Mystery of God: Who God Is and Why He Matters (Bishop Barron) Websites Word On Fire (Proclaiming Christ in the Culture)

In 2015 Bishop Robert Barron gave the opening keynote speech at the famous World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. In front of this massive crowd of Catholics, Bishop Barron explained how Christianity is the greatest form of humanism because of its unique claim that all humans are made in the image and likeness of God. As representatives of God, we share in the responsibility of bringing the power, wisdom, heart, and mind of God out into the world. This episode of the Word on Fire Show features Part One of the Bishop's powerful talk. Bonus Resources Videos Bishop Barron on the Rise of the "Nones" Bishop Barron on God's Existence and The Argument from Desire DVD's CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players (Word On Fire) CATHOLICISM: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith (Word On Fire) The Mystery of God (Word On Fire) Faith Clips (Word On Fire)  Articles   Playing at Atheism (Bishop Barron) The Glory of God is a Human Being 'Fully Alive' (Bishop Barron) Apologists, Catechists, Theologians: Wake Up!  (Bishop Barron) Books The Priority of Christ by Bishop Barron Word On Fire: Proclaiming the Power of Christ  by Bishop Barron CATHOLICISM by Bishop Barron Study Program  The Mystery of God: Who God Is and Why He Matters (Bishop Barron) Websites Word On Fire (Proclaiming Christ in the Culture)

Marriage has been one of the most talked about topics in the news over the past decade. Despite all the interest surrounding the institution of marriage, the numbers of people actually getting married has dwindled. In this episode Bishop Barron explores the beauty and goodness of married life by discussing the spirituality that undergirds this timeless institution. The listener question wonders what will happen to marriages in heaven. Topics Discussed 0:05  - Introduction and the Vogt's visit to Santa Barbara 2:00 - Why has the number of people getting married declined? 6:30 - What is the number one priority in being a husband or wife? 8:40 - What is the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony? 10:07 - What is the key to a healthy marriage? 16:00 - How can a celibate priest be an authority on marriage? 19:50 - Why does the Catholic Church demand an openness to children within a marriage? 22:20 - Advice from Bishop Barron for people who aren't sure if they ever want to get married 23:40 - Advice from Bishop Barron for those who aspire for marriage 25:30 - Advice from Bishop Barron for those discerning marriage within their current relationship 26:27 - Advice from Bishop Barron for those who are struggling through a difficult marriage or a divorce 27:20 - Question from listener: Will I be with my wife as husband and wife in heaven? Bonus Resources DVD CATHOLICISM series (Bishop Barron) CATHOLICISM: The Pivitol Players series Books Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith (Bishop Barron) Seeds of the Word: Finding God in the Culture (Bishop Barron) Vibrant Paradoxes: The Both/And of Catholicism (Bishop Barron) The Strangest Way (Bishop Barron) Videos  Marriage and Relationships Reflections on the Hookup Culture Reflecting on Biblical Family Values Articles  "Your Life is Not About You" (Bishop Barron) "Sex, Love, and God: The Catholic Answer to Puritanism and Nietzscheanism" Websites BishopBarronBooks.com Catholic Answers Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

Word on Fire Show host Brandon Vogt stopped into the Santa Barbara studio with his five children while on a cross-country road trip. The Vogt children were given the chance to ask Bishop Barron about God, Mary, and bananas in this special bonus episode of the Word on Fire Show. Topics Discussed 0:01  - Introduction, about the road trip and hellos 1:15 - How did Bishop feel when he first became a priest? 2:07 - How can Mary be "Queen" and Jesus be "King" if she's his mother? 3:05 - How is Jesus King? 3:50 - How old is Jesus? 4:46 - How does it feel to be a bishop? 6:05 - How to explain God to young children? 7:35 - What is God's favorite color? 8:00 - Was Bishop Barron an alter server? 8:55 - What's Bishop Barron's favorite way to pray 10:05 - How do we know God is real? Bonus Resources Videos Satellites and Praying to the Saints DVD/Study Program CATHOLICISM: The New Evangelization CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players  Articles   "St. Patrick, St. Joseph, and the Conversion that Makes All the Difference" (Bishop Barron) Calendar and Prayer Cards Pivotal Players Calendar (Word On Fire) Pivotal Players Prayer Cards (Word On Fire) Books Praying with the Pivotal Players (Amy Welborn) Study Guides CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players - Leader's Guide  CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players - Study Guide CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players - Leaders Kit Websites Word On Fire BishopBarronBooks

The best theological movements present the Church as an organism, not an organization. In this episode of our new series on the eight principles of Word on Fire, Bishop Barron explains how how the Communion of Saints works in and through the Mystical Body of Christ to evangelize the world. The listener questions asks about Catherine of Siena's three levels of prayer.  Topics Discussed 0:17  - Introduction, filming B-roll footage for Pivotal Players Volume II 2:00 - How are the saints powerful? 5:55 - How can the stories of the saints aid in evangelization? 8:30 - What is the impact of the Little Flower? 11:15 - How can Saint Thomas Aquinas become accessible for the current culture? 15:30 - How was Saint John Paul II able to contribute so much to the Church and evangelization? 19:20 - What is the great contribution of Bl. John Henry Newman? 24:00 - Question from listener: How might we aspire to attain the third level of prayer as described by St. Catherine of Siena. Bonus Resources Videos Satellites and Praying to the Saints DVD/Study Program CATHOLICISM: The New Evangelization CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players  Articles   "St. Patrick, St. Joseph, and the Conversion that Makes All the Difference" (Bishop Barron) Calendar and Prayer Cards Pivotal Players Calendar (Word On Fire) Pivotal Players Prayer Cards (Word On Fire) Books Praying with the Pivotal Players (Amy Welborn) Study Guides CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players - Leader's Guide  CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players - Study Guide CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players - Leaders Kit Websites Word On Fire BishopBarronBooks Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and, again, be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

Statistics show that more people own a smartphone (4 billion) than own a toothbrush (3.5 billion). In this episode of our new series called The Eight Principles of the Word on Fire Ethos, Bishop Barron discusses how readily available Internet access has made the new media an essential route of evangelization. The listener questions asks how virtue can possibly turn to vice.  Topics Discussed 0:17  - Introduction, Bishop's recent trip to Saint Anselm College 2:30 - What is the power of the new media? 5:19 - Why is the new media effective for evangelization? 7:50 - What's the danger in not using the new media to spread the Gospel? 9:30 - What made Fulton Sheen so effective at using the media of his time? 16:10 - Why are people feeling less connected and more lonely despite the technology advances? 19:35 - How might we cope with internet attacks while sharing the Gospel? 25:00 - How do we become more effective at sharing our faith online? 26:55 - Question from listener: How can virtue possibly turn into vice? Bonus Resources Videos "Theology and the New Media" (Bishop Barron) "The Vatican and New Media" (Bishop Barron) DVD/Study Program CATHOLICISM: The New Evangelization  Articles   "Surprising Lessons from Ten Million YouTube Views" (Bishop Barron) Books The Church and New Media (Brandon Vogt, chapter by Bishop Barron) Seeds of the Word: Finding God in the Culture  by Bishop Barron Word On Fire: Proclaiming the Power of Christ  by Bishop Barron Lectures "The New Evangelization: The Impact of Social Media" (Bishop Barron) "The New Evangelization and the New Media" (Bishop Barron) "Against the YouTube Heresies" (Bishop Barron) Websites Word On Fire (Proclaiming Christ in the Culture) BishopBarronBooks (Bishop Barron)   Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and, again, be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

Joel and Ethan Coen, more famously known as the Coen brothers, are arguably the greatest filmmakers of our time. In this follow-up episode on the Coen brothers, Bishop Barron illuminates the Biblical motifs present in three of the Coen brothers' most unique films. The listener question asks about the nature of God. Topics Discussed 0:17  - Introduction, catching up with Bishop Barron. 1:38 - What makes the Coen Brothers so unique? 3:45 -  What are the spiritual themes in A Serious Man? (spoiler alert) 12:00 -What are the spiritual themes in The Big Lebowski? (spoiler alert) 22:55 -What are the spiritual themes in Hail, Caesar!? (spoiler alert) 25:15 - Question from listener: What is God? Bonus Resources Videos Bishop Barron on True Grit Bishop Barron on Fargo Bishop Barron on A Serious Man Bishop Barron on Hail, Caesar! DVD's CATHOLICISM: The New Evangelization (Word On Fire) Faith Clips (Word On Fire)  Articles   “The Martian” and Why Each Life Matters (Bishop Barron)  “The Avengers” and Friedrich Nietzsche (Bishop Barron)  “The Theory of Everything”: A God-Haunted Film (Bishop Barron) Books Seeds of the Word: Finding God in the Culture  by Bishop Barron Word On Fire: Proclaiming the Power of Christ  by Bishop Barron Study Program  The Mystery of God: Who God Is and Why He Matters (Bishop Barron) Websites Word On Fire (Proclaiming Christ in the Culture) Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and, again, be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

"The Church exists to evangelize.” These words from Evangelii Nuntiandi express the very nature of our mission. But what is evangelization? And how ought we to express Christ in the culture around us? In this episode, Bishop Robert Barron answers these questions and offers advice on exactly how an evangelist can move into the culture and plant the seeds of Christ. Evangelizing the Culture is the second of the eight principles of the Word on Fire ethos. Finally, a listener calls in to ask how he might evangelize his lukewarm parents.  Topics Discussed 0:17 – Intro and Bishop Barron's new award 2:15 - What does it mean to "evangelize the culture"? 6:40 - How can evangelizing the culture solve the problems of the Church and the culture? 11:50 - How can we see Christ in our surroundings? 15:24 - How do engage the culture without falling into sin? 18:45 - Why was Tolkien so effective at evangelizing the culture? 21:30 - How does the Church community (including the saints) serve evangelization? 23:15 - What's the proper approach for drawing the world to Christ? 24:38 - Question from listener: How do we re-evangelize our parents who grew up in the faith but now lack a relationship with Jesus? Bonus Resources Websites DailyCatholicGospel.com (free daily Gospel reflections from Bishop Barron) Articles "The Trouble with the 'You Go Girl' Culture" (Bishop Barron) "Why Goodness Depends on God" (Bishop Barron) DVD's CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players (Word on Fire) CATHOLICISM series (Word On Fire) Faith Clips (Word On Fire) Videos Bishop Barron on Evangelizing Through the Good Faith, Hope and Love Evangelizing the Culture Books Vibrant Paradoxes by Bishop Barron Word On Fire: Proclaiming the Power of Christ  by Bishop Barron CATHOLICISM by Bishop Barron The Strangest Way by Bishop Barron Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and, again, be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

Jesus boldly proclaimed, “I am the way, the truth, and the life”. In order to be His disciple, one must make Jesus Christ the foundation of life and proclaim His Lordship in every area of life. Much like the rose window in Chartres Cathedral, a well ordered soul revolves around the great center, which is Christ. In this episode, Bishop Robert Barron begins a series called The Eight Principles of the Word on Fire Ethos with this key principle, namely, "Christocentrism". Bishop explains how we go about making Christ the priority of our lives, and why we must know who Jesus is in order to do so. The listener questions asks why the Sacred Heart of Jesus is so important in Christian devotion.  Topics Discussed 0:17  - Introduction, Bishop's recent trip to Mundelein Seminary. 2:00 - What is Christocentrism? 5:53 - Is it possible to be too obsessed with Jesus? 7:20 - Why is it important not to domesticate the real Jesus? 8:45 - How should we read the difficult truths Jesus spoke? 10:45 - How do we make Jesus the center of our lives? 15:22 - Question from listener: Why is the Sacred Heart of Jesus is so important in Christian devotion? Bonus Resources Videos How Jesus is the Messiah Andrew Sullivan's Non-Threatening Jesus John Dominic Crossan's Strange Jesus DVD's CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players (Word on Fire) CATHOLICISM series (Word On Fire) Faith Clips (Word On Fire)  Articles   "Why It Matters Who Jesus Is" (Bishop Barron) "Why Jesus is God" (Bishop Barron) "The Disturbing Fact of the Resurrection" (Bishop Barron) “Your Life Does Not Belong to You” (Bishop Barron) Books The Priority of Christ by Bishop Barron The Incarnate Lord by Fr. Thomas Joseph White Jesus Christ: Fundamentals of Christology by Roch A. Kerezty The Strangest Way by Bishop Barron Study Program  The Mystery of God: Who God Is and Why He Matters (Bishop Barron) CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players Study Guide (Word on Fire) Websites Word On Fire (Bishop Barron) DailyCatholicGospel.com (Bishop Barron) Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and, again, be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

Rod Dreher’s The Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation has certainly emerged as the most talked-about religious book of 2017. There is a widely-felt instinct that something has gone rather deeply wrong with the culture and that classical Christianity, at least in the West, is in a bit of a mess. So, do we need the Benedict Option now? In this episode, Bishop Robert Barron discusses the upsides and the pitfalls of employing the Benedict option during these difficult times. The listener question wonders how Christians should engage the political arena. Topics Discussed 0:17  - Introduction, New announcement regarding Pivotal Players: Volume 2. 3:42 - Has something gone terribly wrong in our society? 4:36 - What are Bishop Barron's thoughts on the Benedict Option as a proposal? 6:30 - Who was Saint Benedict and how can he help solve our modern problems? 8:50 - How is Noah's Ark a good symbol for the Benedict Option? 11:23 - What is the identity/relevance dilemma? 13:55 - How does St. John Paul II relate to the Benedict Option? 18:10 - Should the Church pull back on political engagement? 22:05 - Should Christians pull out of society and live in separate communities? 24:30 - Is homeschooling the best option for Christian children? 28:15 - Should we avoid occupations that will force us to compromise our values? 31:20 - Should we avoid technology as Christians? 34:33 - Question from listener: Should Christians be active in the political arena? Bonus Resources Videos Democracy and a Nation that Trusts God Reflections on Shocking Abortion Numbers Reflections on the Hookup Culture Reflections on the Childfree Life Porn and the Curse of Total Sexual Freedom DVD's CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players (Word on Fire) CATHOLICISM series (Word On Fire) Faith Clips (Word On Fire)  Articles    "How St. Benedict Reshaped the Culture" (Father Steve Grunow) "The Benedict Option and the Identity/Relevance Dilemma" (Bishop Barron) "A Secular Europe and the Mission of the Church" (Bishop Barron) Books The Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation by Rod Dreher The Priority of Christ by Bishop Barron The Strangest Way by Bishop Barron Study Program  The Mystery of God: Who God Is and Why He Matters (Bishop Barron) CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players Study Guide (Word on Fire) Websites Word On Fire (Bishop Barron) DailyCatholicGospel.com (Bishop Barron) Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and, again, be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.