The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture

The most recent meeting of the United States Council of Catholic Bishops ended with a prayer service and a sermon by Archbishop Peter Sartain, wherein his excellency referenced the mystical prayers of St. Catherine of Siena. In this episode, Bishop Robert Barron recounts this wonderful sermon and reflects on the use of the word "thee" in St. Catherine's prayers as well as the common prayers of the Church. Bishop explains that the purpose of this sort of language is to remind us of the intimacy we share in God through the Son. Sharing this personal relationship with Jesus is the real purpose of evangelization. The listener question wonders about the purpose of petitionary prayer.

Topics Discussed

• 0:15 - Introduction, information about the USCCB meeting and Bishop Barron's newly elected office
• 3:53 - Word on Fire Show reaches 1 million downloads
• 4:30 - Overview of Archbishop Sartain's Sermon
• 9:03 - What language did Jesus use when he prayed?
• 11:25 - How does the language we use about God relate to evangelization?
• 13:10 - How do we navigate the fact that God is so far beyond us but also so intimately near?
• 15:38 - What are some common misunderstandings about how to speak about God?
• 18:15 - How do we grow in intimacy with the Lord?
• 20:47 - Question from listener: When does it make sense to participate in petitionary prayer?

• Videos
  • Bishop Barron on The Disorienting Quality of Real Prayer
  • Bishop Barron on The Lord's Prayer
  • Bishop Barron on Thomas Merton, Spiritual Master
• DVD's
  • Catholicism: The Pivotal Players (Word on Fire)
  • Catholicism series (Word On Fire)
  • Faith Clips (Word On Fire)
• Articles
  • Three Reasons Why Vikings is the Most Religiously Interesting Show on TV (Bishop Barron)
  • Why We Should Address Jesus as Though (Bishop Barron)
  • Why You Need Spiritual Food (Bishop Barron)
• Books
  • The Strangest Way by Bishop Barron
  • Praying with Confidence by Fr. Paul Murray, OP
  • Praying with the Pivotal Players by Amy Welborn

• 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 (Proclaiming Christ in the Culture)
  • Daily Catholic Gospel Reflections (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.

"Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me" is the simplest form of the Jesus Prayer. Bishop Robert Barron has professed the spiritual power of this short prayer for decades and was recently reintroduced to The Way of a Pilgrim, a short book, which narrates one man's quest to "pray without ceasing" by way of the Jesus Prayer. This episode serves as an encouragement for all Christians to adopt this prayer, which has long been a revered tradition in the Eastern Orthodox Church. The listener question comes from an atheist who wonders what, precisely, is the correct way to read the Bible.

Topics Discussed

• 0:17 - Introduction, background information about "The Way of a Pilgrim"
• 2:53 - Spiritual greatness of the Eastern Orthodox tradition
• 5:17 - What is the Jesus Prayer and how do you pray it?
• 7:50 - What happens after you pray the Jesus Prayer 1,000 times?
• 9:03 - What is the difference between mindful route prayers and mindless babbling?
• 10:40 - How can the Jesus Prayer become an extension of your body and soul?
• 13:29 - What happens to the pilgrim in the story? (Spoiler Alert)
• 15:28 - What is the one thing you cling to most?
• 18:30 - What is the connection between "The Way of the Pilgrim" and TV's "Vikings"
• 20:32 - What advice does Bishop Barron have for helping us detach ourselves from the material world?
• 22:00 - Question from listener: How ought an atheist read the Bible?

• Videos
  • Bishop Barron on The Disorienting Quality of Real Prayer
  • Bishop Barron on The Lord's Prayer
  • Bishop Barron on Thomas Merton, Spiritual Master
• DVD's
  • Catholicism series (Word On Fire)
  • Faith Clips (Word On Fire)
• Articles
  • Three Reasons Why Vikings is the Most Religiously Interesting Show on TV (Bishop Barron)
  • Why We Should Address Jesus as Though (Bishop Barron)
  • Why You Need Spiritual Food (Bishop Barron)
• Books
  • The Strangest Way by Bishop Barron
  • The Way of a Pilgrim 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)
  • Daily Catholic Gospel Reflections (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.

One of the most popular forms of content at Word on Fire continues to be Bishop Robert Barron's theological commentaries about movies. In fact, the very first Youtube video Word On Fire ever produced was a commentary on Martin Scorsese's Oscar-Winning film, "The Departed." Since then, the bishop has reviewed dozens of movies and received high praise for his spiritual interpretations, even from the films' own directors. So for this episode, we thought we would ask Bishop Barron to share his ideas about two recent movies, namely, "Doctor Strange" and "Hacksaw Ridge" (SPOILER ALERT). The listener question asks where we Christians should draw the line for viewing graphic content.

Topics Discussed

• 0:17 - Introduction, Cubs win the World Series
• 5:45 - What is the premise of "Doctor Strange"? (Spoiler Alert)
• 9:12 - How does "Doctor Strange" participate in the religious tradition?
• 12:49 - How do modern films profess a kind of Gnostic spirituality?
• 18:40 - What is the premise of "Hacksaw Ridge"? (Spoiler Alert)
• 21:39 - How does "Hacksaw Ridge" witness to both a violent and nonviolent fight against evil?
• 24:36 - How is the protagonist in "Hacksaw Ridge" a man of the bible?
• 26:04 - Question from listener: Where should Christians draw the line when it comes to graphic content in art?

• Videos
  • Bishop Barron on "The Revenant"
  • Bishop Barron on "Bridge of Spies"
  • Bishop Barron on "Noah"
  • Bishop Barron on "Whiplash"
• 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.

Bishop Robert Barron recently had the privilege of speaking to around nine thousand students from the Catholic middle schools and high schools of the Los Angeles Archdiocese. Encouraged by their enthusiasm, he invited them to internalize three spiritual truths as they come of age. In today's episode, Bishop Barron recounts the event and explains some lessons that all Catholics but particularly young Catholics need to take to heart. The listener question asks what Gospel passages are difficult for the bishop to come to terms with and how Catholics ought internalize Jesus' more troubling messages.

Topics Discussed

• 0:17 - Introduction, The Word on Fire Show 50th Episode, Youth Event Details
• 2:50 - Lesson 1: The Law of the Gift, what does that mean?
• 5:55 - What do you say to someone who claims total happiness in the secular world?
• 8:49 - How does St. Mother Theresa of Calcutta represent the Law of the Gift?
• 10:35 - Lesson 2: Spiritual Excellence, why not settle for spiritual mediocrity?
• 12:50 - How does Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati best represent aspiring young Catholics?
• 14:30 - What does it mean to say that holiness is broad, vibrant, and colorful?
• 16:45 - Lesson 3: Be a Rebel! What is true rebellion?
• 19:36 - Who is Jose Sanchez del Rio?
• 22:57 - Question from listener: What does Bishop Barron consider to be the most difficult messages of Jesus? How ought we wrestle with them?

• Videos
  • Bishop Barron on Effective Evangelization
  • Bishop Barron on All Saints Day
  • Mercy and The Cross- Bishop Barron at World Youth Day
• DVD's
  • CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players (Word On Fire)
  • Faith Clips (Word On Fire)
  • For Greater Glory (Dos Corazones Films)
• Articles
  • Advice to Students New and Old (Bishop Barron)
  • Why Anti-Catholic Prejudice Ought to Bother Everyone (Bishop Barron)
  • Porn and the Curse of Total Sexual Freedom (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
  • Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
  • Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton

• 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.

Normally, in each episode we take one listener question. But we've received such a large number of outstanding questions from around the globe that we've decided to devote another episode to answering a range of questions from listeners like you. Bishop Barron answers several questions, rapid fire, on many different topics.

• 0:24 - Intro: Bishop Barron talks about the PBS premier of Pivotal Players
• 3:00 - If goodness is just part of God's nature, why are we under any obligation to make ourselves into good human beings?
• 6:11 - What is the Catholic way of dating?
• 8:35 - What is the difference between hope and wishful thinking?
• 12:19 - How do you explain Old Testament animal sacrifice to vegans?
• 15:10 - Is evil really just an absence of good or a force of its own, opposing the Kingdom of God?
• 19:45 - How do we reconcile centuries old philosophy with modern science?
• 23:35 - Why do we focus so much on interpreting the Greek words in scripture when anything Jesus spoke was in Aramaic?
• 26:30 - How does a new parent, busy parent find time to deepen her prayer life?

• Study Guides
  • CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players - Leader's Guide (Bishop Barron)
  • CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players - Study Guide (Bishop Barron)
  • CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players - Leaders Kit (Bishop Barron)

• DVDs
  • CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players (Bishop Barron)

• Books
  • Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith by Bishop Barron
  • Seeds of the Word: Finding God in the Culture by Bishop Barron
  • Vibrant Paradoxes: The Both/And of Catholicism by Bishop Barron
  • Praying with the Pivotal Players by Bishop Barron
  • Thomas Aquinas: Spiritual Master 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.

October 31st, 2016 marked the beginning of the 500th year anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, which is decidedly the greatest split in Christian Church history. Pope Francis traveled to Sweden that Halloween weekend to meet with Lutheran Church leaders, commemorate the historical significance of the Reformation, and emphasize unity amongst the Christian faithful. In today's episode, Bishop Barron offers a brief history of the Reformation and explains his hopes for continued dialogue between Protestants and Catholics. The listener question asks about St. Augustine's views on the theological topic of predestination.

• 0:17 - Introduction, Bishop's meeting with Pastor Rick Warren
• 2:50 - What is the Reformation and who were the major players?
• 5:13 - What are some points of doctrinal contention in the Reformation?
• 6:40 - What does Bishop Barron make of Pope Francis' visit with the Lutherans?
• 09:21 - Why is it a sign of respect that Protestants can't receive Catholic Communion?
• 12:10 - Was the Reformation an entirely bad thing?
• 15:08 - What is the Catholic Counter-Reformation?
• 17:00 - Should Catholics actively try to convert Protestants?
• 19:02 - What should the Catholic Church do to end this schism?
• 20:38 - Question from listener: What does St. Augustine think about predestination and what does the Church teach about it?

• Videos
  • Bishop Barron on Effective Evangelization (Bishop Barron)
  • Bishop Barron on Protestantism and Authority (Bishop Barron)
  • What Helps Protestants Convert to Catholicism (Bishop Barron)
• DVD's
  • CATHOLICISM Series (Word On Fire)
  • Faith Clips (Word On Fire)
• Articles
  • What Precisely is the Gospel (Bishop Barron)
  • Why Anti-Catholic Prejudice Ought to Bother Everyone (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
  • Thomas Aquinas: Spiritual Master by Bishop Robert Barron
  • Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
  • Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton
  • Summa Theologica by Thomas Aquinas

• 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.

How do we proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in today's culture? In a talk he gave at the Religious Education Congress, Bishop Barron offers recommendations for effective evangelization, aimed to permeate our densely secularized society with the beauty and joy of Catholicism. In Part Two of the Bishop's great talk we hear him discuss the remaining four "Keys to the New Evangelization".

• Study Program
  • Catholicism: The New Evangelization Leader's Kit (Bishop Barron)
• Articles
  • A Strategy for the New Evangelization (Bishop Barron)
  • The New Evangelization and Seminaries (Bishop Barron)
  • Effective Evangelization Commences with Joy (Bishop Barron)
  • Practical Strategies of the New Evangelization (Bishop Barron)
• Videos
  • Bishop Barron on New Media and Evangelization
  • Bishop Barron on Effective Evangelization
  • Bishop Barron on Confirmation and Evangelization
  • Bishop Barron on Evangelizing with the Heart of a Shepherd
  • Bishop Barron on Theology and the New Media
• Books
  • The Priority of Christ: Toward a Postliberal Catholicism by Bishop Robert Barron
  • Word on Fire: Proclaiming the Power of Christ by Bishop Robert Barron
  • Seeds of the Word: Finding God in the Culture by Bishop Robert Barron
  • Bridging the Great Divide by Bishop Robert Barron

Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and, again, be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

How do we proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in today's culture? In a talk he gave at the Religious Education Congress, Bishop Barron offers recommendations for effective evangelization, aimed to permeate our densely secularized society with the beauty and joy of Catholicism. In Part One of the Bishop's great talk we hear him discuss three of his "7 Keys to the New Evangelization".

• Study Program
  • Catholicism: The New Evangelization Leader's Kit (Bishop Barron)
• Articles
  • A Strategy for the New Evangelization (Bishop Barron)
  • The New Evangelization and Seminaries (Bishop Barron)
  • Effective Evangelization Commences with Joy (Bishop Barron)
  • Practical Strategies of the New Evangelization (Bishop Barron)
• Videos
  • Bishop Barron on New Media and Evangelization
  • Bishop Barron on Effective Evangelization
  • Bishop Barron on Confirmation and Evangelization
  • Bishop Barron on Evangelizing with the Heart of a Shepherd
  • Bishop Barron on Theology and the New Media
• Books
  • The Priority of Christ: Toward a Postliberal Catholicism by Bishop Robert Barron
  • Word on Fire: Proclaiming the Power of Christ by Bishop Robert Barron
  • Seeds of the Word: Finding God in the Culture by Bishop Robert Barron
  • Bridging the Great Divide by Bishop Robert Barron

Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and, again, be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

After perusing the latest Pew Study on why young people are leaving the active practice of Christianity, Bishop Barron noticed that (once again) the reasons they offer for abandoning Christianity are entirely not compelling. That is to say, any theologian, apologist, or evangelist worth his salt should be able easily to answer these objections to faith and hopefully encourage the youngster to reconsider the Truth of the Church. With this in mind for today's episode, Bishop offers smart, passionate responses to the common misconceptions and objections that continue to lure young people away from God. The listener question asks which books are best for evangelizing atheists from both a rational and emotional standpoint.

• 0:17 - Introduction, Bishop's trip to Lake Placid and current reading list
• 3:25 - Bishop's reaction to young people leaving the church?
• 5:15 - Should we avoid pressuring them and let young people return on their own?
• 7:48 - Some common objections: Is religion the opiate of the people?
• 11:10 - Has science disproven religion?
• 15:15 - If religion causes so much violence, how can it possibly be right?
• 17:50 - Does the sex abuse scandal invalidate the Church?
• 20:53 - Is it better to be open-minded to all world religions?
• 26:48 - What if church is too boring and you don't have time?
• 30:40 - How would Bishop Barron encourage young people to return to the Church?
• 32:09 - Question from listener: What are some good books to battle atheism both from a rational and emotional standpoint?

• Videos
  • Bishop Barron on Effective Evangelization (Bishop Barron)
  • Bishop Barron on "What is God?"
  • Bishop Barron on Christianity and Ethics
• DVD's
  • CATHOLICISM: The New Evangelization (Word On Fire)
  • Faith Clips (Word On Fire)
• Articles
  • The Joy of Evangelization (Bishop Barron)
  • Practical Strategies of Evangelization (Bishop Barron)
• Books
  • Seeds of the Word: Finding God in the Culture (Bishop Barron)
  • Word On Fire: Proclaiming the Power of Christ (Bishop Barron)
  • Answering Atheism: How to Make the Case for God with Logic and Charity by Trent Horn
  • Thomas Aquinas: Spiritual Master by Bishop Robert Barron
  • Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
  • The Rage Against God: How Atheism Led me to Faith by Peter Hitchens
  • Surprised by Joy: The Shape of my Early Life by C.S. Lewis
  • Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton
  • On Guard by William Lane Craig
  • Summa Theologica by Thomas Aquinas

• Study Program
  • The Mystery of God: Who God Is and Why He Matters (Bishop Barron)

• Websites
  • StrangeNotions.com (A Meeting Place of Faith and Reason)
  • 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.

We are taking the next few episodes of the show to discuss each of the great men and women featured in Word on Fire's epic new film series, CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players. Today we're focusing on the joyful English journalist and evangelist, G.K. Chesterton. A larger-than-life figure, Chesterton charmed his way into the heart of the modern culture and illuminated the dull philosophy of the age with his clever, Catholic brilliance. Our listener question asks Bishop Barron about praying for intercession from those souls who've not yet been named saints.

*In this episode we include a limited time Word on Fire Show discount on CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players with Coupon Code: FrBrown

Visit PivotalPlayers.com to purchase and act now because this offer expires soon!

• 1:30 - Bishop Barron discusses the Pivotal Players World Premier Party
• 2:40 - Who was G.K. Chesterton?
• 5:03 - What is G.K. Chesterton's impact on modern evangelism?
• 6:10 - What inspiration can married laypeople find in Chesterton?
• 7:37 - How was G.K. Chesterton an artistic evangelist?
• 9:21 - Why is Chesterton called a "happy warrior"?
• 10:48 -How did Chesterton separate ideas from people?
• 11:33 - Why did Chesterton love the paradoxical?
• 14:17 - How did Chesterton highlight the vibrant paradoxes of Catholicism?
• 16:45 - What is Chesterton's Orthodoxy?
• 21:56 - What is Chesterton's Everlasting Man?
• 23:48 - How did Chesterton take on religious relativism?
• 27:35 - Listener Question: How do we know when it is appropriate to pray for intersession from the holy departed?

• Calendar and Prayer Cards
  • Pivotal Players Calendar (Bishop Barron)
  • Pivotal Players Prayer Cards (Bishop Barron)
• Books
  • Praying with the Pivotal Players (Bishop Barron)
  • The Everlasting Man (G.K. Chesterton)
  • Orthodoxy (G.K. Chesterton)
• Study Guides
  • CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players - Leader's Guide (Bishop Barron)
  • CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players - Study Guide (Bishop Barron)
  • CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players - Leaders Kit (Bishop Barron)
• DVDs
  • CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players (Bishop Barron)
• Websites
  • American Chesterton Society

Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.