The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture

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/   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.  

Transcribed - Published: 1 December 2025

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/   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.  

Transcribed - Published: 24 November 2025

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/ 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.  

Transcribed - Published: 17 November 2025

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/   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.  

Transcribed - Published: 10 November 2025

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/ 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.    

Transcribed - Published: 3 November 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 27 October 2025

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/ 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.  

Transcribed - Published: 20 October 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 13 October 2025

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/ 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.  

Transcribed - Published: 6 October 2025

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 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.  

Transcribed - Published: 29 September 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 22 September 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 15 September 2025

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/   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.

Transcribed - Published: 8 September 2025

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/ 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.    

Transcribed - Published: 1 September 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 25 August 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 18 August 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 11 August 2025

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/ 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.

Published: 4 August 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 4 August 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 28 July 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 21 July 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 14 July 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 7 July 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 30 June 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 23 June 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 16 June 2025

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/ 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.    

Transcribed - Published: 9 June 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 2 June 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 26 May 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 19 May 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 12 May 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 5 May 2025

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/ 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.

Published: 28 April 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 28 April 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 21 April 2025

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/ 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.

Published: 14 April 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 14 April 2025

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/ 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.    

Transcribed - Published: 7 April 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 31 March 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 24 March 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 17 March 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 10 March 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 3 March 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 24 February 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 17 February 2025

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/ 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.

Published: 17 February 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 10 February 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 3 February 2025

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/ 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.

Transcribed - Published: 27 January 2025

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/ 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.  

Transcribed - Published: 20 January 2025