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Bishop Robert Barron

Join Bishop Robert Barron for a weekly podcast on faith and culture. Find more episodes at http://WordOnFireShow.com and submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.com.

The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture

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.

WOF 514: Celebrating St. John Henry Newman Becoming a Doctor of the Church

On January 13, 2018, Bishop Barron joined Dr. William Lane Craig, the esteemed Protestant apologist, for an evening of dialogue at Claremont McKenna College. On today's episode, we recap both the afternoon session, which was an academic symposium attended by a couple dozen scholars, and the big evening dialogue in which Bishop Barron and Dr. Craig discussed faith, science, secularism, evangelization and more. A listener asks what Bishop Barron thinks of David Bentley Hart's work.
 
Click here to watch the full dialogue between Bishop Barron and Dr. Craig, and to listen to the afternoon symposium >> http://wordonfireshow.com/wlc
 
BONUS: Click here to get your free Lent Reflections booklet from Bishop Barron!
 Topics Discussed 0:04 • - Intro, Why is Bishop Barron in Philadelphia?
 1:30 • - What was Bishop Barron's overall impression of the event with Dr. William Lane Craig?
 6:4o • - What was discussed during the daytime symposium?
 16:25 • - During the evening event, how did Bishop Barron and Dr. Craig agree about evangelization?
 19:03 • - What are Bishop Barron and Dr. Craig's favorite arguments for the existence of God?
 21:40 • - How did a book change the lives of both Dr. Craig and Bishop Barron?
 23:25 • - Why didn't Dr. Craig agree that beauty can be a source of evangelization?
 29:00 • - What happened when Bishop Barron asked Dr. Craig, "Why aren't you Catholic?"
 33:00 • - Listener Question: What does Bishop Barron think about the writings of David Bentley Hart?
 Bonus Resources Books • 
 Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics • (William Lane Craig)
 The Kalām Cosmological Argument • (William Lane Craig)
 The New Testament: A Translation • (David Bentley Hart)
 The Experience of God: Being, Consciousness, Bliss • (David Bentley Hart)
 • 
 Articles • 
 An Evening with William Lane Craig • (Bishop Barron)
 • 
 Videos • 
 Dialogue with William Lane Craig • (Bishop Barron)
 • 
 
 
 
Have a question for Bishop Barron? Go to AskBishopBarron.com!

WOF 113: Recapping the William Lane Craig Dialogue

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.

WOF 513: The Play of Lively Minds (5 of 12)

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.

WOF 512: The Development of Christian Doctrine (4 of 12)

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.

WOF 511: Newman as a Catholic (3 of 12)

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.

WOF 510: Newman as an Anglican (2 of 12)

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.

WOF 509: The Importance of St. John Henry Newman (1 of 12)

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.

WOF 508: How to Build on Conversion Momentum

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.

WOF 507: 1,700 Years of the Nicene Creed

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.

WOF 506: Why Are So Many Young People Becoming Catholic?

In his recent interview with Ben Shapiro, Bishop Barron said that he wants to "re-Judaize Catholicism," to read Christ, the Bible, and the Christian Faith through the lens of Israel. How do we do this? That's what he and host Jared Zimmerer discuss in today's episode.
 
A listener asks why the East and West churches split, and why they haven't been reunited.
 
NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a patron and get some great perks for helping, like free books, bonus content, and more. Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners…like you! So be part of this mission, and join us today!

WOF 184: Re-Judaizing Catholicism

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