The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture

The narrative that science and Christianity are enemies is false. Not only are they not enemies but Christianity helped science develop beyond the limits imposed on it by ancient cosmologies. In this sample lesson from her Word on Fire Institute course titled "Science for Evangelists," Dr. Trasancos introduces us to the basics of science and why there is no real conflict between science and Christ...

In today's episode, Bishop Barron fields questions from people all over the world, including: How do we reconcile love as willing the good of the other with more exclusive love, such as the love between a husband and wife? Some Protestant theologians say that John 6 is not talking about transubstantiation because this dialogue took place before the institution of the Eucharist. What do you think?...

Today we share a sample lesson from Fr. Stephen Gadberry's course inside the Word on Fire Institute titled "The People You Will Meet." Knowing your audience is very important in effective evangelization. In this course, Fr. Gadberry distinguishes the different types of people you will likely meet. His advice is based on years of experience as a Catholic priest engaging people about the faith.  If...

We're all hyper-distracted, pulled in so many directions from our phones, to TV, to social media. We're plagued by notifications, texts, pings, and alerts. Why do we put up with all these distractions? How can we avoid them? Bishop Barron shares how to fight back and find pleasure in "useless things." A listener asks how to prove there's a transcendent dimension if it's not mathematically or scien...

NOTE: Due to enormous demand, the leather edition of The Word on Fire Bible: The Gospels ($59) and the Evangelization Pack (1 Leather + 4 Paperbacks for $99) are both out of stock. Both should be available to order again in September when the second printing is complete.   Today marks the launch of the long-anticipated  Word on Fire Bible ! Learn more about this project, which has been four years...

If you aren't familiar with the sweeping story of salvation, the "theo-drama," you won't fully grasp any particular part of the story. Today, Bishop Barron unveils the five acts of the biblical drama: Creation, the Fall, the formation of Israel, Jesus Christ, and the Church. A listener asks for some recommended biographies on the life of St. Thomas Aquinas. NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a...

Kids ask the best questions, and today Bishop Barron responds to many from around the world: Why did Jesus die on the cross rather than some other death? Why did God make other planets that people can't live on? Where does God sleep? Will you have friendships in Heaven and will they be the same as friendships on Earth If God can do anything, can he make a mistake? Is an angel a spirit or soul? Als...

An article by the Protestant pastor Timothy Keller offers  "6 Principles for How to Argue When You Disagree."  Bishop Barron and Brandon walk through the article and discuss how we can have better conversations with people who hold very different views than us. A listener asks if, as a priest, Bishop Barron ever gets bored at prayer. NOTE:  Do you like this podcast?  Become a patron  and get some...

One day in 1961, the famous physicist Richard Feynman stepped in front of a Caltech lecture hall and posed this question to a group of undergraduate students: "If, in some cataclysm, all of scientific knowledge were to be destroyed, and only one sentence was passed on to the next generation of creatures, what statement would contain the most information in the fewest words?" In today's episode we...

A recent  New York Times  story claimed to reveal  "Why the Big Bang Produced Something Rather Than Nothing."  Bishop Barron and Brandon Vogt discuss the article and whether science is capable of answering this classic philosophical question. A listener asks about the fear of God, and whether it's appropriate since God is all loving. Links "Why the Big Bang Produced Something Rather Than Nothing"...

What are the basics we should know about the Holy Spirit? Who is he? And why is the Holy Spirit even necessary? Why not just God the Father and God the Son? In today's episode Bishop Barron reflects on the Holy Spirit and explains how to grow closer to him and receive all his gifts. A listener asks, what type of items would belong in a home devotional corner? Links Saint Catherine of Siena by Fr....

In a recent article for  The Atlantic , David Brooks claims  "The Nuclear Family Was a Mistake." He contends that the model of a married couple with 2.5 kids was an anomaly in the 1950s and 1960s, and that this nuclear family model is no longer working for many Americans, especially those who are less privileged. To address this family crisis, Brooks argues we need to break out of the nuclear-fami...

Jesus has naturally been a key person of interest for Western thought, but over the last few hundred years, there have been some major shifts in what scholars describe as the "quest for the historical Jesus." Bishop Barron provides an overview of these developments and the problematic attempt to separate the "Jesus of history" from the "Christ of Faith." A listener asks what Bishop Barron would sa...

Alleluia! We've just entered into the joyous season of Easter, where we celebrate the Lord's Resurrection, but what does it mean to say that Jesus is risen from the dead? That's what Bishop Barron answers in today's episode. 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 depe...

On this Good Friday, we share Bishop Barron's "Tre Ore" reflections, which Cardinal Dolan invited him to deliver in 2012 at St. Patrick's Cathedral (New York, NY). The "Tre Ore," or Three Hours' Agony, is a liturgical service held on Good Friday from noon until three o'clock to commemorate the Passion of Christ, and includes a series of homilies on the seven last words spoken by Christ. Bishop's s...

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

Bishop Barron answers questions from non-Catholics around the world, including: If we are beloved children of God, how could he banish anyone to an eternity of Hell? Why do priests have to be celibate? What's the difference between the Jewish Bible, Catholic Bible, and the Koran? How do we read similarities between the Virgin birth and similar stories found in other myths/religions? Why do Catholi...

Friends, the coronavirus outbreak has left countless people all over the world asking themselves: Why is God allowing this to happen? How do we respond? And where can we find hope? In this bonus episode of "The Word on Fire Show," we discuss these and other questions, exploring the ancient problem of evil, the impact of the virus on Catholic sacramental life, and other spiritual dimensions and eff...

In last week's episode , we shared the first half of Bishop Barron's talk on "The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist." It focused on the Biblical and patristic basis for the doctrine. This week, we hear the second half of his talk which looks at the Eucharistic theology of Thomas Aquinas, the Council of Trent, and a letter on the Eucharist from Pope Paul VI. Enjoy! NOTE: Do you like this pod...

As a result of the coronavirus outbreak, Catholic dioceses throughout the United States have now suspended public Masses. We know this is heartbreaking. The Catechism affirms that "the Sunday celebration of the Lord's Day and his Eucharist is at the heart of the Church's life"—making this a particularly difficult day in an already difficult time. For this reason, we would like to invite you to joi...

The fathers of the Second Vatican Council referred to the Eucharist as the source and summit of the Christian life, that from which authentic Christianity flows and that toward which it tends. Yet a recent Pew Forum study found that only 30% of church-going Catholics believe what the Church teaches about the Eucharist, that under the forms of bread and wine, Christ is really present in the sacrame...

Gnosticism was one of the earliest heresies of the Church, and it remains among the most enduring. With an emphasis on special knowledge acquired only by a small group of enlightened elites, as well as a sharp division between spirit and matter, with spiritual things being good and material things being evil, Gnosticism still thrives today everywhere from crack conspiracy theories to Hollywood mov...

Just recently, Catholics were devastated to learn of another case of sexual abuse, this time involving Jean Vanier, the esteemed founder of L'Arche and a man once considered to be a living saint. Vanier, who passed away last year, was accused of sexually assaulting six women in France, using his religious position to abuse and manipulate them. How do we make sense of all this? How can a man who pr...

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

Stoicism is experiencing a cultural moment, especially among Millennial techies. What is this ancient school of philosophy? Why is it experiencing a revival? And how does it compare to Christianity? Bishop Barron discusses all that and more in today's episode of the "Word on Fire Show." A listener asks if the word "holy" means set apart for a particular purpose, what exactly does it mean when we s...