WOF 509: The Importance of St. John Henry Newman (1 of 12)
The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
Release Date: 09/29/2025
WOF 521: The Philosophical Habit (9 of 12)
The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
Newman believed that a liberal arts education would instill a philosophical habit of mind in students, helping students reason to the foundational principles of every discipline and see how everything fits together. The philosophical habit of mind distinguishes between significance and triviality, helping society and individuals order everything to the Good. Topics Covered: Pattern recognition Sapientia Useless education is useful Advantages and disadvantages of the philosophical habit of mind Article: Video: Word on Fire Institute: ...
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WOF 520: Defending Religious Freedom
The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
Religious freedom, especially for Christians, is under attack across the globe, including in the West–including right here in the United States. Whether insidiously in the form of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that block Christians from employment and advancement opportunities, or, overtly, like vandalism against churches, or, in some parts of the world, murderous violence against Christians themselves, in terms of sheer numbers–and this fact is often ignored–Christians are, by far, the most persecuted religious group in the world. While defending religious freedom is...
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WOF 519: The Queen of the Sciences (8 of 12)
The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
Theology is the queen of the sciences. It is not just one science among many but the principal organizing science. If it is taken out of this central organizing place, something else will take its place. In this lesson, Bishop Barron helps us understand why Newman thought theology was of crucial importance in education. Topics Covered: Theology as the queen of the sciences Consequences of supplanting theology The Liberal Arts The Philosophical Habit Word on Fire Institute: NOTE: Do you like this podcast? ! Word on Fire is a...
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WOF 518: What Is the Christian Way of Caring for the Poor?
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...
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WOF 517: The Idea of a University (7 of 12)
The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
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 Read: Word on Fire Institute: NOTE: Do you like this podcast? ! 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 ...
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WOF 516: How to Have a Civil Debate in a Polarized World
The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
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...
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WOF 515: Developments Contrasted with Corruptions (6 of 12)
The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
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 Article: Read: Word on Fire Institute: NOTE: Do you like this podcast? ! Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners . . . like you! So...
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WOF 514: Celebrating St. John Henry Newman Becoming a Doctor of the Church
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...
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WOF 513: The Play of Lively Minds (5 of 12)
The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
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: Video: Read: by Stanley L. Jaki NOTE: Do you like this podcast? ! Word on Fire is...
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WOF 512: The Development of Christian Doctrine (4 of 12)
The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
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 Podcast: Read: Article: Video: Word on Fire Institute: NOTE: Do you like this podcast? ! Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that...
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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
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