The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
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.
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WOF 521: The Philosophical Habit (9 of 12)
12/22/2025
WOF 521: The Philosophical Habit (9 of 12)
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: 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 to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 520: Defending Religious Freedom
12/15/2025
WOF 520: Defending Religious Freedom
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 important for people of all faiths, or no faith at all, it is thus especially urgent for believers in Christ. How, then, can we work together as a church and as a society to make progress on this front? Taking a step back, what, specifically, is religious freedom and why is it a universal human right? What is the relationship between the free exercise of religion and freedom of speech? And how can we respond to the secular charge that religious freedom is merely a backdoor means for the faithful to impose their beliefs on others? A listener asks how we can grow in confidence that Catholicism is the one true religion. Topics Covered: 00:00 | Introduction 01:36 | Concluding Winona-Rochester’s diocesan synod 03:24 | The work of the Religious Liberty Commission 07:33 | Responding to Religious Liberty Commission criticism 09:11 | The inherent priority of religious liberty 12:32 | Distinguishing the freedoms of religion, conscience, and speech 14:26 | Is religious liberty necessary for worship? 16:33 | Understanding “due limits” to religious liberty 19:33 | Proposition or imposition? 20:24 | Civil authority and religious authority 22:40 | Truth and relativism 27:25 | How poor conceptions of religion undermine religious liberty 28:27 | Advocating for religious liberty 30:06 | Religious freedom in society 31:36 | Why religious liberty matters for evangelization 32:48 | Listener question: How can we know Catholicism is true? 36:01 | Join the Word on Fire Institute Dignitatis Humanae: 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 to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 519: The Queen of the Sciences (8 of 12)
12/08/2025
WOF 519: The Queen of the Sciences (8 of 12)
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 non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners . . . like you! So become a part of this mission and to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 518: What Is the Christian Way of Caring for the Poor?
12/01/2025
WOF 518: What Is the Christian Way of Caring for the Poor?
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 Dilexi Te: 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 to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 517: The Idea of a University (7 of 12)
11/24/2025
WOF 517: The Idea of a University (7 of 12)
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 to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 516: How to Have a Civil Debate in a Polarized World
11/17/2025
WOF 516: How to Have a Civil Debate in a Polarized World
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: 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 to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 515: Developments Contrasted with Corruptions (6 of 12)
11/10/2025
WOF 515: Developments Contrasted with Corruptions (6 of 12)
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 become a part of this mission and to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 514: Celebrating St. John Henry Newman Becoming a Doctor of the Church
11/03/2025
WOF 514: Celebrating St. John Henry Newman Becoming a Doctor of the Church
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: 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 to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 513: The Play of Lively Minds (5 of 12)
10/27/2025
WOF 513: The Play of Lively Minds (5 of 12)
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 a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners . . . like you! So become a part of this mission and to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 512: The Development of Christian Doctrine (4 of 12)
10/20/2025
WOF 512: The Development of Christian Doctrine (4 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 Podcast: Read: Article: Video: 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 to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 511: Newman as a Catholic (3 of 12)
10/13/2025
WOF 511: Newman as a Catholic (3 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: Video: Read: 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 to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 510: Newman as an Anglican (2 of 12)
10/06/2025
WOF 510: Newman as an Anglican (2 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: 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 become a part of this mission and to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 509: The Importance of St. John Henry Newman (1 of 12)
09/29/2025
WOF 509: The Importance of St. John Henry Newman (1 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: Book: 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 to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 508: How to Build on Conversion Momentum
09/22/2025
WOF 508: How to Build on Conversion Momentum
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: 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 to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 507: 1,700 Years of the Nicene Creed
09/15/2025
WOF 507: 1,700 Years of the Nicene Creed
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: 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 to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 506: Why Are So Many Young People Becoming Catholic?
09/08/2025
WOF 506: Why Are So Many Young People Becoming Catholic?
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: New York Post article: Fox News article: 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 to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 505: Bishop Barron’s Q&A with Irish Pilgrims
09/01/2025
WOF 505: Bishop Barron’s Q&A with Irish Pilgrims
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: 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 to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 504: The Meaning and Purpose of Beauty (Part 2)
08/25/2025
WOF 504: The Meaning and Purpose of Beauty (Part 2)
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: 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 to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 503: Our Call to Radical Self Gift
08/18/2025
WOF 503: Our Call to Radical Self Gift
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: 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 to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 502: The Meaning and Purpose of Beauty (Part 1)
08/11/2025
WOF 502: The Meaning and Purpose of Beauty (Part 1)
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: 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 to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 501: Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist
08/04/2025
WOF 501: Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist
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: 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 to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 500: Catholic Social Thought in the Age of AI
07/28/2025
WOF 500: Catholic Social Thought in the Age of AI
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: Word on Fire resources on artificial intelligence: 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 to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 499: Four Culminating Themes of the Bible (Part 2)
07/21/2025
WOF 499: Four Culminating Themes of the Bible (Part 2)
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: 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 to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 498: How to Strengthen Catholic Identity in Catholic Schools
07/14/2025
WOF 498: How to Strengthen Catholic Identity in Catholic Schools
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: 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 to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 497: Four Culminating Themes of the Bible (Part 1)
07/07/2025
WOF 497: Four Culminating Themes of the Bible (Part 1)
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: 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 to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 496: The Evangelical Power of the Nicene Creed
06/30/2025
WOF 496: The Evangelical Power of the Nicene Creed
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: 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 to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 495: The Bigger Story of the Bible with N.T. Wright (Part 2)
06/23/2025
WOF 495: The Bigger Story of the Bible with N.T. Wright (Part 2)
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: 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 to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 494: What to Expect from a Pope Leo XIV Papacy
06/16/2025
WOF 494: What to Expect from a Pope Leo XIV Papacy
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: “” Article: “” 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 to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 493: The Bigger Story of the Bible with N.T. Wright (Part 1)
06/09/2025
WOF 493: The Bigger Story of the Bible with N.T. Wright (Part 1)
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: 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 to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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WOF 492: What Catholicism Can Teach Us About Multiculturalism
06/02/2025
WOF 492: What Catholicism Can Teach Us About Multiculturalism
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: 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 to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.
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