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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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The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
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Now displaying: December, 2016
Dec 27, 2016

On the first day of the calendar year, the Church celebrates The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. This day honors the Blessed Virgin Mary under the aspect of her motherhood of Jesus. With her great "yes" to the Divine Will, Mary effectively reverses the negative trajectory caused by the great "no" of the world's first woman, Eve. Today's episode of the Word on Fire Show discusses how Mary, the Mother of God, represents the New Eve who ushers forth the New Adam, the Savior of the World, Jesus Christ. The listener question asks about the perpetual virginity of Mary.

Topics Discussed

  • 0:17  Introduction: Bishop celebrates the Virgin of Guadalupe in Los Angeles
  • 5:08 - Why is the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God so important
  • 7:02 - What is the controversy behind calling Mary "The Mother of God"?
  • 9:40 - Why were people parading through the streets when Mary was named "Theotokos"?
  • 11:05 - How does Mary compare to Eve?
  • 14:13 - What is the theological foundation for reverencing Mary?
  • 16:10 - Was Mary aware of her role in salvation history?
  • 18:16 - How should we understand the Angel's words to Mary, "Hail, full of grace"?
  • 19:40 - How is Mary the first disciple?
  • 21:03 - How should we respond to Protestants or those who say that we ought not reverence Mary?
  • 22:40 - Question from listener: What is the necessity of the Marian doctrine regarding Mary's perpetual virginity?

Bonus Resources

 

 

Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and, again, be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

Dec 20, 2016

St. Luke’s telling of the Christmas story, which is read at Midnight Masses all over the Catholic world, commences by invoking the first-century’s most powerful man: “In those days Caesar Augustus published a decree ordering a census of the whole world.” Then the story continues by introducing a new King, one born in straw poverty, wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a feeding trough. This is the poetry by which God enters into our world, not as a tyrant surrounded by powers of earthly violence but as a fragile baby surrounded by an army of heavenly angels set to usher him to the cross. Today's episode of the Word on Fire Show discusses this subversive Christmas tale and encourages us to consider which king we choose to follow. The listener question asks about the relationship between mind, body, and spirit.

Topics Discussed

  • 0:17  - Introduction: What was Word on Fire doing in New York City?
  • 3:40 - What is the political backdrop of the Christmas story?
  • 5:42 - Who were Mary and Joseph of Nazareth?
  • 8:00 - What is the significance of Bethlehem?
  • 9:50 - How strange is it that God came in the form of a baby?
  • 12:33 - What is the significance of the manger?
  • 13:32 - How does The Lord of the Rings relate to the Christmas story?
  • 16:00 - Why is the birth of this baby good news for the shepherds?
  • 17:42 - What is the terrifying undertone signaled by the angels who appear above the manger?
  • 20:45 - How might Catholics get in the Christmas spirit?
  • 21:47 - Question from listener: What is the relationship between the body, mind, and spirit?

Bonus Resources

Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and, again, be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

Dec 13, 2016

The most recent meeting of the United States Council of Catholic Bishops ended with a prayer service and a sermon by Archbishop Peter Sartain, wherein his excellency referenced the mystical prayers of St. Catherine of Siena. In this episode, Bishop Robert Barron recounts this wonderful sermon and reflects on the use of the word "thee" in St. Catherine's prayers as well as the common prayers of the Church. Bishop explains that the purpose of this sort of language is to remind us of the intimacy we share in God through the Son. Sharing this personal relationship with Jesus is the real purpose of evangelization. The listener question wonders about the purpose of petitionary prayer.

Topics Discussed

  • 0:15  - Introduction, information about the USCCB meeting and Bishop Barron's newly elected office
  • 3:53 - Word on Fire Show reaches 1 million downloads
  • 4:30 - Overview of Archbishop Sartain's Sermon
  • 9:03 - What language did Jesus use when he prayed?
  • 11:25 - How does the language we use about God relate to evangelization?
  • 13:10 - How do we navigate the fact that God is so far beyond us but also so intimately near?
  • 15:38 - What are some common misunderstandings about how to speak about God?
  • 18:15 - How do we grow in intimacy with the Lord?
  • 20:47 - Question from listener: When does it make sense to participate in petitionary prayer?

Bonus Resources

Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and, again, be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

Dec 6, 2016

“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me” is the simplest form of the Jesus Prayer. Bishop Robert Barron has professed the spiritual power of this short prayer for decades and was recently reintroduced to The Way of a Pilgrim, a short book, which narrates one man's quest to "pray without ceasing" by way of the Jesus Prayer. This episode serves as an encouragement for all Christians to adopt this prayer, which has long been a revered tradition in the Eastern Orthodox Church. The listener question comes from an atheist who wonders what, precisely, is the correct way to read the Bible.

Topics Discussed

  • 0:17  - Introduction, background information about “The Way of a Pilgrim”
  • 2:53 - Spiritual greatness of the Eastern Orthodox tradition
  • 5:17 - What is the Jesus Prayer and how do you pray it?
  • 7:50 - What happens after you pray the Jesus Prayer 1,000 times?
  • 9:03 - What is the difference between mindful route prayers and mindless babbling?
  • 10:40 - How can the Jesus Prayer become an extension of your body and soul?
  • 13:29 - What happens to the pilgrim in the story? (Spoiler Alert)
  • 15:28 - What is the one thing you cling to most?
  • 18:30 - What is the connection between “The Way of the Pilgrim” and TV's “Vikings”
  • 20:32 - What advice does Bishop Barron have for helping us detach ourselves from the material world?
  • 22:00 - Question from listener: How ought an atheist read the Bible?

Bonus Resources

Find bonus links and resources for this episode at http://WordOnFireShow.com and, again, be sure to submit your questions at http://AskBishopBarron.

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