Bishop Barron on "Eat Pray Love"

[@BishopBarron]

@maaaaaaatt1 It might be helpful if you read even the most elementary book of Catholic theology before you start pontificating on Catholic doctrine. The answer is no: Catholics do not worship wheat wafers.

[@BishopBarron]

Yes please, pray for me!

[@mviclovelovemvic7567]

Bishop Robert Barron : Thank you, for sharing such wisdom. I agree God is in the human inner light/ soul / chemical brain / spine flowing/ sparking neurons in the organ -brain , When humans die the energy leaves the body elevating to heights- the God I connect to is in the universe. As humans we are imperfect to learn from decisions leading to good / terrible results / discipliant is one of the human powers here on earth - the place of influence and paths.

[@mviclovelovemvic7567]

Not all humans hold the inner light/ soul. It's traded for other sacrifices.

[@mviclovelovemvic7567]

I spread time in various forms of meditation - enjoy teachings of wisdom . I kneel to the stars my father embraces my conditions .

[@mviclovelovemvic7567]

I've seen the darkness in many forms . Special human all my life. I carry the gift.

[@adangelor]

When I first saw this movie with my wife, she said to me: This is the most egoistic person I saw in my entire life: it's all about HER, and nothing more. Women know how to define people and situations. And Bishop Barron too!

[@mixielot]

your wife had the exact understanding i had when watching it also! this is why i clicked to see what Bishop Barron thought as well.

[@southbug27]

Your wife was correct. I haven’t read the book or seen the movie, but from what i understand She “found her soulmate” at the end of the trip & married him. I heard lots of news reports maybe 5 years ago when she divorced him to have an affair & run away with her best girlfriend. All that new age, touchy feely, Oprah religion nonsense is all about what you want & how you feel; it’s religion for emotional & spiritual 3-year-olds. I don’t always like or want to do what Christianity requires & sometimes stubbornly do what I want instead, but I have enough sense to know I’m in the wrong & don’t try & change God’s rules or the world to fit my emotions. Part of the problem is Christians stop speaking out about immorality because we celebrities & public people did. Anytime one of them calls something out the media would dig into their lives & pull out embarrassing sins from years or decades ago & humiliate them with it, or they would plant people in their lives to find something like they did with Kathie Lee Gifford by having a flight attendant strike up a friendship with her husband & continue until she got him to be unfaithful & then they published the pictures to humiliate Kathie Lee. I give Kathie Lee much respect that they didn’t stop her from talking about her live for Jesus even after that.

[@susananderson5061]

Exactly

[@herminiasantos8787]

Ljj

[@DeirdreCL]

I read the book soon after it first came out. I saw it as just a well-told story about an emotionally difficult time in a nevertheless highly privileged woman's life. The writer is funny on paper in a way that doesn't really come across in the movie, and when someone is funny in a self-deprecating way, you can forgive them a lot of their shortcomings. It would have never occurred to me to see it as spiritual guidance to emulate. It's unfortunate that the whole thing later gave rise to an entire industry of people attempting to replicate the writer's trajectory.

[@MCS1993]

This movie reflects what society is going through... Our Society is drifting away from Christianity to search for new "spiritual " experiences(usually Eastern Religions) to "fill"the great Voids in their lives... People ignore that Christianity is deeply spiritual, challenging, exciting, reasonable, charitable, transformational, logical, miraculous, Loving, Historical, mistical, etc. People are leaving Christianity mainly because of ignorance..... We need to communicate the Gospel.... And to live the Gospels

[@nellahashimoto1342]

Manuel I agree. It is very sad. Will keep on praying. For them for Holy Catholic Church

[@michaelplitt2135]

I concur.

[@shenghan9385]

Very well said.

[@ХристоМартунковграфЛозенски]

Indeed. Look at all the "Meditation", "Yoga" and other stuff. It all comes from (East) Asia. Why do we need to do yoga when we have such a rich, such a deep spiritual tradition in Catholicism? Or Eastern Orthodoxy?

[@mi-ka-eltheguardian3837]

I guess the reason why people do not turn to classical Christianity is because... Cough, cough... Moral accountability. In fact the relationship Liz built with that poor man, is based upon spiritual selfishness : we are together but on my own term.

[@AnaCarolina-vl4cr]

Years before my conversion, here in Brazil, I watched this movie and read the book, and It had a huge impact on me. It opened a door for spiritual practices and beliefs, but in a very twisted way. I believed I was God, and every one was God too. And therefore, I lived in my self-centered universe. I had not realized it, but I became a New Age practicer. I tried to control my destiny, dabbed into occult practices and became demonic opressed. So heavily opressed that I could hear demons voices and have demonic visions. During this 'hell on earth' time, Jesus started calling me to conversion and fighting for my soul. I had to go through a delivery process that was, over all, mental. In my mind. Understanding that God Is, and I'm not. So yep... I loved your review of this movie, Bishop Barron. You were kind and sincere, but since I am not so great, allow me say it in my personal experience: In its essence It is a very anti-christ film that does no good to a soul.

[@Lolo-lt2lf]

Wow. So sad

[@camissleepy8542]

Glad you're here

[@jetc4332]

"celebration of narcissism" yep, that's what the modern world is about

[@leew1598]

JeTc yep, the 100,000 selfies a year people seem to take...."Look at me!"

[@hardinmichael1981]

Self-Worship. Now that I'm thinking about it, I can see it everywhere. Even in my own selfishness. It's everywhere. "My Body, My Choice" = Self-Worship.

[@thekingslady1]

I started reading the actual book...I think I got about 1/3rd to half way. You couldn't have said it better:- "Celebration of Narcissism"!!

[@auntstacey123]

Fr. Barron, thank you for putting man's relationship with God in the proper perspective. Love your videos! They are very insightful & are helping me immensely.

[@dallasmcquarrie1937]

Self-idolatry is one of the great sins of North America. "It's all about me" is the cornerstone of the consumer culture, and there are none so lost as those who think material goods - having more - will make them happy.

[@persianhenry2897]

But, Dallas McQuarrie, it is only for a short time.

[@LostArchivist]

Not North America, but humanity overall through time and across the world. There is a reason pride is the chief deadly sin.

[@dallasmcquarrie1937]

@@einarabelc5 Our world is part of God's Creation. In the Bible, God tells us that all that He created - animals, plants, the environment which sustains all life - is "very good." God also instructs humanity to be good stewards of his Creation. Thus, practices which destroy the Earth - killing the oceans, clear cutting forests, wiping out species, etc. are precisely what God has instructed us not to do, and so they constitute 'sins.' God also instructs us to 'love our neighbor as our self, and thus things like racism, adultery, bearing false witness, etc. are also sins according to Scripture. We have a lot of leeway in how to care for the Creation and how to express love for others, but what is not allowed are actions that destroy or plunder the Earth and exploit or use our brothers and sisters. FYI - if you read the Bible, you'll find a lot of instructions on how we are to care for Creation, and for our neighbor. Life is the ultimate Christian value and that which shortens life or hurts others is sinful.

[@Bizz55]

I'm reminded of the awful, self regarding L'Oreal slogan "because you're worth it".

[@dallasmcquarrie1937]

@@persianhenry2897 The North American culture is founded on the twin cornerstones of self-idolatry and the exaltation of ignorance. Self-idolatry is the child of selfishness, and the COVID-pandemic shows many, many people are too selfish to bother to protect their families and communities.

[@HuyVu-vi4ut]

I start crying when Bishop talks about detaching to everthing in the world and find God as center of our life

[@woweixiaomiandui]

“The fewer the words, the better the prayer.”

[@loosegoose2466]

What a blessing these videos are.❤❤❤

[@yohanesliong4818]

Very insightful and profound. Thank you

[@BishopBarron]

I'm delighted! God bless you.

[@Entertainer114]

This is such a great commentary. Fr. Barron, I can't tell you how helpful, relevant and provocative I've found your videos to be. Makes me want to finally delve into reading some of the great old Catholic doctors and others. Please keep 'em coming and God bless your ministry.

[@kaylashryock2743]

I watched this last night as God led me here I felt, and I thought wow this is good. I even sent it to my boyfriend and said “you know I think sometimes catholics do get things right? Am I wrong? 😅” He said “no you’re right l. We are only Christian’s not the only Christian” YOU KNOW ITS 5am in the morning now and I have a problem with that. I’m still led to this eat pray love thing because I had a similar spiritual journey but not similar at all spiritual journey that did lead me to Christ. And I actually did get there from a Christian background, then the new age and other religious, gurus, and philosophies. However I did become detached like all the greats you bishop talks about but when my spiritual journey came to an end and I found Christ. More so he called me by name and naturally I went through the painful process and jumped ship to be with Jesus where I felt saved from eternal separation from God. My problem is I looked into this whole elizabeth gilbert’s past and her mother actually opened and started a planned parenthood, and I see lots of evidence she didn’t have a christian background. Perhaps her mom did and then decided to hate God, as there are people who decide to do that and their children never really hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. WHAT IF the nuns would have spoke to elizabeth gilbert. Why should it be the other way around? Is it not our responsibility to share the Gospel! Granted i’m not the best at this either. Point is you are not or were not 12 years go a man of real faith-i’m afraid-as someone of real faith speaks and worships in spirit and truth. Someone who has the Holy spirit in them is bothered by non truths. The truth is very important it is an attribute of God. Jesus is the way the truth and the life and no one gets to the father except through him. When you have him you have a spirit of Truth in you. Majority of Catholics do not worship in truth. They call themselves Christians while dogging on non catholic Christian’s who don’t follow all these religious acts they just follow Jesus. They remind me of the poor Christians in Galatians and roman’s who fell into legalism as some Jews were trying to make them get circumcised. Paul made them question their salvation as he questioned it. I do believe Paul was not really saying they would lose their salvation, as that contradicts other scriptures but listen carefully read them for yourself. Don’t try to save yourself humbly ask God to save you and apologize for not looking to Jesus with as much reverence as you should. Call yourself what you are, you are Catholics you worship Mary. You kneel down and pray to her like she is a graven image. What little fear I have witnessed. I hope in God this is out of love. God rebukes those he loves. Thank our wonderful God for Jesus everyday because we are imperfect silly flawed and fallen creatures. Sinners which we are in desperate need of one true savior Jesus to wash us of our sins once and for all. To be covered by his blood shed for those who believe. And perhaps as I have judged I will call my myself protestant. Protest the catholic church. I agree with paul when he says “For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭19‬ ‭ If we are all truly part of the church of Christ than we have shared in his body. Now no matter if we are catholic or protestant or whatever their will be factions amongst us in our specific churches within the body of believers around us in that way we will know who is approved by God.

[@hynemc]

Father Barron is a great spiritual master as like a spiritual master he can teach in just a few minutes (minute 6:00 to 9:00in this clip) what it takes others hours to teach and not nearly as effectively as he does. Thank you Father Barron for doing what you do you are truly appreciated.

[@MichaelDamianPHD]

Thanks Father Barron for the insightful review. It's typical of new-age spirituality to keep the ego's attachments (narcissism) safe while trying to appropriate spirit. It's all about love and oneness, minus the detachment and purification.

[@mapinoita279]

God bless Bishop Barron!

[@bethlemieux2425]

Love the gift of this man in my spiritual life

[@dynamic9016]

Really appreciate this video.

[@BishopBarron]

@phoenixfreefall Let me see if I have your reasoning straight: both Mother Teresa and Hitler committed sins; therefore there is no substantial difference between them. Friend, whatever ideology leads you to that conclusion is beyond mistaken; it's downright dangerous.

[@11ariadna11]

I have never liked this movie but didn't know why and after many years Bishop, you have just explained me why. Thank you for this inside! Anna

[@dennisagonia2635]

Thank you very much, Bishop Barron. Now I know very well that the greatness of God is seen not simply because I proclaim God in life (words, actions, talents, rational capability and what so ever) but rather the graciousness of God bestowed in me. In the end, every good we've done we owed it from God not for God but for our good. It reminds me of what St. Francis said about love " love is not about (the good of thyself) thy self but love is the good of the other as the other.

[@jer1471]

Dennis Agonia is

[@TrustInJesusThruMaryWithJoseph]

so wonderful...I agree. Thank you dear Bishop Barron🙏🏻🕊🔥

[@erlindagonowon5761]

Fr Barron , thank you for your insights ! I am seeing the world a whole lot differently because of you ! May God continue to guide and bless you as you inspire and strengthen the faith of others

[@tailspin37]

Hello Father: I find your videos very enlightening, and I especially enjoy them. God Bless you and your Holy Priestly Mission. John

[@antoinetteirons7040]

Thanks Bishop Barron never saw those things in the Film will have to go and watch it again with all this new knowledge. Love learning from you. Antoinette.

[@BishopBarron]

@invanorm So Hitler is no worse than Mother Teresa?! Charles Manson is no worse than Martin Luther King?! This is why I'm suspicious of Zen.

[@shenghan9385]

I totally agree with you. Father Barron.

[@xavierlaflamme8773]

Agreed. Keep doing what you are doing Father! You are a light in a dark internet world

[@dantefajardo347]

Spot on Fr. Barron.

[@ilasharma.2908]

Hallelujah. Praise the lord Jesus Christ. Father please pray for me.

[@Amanda-bz9xu]

This is so eloquent and beautiful. Thank you.

[@BishopBarron]

@fruitjooz Friend, take a look at my other videos. I find a lot of positive elements within the modern culture. Look especially at the commentaries on Gran Torino, The Lord of the Rings, the Sopranos, the HBO Rome series, etc.

[@nelukasilva2868]

Thank you bishop Barron.

[@thallescantuariafreire1679]

Thank you, Bishop Barron

[@BasharR68]

God Bless You Father

[@trishknaut1031]

Bishop you are so articulate describing the faulty theology and to see how sad the lost are and how much we need to bring the Presence of Jesus who has saved us so we come to know Papa God intimately with Compassion of the Holy Spirit in us!

[@thelondonzoo]

Very profound! Thank you, Father. :)

[@bluewren2]

I cannot thank you enough Fr.Barron for these videos.I was not prepared however for this profound and insightful review of this film. I saw it and read her book and it fell flat now I know why.. If itis alright with you I will add you to my prayer list we cannot afford to lose you from the Church. Amen.

[@christopherjacob8017]

Yes so true ...and well explained Bishop Barron, we are weak and fragile beings ...God is far beyond our imagination..yet he is so merciful and forgiving....I believe that we only get to learn about this in Christianity...

[@BishopBarron]

@kattalina9 Well heck, you're telling me that I'm wrong! Why can't I tell Julia Roberts that she's wrong? Your whole posting "smacks of rightness and wrongness."

[@BishopBarron]

Oh, and what kind of thinking does your name-calling represent?!

[@aniarowan6375]

Great analysis of that movie!

[@MAThompsonFrenk]

"Service"was missing in the eat-pray-love equation. So often people say,"just work on yourself/mind your own business". But, it has been in my journey to serve humanity that I have discovered myself to be transformed/capable of great joy, strength&many things I never even imagined for myself when focused just on self. It makes sense, doesn't it, that to grow past one's present idea of self, one would have to see beyond it?In fact,I'd even say,it is a necessity for our species' growth as a whole!

[@JohnnyArtPavlou]

She cleaned a floor.

[@kimpozon8230]

Thank you for sharing of your knowledge and wisdom.

[@KnightOwl2006]

Wonderful perspective. I enjoyed this.

[@memoguayaco]

A great instructive commentary!!!

[@RalphAnthonyCBasco]

You're absolutely right Father. Liz Gilbert separated from her second husband this year and suddenly want to be with another woman. Totally messed up.

[@MichElle-sd6gj]

🙃

[@lalaithan]

Wow.

[@richardmarsh2635]

Fantastic commentary

[@paulfedorenko538]

"Do you go to Church, or practice any religion?" "No, but I'm really spiritual" "hmmmm... okay"

[@theTavis01]

Religion and spirituality are related but are not the same. Religion functioning it its ideal state is a discipline to help people find and grow their spirituality. However religion is not a guarantee of spirituality, nor is it the only way to experience it.

[@kimpozon8230]

Religion is a way to reconnect to God through spiritual faith . When we pray which is taught by our church and parents it is spiritual faith.

[@kimastrup9385]

Very insightful!

[@ruthgahlgren]

I did read Elizabeth's book and she described a moment where she felt the presence of "God" and it was not narcissistic. Her relationships were never solely on her terms and the love section included acts of caring and generosity on her part. I am sure she has an ego but she also is humble and and honest. I thought her book was an honest expression of her understanding of her appetites and her limitations and her desire to connect with something "outside" of herself.

[@r.m5883]

This aged poorly. She left her husband for a woman. It is all about her.

[@peggylyons6898]

Excellent, thoughtful review. Thank you.

[@Cristinact]

Father, there are quite too many things you say that I really need to pause and reflect upon. Thanks for helping us to "chew the cud" on our faith ;)

[@BishopBarron]

I do appreciate your remarks here, but I would press the matter: if Atman really is Brahman, it is hard to avoid the conclusion that the self is being deified. God indeed is unchanging, but no part of the "self" is unchanging or eternal.

[@BlacksmithTWD]

Are you sure the two of you both are talking about the same concept of 'self'?

[@lukehall8151]

What is the difference between the Trimurti and the Holy Trinity? What do you think of the fact that many Vishnuvites simply view Jesus as an incarnation of Krishna, or that the Chinese simply called it "Jesus Dharma System"? I find it is always interesting to notice the universalities of things, because this naturally foregrounds the quiddity of particulars. Anyways, whether you answer my question or not, I love you. Another question: what do you think of Rastafarianism? I think it is deeply misunderstood and reviled. May God guard you and watch you and shine His face upon you. In the ineffable Name of the Superessential Godhead, may goodness and mercy follow you all the days of your life.

[@kimpozon8230]

Trinity means 3 persona in one God. It is like time space and matter. Universe is compose of this three and universe will not exist if one of this three is missing. If you will imagine in a physical, Space is like a cloth, matter is like a ball in the center of the cloth. When the ball is heavy, the cloth crampled and time exist around. You can change time only if the matter is heavy. In trinity, God the father means all of my wisdom belongs to God. God the son means my heart belongs to God. God the holy spirit means my action belongs to God. When a christian do the sign of the cross we recite that God is with us and God will help us in our walks of life. And when. When christian say amen it means i believe and i trust God with my life and strength that he will lead me to holy life. Take note: Christian faith is different from other beliefs. Because in Christ he love us first before we love him. God don't need anything from us because God already love us first even we hate him. He still love us meaning God is a loving God and merciful God. So dont compare Christ from others because Christ is God And God can be a man if he decide to be. He can be like a wind . meaning God is always there. Wg don't have to do anything to be with him just love him and stay. And if we run away he will still call your name. That is Christ!

[@coldforgedcowboy]

I am suprised Father could hear the movie over all the snoring. Just offer it up Father!

[@elke4646]

In a 2015 article for The New York Times titled "Confessions of a Seduction Addict," Gilbert wrote that she "careened from one intimate entanglement to the next-dozens of them-without so much as a day off between romances." She acknowledged, "Seduction was never a casual sport for me; it was more like a heist, adrenalizing and urgent. I would plan the heist for months, scouting out the target, looking for unguarded entries. Then I would break into his deepest vault, steal all his emotional currency and spend it on myself."[28]She realised that, "I might indeed win the man eventually. But over time (and it wouldn’t take long), his unquenchable infatuation for me would fade, as his attention returned to everyday matters. This always left me feeling abandoned and invisible; love that could be quenched was not nearly enough love for me".[29]

[@thekingslady1]

Thank You for this!! I remember reading the book about a year and half to two years ago. It was so incredibly vapid, vacuous, narcissistic....I started looking her info up and ran across this article you quoted where she talks about being a literal man-eater. She explained how she never cared if the man had a girlfriend, was engaged, married or anything of the sort. It was all about her getting the attention she wanted-at any cost, at any expense. All I could think was "Jezebel...Jezebel....Jezebel". No matter how bad folks think the movie is, the book is FAR WORSE. I had to stop 1/3rd to halfway through...

[@TelemachusHeeler]

Very insightful! Someone very close to me really enjoyed the movie, and got a lot out of seeing your take on it. I enjoyed seeing it, too! :) Thank you, Bishop!

[@lukaspauljones4498]

Excellent Insights Bishop Barron! really learned alot and will apply to my own life, especially when it comes to controlling my massive ego!

[@eoinMB3949]

I used to be involved in the new age movement and it goes absolutely no where, only in circles. And I believe that's what satan's design was. To hook "spiritual" people in on the pretence of attaining an enlightened state.......only nobody ever actually reaches this enlightenment. They just become more and more self involved and end up tied in knots. Thank God he called me out of that darkness that masqueraded as light and gave me his word that opened my eyes and allowed me to see the truth.

[@alocohc]

Robert youi are so wise.

[@BishopBarron]

@C0mm0nS3ns3 Has it occured to you that someone who is not married has an objectivity that a married person could never have? Many, many people testify that they would rather go to a priest for advice about marriage than to a married man. Moreover, there are lots of priests who, in a previous life, were married. I don't think things are as simple as you suggest here.

[@SpeedyTase]

Julia Roberts allegedly turned down the lead role in "The Blind Side", because she felt the female lead was "too religious". However, Roberts felt compelled to tell everyone she and her family practice Hinduism after making "Eat, Pray, Love".

[@angelcross2430]

Every piece has it's own choice to make. I believe this earth we call home is nothing but a classroom for us to learn how to be good people and listen to the light inside of us. I am just beginning my journey into religion and I hope to study quite a few before I find the religion that is right for me. I have a big question for Fr.Barron if I may it's a question my mother had for her church once.

[@frmertd]

But i really enjoyed your analysis!!! it was really insightful, thanks for posting!

[@darionkormos-mysticcity7997]

She went to ROME for Pete sake!! She could've went to the Vatican or St. Peter's Basilica

[@Randomgolfguy]

Ikr.

[@kaysaudiobooks]

In the book in Chapter 3, Liz wrote: "Culturally, though not theologically, I'm a Christian. I was born a Protestant of the white Anglo-Saxon persuasion. And while I do love that great teacher of peace who was called Jesus, and while I do reserve the right to ask myself in certain trying situations what indeed He would do, I can't swallow that one fixed rule of Christianity insisting that Christ is the _only_ path to God. Strictly speaking, then, I cannot call myself a Christian. Most of the Christians I know accept my feelings on this with grace and open-mindedness. Then again, most of the Christians _I_ know don't speak very strictly." In Chapter 8, she speaks to a yoga teacher in Bali: "I want to be with God all the time. But I don't want to be a monk, or totally give up worldly pleasures. I guess what I want to learn is how to live in this world and enjoy its delights, but also devote myself to God."

[@annebodee]

I refused to read the book or watch the movie when I learned that it starts out with her abandoning her family. She is incredibly selfish right out of the gate. Nothing to admire at all.

[@thekingslady1]

No matter how terrible the film is, the book is 10x worse.... extremely, extremely selfish, self-centered, narcissistic woman! Had to stop about 1/3rd to halfway through.

[@annebodee]

@@thekingslady1 Good for you. I appreciate when people are willing to go against the conventional "wisdom" saying what's the big deal. What we put in our hearts and minds matter.

[@thekingslady1]

@@annebodee read the NYT's 2015 article titled "Confessions of a Seduction Addict" by Elizabeth Gilbert (the author of the book this film is based on). If I remember correctly, it's a short read. That, is the kind of mentality this book portrays.....it is the mentality being praised by society today *shudders*

[@NMikeM]

Thank you, Father! So much of modern "spirituality" is really just narcissism twisted around. The problem I find with eastern religions is that they often encourage the same detachment that Catholic spiritual teachers have preached, but they can't provide that new attachment to Jesus Christ. They may cause you to change your path, but they can't give you the Holy Spirit as your guide.

[@DrawLove]

"You can call me anything you'd like, just don't call me late to dinner" I feel the same way about spirituality. It doesn't matter which faith or path one takes to reach God as long as the person reaches God. I believe the charcter in this story not only finds God, she learns to listen and trust her spirit, and with a new found courage goes off into the unknown with a good man by her side. Koodos to this story.

[@olghamargaret7454]

Come to Bali bishop barron

[@aditicoolin1]

Bishop Barron, I absolutely adore and admire your teachings. May I make a comment in all humility as this is something which is often misinterpreted about the Hindu tradition which only someone who grows up in India in the midst of all the faiths and cultures deeply rooted in society may understand to some extent? 'God is in me as me' presented the way it is in the film is a misinterpretation. I'll try and explain in words although it's not really the best way to do so. Who we think we are - are 'false selfs' All of us are - an image of God. A reflection of God - a reflection of a tree in a still lake is a true entity that can be described in Physics ... but it's not really true. Its existence depends on the tree. In a certain way... it is actually the tree .. reflected in the lake. In that sense, we are one with God but not the same as God. The 'real self' is the 'Christ self' but whilst we are individuals it cant be so. God cannot live 'in us as us' - the way we exist as ego-centric beings Only a few such as St Paul can realise this in the true sense: King James Bible - Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Note that he says... yet not I - his false self has been replaced...he lost himself in Love). St Paul could actually feel that one-ness through a monumental transformation through Love and Grace. Sometimes, momentarily ... we can feel it. I quote C.S.Lewis from Mere Christianity, my favourite book. The last paragraph is powerful: “Your real, new self (which is Christ's and also yours, and yours just because it is His) will not come as long as you are looking for it. It will come when you are looking for Him. Does that sound strange? The same principle holds, you know, for more everyday matters. Even in social life, you will never make a good impression on other people until you stop thinking about what sort of impression you are making. Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it. The principle runs through all life from top to bottom, Give up yourself, and you will find your real self. Lose your life and you will save it. Submit to death, death of your ambitions and favourite wishes every day and death of your whole body in the end submit with every fibre of your being, and you will find eternal life. Keep back nothing. Nothing that you have not given away will be really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead. Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him, everything else thrown in.” As selfish individuals - broken vessels, reflections of God, branches of the vine, drops in an ocean - we cannot be exactly the same as God - Brahman- eternal-unchanging. (That would be a misinterpretation of the Advaita tradition) But we are children and images of God, nevertheless. It is this deep feeling of one-ness as though there is not two but 'one' which can only be experienced by rare beings who have completely transformed themselves. - My humble attempt to explain something which can only be felt...

[@sundayweiss634]

By the gift of freewill.

[@jstin1083]

Bishop I don’t think you’re comprehending the statement “God is in me, as me” this context doesn’t fall under the scope of western thought… she’s essentially saying God is in me as the light of awareness behind my egoic personal identity, not as the personal identity

[@HASPortraits]

Agreed. I don't think the film/character portrays this week however. She seems to think she's got everything sorted out and has found enlightenment but she clearly hasn't. She's clearly very egotistical as she says it. Not a good way to express that concept

[@angersjay]

Greatttt . We need your reviews at each cinema enter

[@thoughtadventure100]

It has been said that the Christian journey is essentially the gradual realization which one of us is God and which one of us isn't.

[@MobiusCoin]

Agreed. At least to the point of a missed opportunity. I am a great lover of the churches of Rome, the majesty of the architecture, and the emotions and powers it inspires. Rome is one of the great spiritual centers of the world and it was wasted specifically on the element of food. Which is also great, Italian cuisine is some of the finest in the world but there is so much more to be learned from this great city. But the rest... well you know my feelings about that stuff by now.

[@joelfederighi7094]

I have found that going to church where it be at what faith you believe to be the one found for you ; if we walk in true faith and we see we are only the good of God within us and not us to be arrogant that we have found the way to heaven but to be in grace to love each other whether we agree on faith and in the seemingly actions taken in our church like actions ;we are maybe refuting the truth of who we are when we are only as good as the love and trust that we can be more like Christ when we act as He would ask us to act/ love is not just a word it is an action/ love others who do not show love to you is the greatest challenge we will ever face/ love is but all of a word used and abused to make yourself seen as a person of God /yet actions of the words speak the true love of God

[@BishopBarron]

@invanorm Were Hitler's actions God's actions? How about Mao's? Or Pol Pot's? Or Charles Manson's? When you or I act with selfishness, violence, hatred, and cruelty, are we expressing God?

[@Marcello1b]

As it is mostly (and not necessarely) a look in "one among other" sickness of all societies of all kind, it is also in our own personal level. I believe that we need others to realize were we are; we can never do "the journey" alone. Not that we have to be "satisfied" of our "own personal evolution".... My point is, while we are looking at others and "contenting ourselves" in our own "personal evolution" (how great we could be compared to others); this become as another type of "samething" => Narcissism. Having our "Trust in God" as having "Faith in Jesus", allowing to move us, to change us, not become a better "Oneself" as "Autosufficient self" but "Oneself though the others"... finding our purposes without "forcing our purposes" in throut of others but as "another light", another inspiration for the "well being" of a community. For my perspective, being "helpful" as a light for others, "once in a while" (Because it is a 'Evolution journey'; not a "All the time, stable, fixed state of mind, but a perpetual "growing" better state of mind). A kind of success that isn't to become "the one" everyone wants to "look like" but "a light" that help to focus on the essential of happiness.

[@davidalexander5495]

Eastern religious practices are not acquainted with the law of non-contradiction. The result is that most Eastern religious practices are pliable and non-committal with regard to theology and doctrine. This tends to appeal to westerners who believe themselves to be "spiritual", but not "religious".

[@st.mephisto8564]

Theology and Doctrine in the west become blind Dogma that requires it's believers to do just that "believe" them. Blind faith is not virtue! East on the other hand is focused on self inquiry, it doesn't start with silly childish propositions like Heaven, God and Dogma etc. Also Law of non contradiction is limiting and doesn't penetrate deeper mysteries. Which are often contradictory, to be understood less but intuitively realised more.

[@oambitiousone7100]

If only Liz had found Bishop Barron; he will save a lot of air fare for us seekers.

[@jcheng6]

There's not so much criticism as opposed to rude and arrogant comments here. If a person's gonna criticize Catholicism, at least know what Catholic theology is about and know it well!

[@bluewren2]

Yes you could be right all roads lead to God elysia fields whatever road we choose to travel so yes possibly will see you there good luck and God Bless you..

[@krishnamayimarianni8026]

The ashram that Liz goes to is Amritapuri I believe, the home of the outstanding living Saint Her Holiness Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, or Amma the hugging Saint. Pope Francis asked her, amongst others to speak out against Modern Slavery at the Vatican in 2014 or 2015. Amritapuri is an extraordinary ashram where many saintly people live. All you describe is exactly what is taught there, letting go of ego and attachments to find God within, our divine centre where seekers are united in a mission to try and relieve suffering in the world. If only Liz had been open to the bramacharini's (nuns) she was passing by in the ashram.

[@Blaseboniface]

@fruitjooz I have been a practicing depth psychiatrist for more than 25 yrs. and if you actually think a movie is just a movie, I suggest-as one soul concerned for the well being of another soul-that you stop watching movies all together. Your trivialization of how a movie programs the mind which is the soul's tool for experiencing reality is naive to the point of dangerous. Fr. Barron is pointing out the programming. Deo gratias.

[@MySchoolProject15]

Amazing how closely this mirrors another review made by a secular video essayist years later. Well done, Father.

[@ElvisRockatansky]

My favorite take on this movie so far was from a comedian on the cable show "RedEye," who observed (paraphrasing), "So the lesson of this movie is, no matter how much of a failure you are as a wife and how much of a wreck your life is, there's always time for vacation."

[@MsAudesapere]

Pardon me for covering your comments section, but I hoped that a quote from the book might make up for the overwhelming cuts made in the flawed art of screenplay adaptation. Secondly, though, I would like to say that her deep concern for surrendering to love, on his terms in "his boat", made me weep. I did not feel any narcissism there, I felt relief that she managed to leave her controlled act of isolation, the "removal" you speak about on the spiritual path, to love him back the way he needed

[@invanorm]

I think the 'God is in me, as me' is simply saying that God permeates the universe, and that as such (as I am a part of the universe) is 'in' me, as 'me'. In that way my actions are Gods actions, for all my movements are manifestations of the divine. As the ocean waves, so the earth peoples.

[@rhlogic]

I must say, finally found in Fr. Barron a minefield of Intelligent commentary in the midst of the stupidity and arrogance of this time.

[@kimpozon8230]

Indeed, father barron really helped me. How to help my narcisst girlfriend.

[@terryfenwick]

Thanks for reviewing this movie. I watched it and wrote my first negative review on any book or movie. I think I said something like, "How could any bad movie by made with Julia Roberts as the star?" But, of course, that can happen. I felt so sad I had been negative - I had allowed the movie to make me negative - although I hated the movie - I went back and took down my review. It was just that it was an empty movie. Empty.

[@sylviadodgin]

I always thought it was Pray, fast and eat with others.

[@TrotterG]

"A prophet is not honored in his hometown" (Mark 6:4) seems to describe how many Westerners bypass our Christian roots on our spiritual quest.

[@laurengalan2760]

You are right in her having a Christian background. Her family background is that they were puritans. I think this explains a lot.

[@BlacksmithTWD]

If I got a stomach in me, then I'm with a stomach which I could even consider part of me, it still doesn't mean I am a stomach. Nor does it mean that I don't have a liver or a heart in me as well.

[@kimpozon8230]

Don't know what are you talking about. If you want to make a point then be direct. Im so clueless of what you want to say

[@oambitiousone7100]

Great review: my husband said the same, but was far less gracious in his phrasing 😏

[@shenghan9385]

I can imagine

[@xavierlaflamme8773]

Haha I was the same. Told my wife that was one of the worst movies I've ever seen

[@ultravioletpisces3666]

"Never once did she seek out Christianity." Christianity is not the only religion.

[@sanjalisnjic7271]

Exactly,Christianity isn't the only religion,and hinduism isn't either. However, she was on her spiritual quest to God,but didn't search in more different religions (including Christianity), but only hinduism.

[@stephenhilger4319]

Any recommendations for books that depict the Christian spiritual journey, Bishop Barron?

[@BishopBarron]

@MightyCarnac Boy, I can't tell you how funny that is. This sort of response is, sadly, typical of the "new" atheism.

[@josephjackson1956]

This whole movie could have taken place IN Rome... just a piece of advice movie writers