Bishop Barron on Great Spiritual Classics

Learn more about the "Word on Fire Classics" series at WOFClassics.com
Find more videos from Bishop Barron at www.wordonfire.org/resources/...

[@smdani]

Fully agree: "Every page of Chesterton is like drinking Champagne"

[@DanUtley]

smdani I dunno... Sometimes he feels a bit... Rambly to me 😁. And then, out of nowhere, he just bludgeons you with brilliance.

[@fragwagon]

GKC's Orthodoxy rocked my world, too. The Everlasting Man is a masterpiece, but Orthodoxy is so elegant.

[@joseurbano8059]

"Imitation of Chist", "The Way of Perfection", "Spiritual Exercises", "The Cloud of Unknowing", please consider this classics on a future series on this subject.

[@wayneanddonita3857]

Gotta love St. Augustine...I totally had my own version of the "Give me chastity...just not now..." prayer...mine was, "Give me chastity...just do it in such a way that it causes me no discomfort, whatsoever...", which, admittedly, I still pray...

[@detrean]

Such truth. I'm not baptized yet and when I am weak I use that to give in. It is so hard to be chaste. It is easy while busy in the day but late at night when you can't get to sleep.... its like torture trying to keep the mind pure. My brain starts justifying weakness so well. Thinking about the offense to our lord helps.

[@monkeycombat2]

Something that has helped was knowing that if we don’t suffer for the sake of our future wives, then they will suffer for our sake. It’s difficult for sure, every day is a battle, but the love for His Majesty is far more important and risking His relationship with me is too high a cost.

[@dieu.famille.pays.]

You cracked me up

[@teddyyoung32]

What an amazing man you are Bishop Barron.

[@faithbooks7906]

Feeling kind of proud of myself. I've read all 4 of these! I just read Newman last year. And I haven't read Merton since my early 20's, so maybe I'm due for a re-read. I love this idea of publishing a handsome set of Catholic classics. I'm just now in the very last book of the City of God. It's taken me over a year to read it.

[@luzclara3855]

Faith R - You should be proud! I am very happy for you. God bless you.

[@craigrichardson1050]

I love 'City of God'- more than 'Confessions'.

[@SuperRuthJ]

Bishop Barron, Happy New Year! Thank you for your wonderful teachings. I love all your shows and your Catholicism series! Looking forward to your new programs for this new year. God bless you and your crew members!

[@user-pu5jo7xs4l]

just discovered this channel -- wishing you a happy belated New Year's, Bishop Barron! great videos, very informative, surely Spirit-inspired!

[@nicholaschancey6925]

I received these as a Christmas Gift. I’m already halfway through Orthodoxy. Thank you for bringing these works to light!

[@vladimerde]

Mon père, vos talents de dessinateur nous donnent un motif d'admiration supplémentaire ! Merci pour ce que vous faites. Meilleurs vœux de France !

[@BishopBarron]

Merci mille fois!

[@triciamonica7854]

I "read" The Seven Storey Mountain and I enjoyed it very very much. Thank you for recommending it.

[@ajsammut]

You are amazing Fr. Barron. I never get bored listen to a single speech of yours. I drifted away from faith but listening to you is getting me closer and closer again. Thank you! Keep up your good work.

[@dynamic9016]

Thanks much for this video.

[@Spike294]

Here we go. Several BB videos queued up to catch up from where I left off. God bless, Bishop!

[@billybob-bj3nw]

Agh, my “to read” pile is getting bigger and bigger! I’ll be lucky if I can finish it by the end of my life. Thank you for the recommendations, Your Excellency. If anyone is interested, I’m in the midst of reading Nothing Superfluous by Fr. James Jackson, FSSP. It’s a wonderful book on the spirituality and symbolism on the traditional Latin mass. Truly a modern masterpiece in terms of Catholic works. I also just bought a copy of a book called Pioneer Priests and Makeshift Altars. It is a breakdown of Catholicism in the 13 colonies. Haven’t read it yet but I’ve heard good things

[@dev27o8]

Wonderful sketches, Bishop Barron!🙂👌🏼

[@jaredc8226]

Barron you are truly a gift to the world.

[@taywil64A]

I asked about buying the set, and was informed copyright was the issue. But the series of books will be available for the European market in early 2018.Not sure about other regions, it may be all tied in to the distribution by the publisher. Looking forward to acquiring the books.

[@chrisvalenzuela7911]

I just received Life of Christ by Fulton Sheen, Confessions by St. Augustine, and the St. Benedict Collection. All i can say so far is that my first impression is a big "WOW" to how beautifully these books are put together. Truly amazing! Cant wait to dive into them.

[@vragenstaatvrij777]

Very inspiring and eye opening for me was the autobiography of Marie Guyart. Though she was a devout 17th century nun who sacrificed her life for the Canadian Natives her book is the unrivaled masterpiece of French erotic literature.

[@Matt-vx3ow]

It seems appropriate that you would make a collection for these titles. You were the one who first introduced me to all these figures.

[@baoduong2203]

Patiently waiting for the 4 spiritual classics to arrive today.

[@sanctus4639]

I’ve read all but Newman! I have to get on that!

[@kolinwilkins139]

i would love to see you go on the Joe Rogan show! i love your channel glad I found it

[@jeankennedy7606]

Its my favorite book with my reconversion, when Pope Francis mentioned him at congress, i was so excited. I pray to Thomas Merton when i need a miracle, for i think he is a saint.

[@AM-os4ty]

So...Mary and all the other certified saints for intercession aren't quite enough??? The first thing I thought of when I heard about Thomas Merton's work was "Uh, oh - a guy who fell in love with falling in love". Too many people are still swept away like that.

[@AM-os4ty]

Hey, Tim you're already in Heaven, remember? You don't need to pray.

[@lucymarion2945]

tim spangler I see you still trolling eh??

[@taywil64A]

I hope these editions are soon available to the European market.

[@chrisiswright]

I really enjoy Meister Eckhart and his mysticism

[@Petre66CA]

Excellent pointers. Chesterton is the best. I like the charcoal drawings signed Robert Barron presented in the video

[@louisbelzil3105]

Newman's "Apologia Pro Vita Sua" is also very good. A very moving personal account of conversion.

[@giselle3166]

Beautiful editions! I’ll be buying all of them... even if it takes me quite a few months :-)

[@AM-os4ty]

Orthodoxy is public domain - your library can order most of them for you from other libraries.

[@fateupagainstyourwil]

*a red cross on a white flag (St. George's cross; the cross of the ressurrection)...i couldn't pass up the opportunity to correct Fr Barron. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. I'm set on finding the cash to buy these books! I happen to need them all for my own library anyway

[@AM-os4ty]

Orthodoxy is a wonderful book, as is all of GK Chesterton's work. GK Chesterton's Father Brown Mysteries clearly influenced Agatha Christie as well, and kept him and his family from the poor house. The series is worth the read if the intellectual work is a bit much.

[@fiatvoluntastua8767]

Peter Kreeft says that Confessions of Augustine is best translated by a certain person who i have since forgotten, but want to know if anyone else knows which translation of this book is best. Thank you ahead of time if anyone has that info for me. God Bless All, and especially you, Dear Bishop Barron for carrying us all on your already full shoulders.

[@AzulLavoe]

Bishop Barron, please add The Divine Comedy to the series. I already have it, but it would be nice to have a Classics edition from WoF.

[@craigrichardson1050]

I recommend the Dorothy L. Sayers English translation by Penguin. The study notes are awesome.

[@ryanharmer109]

Its a shame you aren't offering these beautifully bound books to your Canadian cousins. Perhaps I can work something out with my parish.

[@criscavi19]

Another book to read after the Bible: Le Saint Abandon (El santo abandono) of Dom Vital Lehodey

[@apisDei]

@Bishop Robert Barron - could you please make these available for EU shipping?

[@frans3950]

Can you please make a video about Jordon Petersons book maps of meaning?

[@trejosam00]

As someone who doesn't read much but wants to read Chesterton, is that a good one for the beginner?

[@Matt-vx3ow]

Of course! It's how I started reading Chesterton, and then moved on to The Everlasting Man.

[@splinterbyrd]

Bishop Robert a question. Evangelical Christians often talk about the coming of the Last Days. What is the Catholic Church's view of the 'last days' as decribed in the Bible? Are the Last Days imminent?

[@isthisdom]

I recommend calling into the radio show Called to Communion with Dr. David Anders. Dr. Anders will have an answer for sure lol he's a genius

[@jon15711]

I received St. Augustine's Confessions from the Word on Fire series for my 49th birthday this year 2020. It is the most difficult book I've ever tried to read. Since my birthday in May I've only just now gotten to the first 2 pages in the introduction taking me through the previous 20 or so pages that are before the introduction. The introduction itself seems to be another 20 pages long. I don't have a college education but graduated from a Catholic high school and from there right into the military and then to work. Not complaining just looking for help because I really want to read this book but am a little discouraged because I'm such a slow reader. Is there a study guide or should I skip right past the introduction? The person who gave me this book has this crazy thought that I'm smart enough to read this book but I am having my doubts.

[@elspethsilverstar6136]

Bishop Robert Barron, the link for Word on Fire Classics above doesn't work.

[@johnkenneth3602]

The link to the WOFclassics doesn't work,maybe consider fixing it.

[@TheWhightKnight]

Are these books available in Canada?

[@another505]

Sorry Father, as much as I love it, I can't buy it. I live in Canada and the cost after shipping is a whooping 127.95 USD... But I probably can get them separately to read. So still thank you for your recommendation!

[@matthewwoodall4404]

anybody have the the full version of the intro song

[@Jordan22220]

Wofclassics link doesn't work. It has extra characters in it

[@DawnsTower]

+

[@johnott5218]

Try: wofclassics.com/serieslaunch

[@Jordan22220]

John Ott thanks but I wanted them to know so they don't lose sales over a simple typo. I don't think the older folks will know what to do.

[@DeathMagnum7777]

Can you do a review on the young pope?

[@aileenstylespaynemalikhora962]

I wish he would.

[@fadugleman]

How do we purchase the set?

[@iqgustavo]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:36 📚 *Thomas Merton's "The Seven Storey Mountain" deeply impacted Bishop Barron at the age of 16, inspiring a sense of friendship with God and exploring the experience of falling in love with Him.* 02:32 📖 *"Confessions" by St. Augustine is praised for its timeless relevance, portraying the journey of a restless heart seeking God, with a central theme of longing for a relationship with the divine.* 05:14 📜 *John Henry Newman's essay on the development of Christian doctrine is highlighted for presenting dogma as a dynamic growth, addressing the Protestant critique and contributing to ecumenical understanding.* 07:46 🎉 *G.K. Chesterton's "Orthodoxy" is lauded for its exuberance, joyous writing, and the concept of "bipolar extremism suggestion," emphasizing Christianity's ability to hold opposing truths without compromise, rooted in the Incarnation.* Made with HARPA AI

[@ezbray_9154]

wish i could get this collection, but it looks like its only available for U.S.

[@patafix1988]

Same here. I'm from Germany and I would love to get these books.

[@AM-os4ty]

Christianity does indeed hate pink, which is modern Catholicism is in trouble. My first thought when you mentioned that was refusal to point blank say "We have the truth and we're here to save souls". We need our real Christian soldiers and our real zealous monks back, we need the pure white of love and the the pure red of Christ's blood back. Whatever it is we're doing now as a salvation through social work and being nice is so pastel as to be unrecognizable as Christian.

[@the_wheelbarrow_of_pathos]

Whats the translation used for the confessions?

[@the_wheelbarrow_of_pathos]

tim spangler i didnt ask anything about that

[@AM-os4ty]

Except the part where the apostles are told they can forgive sins. Except that, you're almost right.

[@ryanmueller8378]

F.J. Sheed

[@Stripemas]

tim spangler He is asking about the translation for the work written by St. Augustine called “The Confessions.” Maybe watch the video and pay attention before commenting on it?

[@sshealy1]

Who do you think that the Apostles passed on their authority to forgive sins after the risen Jesus gave them authority (John 20:23, Matthew 16:19, Luke 24:47) which they clearly did in Acts 3:19 for example? The appointed deacons (Acts 6:3-5) weren’t given that authority. Penance after confession is consistent with both the Old Covenant’s sin and burnt offerings (Leviticus 5:1-35) and the New Covenant (Matthew 8:4 “go show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses prescribed”).

[@JoeyC0914]

Sold😂

[@adrianthomas1473]

I went off Merton having once liked him - the young Merton is Catholic- however the older Merton leads away from Jesus to Zen and Sufism. He leads the wrong way. Augustine leads to Luther, Calvinism and Jansenism. With Newman on the development of doctrine how do we know when to stop? Why are the current proposed additions to doctrine not true - so why not changes to marriage or to views about salvation? What is fixed? Can anything be changed? I was shocked by Chesterton’s uncritical support of the Albigensian Crusade - but the man can surely write well.

[@BishopBarron]

Adrian Thomas Read Newman’s laws that govern proper development.

[@AM-os4ty]

Merton sounds like a man swept up by his own emotions and I'm afraid that I've come to distrust that sort of personality. Augustine doesn't lead anywhere but Catholicism. Luther was a poor sap sitting on top of powder keg who gleefully lite a bunch of fuses and the "Enlightenment" did the rest. I just looked up Newman's laws (found online) and I'll summarize it my way: You've just discovered a new world. You have a rough map of where things are. As time passes, that map will become detailed and fully developed. You won't get a complete contradiction of what came before. The continents you just discovered are still there and in fact were obviously always there, you didn't know about it. That long peninsula will take on a better shape and get the name of Florida, but it will not be that the peninsula never existed. Meanwhile, other people will come by and agree with parts of your map (maybe not all of it, all together, but still, others will confirm pieces of it's reality). Development is always a group effort as is the development of a map. Those are part of the limits and why Mohammed's musings are in no way a development. He both contradicts and denies what comes before him.

[@adrianthomas1473]

I have to admit that as I have got older I have liked St Augustine less - this probably says more about me than about St Augustine. Why is St Augustine so much more important for the Western Church than the Eastern Orthodox? It’s still so very interesting that Cornelius Jansen, John Luther and John Calvin were so very influenced by St Augustine. We can attack Luther as will, however Luther was deeply Augustinian.

[@AM-os4ty]

St. Augustine is an interesting figure for sure..the kind of man that everyone appears to have taken what they liked of him. He appears so early in Church life and ends up remarking on many topics that will take a life of their own in later centuries. Why St. Augustine is so much more important for the West than the east, I don't know. But then again, I barely understand the argument over the filque - so little, in fact, that I tend to assume that the Eastern Orthodox were just mostly mad over the Pope being based in what was then backwater Rome. And yes, I was being as generous as possible on Luther. :) Bishop Barron has a video with an extremely generous view on Martin Luther. My reaction after seeing that video, was "Yes, but he was a man of learning and great scholarship and he should have known better." Okay, passionate man, got it. But the road to Hell literally is paved with good intentions. Yikes!

[@adrianthomas1473]

Yes - thanks. I still find the idea of development of doctrine problematic. What Cardinal Newman says is fine if you believe that Roman Catholic developments are true. But what if you don’t? So we can find lists of eastern Orthodox objections to western Roman developments. The Orthodox community is concerned by unilateral Roman additions to the beliefs of the undivided Catholic Church. How do we decide if East or West is true?

[@michellestolwyk7517]

So happy to see this book series - your videos are so often full of reading suggestions! Are you considering adding female authors to the series? Or perhaps highlighting other types of diversity within the church? One of the great strengths of our faith imo is its universality and relevance to all people across all of time. Given your platform, it would be a shame to not shine a light on this strength. Thank you for all you and your team has done for my own faith formation and I'm sure millions of others as well!

[@AM-os4ty]

"Are you considering adding female authors to the series? Or perhaps highlighting other types of diversity within the church? " Ugh. Diversity is not a goal. It's not a virtue. It's something that happens on planet Earth that makes life worse, not better. Aren't we forever asking for peace and unity? If you care only for diversity and nothing for the truth, then there's nothing in Christianity that you seek. Christ did not come to make peace or peace of diversity on Earth. We all have it in the Kingdom, not here.

[@monicao7344]

I think the focus should be on the quality of the work and the themes versus diversity. I think we end up missing the point if that is all we end up focusing on. If the sky is blue, it is blue. I am pretty sure there will be a time and place for that. Let’s not loose sight of what is important

[@joseurbano8059]

I think I know what you mean. I was kind of disapointed of not reffering "The Way of Perfection" from St.Teresa of Ávila or the "Spiritual Exercises" from St.Ignatius of Loyola. I know bishop Barron is not much int modern age and modern thinkers but these are huge classics. A good mistic very recent is Chiara Lubich. I suggest "The Scream"

[@joseurbano8059]

Well. The Way of Perfection" is a Classic much more relevant than Murten. I mean. Teresa of Ávila is a Doctor of the Church. I like bishop Barron a lot but sometimes he gets stuck on his personal refferences.

[@monicao7344]

José Urbano We all have personal choices, or preferences. I believe that is their selection based on their reading which I am quite certain is very extensive and broad. You shading light on the authors that have impressed you is great and enlightening as it gives us an opportunity to explore what has been of interest to others.

[@AM-os4ty]

There's bit of slouching in this episode. Clerics seem to have that bad habit. Sit up straight! It's good for you. :)

[@BishopBarron]

Yes, mother.

[@BishopBarron]

Faith is the beginning and root of all justification. But it is not sufficient. Christ doesn't want simply to cover over our sins. He wants us to be a new creation. And this requires the engagement of our minds, wills, and freedom. None of this is a threat to God, for as St. Irenaeus saw, "the glory of God is a human being fully alive."

[@BishopBarron]

tim spangler No, friend, the way you’re formulating this is simplistic rather than simple. Of course we receive the Spirit as a grace, but then we grow in the Spirit through the works of love.

[@AM-os4ty]

Hey, Tim - you're saved remember? Bishop Barron isn't going to Heaven and neither am I and neither is any Catholic. Stop worrying about us. Idol worshipers all.

[@BishopBarron]

Not so. Paul said that you could have faith strong enough to move mountains, but if you have no love, you are nothing. He also encouraged his followers to "work out their salvation with fear and trembling." And he didn't speak of faith alone, but rather of faith that expresses itself in love. Catholic teaching is more faithful to the complexity of Paul.

[@Sergei-kr3ds]

Can I ask you a question Father? It´s about Christ. See I never got any sort of religious education, yet I became Catholic, which is the main religion in my country. My question is Doesnt it make more sense for Jesus Christ to be God´s prophet like the Muslims say, rather then his son? I remember somebody telling me that Jesus saved us all by his sacrifice and that God, in his infinite love also made a sacrifice by having his own son be crucified. But it just doesnt make sense to me. That´s as if somebody punched me, I decided to forgive him so I punched myself even harder. We sinned against God, God is the one who have we punched so to say. Why would he hit himself to forgive us? Wouldnt it make more sense if Jesus was a man, son of a man? Because then it would be his sacrifice to save the mankind. That this man, prophet, the best among the mankind gave his life for us to be forgiven? As I said I was not raised into religion, so I honestly dont know the explanation Church has, not trying to undercut the Christianity

[@BishopBarron]

Thanks for your question. Think of the cross this way. The Father sent his Son all the way to the limits of godforsakenness in order to draw all of us sinners back into his life. The Son, out of love, went into our fear, our alienation from God, our finitude, our death in order to transform those states from within. Now, when we run as fast as we can away from the Father, we find ourselves running into the arms of the Son! We are saved by this total embrace offered by God. Of course, no mere man, no mere prophet, could affect such a radical salvation.

[@AM-os4ty]

What happens when someone deliberately and knowingly rejects that salvation? Because it does happen. Free will and our choices matter.

[@BishopBarron]

A M They suffer the consequences.

[@mobilegamers8009]

Sergei1948 Only God could have redeemed us from sin. Think about it, if you regularly try to live a life of virtue, of fidelity, and of integrity, you quickly come to realize that there is something truly wrong with humanity . Original sin, though it washes off at baptism, the weakness and inclination towards sin is there. There is a broken part of us that would prefer the orgies, and the drunkenness of the world. But just as the tree of knowledge of good and evil had been defiled, the tree of life was being prepared. That tree is the cross, and it’s fruit, Christ, whom we receive in the Eucharist. I took this from a variety of sources, but I hope this helps.

[@mobilegamers8009]

tim spangler Exactly. And as Christ is the source of all good, virtue, and light, only he could have taken the weight of sin.

[@mayonesa6610]

first

[@dabasha66]

Commander of the Angels is Jesus Christ himself. Mr Barron, stop tickling the ears of your listeners. Mary is not the Commander of the Angels. Look who commands the Angels....Jesus Christ himself...the name by which he is called is...The Word of God. Revelation 19 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE) The Rider on the White Horse 11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed which no one knows but himself. 13 He is clad in a robe dipped in[c] blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, followed him on white horses. 15 From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which to smite the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, King of kings and Lord of lords.

[@F84Thunderjet]

Eloquent commentary.