Bishop Barron on Pier Giorgio Frassati

Another part of a video series from Wordonfire.org. Bishop Barron will be commenting on subjects from modern day culture. For more visit www.wordonfire.org

[@BishopBarron]

Dear Gabriel, Thanks so much for those very moving words. I'm deeply grateful to God for your conversion. Please keep praying for me.

[@bathuklover1]

Fr. Barron, I'm so excited to see you speak about this! We know a 29 year old husband and father who was diagnosed in November 2012 with stage 4 brain cancer. This young man is also an athlete - a marathon runner. Since his diagnosis we've been praying that, through the intercession of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, he will be healed from this awful cancer. His last MRI was very encouraging. May I ask you to remember this young man (Dustin Rhodes) in your prayers as well. Thank you!

[@danielturski7620]

Father, I read Pier Giorgio's biography, which was written by his own sister. I've been captivated by him ever since, especially because he's shown us that saints can still smoke cigars, play pranks, play sports, and enjoy life to the fullest! VERSO L'ALTO!

[@IONov990]

I like Pier Giorgio Frassati - the man of the eight beatitudes.

[@denisefrescas1488]

I just discovered this Soon to be Saint! Through coffee of all things. A family of girls that went to Thomas Aquinas College where my daughter went started a coffee company called Versol’alto. I love the way God comes into our lives with beautiful saints to deepen our faith!

[@NLT31]

You're one hell of a teacher, I love how you put things across, it helps me to understand at deeper levels.

[@amanda211212]

Hi, Father Barron. I'm very thankful for your videos because my husband, who is a Southern Baptist, always watches you with interest anytime I'm watching you. He respects you and so do I! You've taught me so much and it is never boring with you, Father! :-) May God bless and keep you, Amanda

[@BishopBarron]

Eternity is most certainly not endless time. It is the state that precedes and transcends time, what Paul Tillich called Uberzeitlichkeit (over-timeliness). As such, it can touch on every moment of time, even as it is limited to no one moment in time. Grasping this is the key to resolving a lot of dilemmas about divine providence and free will, by the way. God does not "fore-know" and hence determine things from a future point of time. Rather, he knows everything in his eternal now.

[@Bitsypatito420]

Bishop Barron, how does one go towards the heights? How does one go into the deep? Thank you

[@mayapastrana4444]

@@Bitsypatito420 I am not a theologian, but I would suggest that you talk to God everyday, tell him about your day, just have a conversation.

[@capone70]

WONDERFUL commentary, Father! Kudos for the Latin AND Italian : ) And as an Italian, I will add; the period/place Bl PierGiorgio lived in was equivalent to the 1970's in say, the US. The church had just been marginalized/illigitimized decades before under Garibaldi. Most people in northern Italian cities were ambivalent about the church (at best) and didn't really see it as relevant, since it looked as though the state would win out. His story is extremely appropriate for our times.

[@onesweetbob]

Hello Voice... I shared your struggle with faith until I met a priest who suggested I put my faith in Jesus...He will NEVER let you down. Our priests are here to help us in our journey, but we must always remember that these people are humans and, like all of us, are subject to failure. God bless them all for devoting their lives, like Jesus, to the church. My thoughts, hope they might help you. God bless you.

[@BishopBarron]

God bless you!

[@mmeyerdc]

I pray every morning (without fail) for Pier Giorgio Frassati's canonization.

[@corneliaengland4008]

I recently read it is possibly could be in 2025🙏🏻❣️

[@BishopBarron]

You're quite right in suggesting that creation doesn't take place "in time." The effects of creation are in time (and time itself is a creature). You're furthermore right in suggesting that the "emotions" ascribed to God are metaphors for certain dimensions fo God's being. For example, his "anger" is a deep desire to set things right. Therefore, it is a symbol of his eternal justice.

[@Miriana727]

Beautiful story about someone I didn't know. Frassati sounds like such an unusual young man. Very spiritual. Thank you for telling us about him.

[@corneliaengland4008]

He is…..I had the honor to serve on the founding board of Frassati Catholic High School near The Woodlands, TX which will graduate it’s 11th class this spring. When we were choosing a name for the school we were presented with this amazing you Disciple of Christ! The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecelia of Nashville came to make a presentation. Shortly after this riveting discussion I stood up and said…..I believe we have our namesake. Today, as from the beginning, the order has three sisters who run the school. I understand there is great hope he will be a saint in 2025! With God’s Grace and Mercy! 🙏🏻❣️🙏🏻

[@sshealy1]

Frassati USA Society's Courage to Be Great Prayer: "Heavenly Father, Give me the courage to strive for the highest goals, to flee every temptation to be mediocre. Enable me to aspire to greatness, as Pier Giorgio did, and to open my heart with joy to Your call to holiness. Free me from the fear of failure.I want to be, Lord, firmly and forever united to You. Grant me the graces I ask You through Pier Giorgio's intercession, by the merits of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen."

[@aarondesa]

Great video Fr. Barron!

[@Nubsicles]

Thank you Fr. Barron, this was very helpful for me right now.

[@thelondonzoo]

Thank you, Father! My husband and I love your videos!

[@BishopBarron]

God bless you for that.

[@jontv7350]

For what it's worth, I appreciate your approach, as well. I was already familiar with these arguments, but I think you do a good job of breaking them down succinctly.

[@E-Kat]

Shall we all pray to St. Frassati for everyone who's affected by this terrible Coronavirus and for protection from the virus for the rest of the population. Please God don't let this suffering last much longer.

[@CanadianAiden2]

Father, I just returned home a couple hours ago from being a student leader on a 3 day retreat called, "Kairos". When we were up there we watched your Catholocism DVD set where you talked about the prodigal son. All the grade 11 retreatants loved the video. It would be amazing if you were up in the Toronto area and you dropped by our school. :) God be with you, Father.

[@glenm5034]

The soul is most precious

[@rlburton]

There is no conflict at all between God's power and our free will. Indeed our ability to disobey if we choose demonstrates His power since it is by His power and His desire to have us be His sons that He has given us the ability to choose to obey or disobey in the first place.

[@springchken]

Thanks Fr. B, I will start my trek now...to the heights!

[@sshealy1]

Splendid commentary! I always linked the Gospels' account of the "go out into the depths" story with the Wedding at Cana's "Do whatever he tells you" story since both stories have Jesus giving experienced fishermen and wedding caterers advice on how to do their jobs.

[@BrotherWoody1]

Very nice sermon, Father.

[@HolyknightVader999]

Welcome to the team, bro. Nice to see some people moving to the true faith.......

[@Pianofab1]

As a native of Torino, and having been in front of Pier Giorgio Frassati just a few weeks ago, I am well pleased with this one! While you are "in town", may I also suggest to check out Blessed Francesco Faà di Bruno? I think the public will be impressed by his "war on women" and his "war on science" (tongue firmly in cheek).

[@capone70]

Welcome home! You are now part of two millenia of history begun at Pentecost. Faith is a gift, and I thank God for your faith.

[@IONov990]

It is a beautiful saint's story and I want to be like him

[@corneliaengland4008]

Amen ❤

[@TJB5]

Love the Flannery O'Connor reference. I recently took a pilgrimage of sorts to her home in Milledgeville, Georgia. Perhaps the greatest blessing was a visit to her parish--Sacred Heart Catholic Church--and being allowed to pray in the same pew that Flannery & her mother occupied during daily Mass. Her ideas about the invasion of grace are particularly fitting to a commentary about someone (Frassati) who chose to go to the heights and accept the grace so many of her literary characters rejected.

[@o.c.5554]

So beautiful!

[@denolexi]

Fr. Barron, I really enjoy and appreciate your videos. As a Catholic I find myself constantly having my faith challenged by my evangelical friends. Would you consider doing a commentary on the Dave Hunt book "A Woman Rides the Beast"? I read it and it is concerning to me and I would love your input. Thank you and God Bless!

[@research1982]

Another great video by Bishop Barron. Anyone else thrown off a little by the Bishop wearing a color that wasn't black or grey?

[@Alnonymous2000]

Happy Easter, Father!

[@clinetalbo]

Invaision of grace! I love it!

[@bdeaner]

Welcome home, brother!

[@manuelturcios]

Stay strong brother!

[@garymattscheck9066]

Pier Giorgio Frassati shows that being holy isn't boring.

[@sidceballos9452]

Hello Father Barron can you please give a talk on Flannery O Connor specifically. My friend is her number one fan. He has read every single work she has produced and that is not an exaggeration. I would want to see what you think of her and Im sure my friend Greg would greatly appreciate it.

[@GregAitchison]

Hi Sid! Not sure if you were aware of this or not, but Bishop Barron just recently did some videos on Flannery O'Connor. Here are links to some of them. Enjoy! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZjSYYKErbycjc0 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYesq3h5iKmLd8k kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnK0ZpuBq9VkpLM kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKiWm6B7p5ufn6s kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5bJZH6Egsd_sKs

[@oldirtycyot]

I used to think the bible (new testament) ran out of insights like this one in the boat. I have not read in 5 years but that's what I tell people - read for 10 mins a day. I miss certainty and peace of mind. Thanks friend.

[@Valientangel]

Welcome "HOME" brother!!!

[@SeedsofJoy]

Could you give us a book shelf tour one day Fr Barron?

[@BishopBarron]

I don't see how it follows at all that willing change necessitates being conditioned by time. As I've said, some of the effects of the divine will exist in time, but the will itself is identical to the divine essence and hence outside of time. Eternity is not so much other than time as greater than and inclusive of time. It can, so to speak, condescend to produce time, but it is not conditioned by time.

[@oldirtycyot]

I never understood what happened in that boat. Jesus of Nazareth the movie didn't show Peter's reactions like that. Thanks Father B.

[@deborahanne9793]

Bishop Barron, You speak that out life is not about us and we are to do God's will. In a simple answer - how do I know that I am doing God's will and not using my life as my own project.? Thank you, God Bless

[@BishopBarron]

Thomas Merton's answer was that the will of God is always harder than our own! That's one criterion. But I would add the fruits of the Holy Spirit from the fifth chapter of Galatians. Is the path you're walking producing more love, joy, peace, patience, moderation, etc? If so, it's probably the will of God.

[@deborahanne9793]

Thank you very much for answering my question. God Bless you.

[@tinman1955]

I could have done with a bit of Simon's invasion of grace when I was a commercial fisherman in Alaska. You say grace is usually refused? Maybe, but I can tell you that no fisherman would refuse the guy who knows where the fish are.

[@BishopBarron]

God can't do the impossible. Allowing free will and utterly determining human behavior so that there would be no sin is impossible. As I said, the effects of creation (including time itself) are in time, but the act is identical to the divine essence and is accordingly outside of time. Finally, desire and emotion are not the same. The former is an act of the will, while the latter is a movement of the body. The first can belong to God, but not the second.

[@aarondesa]

Hello Jeff Philips, I am a senior at The Heights. Were you at the International Conference?

[@VoiceOfModeration]

Hey Fr Barron, I struggle with my faith and truly don't know what to do. All around me I see faith leaders I've looked up to commit scandal, and at first I became dispirited but now I just can't make sense of my faith. The straw that broke the camel's back was what Bishop Nicola de Angelis of the Peterborough diocese in Ontario did to that kid working out of the "Vocations office." Truly shocking and "out of the blue." Have any fresh advice? I've already heard a lot and remain disheartened. Thx

[@joeedward8456]

Technical question: what kind of video camera are you using to shoot these video clips? do you use a boom mic or lapel mic or just the internal mic of the camera? why do you only go up to 360 resolution on KZbin? just curious.

[@itslifeisall]

Do not despair, perhaps your faith is simply misplaced. If the Kingdom of Heaven is within you, placing your faith there, rather than in an institution that has more problems than the flock it is supposed to be leading could be helpful. I left the RCC 35 years ago because I found my self starving spiritually. In taking responsibility for my spiritual health and allowing God to lead me where He may, I have been nourished in ways I never could have imagined. I wish you all the best!

[@Bitsypatito420]

How do you go towards the heights Bishop Barron?

[@jontv7350]

Point taken on my "Big Bang as creation" comment. I'm not an expert, but the Big Bang was such an extreme occurrence that it seems we have a hard time describing it by normal rules and measures. It's not that I think it warps laws so much as shows the limits of our understanding of laws. I think we are both making an argument from ignorance: what can't be explained is either attributed to God or just seen as currently inexplicable (if not just unknowable). Which is better? I prefer the latter.

[@LamLawIndy]

Bl. Pierre Georgio is truly a saint for our time.

[@sshealy1]

Those who are beset by emptyness can take heart that God is very present in their life and working in invisible ways. After his dramatic conversion, St. Paul went into the desert for several years (Gal 1) before he returned to be an active disciple which must have been a self-emptying experience. In my life, I can look back at some "useless years" and see the purpose of them now.

[@jontv7350]

The conflict between God's power & free will is long-debated & difficult if not impossible to resolve. I'm more interested in the relationship between this desire/will & time. To will change, someone must exist in time, see something they desire to change, plan that change, & then execute it. I don't see how anyone who's not subject to time could operate that way. Do you think God wills/causes change in our age, or just in Biblical times? If so, what kind of change & how do you know?

[@VoiceOfModeration]

de Angelis has zero remorse for what he did. And hardly anyone in Peterborough ended up caring - they just looked the other way and let the kid drown in his despair and resentment. I remember it quite well. He asked people for help - to write letters and phone the chancery office. No one stood up to the plate because "the man with the purple hat can't be wrong." It's not only the clergy, it's the people themselves too for not being there.

[@jontv7350]

Christianity has tended to see/describe eternity as an endless amount of time, whereas other traditions have seen eternity as timelessness itself. It's hard to see how timelessness can contain time. I know these things are weird, complicated, and difficult to wrap one's mind around. I'm not entirely certain about my impulses. But that's why I also tend to be skeptical of views that seem very certain about the nature of these mind-bending abstractions.

[@PenguinSkates66]

Hi Fr. Barron, what do you mean by spiritual danger?

[@billybagbom]

What strikes me about the story of the Miraculous Catch is that it shows how Jesus unifies our lives by His lordship over all things. Simon might have said, "Thanks for the advice, Jesus; you might be a competent carpenter and a great Bible teacher, but what are your credentials as a fisherman? I think I'll pass." But Peter humbled himself in response to this young Galilean rabbi who was demonstrating His ability to "do all things well," and his faith was rewarded. No wonder Jesus chose him!

[@magister343]

Why did you translate "duc in altum" as "Go out into the depths" rather than the more literal "Lead into the deep(/high)," which seems to have more to do with evangelizing to others than simply pondering the profound for oneself?

[@jontv7350]

That depends on how you define "atheism". For many of us, it's not a denial of all possible gods, but rather a statement that we haven't met a god we can, in good conscience, worship. I am agnostic toward your assumption that a deity is needed for "first cause", but I am comfortable rejecting the overall metaphysical programs of all the religions I've studied (i.e. which most of them, to some extent).

[@jontv7350]

That's something that puzzles me about the creation story. How does someone outside time create change in time? Change is all about the time. I guess it's hard for me to even grasp what it could mean to exist outside of time--not to mention having all the human attributes often associated with God. Emotions as we know them can't exist outside of time, and yet people often speak of God as having emotions and desires. This is what I mean when I say God is more a mystery than an answer.

[@sshealy1]

Time is a weird factor in our universe if you believe the time dilation concept from Einstein's special relativity theory. Time isn't considered absolute, but is quite variable. One day on planet Pluto last about 6.5 days on Earth's time.

[@itslifeisall]

You are entitled to your opinion re: my feelings, but I have not stated the above repeatedly. Further, I do not have resentful feelings to nurture. Estranged would not be incorrect, as I am a baptized RCC, but I simply did not receive the spiritual guidance I was seeking as a participating member of the RCC. Since my "estrangement" I have found a path and relationship with God that I find very rewarding and was encouraging Voice-O-M to consider allowing God's guidance to lead where it may.

[@debowiec3]

This is of course very interesting to discuss Fr. Barron, but...is not trying to 'define' the eternity of Heaven rather like us mere mortals trying to 'define' The Holy Trinity? Surely it is all way over our heads?

[@jontv7350]

I agree that it's hard to imagine an infinite regression of cause, and so a creator seems an attractive solution. But maybe it's just that our assumptions about the causal chain break down as we follow it back in time. Hard to say. A creator deity would be a break, too, since we can't explain how this deity came to be or how it created anything. And even if we decide there must be a creator, that's no reason to believe that any particular religion has does a good job of describing said creator.

[@GregAitchison]

Sorry, "Beast" is a term my 7th and 8th grade students use to refer to really cool people. Ha!

[@jontv7350]

If this is true, how do we know the nature of that cause? That's the really tough question.

[@sshealy1]

In this FC discussion, can we assume that God is not on a timed system like we are? His existence is somehow outside of time?

[@sshealy1]

It would be a more accurate statement to say "I have been estranged from the RCC for 35 years and still nurturing resentful feelings" rather than to say continually on a Catholic-themed channel, "I left the RCC 35 years ago."

[@sshealy1]

Beast? Thanks for the link which shows the Frassati Society USA link. Lots of Frassati Societies. One can make a Frassati pact of a) one charity per day and b) pray the Courage to be Great prayer.

[@angelamariapreuss]

Never! Allow a movie to think for you. Especially, when dealing with God and your soul. You must read, pray and reflect. Even if you just read a little of the Bible at a time. Set a special time everyday for reading, even 15 minutes, but every day and you will find wonderful things about our Lord and Your Soul. The Holy Spirit will show you. Peace+++

[@jontv7350]

I should be more precise. I am not particularly attached to the term "atheist", but I think it describes me I don't believe in any of the gods I've been presented with by the various cultural traditions of the world. I can't speak for all other atheists, but most I'm familiar with would admit they can't prove there are no gods. They just believe the burden of proof is on the believer, and that the burden cannot currently be met.

[@jontv7350]

God should be able to "set things right" if God so desires (also an emotional state), because God is supposed to be omnipotent, and unless creation happened all at once, it must be temporal. I know: Catholic thinkers have rationalized all the complex little details. But the whole story seems a little implausible, from outside the box. I would say that the average Christian does NOT see God's emotions as metaphoric, and does believe that God is very active in manipulating events in time.

[@elizabethbeatles]

I just remember that even among aposoles there was Judas, these times are no differetent than any other. If Judas was among apostoles, why there shouldn't be people like Judas in our time, in this circle very close to Jesus. However, we should follow Jesus, we should pray for them so they could repent ( Judas did not accept that Jesus could forgive him so he committed suicide) and for the Church.

[@cbb948]

LGBTQ Catholics have been going in to the depths for years now and beginning to make a great catch! (Emphasis here on beginning!)

[@blablabubles]

Barry Blackburn i hope your joking

[@Resource777]

3rd

[@panosotto8054]

1st

[@billybagbom]

I guess what I object to is the implicit charge that the only excuses for theism are ignorance, fear, guilt, sloppy thinking and obscurantism. This is especially difficult to stomach when those leveling the charge seem to be mirror images of the kind of fundamentalist intolerance that they claim to oppose. I don't necessarily sense this type of spiteful spirit in you; you seem to be genuinely evangelical in your ideological fervor. You believe that you've "found the truth". Good for you!

[@gaetanoalberti4760]

un Beato pagato con i soldi e lanciato con marketing dei suoi (padre ricco) poverino morto giovane non ha fatto nulla

[@raffaelecarofiglio7823]

E tu che scenziato sei👑👏👏?????

[@billybagbom]

Blah, blah, blah. . . Prove something. Don't just stand there asserting.

[@gaetanoalberti4760]

un Beato fatto con i soldi dei parenti. Per essere beato non ha fato niente una grande operazione di marketing dela sorella con i capitali di suo padre il Senatore esorti all'Italia

[@Brown10985]

2nd