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
Evangelizing through beauty might be the greatest evangelizing lesson I've ever heard. It's remarkable- thinking back, it was beauty that drew me to God and His eternal precepts and is absolutely the root cause for my deep devotion now. I sometimes tell people "I never thought I'd believe ANY of this" and it all started with beauty.
Hey Bishop! Cradle Catholic coming out of a 15 year absence of faith. Your ministry is certainly helping. I just wanted to say that I really love this argument. I used it in speaking with a friend a couple years back...but with a broader scope - using natural beauty as the path that leads to the house. It was in speaking with a longtime agnostic friend who said he could see no evidence for God. I refrained from the standard arguments as I knew he'd heard or recoil from most of them. So I thought about approaching it from another angle, and knowing he loves to hike, I asked him - "Why do you like nature? Why does Yosemite take your breath away? Why do you watch the ocean at length?" He said he didn't really know, he just loves nature. I ventured to suggest that he respects nature in the same way he respects great art. I said that intuitively he knows that nature is the ultimate handiwork of a divine Creator in the same way art is the handiwork of a human creator. The material landscape we exist in consists of heavenly brush strokes and divine artistic ideas (not to mention chocked full of all the natural sciences when you peel back the art). I went on to say that almost all people have this natural affinity for nature and those that don't are probably dealing with some psychological blockage, have embraced evil, or have been numbed by modern life (video games / t.v.. , etc.) I also suggested that there really is no reason for us to appreciate the beauty of nature. We just do. He simply nodded and thought about it for a while. He said he didn't know why he should appreciate nature. It definitely got some wheels turning. I've kind of dubbed this the "Second argument from Affinity" as Plato's argument seems more vague in that it addresses only that body and soul have separate affinities (one which is worldly and one which is eternal). Anyway, I first saw you mention this idea on a great RU-vid video chat you did with Dr. William Lane Craig. I think one of the more powerful contemporary examples you could give as testament to the converting power of beauty is that of Francis Collins. A self described "obnoxious atheist" and brilliant genetic scientist to boot (led the Human Genome Project); the man was converted to Christ while beholding a frozen waterfall during a hike on a fall afternoon. Link - patheos.com/blogs/badcatholic/2011/10/in-defense-of-stupid-conversions.html Also, since it's best to know all the counter-arguments... I would point to the only one I could find - Affinity as an evolutionary bi-product Link - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biophilia_hypothesis While the Biophilia hypothesis restricts it's usage to biological systems, I can certainly see it's basic thrust being pushed into an epigenetic realm whereby it could be said that the appreciation of beauty (of both natural and man made forms) is an artifact of the expressed genome. I personally think this is a weak argument though it's converse may be true (something like the dilation of infants pupils when shown images of spiders - an adaptive response mechanism). I don't see any preservation instinct in seeing beauty in treacherous waterfalls, vast deserts, massive icebergs, poisonous geysers erupting, etc. The reaction that ensues in marvelling at the beauty in our world truly epitomize "Awe". I certainly don't ascribe that phenomenom to interesting man made artwork or edifices as they can be either objects of peril or sanctimony. I think Catholics have done well to pay homage to divine artistry by incorporating beauty into their places of worship. I just recently had my jaw drop walking into St. Anthony Church in Long Beach, CA. Visiting and appreciating Catholic Churches (at home and abroad) has definitely helped to strengthen my faith and lead me Home.
As an atheist turned Catholic, I have to say that this idea of converting people with the Beautiful really resonates with me. I listened to the music of Hildegard von Bingen for years before actually becoming Catholic and I have always admired the beauty of Catholic churches and cathedrals, especially in comparison to the barren room with a cross on the wall favoured by my Presbyterian parents.
I agree that we must evangelize through Beauty. That's why we should always strive to make our Sacred Liturgies and church buildings beautiful. Unfortunately, over the last several decades, many opportunities for evangelization have been squandered by way of sloppy liturgies and church buildings that do little to edify and inspire.
In this video, let us not forget the beauty of the music of Palestrina and Victoria and how that beauty also attracts people to the church. The beauty of being a kind and loving witness to all neighbors. This is the kind of thing that will evangelize more effectively than anything else. One of, if not, your best video, Father. Thank you.
Yours is the best yet to make our celebration of the Mass an encounter with the beauty of the Lord. I am tired of reading the opinions of those who "only attend" the Tridentine rite and then proceed to put down the Novus Ordo in a holier than though attitude. In my opinion, the Lord is present to us in both and if we are there with great faith and trust, He will bless us. Amen!
Father, after enjoying your commentaries for years now, I've noticed a theme come up in almost every video, and I believe it's time you do what you've always wanted to do. Give us a complete commentary about the spirituality of golf!
Beauty is not by the materialistic art and music that we present to the potential convert, but the art and music of our virtues without shedding a word of goodness or truth. Only through how we manifest Christ in our lives can the person make sense of the Church architecture, art, and liturgical music, then the truth and goodness can also make sense.
I am currently going through RCIA. I was an atheist and now am thankful to be on my way to full communion with our Lord Jesus Christ. I just wanted to say thank you for your oration and evangelism/ Your videos encourage me to share the good news of God's Love and true Church with others. I agree evangelizing with beauty, but I also suggest make a series focused n the history of the Church. The undeniable historical efficacy of the Catholic Church was major in opening my heart to the truth.
Helpful insight as a friend has come to me looking to learn about my faith as a catholic and has gotten conflicting messages from general society and her atheist history professor. This helped me understand where to start in trying to bring her to God or at least bring her to the obtainable knowledge side of God. Thank you!
Evangelizing through beauty... as you so well explained Bishop Barron, "... moving from the beautiful, then to the good, then the true". Beauty does what it does... and when experienced, we want more, tell and share with others.
Father, I wish the Church would embrace beauty in the hymns sung today. At Mass we have to hear most mundane, dull compositions by Marty Haugen! What happened to the gorgeous old music that we heard pre-Vatican II? Even at Christmas we don't hear the old hymns--I have to listen to the local Classical radio station to hear Adeste Fidelis. And don't get me started on Fr. Richard Vosco and his horrendous make-overs of Catholic churches, turning them into "mid-century moderns". Uggghhhhh!!
Brother We Welcome you to the One Holy Catholic And Apostolic Church. with open arms, there is plenty of room for all of Gods children. God Bless you. greetings from Los Angeles....
Your devotion to what I have heard Father Barron call the "unum necessarium", the one thing necessary, namely the Incarnate Christ reminds me of Fr. Luigi Giussani's book "At the Origin of the Christian Claim". All of the pomp and circumstance, all of the arguments and propositions, all of the beauty, goodness, and truth boils down to the Incarnate Christ.
Thank you for choosing your calling Bishop, always. Many of us youre helping to see God's s ways, beautiful gentle kind even how hard sometimes it does change and affects fulfill in a different way
Father Barron, I think this is one of your finest videos. As an artist and a recent convert to Catholicism I can say that it was, for me, the beauty of which The Church immerses itself that initially captured my soul and eventually evolved into a complete love of the faith and dedication to Jesus. You have given me wonderful ideas on how to evangelize. Thanks so very much; I have learned so much from your wise counsel over the years.
As a convert to Catholicism I couldn't agree more. Through encountering the rich musical tradition, the contemplative mysticism of medieval monastics, and devotional life of Catholics alone and in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, I was forever struck by the beauty of the Catholic faith. My life has forever been changed as a result.
Another great video! And I totally agree. I’d emphasize that the most beautiful things in the Catholic Church are the souls of the followers of Christ. Show others quietly through the way you live that you've received "the peace the world cannot give" and "the joy the world cannot take away" and they will want it for themselves! Pinpointing the source as God (the Fullness of Beauty, the Eternal Good and the Ultimate Truth) comes after! I pray for you Father and your ministry! God bless!
Hear, hear! I believe the incarnation of the Gospel in our lives IS the "new evangelization" and the embodiment of "evangelizing through beauty". I am a horrible example myself. Thank God for Himself, His grace, and His mercy.
Belief has been decreasingly important to me over the years. There are many belief systems. Within any one of these, you will find those who, from that belief, nurture increased caring, acceptance, love and compassion. Others will nurture judgement, arrogance and self-righteousness. Still others will foster conflict, confrontation and even violence. I would rather focus on experience. Sometimes I find I have more in common with those of dissimilar beliefs, but common experience.
This is a great reflection on how to get in love with God recognizing our transcendental capacities of our being which are the one, good, truth and beautiful, and these takes us to our creator whom has gave us this capacities.
Hans Urs von Balthasar......"the aesthetic starting point"........he said: the beautiful sees you, it changes you and then it calls you and sends you...... Fr. Barron: I think the best way to evangelize is to move form the Beautiful, then to the Good and then to the True......WONDERFUL (Thank you father for this great video)
The iconoclasts, modernists architects and musicians have been hard at work and well paid for 50 years in the parishes and seminaries. We have known them by their fruits and no thanks to them, and by the mercy of God, there is still some beauty in the Church. As a start in undoing the "reform," all priests should be required to know Latin and sing Gregorian chant.
Thank you for your reply. I couldn't agree more. Coming from a fundamentalistic/evangelical background I also found a focus on mere knowledge or information. The change of heart and the living in obedience, at which I am a poor example, is the key to salvation. Nice post.
I was brought toward the Catholic Church, initially, for many of the same reasons Fr. Barron cites here-- Merton was huge for me. And yet I know plenty of people who can find great beauty in Catholic art and teaching but still, in the end, write it off as mere mythology-- a beautiful, powerful metaphor, but just a metaphor. For these folks, it never gets past the point of admiration. Relativism, considering what a weak philosophy it is, dies surprisingly hard.
I'm not a Catholic, but I do think Catholicism expresses the beauty of Christianity better than any other denomination. A few years back I went to a concert at King's College Chapel Cambridge of a Catholic classic, Tomás Luis de Victoria's Requiem. What an amazing combination of music, stained glass, fan vaulting and candle light. Truly a beauty that points towards spiritual truth as Bishop Barron suggests
I agree with everything you said. This video was clear and patient. Even outside of evangelization, the importance of beauty must be emphasized. It easily overlooked in an age of pragmatism.
Reminds me of the lyrics of the song, "Take Me Into The Beautiful" by Cloverton. Some of them are: Take me into the beautiful, won't You take me back again With a love unexplainable, come fill up this dry land Let it open our eyes to see a world we've never seen Let it open our hearts up to see You inside of us You're here inside of me Take me into the beautiful Where the rivers flow With a love that never ends Oh I wanna go to the beautiful
The Lord is calling you, put your faith in front of you, and you will find the Lord. open your heart, and pray, and He will answer, just have a little faith. so the Jesus can work in your life, you have to open the door, so He can come in. Greetings from Los Angeles. and God Bless You Brother.
In Greek, the word for "the beautiful" is "to kalon" which is related to the word "kalein" which means to call. Beauty literally calls to us. The beautiful puts us in aesthetic arrest. It draws us out of ourselves toward Another. The experience of beauty is felt as the unavoidable recognition of a presence and the premonition of love finally returning home, of meeting the source of the heart's deepest desire.
Been there, done that, found a different answer :o) You've found peace and all power to you. I couldn't imagine my life without God now and I'm so much happier with Him in it.
Thank you Bishop Barron, this is what I need to help my more indifferent friends and family. I always knew they wouldn’t listen to my moral preaching, and I didn’t want to be that pushy religious guy that’s always trying to convert people because I feel like it would be counterproductive.
Brother Welcome, you seem to have a big heart to save souls, read padre pios bio, and see the film that was made. you will learn alot, Keep working for the Lord, and praying, and he will use you in a might way. Blessings from Los Angeles.
I believe people with low culpability in knowing the fullness of Catholic Truth, that have a heart attitude that has them living their life in obedience to Christ and his teachings can have hope of Salvation as well. My hope and prayer however, is that all separated brothers and sisters will learn the fullness of truth in the Catholic Faith.
I don't think I've ever heard it said like that before. I can tell that it has been very carefully crafted and articulated. It was very interesting to watch, and I have learnt a bit from this too. Isn't Catholicism brilliant! I wouldn't know where I'd be without it.
Bishop Barron, would you have heard of the French composer Olivier Messiaen? He actually died during the time when you were studying in Paris in the early 90s (I was actually myself in Freiburg studying at the Musikhochschule at that time!). Messiaen uniquely incorporates his Catholic faith into his music during a time when the developing modernity in what is now referred to as "contemporary-classical" music was essentially secular.
Thanks for showing me where clarification needed to be. I definitely was not trying to advocate in any way indifferentism, in fact it was indifferentism that showed me the errors of my evangelical upbringing and opened the door for me to explore the Catholic Faith. I think instead of "knowledge" I should have used "culpability". it was this type of knowledge I was trying to demonstrate
I think there are two main reasons for that, one is the erroneous idea that the Latin Mass was somehow discouraged if not banned after Vatican II; the other is the lack of training for priests to celebrate the Tridentine rite. There's also still a sense of pre-conciliar = bad, post-conciliar = good. I believe there's a middle way, to keep the beauty and reverence of the Latin Rite, while making it more accessible to the laity.
Well said, Father Barron!!! This is why I get frustrated with modern churches that are not pretty like the older churches... why would anyone be drawn to a large boring building with no stained glass windows or beautiful architecture?! Certainly these newer churches do not pull anyone in by beauty alone!
The Good, The True and The Beautiful are anchored to each other in a reciprocal way. This especially comes out in Catholicism. For example, Cathedrals are beautiful because they house the Eucharist, which is Christ, who is truth. In turn, it's because Christ is truth, our deepest worship of that truth actually changes US for good, and inspires us to create beauty
"Beauty, Good and Truth" are as "One" as Jesus is with the Father. In comparison, on earth the greatest Diamond is as " "glass, " or in "Heaven" True Gold makes earthly gold be as nothing!Indeed, there are certainly "levels" in our understanding of "Truth, Good and Beauty!"
It is important not to confuse making beautiful things with owning the world's best antique shop. There is more art to be made. More buildings to be built. More paintings to be painted, literature to be written, music, etc. go team! so to speak....
I absolutely agree. I too am from an Evangelical Fundamentalist background. I thought I KNEW it all which of course is a big problem. 1 I didn't 2 Jesus didn't commission us to research he commissioned us to model him and as Galatians says have a "faith working through love". It is still something I work on, part of daily conversion to Christ, but it seems coming to that realization is half the battle...the writing of God on our hearts to demonstrate our faith through love!
The Church also teaches, and might be what you are getting at is that there is no salvation outside of the Catholic Church, but my understanding is that is geared toward people that fully understand the teachings of the church and choose to reject the church's teaching (Christ's truth) and leave the church essentially rejecting Christ. Hope that helps. Hopefully Father Barron responds too he is an awesome theologian!
I liked the conceit of your not speaking directly to the camera (us), but off camera to a third person. The sensation was eavesdropping on a conversation, or at least private lecture. there was a sense of intimacy. I liked the point: Our Catholic heritage of beauty and the iconic is a departure point for coming to the true and the good: the GOSPEL.
Juan Romero I kind of assumed the person producing the video decided to use a facet of videography we see in many things from commercials to feature films, which have (as far as I know) never been accused of conceit. It made me feel I was not being personally confronted, as if there others present being addressed as well, and anyway who am I to demand the mans exclusive attention when there are others interested as well
the Apostle Paul starts with the beautiful in Romans 1. the transitions in the good in chapter 2, and ends with the truth in Jesus Christ in Chapter 3. Another way to look at it is to witness God as a provider, then a teacher, and finally as a lover. Some see the first chapter as science, the second as the humanities, and the third as the sacred.
You make some excellent points. I would simply suggest that, while holiness may reside amongst physical ugliness, there is a beauty that transcends the physical and draws the soul toward God. Mother Teresa of Calcutta would not have turned many heads on a sidewalk in New York or Paris, but she got our attention by the beauty of her life. Ugliness can be a gateway to the diabolical, but because ugliness isn't attractive evil must usually disguise itself before it can corrupt our sensibilities.
Part of the sickness of modern times is to separate the three. Beauty w/o Goodness degenerates to sensuality; Good w/o Beauty becomes a dreary list of do's and don'ts; either w/o Truth goes from 1 extreme to the other, becomes out of proportion, which is necessary to make a thing good/beautiful. Like it or not, tho, it's where moderns start so I think Fr Barron is correct.
Excellent video! I very much agree and it was the beauty of the tradition that had me almost convert to Catholicism about 12 years ago. I also find it interesting because while on the one hand we have relativism, on the other we have rationalism which is very suspicious of aesthetics and emotions as a sort of animalistic undercurrent of chaos and sensuality. One might not simply evangelize via beauty, but also evangelize the concept of beauty.
Ryder does say at one point that every stone of the house reminded him of Sebastian, so I am interested as to how Fr. Barron comes to the conclusion that Brideshead is some sort of symbol of the Catholic Church. It probably is, I just didn't get that impression after reading the book. It makes feel as if I didn't understand it at all.
This is one of those things where you can learn a lot from arguing with atheists in regard to.... Beauty and how it "correlates" to God may be just shrugged off as "well, that's an opinion" or "that's a sentiment." I can readily understand how atheists see these sorts of propositions as a mere rhetorical trick. But, ontologically, I see something unified and solid in the three transcendentals.... How they "imply" God is not logical strictly speaking, but I would say it is a "reasonable" extrapolation, and not just a "feeling."
the Bible. St. Paul the Apostle particularly in the book of Romans and I Corinthians uses the analogy of the relationship of the human body to its head as that between Christ and His Church and in Ephesians uses the analogy of a bridegroom and bride to describe the relationship between Christ and His Church, hence "Brideshead" - the Church's spouse (Christ) "Revisited" - reconsidered. It isn't insignificant that St. Sebastian is depicted as tied to a tree and shot through with arrows
I wont propose to speculate on Fr Barrons answer, but I thought I would say that being a protestant and regular sunday church goer doesnt say much about where you are at spiritually. The Catholic Church teaches that anyone who is baptized is a Christian and based on their knowledge of Christian truth can be saved, regardless of what church they are in. The church leaves the decision on who is saved and who is not up to God as it is entirely his decision.
Oxford professor of philosophy Richard Swinburne gives an argument from beauty. In short: There is no particular a priori reason to expect a beautiful natural world if there is no God (the world could be ugly or beautiful on atheism with equal probability) while there is good a priori reason to expect a beautiful world if there is a God. Therefore, the existence of God is more probable given that the universe is beautiful than it would be if the universe were ugly (that is, the beauty of the universe is further evidence consistent with the claim that God exists). Of course this argument presupposes that the criteria for beauty are objective. However, I think this can be argued on separate grounds.
That´s something stupid. Only a philosopher would say such a thing. For the sake of argument, since the universe existed by chance, there is no reason to expect something ugly or beautiful, both are possible and there is no a priori preference. Besides, the fact that it happened to be beautiful may be due to the fact that we perceive it like that, not that it is itself beautiful. Anyway, Brideshead is against this argument. We see in the conversation between the two about faith, Sebastian says that he simply believes it. Anyone religious knows he is on the truth. As an analogy, when being asked if you love someone, you don´t need to conduct a scientific investigation about it, you simply know. Let´s leave philosophers concern with simpler questions and not pretend to solve the mysteries of the universe in a sentence.
Hi Father.. I must confess.. a nice Catholic phrase..that I spend quite a bit of time on some internet sites regularly buried in the incoherence of some of the ever so trite and not-so-"new atheists". Accordingly I spend quite a bit of time showing the poor souls just how ridiculous atheistic materialism or naturalism is. Most have no idea just how DUMB it is, steeped in Hume's silly mistakes. The great beauty of the intellectual universe is Catholicism. She satisfies the most demanding minds.
A good way to start is through the ineffable beauty of the Tridentine Mass. This immemorial rite accompanied by the Church's tradition of Gregorian Chant would suffice to convert many souls. I know that through experience.
Father Barrron would you create a list of books that have inspired/have every catholic should read/recommend on Pinterest or A Amazon Book List. Thanks.
Thanks! And I don't worry, I don't take Indy as a major theological authority -- it was just a good illustration. And anyway, Last Crusade is the best of the Indy films. :) I also have sensed, as Thomas Merton described, "the great cathedrals of Europe are prayers made of stone." There is definitely something there. And yet ... I keep stumbling up against the Franciscan/Cistercian/Indiana Jones critique.
I pose one challenge and that is that I see a different sort of beauty between architecture and the life of a saint. I'll be honest, but I don't see the power of the gospel in architecture, but I do see it in a saints life. If we were to start conversations about Jesus by showing architecture, in a sense it seems as if we are luring with a sort of worldly beauty rather than the beauty that results through the power of the gospel. Certainly some Christians may think the architecture of a mosque is more attractive, but that does not mean that they think Islam is good and true.
I have to admit though I find the beauty to good to true approach interesting and I need to think about it more. Just for me, though, I need to sort my besties.
I heard some radio preacher talk about how the Catholic Church had "denominations", too, when referring to the various Eastern liturgical rites (Coptic, Maronite, etc.). This is very wrong to refer to the various Catholic rites as denominations because these rites are unified under the Pope to the whole Catholic family. "When there is more than one vision, there is division."
