You're my John Paul II. You were an approachable priest for an American New Atheist like myself. If I could be converted, I'm certain others like me could follow. You seem to embody everything attractive about The Church. You're a deep well of theology and intellectually satiating, but you have American charisma and speak to us in our own voice. It's exactly what I needed. I've shared these videos with fallen away Catholics, my Protestant family, and the secular and even when there are disagreements, they still acknowledge your authenticity.
Bishop Robert Barron I hear in your videos on atheism that humans are never satisfied. We are always striving for more. I think this is a big misconception you have on atheists. That all we have is food, sex and drugs. This really isn't the case at all. Maybe for some, but not all. Just wanted to say that I'm 19, and have never felt more happy and at peace as an atheist. I'm been studying more, treating life better. I cannot stop studying the world around me. I'm really big into Carl Sagan. Anyways, my question. Do you see the danger in not only Catholicism, but all religions? Specifically the dangers it brings when kids are taught this is the only way to god. Or the dangers of objective morality it teaches? Thanks
Greg The car guy But you're appealing to objective morality in your comment! You're asserting that I'm doing something wrong and you expect me to correct my behavior.
Bishop Robert Baron, your evangelical mission has changed my life. The way you present Catholicism made me very curious about a year ago. I was a freshman in college with nothing real to live for but in your videos I discovered the joy of the gospel. Then I read literature from great Catholic thinkers, I couldn't learn enough. Now I'm starting my journey into faith through the church, this year on Easter Vigil I will be baptized and take first Communion. Your forward to Pope Francis's "The joy of the Gospel" has roused a passion inside of my soul that maybe I want to choose the priesthood. Thank you for the example you set.
@BishopBarron you said beauty will seize people then make then conform their life to that beauty. So you're claiming anytime we see something beautiful we like robots will just begin changing to want to be it. So every person who walks in sistine chapel will convert to catholic? Every person who sees a beautiful paining will want to become an artist. That's not true why claim peopl3 like robots will conform to a beautiful. If they see a beautiful beach they will move to a beach. If you appreicate the beauty in other relgions that means you're going to magically convert to their way just because you like one of their paintings OR sculptures?
Bishop Barron, YOU are Cardinal George's MOVEMENT - ORDER - SAINT for our dark dark times, and I wonder if he was able to see it in you before he went HOME. May God Grant you all Grace and the fullness of It, to persevere in The Great Light that comes from you to the whole world. Deo Gratias for you.
I found my belief in God, then I sent shopping for churches. You seem to have the best pitch. So, I guess I'll go and become a Catholic..............................
The BEST thing about being a Catholic is you receive the body of Christ through the Eucharist. Although MANY Catholics ONLY receive the body of Christ and not the blood of Christ!
Could imaginé that tomorrow doesn't exist so for who knows God for teach little, how many Souls can help before the End to who can back to God, and just God ever is Thank you and more and more and maybe get to go to Heaven tomorrow. Ever we must to live as if not have another Day else without afraid waiting all from God. God bless you all! What gift want to give to God? 😇😇😇 Before the End.
I'm not Catholic but I have been watching Bishop Barron's videos for some time and this is another excellent and thought provoking commentary. In my own journey as a follow of The Way I have found increasingly the inadequacy of rational arguments in particular to speak either to me or to others. On the flipside my own life, which has been defined in many respects by a rational, educated, systematic and somewhat linear view, has in recent years , become extremely simple and progresses to ever greater simplicity. I have left behind worrying about the why and the how in order to BE. My ambition is to embody the Fruit of the Spirit - Love, Joy, Peace and so on, they being, in my view, the very definition of the character of God. I am finding that as I encounter others in the round of daily life, it is the GOOD that most people are most readily responsive to, a good that is blatantly NOT just enlightened self interest. Bishop Barron has said elsewhere that the definition of love is to will the good of the other. It could be said that love is to BE the good of the other. What I mean by this is, be what they need to be but can't be for themselves. Specifically I mean joyful, peaceful, patient - the character of God, to encounter them in their circumstances as the embodiment of shalom; a calm centre in the midst of their storm.
This reminds me of two major verses from the Gospels in this. One in Matthew 7 where Jesus says "by their fruits you shall know them". The other is John 13:34-35 "They shall know you are my disciples because of your love for one another". Part of why many non believers who despise Christianity like Pope Francis I believe is that he just lives out the Christian life on full display.
A few times in the past when I was misled and tried to jump ship to Protestantism, it was always watching your program that brought me back to my Catholic faith. Thanks for clarifying many essential points of our faith which I believe most of the time, misunderstanding of our own faith that had caused some of us leaving the Church. Thanks ! :)
If declared righteousness is true and sufficient to bring us to heaven - as Luther had claimed, then was there a need for Jesus to spend so much time preaching and preaching regarding the meaning of kingdom of heaven etc.? If this is the case, the new testament just need one page will suffice - based on John 3:36 alone. But actually John 3:36 is indeed the basis of salvation, just that it is wrongly interpreted by the Protestants. I believe we are justified by the state of restoration - i.e. going back to the state of obedience before the fall of Adam. Grace and obedience must go hand in hand because if a life of Grace is short of obedience, then it is not Grace. Indeed, at baptism, our sins are forgiven but that is only the first step to bring us into the household of Christ - the first level of grace (small 'g') that shield us from condemnation but it is really the 'state of Grace' that put us in fellowship with God. Our faith journey is really about keep on agreeing with the righteousness of God that has been given to us, accepting it, permit it to be infused into us and living it out.
Agreed. Jesus: Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. - John 15:6. Lord, have mercy.
+Bishop Robert Barron I am a Catholic but I have a question Father all human beings have original sin from Adam and Eve right? But how does Mama Mary NOT have original sin even though she's still human?
Indeed. The most effective way I've ever used for evangelizing is this: I work harder than anyone else at my office, put in hours even during the weekend sometimes, and never speak ill of other workers. Eventually, people come up to me and say "What keeps you going?" When I say "my faith in the Lord", even the atheists will sometimes have a look on their faces that says "Hmm... maybe, just maybe..." Great video!
Just do it!....Through the SVP (St. Vincent de Paul society) I went to help my city's soup run. There is great need in most "Western" cities, people are falling through the cracks in our societies as the social need exceeds the welfare provision. Inevitably, due to family breakdown and pervasive evils of drink and drugs. Also ecumenical as Christian Churches work together. My respect for Baptists has grown enormously through some of the outreach projects they run to the disadvantaged and meeting and working with them. Don't get me wrong I'm 100% Catholic but we can learn from each other. What is Good is Good!
I have often been surprised at how much effect St. Francis of Assisi still has on people today, even among so many who are not Catholic. Lately I have come to feel that the stories of our saints have the power to convert the world. When I was younger these were just stories to me. Now I know that these are the only kinds of stories (stories of true goodness) which can satisfy the spiritual poverty of this world. With the example of St. Francis, many love this man to this day, even outside the Church. They love everything about the lived example of his life. However, how many of these people also know the part of his story where he received stigmata toward the end of his life? Even I, as a Catholic, did not know until recently that he is the first known saint to receive stigmata. For those who love this man, when they hear about his stigmata, they are drawn to wonder and question further about the true nature of his life, drawn to see past their own interpretations, drawn further toward heavenly truth.
100,000 Subscribers? It's going to be pretty interesting to see a Catholic Bishop do a Silver Play Button Award un-boxing - RU-vid has come a long way from cat videos and gameplay channels. Congrats, Bishop Barron!
For a long time I have been an Atheist, but I follow B. Barron because I no that most part of my moral came from a christian point of view. I have always had deep I my heart something, some kind of felling that say that I'm wrong and must come back to God. I found that is extremely difficult to make my way back to religion, much more difficult that become an Atheist.... Last Sunday week I went to a Church, but it was so not what B. Barron make me fell about religion. The priest was soooooo boring and not passionate about what he was talking, the guys watching with me looked that they was there by obligation, looking in their clocks all the time and even running to eat the white find that I don't know the name in English (sorry...). What should I do? Study more to be more engage in their? Look for another priest? Wait until my need to be there become strong enauth to make me stay there? Have anyone ever experience this?
Jonathan Teixeira I've been a catholic since birth and I feel the same way. I go to church and listen to the gospel and homily, and sometimes feel the way you do but I think we shouldn't be discouraged by this but encouraged to help others find that passion that you have. I am not able to help the church out but I would like to one day lead the teen life so I can help them understand just how I was helped through my younger years. If I was you, I would try to find a priest I like or find a way to talk to the priest to ask questions or express concerns. Good luck!
Jonathan Teixeira Hi Jonathan: I was born, raised catholic, as an adult, I got a little cynical and looked around for another faith. After a lot of studies, simply and with humility, I was blessed with an actual conversion- peace & joy filled with trust. I had a lot of losses,even to the extent of your son dying Jan31,2017. I am filled with total trust in Jesus. And am living in peace. Thank you father God.
Você é brasileiro , correto? Eu entendo o problema que você está tendo, você não está conseguindo encontrar Deus pela experiência comum de uma Igreja. Acho que essa é uma dificuldade comum para quem está acostumado com ouvir pessoas como o Robert Barron, que é bem intelectual e profundo. Bom, não sei se está disposto a isso, mas acho que talvez o protestantismo seja mais adequado a você. Sou protestante, e não tenho nada contra a Igreja Católica pessoalmente, mas acho que devemos procurar uma Igreja que combine mais com nossa personalidade. Eu diria pra você dar uma olhada no Paul Washer, John Piper, etc, alguns pregadores protestantes. Talvez o Augustus Nicodemus, aqui da Igreja Presbiteriana, seja interessante pra você. Espero que Deus possa te ajudar a encontrar um caminho, seja na Igreja Católica ou em outra. Deus Abençoe!
Dear friend.. while we would love for all persons to be graced with Fr. Barrons knowledge, articulation, and personality, it is not so. Different priests have different personalities, styles, and graces just like all human beings. The important thing as a Catholic is to make it to Church every Sunday even if you don't find the priest engaging, out of love for God, make that sacrifice for Love of God. Also, we go to Church to listen to the word of God as a community, praise the Lord and give thanks, give alms, and live the sacraments. Now as for me, thankfully there are about 5 Churches within a few miles of where I live and I like going to many. They all offer beauty, and communion with God. However I'm thinking of choosing one Church to become more involved with, like joining a ministry. I'm think I'm going to start by signing up for perpetual adoration.
mareeyo1 the wonderful thing about the Internet is that you can access some great homilies from Catholics and protestants. Get a podcast app and get Bishop Barron's weekly sermons also check of Father Charles Pope (Good Catholic Sermons). Yes some local priests are boring, but in this era that is no excuse.
Bishop Barron, you mentioned your respect for Mother Teresa. Have you ever made a video specifically about her work ? I think there is a lot of criticism out there for her from the agnostic community, so it would be good to be able to direct people to a counter argument that shows her good work and possibly looks at the critics view points and tries to answer those.
I am Indian and I know the work Saint Mother Teresa has done in Calcutta. But trust me my friend, her critics are irrational people who would not understand a word Bishop Barron would say. In fact, they will come up with abuses for him too. It is really hurting to see some of my countrymen hate her for doing what they would not even think of. God bless them all.
Hi Bishop Barron! Have you read the book "Galileo goes to jail and other myths about science and religion"? I you havent I strongly recommend you pick it up. I know philosophy and setting good examples is important but knowing history is also very important since there are many anti-christian myths about the historical relationship between science and Christianity that permiates todays populare culture and effects societies view of the church in a negative way. I hope you pick up the book and understand, awesome video by the way! :)
Bishop Barron has addressed the Galileo issue (as well as the myth of science vs faith) many times, and has supplied the much needed context for anyone without an anti-Catholic bias to get a better perspective on it. I particularly like his response that the Galileo case is "one paragraph, from one chapter, out of one very long book." :-)
Hi! Thx for the responce. I know Bishop Barron has done good some videos on the subject but I think there is much that could be done and I think people like Barron and other Christian apologist should take more advantage of the academic litterature that exists on the history of science and religion since there is a loot of good scholarship on the subject that has been written in the last 40 years. If you are interessted, I am running a channel specially dedicated to refuting populare myths on science and Christianity. :)
Evangelize with love not fear, it does nothing to anyone and just causes greater problems down the road. Bishop barron brings thousands in the Church every day and all he does is talk about Jesus not about hell.
~”I've argued that John Paul the Second, one of my great heroes, was the second greatest evangelist of the 20th century. Who was the first? Clearly, it seems to me Teresa of Calcutta, a woman who never wrote a book of theology, never wrote a book of apologetics, wouldn't have engaged probably publicly in those arguments in a very effective way and yet certainly in my lifetime she was the living Saint, someone who by the very radicality of her Christian commitment drew people to the Church. The way of goodness can be the most compelling of the transcendentals [truth, beauty, goodness].”
Your videos and Daily devotions are absolutely marvelous. I have beige watch them all the time. There is a new show on Fox called "Lucifer" which surrounds the Devil and his new life. It has met much criticism and plenty of arguments have been made against it. I would love to hear your opinion on the show and your philosophy on it.
I always try to avoid arguments even though its all a mixed bag of tricks. I think that having them first develop a relationship with Christ and living out the Gospel is a better fit because the more ones Love of Christ begins to surface so too does their understanding of the teaching they never quite understood prior to this. I'm always sceptical of those who are converted via arguments simply because I worry it is just an ''intellectual conversion'' and nothing more. Yes I see that your argument makes sense and I'm going to be catholic. such statements worry me because Christ said by their fruits you will know them, not by their arguments. arguments act as a good seed but ultimately noting works better than smelling the flower for yourself instead of listening to the description. Im not a theologian and just your average joe so I'm not so sure I make any sense.
Don't worry friend, you make perfect sense. I agree with your concern that things can be a mere intellectual conversion deviod of the much more important full living of the Christian life. But it seems to me that one who converted heavily on the basis of argument would have such a passion for and love of the truth that they would be lead by their reason from knowledge of God to love of Him. At any rate, I'm sure you'll find this interesting, if you have the time: edwardfeser.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/road-from-atheism.html
yes I agree that the argumemt can be a start and its all a mixed bag but even the love we have for truth one has to wonder of its authenticity also. conversion is much more than a radical change of mind but a change of the self. its a grace given by God in which we no longer shed tears for ourself but Christ on the cross. even though im confirmed Catholic, im always wondering am i REALLY Catholic. yes the atheist can be persuaded intellectually and hes a burning desire to live out the Gospel but an actual metanoia is something that isnt so easily obtained. Ignatius of loyola was the same. he read books but he had to wait for God to respond with Grace before his actual conversion took place. some people however only remain on the intellectual level and sadly never progress.
My vision of the do good aspect of the Catholics is mostly from recent experience of Sisters of Mercy nuns. I had worked at a school run by those nuns. On the notice boards and in their magazines are "look what we do" stories and photos which are planed to promote their image. Anyway a cover up needed to take place so a false report was made about me so I would take the blame. At a later stage the head nun must have felt guilty that an innocent man was damaged with lies. She then told a story about white lies. She said that if lies were told for the overall good of the community then they were white lies. She did not admit to a lie or say what the story related to but it was clear to me. So if it is in their interest they will repair over injustice but they will not clean up their own backyard. If people wished to read about those nuns google white lies test blog and google innuendo test blog.
The only time you hear some Catholics speaking about doing good is when they are retelling their history or encouraging others to do the same... The reason why you do not hear about Atheists doing good is because there is not enough actually doing anything self sacrificial... I don't blame them though, since they live in a worldview that is deeply materialistic... "There is nothing after death, so I need to live my life to the fullest" AKA I want to do what makes me feel good now....
+Andrew Auletta. I think a lot of the religious leaders don't believe in God. They just use the do good card to trick simpletons to donate money, then the simpletons do the trumpet blowing telling how good the leaders are and they forget that the money came out their pocket in the first place. And the leaders tell the simpletons they will be payed later when they go to heaven. But one thing for sure, the believers wont be disapointed when they die cause the wont know anything.
+David Well, I can't really argue from the perspective of all religious leaders. Are there people who completely mislead others into believing solely for the purpose of their own gain? Absolutely. Is that all religious leaders? Absolutely not. I find it striking that you refer to those who believe as simpletons. Do you seriously think that atheists are that much smarter than those who have faith? If so, you are severely misguided.
+Andrew Auletta It is a puzzle to me how there are religious people, who can work out the problems of every day life with intelligence and logic, but as soon as religion is raised, these same people transform into an instant simpleton.
the fact that you are arrogant and calling religious people as simpleton is proof that you are describing yourself....you are living in misery that is why you go accusing Catholics as simpleton... at the end of the day, you are the unhappy.... while Catholics live in serenity...call it simpleton or whatever... you can't exchange that for a Catholic peace of mind...
Fr. Barron, There's a problem here. When Muslims or Hindus or Mormons do good, it doesn't show their theology is true. So if somebody is indeed converted to Catholicism by observing Catholics' goodness, wouldn't you have to concede they are following a faulty line of reasoning?
Fr. Barron, thanks for the reply. I'm drawn to religion in many ways, but can't believe because of a problem touched on in your comment: All the ways on the supposed "path of truth" - beauty, theology, prayer-- lead to hugely contradictory conclusions. I can't believe in a God of revelation who cares what people believe and also leaves human beings only paths which have such a huge margin of error and result in widespread confusion. From a Catholic perspective, why would your God be so unclear?
Bishop Robert Barron In Nomine Dei Nostri Satanas, Luciferi Excelsi. In the Name of Satan, Ruler of the Earth, True God, Almighty and Ineffable, Who hast created man to reflect in Thine own image and likeness, I invite the Forces of Darkness to bestow their infernal power upon me. Open the Gates of Hell to come forth to greet me as your Brother /Sister and friend. Deliver me O Mighty Satan from all past error and delusion, fill me with truth, wisdom and understanding, keep me strong in my faith and service, that I may abide always in Thee with Praise, Honor and Glory be given Thee forever and ever.
+Mike Bacardi May the Lord Jesus Christ forgive you for your BLASPHEMY, you can still confess your sins before God because once your dead there's no turning back!
It is common knowledge that to do good is good for business. Ronald McDonald visits sick kids in hospitals and does other good too. It helps to sell hamburgers.
