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
This really is an impressive, contemporary way of teaching. A winning formula ... now how to bring it to more young (and older!) people. Many blessings to you 🙏.
Hey Father Barron, I just watched a clip on getting the smarts back in Catholicism, and I agree completely. As a former lapsed Catholic, I have been drawn to developing a better understanding of the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Rites in communion with Rome and the Tridentine Mass in the Roman Rite. I have also quietly contemplated FSSP as a result, though I am not yet sure if God calls me to the Priesthood. I ask for your prayers.
I loved Mia Farrow as Daisy, and Robert Redford in the earlier The Great Gatsby. Especially her way of speaking. Redford was just a beautiful man, and it was a stretch for him. But, with Ralph Lauren designing their wardrobes, just that much more Beautiful!** My favorite line is said by Daisy when Gatsby asks why she did not wait for him: "Rich girls don't marry poor boys, J, rich girls don't marry poor boys!" It's taken a lifetime of experience to fully understand all the nuances of the book & movie. I always thought of the roadside advertisement as being God looking at them, Always, and their Sinning, without ever taken notice or being aware that He sees all. Another book on the importance in living in the present, and not looking back and wishing to return to it. "It's all water, under the bridge!" Once it's past, it's Past! Thank you Father, you are so nice to share your deep thoughts with us all. ** Is it a Sin to love beauty and beautiful things? Art, Architecture, Gardens, People?? Thank you, again. ♥️ Your friend in Kansas City, Tom
No, loving beauty is not a sin, far from it. In Catholic theology, God is described as Goodness, Truth and Beauty itself. So just as every act and contemplation of truth and goodness here on Earth bring us closer to God, so does admiring, creating and contemplating real authentic beauty. That’s the ,,via pulchritudinis” - the way of beauty, the way of getting to know God through beauty. It’s also one of the reasons why Catholic churches (most of them) are so beautiful. Beauty lifts your soul to God. If you want to know more, watch Bishop Barron’s videos about beauty, he himself is a great advocate of the the ,,via pulchritudinis”.
There's also another message in the eye's found in the shanty broken down in-between. It's that only in the filth of that in-betwern can you find him, only in the darkest place where you least want to go, is where salvation lies. I love how haunting the eye's are, not really because they're judging you, but because they make you face your own shame in their reflection, causing many to avert their gaze all together.
Father Barron, any chance you could do a video on the Godfather films? Especially the 3rd one with its overtly Catholic themes. That would be great, thanks.
Perhaps it would help to point out that Christianity is much more than following a set of "rules." There can be two extremes in the moral life: those who follow the rules just for rules sake, and those who break the rules just because they're rules. God didn't reveal himself through Christ just to give us a set of rules to follow; He came here to give us life, and to set us free. Free to love.
I enjoy very much your reviews of movies and various subjects. The one oversight made in this version of The Great Gatsby is completely erasing Paul Whiteman's music.This is the quintessential novel about the 1920's. I can't understand how hip hop is figured into this adaptation of a book written by F Scott Fitzgerald in 1925. Please excuse me now I'm gonna watch the latest version of Gone with the Wind, with the music by Guns and Roses.
I would love to hear your opinion, your interpretation of "Only God Forgives". What struck me was that most reviewers on youtube didn't get one of the simplest plots in the history of cinema.
Can anyone comment on how well this message comes across to the average viewer? In other words, does the theme need to be explained, or is it fairly blatant?
@Jon Snow. Alas, God allows your heart to be hardened so that you may have the freedom to doubt and not be compelled to believe. However, your free will, with which you are endowed, permits you to choose between truth and error, but error has no rights.
You don't, indeed I have often heard you say that the the way to God IS the way to happiness [or at least as much happiness is available in this world].
I watched The Great Gatsby only once awhile back so i won't be able to remember many of the details except the ones you discussed plus a few more, As I was watching it i could imagine the era during which it was written and the author's motivations for writing the book because there are always some traits of the author passed on to the characters he/she writes. I don't see the character, Gatsby as Magical nor his parties which despite d perceived exclusivity seemed shallow, momentary & lonely.
@wordonfire: It was not my intention to suggest that you were denying it. Nor did I presume to give lessons in moral philosophy. It is merely that I have too often found myself, in arguing similar points as you above, unable to comvince atheists that Christianity is not mere moralism and mere moralists that moralism is not enough.
What can be said of a movie that depicts scenes like the opening scene you describe? What i mean is, it correctly portrays he eventual emptiness of the sins of the flesh, but in such a way that could temp some (perhaps many) to sin in the process. I often see this type of thing as a tool of evil so that on the last day Satan can even say "Look, it was even presented as evil and they indulged."
Father Barron, knowing you are a fan of Martin Scorsese's work, it would be wonderful to see your perspective on his film "The Last Temptation of Christ." This film has been unfairly ostracized and denied the credit it deserves as the most interesting exploration of the person of Christ ever committed to film. Your commentary on the film would be illuminating...
The role of Nick in this version of Gatsby was changed from the book in a way that distorted the moral meaning. He is an alcoholic narrating the story as a therapeutic journaling exercise assigned by his psychiatrist. In the book, his moral vision cleared after Gatsby's death; he didn't break down. w w w examiner com / review / gatsby-is-great-relatively-speaking
I find it odd that "conspicuous consumption" can be considered synonymous with wealthy hedonism. I might not agree with it, but it does have a purpose with moral import. Buying nice things to impress others reinforces a certain order of social ranking. Class prejudices help people associate immoral or "lazy" behaviors with "low-class" people. Since God doesn't intervene with too many miracles, people must make do by avoiding "bad neighborhoods" and sending their children to "good schools."
continued... When the party is over and done with people go home and Gatsby is left more alone. I feel the billboard sign with the eyes depicts how our lives are seen from an outsiders perspective not necessarily God.
Dear Fr Barron, I hope this shan't sound irreverently, for I admire very much your work, yet it seems to me that it is not so much morality that Christians ought to preach to unbelievers as that more expansive kind of joy which comes from loving others in the manner we are loved by God. Moralism and hedonism equally kill joy and love.
Again, I do not presume do teach you of these matters; I just think people need to be reminded that Christianity is not a mere system of morals. Yours, Vuk Uskoković, of Bar, Montenegro.
God is one because God is truth. God cannot contradict himself because the truth is one and does not contradict, and his nature is love because just as God is one, so he is a communion of three persons. God is an alien concept to you because you believe that which is untrue, malicious, and lies. You have made your life a reaction and an accusation against those who believe in the true God. Your atheistic views are false, toxic, and anathema. Be gone.
Yeah, this was just a terrible retelling of the novel, and remake of the 1974 movie. I prefer the 1974 version! Baz Lurhman thinks that all his films need to be in its original settings but with music of now. That's how you get the kids to watch it. But adults will see it as juvenile and dumb. Baz Lurhman needs to take some time off and rethink his lot in life.
