Beauty is all around us. Through the Holy Spirit I was able to convert a atheist by explaining with the emotion that Beauty of nature God has created such as trees. They are beautiful to look at and have meaning in our life because without them we would not be here...just one example of the Beauty thstbis all around us. A sunset can bring tearrs to my eyes due to its beauty. Do not take for granted the natural beauty God has given us. Just as God gives man imagination to create masterpieces...just as the Holy Spirit enters us and allows us to articulate to someone God's beauty and goodness to convert them. That us beautiful act in itself!!
By God’s Grace, the first time i stepped foot into St Peter’s Basillica i was overcome with tears… I could not stop. I needed a moment just to stop and really allow whatever was happening to happen. It was one of the most profound and beautiful experiences in my life. One that will be hard to forget. So very appreciative of the opportunity! God bless you Bishop Barron ✝️💞
That's what I felt when I came back to church thru RCIA in 2009 when I first heard and saw the Catholicism series narration by you Bishop. I was enthralled and elated; all my travels and memories came alive and continue to this day! Thank you and God bless
I remember my art appreciation class in college which was taught by a marvelous professor who had traveled throughout Europe and had photographed many of the great works of both classical and modern artists. He shared them with us on countless slides throughout the semester. The beauty presented there, was a pivotal moment in my love of art. Years later, I came across a book by Fr. Thomas Dubay, the Evidential Power of Beauty, that truly cemented within my soul, the fact that the existence of beauty is also evidence of the presence of God all around us. Thank you so much, Bishop, for sharing this video with us! Pax and blessings!
Really glad to hear you talk about beauty. Even without saying it, it's practically shown in all your presentations and style - homilies, teachings, et cetera. Thank you, Bishop.
Yes! One way I practice my faith is to appreciate Beauty everyday. Music,the natural world, the light, people's faces, art... So much beauty in the world. Truth, Beauty,Wisdom- thank God! Thank you for reminding us, Bishop Barron.
thank you for this talk Bishop Barron, today I went to a church service at a non-denominational Christian church. I was struck by the utter lack of beauty at this church. There was one cross by the exit and that's it. There were no Passion stations, no Madonna, no paintings, or stained glass. There was only audio equipment for the worship songs. There were more speakers than crucifixes. It made me realize how much we need art in church, thank God mass is beautiful. Blessings.
Your teaching and witness were instrumental in my conversion in 2015. Thank you, Bishop Barron! I'm a Hoosier and have been praying about a call as a lay religious and for Lent chanted the Psalms. I'd welcome your prayers as I consider the Benedictine Oblates of Saint Meinrad Archabbey. You and your ministry are in my prayers.
Yes! Via pulchritudinis, the way of beauty, fast, effective, direct, to God. I write poetry, latest a collection 48 poems, each on a saint. Printed copies, gave them away. Poetic beauty so powerful! Thank you Bishop Barron!
I am an Indonesian, in the city of Yogyakarta, I feel blessed to have learned many precious lessons from Bishop Robert Barron. Blessed you Mgr. Barron.
I proposed to my Fiance here in Tampa in the beautiful Sacred Heart Catholic Church in downtown. It was the beauty in the church that made me think of God and the gift that is my soon to be Wife.
I’m not sure there are any bad tears but the best tears are definitely when our souls respond to the beautiful, the good and the true. I remember how it moved me as a young boy, and how I wept, when I heard what Raoul Wallenberg had done in Budapest 1944-45. And how he was ”rewarded” with a neck shot by the Russians, a Christ figure indeed. It isn’t unusual for my soul to respond with tears to the beatiful but much more often my response is one of peace, of a sense of ”coming home”. Pax vobiscum!
I'm a Music professor at a college whose also working on a book regarding a model of art. This video affirms my belief that art is a Divine creation and my theoretical explanation ultimately is an honorarium to God's blessings in this world ✝️🙏 Thank you, Bishop Barron
Bishop thank you. That was so real and deep. For me deep conversations of sharing experiences like this with people is a beautiful thing. I am grateful for this moment.
Always such a great pleasure to listen to the Bishop, I always feel so taken, so enlightened, so blessed and then grateful afterward for the usually fresh and new perspective he engenders.
How crucial it is to focus, think, and meditate on the beautiful when there is so much ugliness and disorder surrounding us. The beautiful is the way things should be. Clarity, radiance, orderliness. Give your life to that. Help others discover it. Our urgent mission today!
Thank you for sharing. Always great to hear your voice and experience your wisdom. Your excitement on the beautiful things you have experienced made me happy and hope to see the beauty in things like you do.
A thing of beauty is a joy forever, its loveliness increases, it will never pass into nothingness....John Keats. Tks Bishop Barron for speaking about Beauty!
Thank you bishop barron....beautiful...from your :the Christ that knock to your Reflections on Beauty....amazing! Beauty can truly touch the soul, you felt and expressed it well...from the objective harmony, order, rediance to the subjective feeling of awe and power. 😊
Bishop, I hear you often exalting the power of the beautiful in evangelization, and I also hear you referring to subjective attunement. As far as I'm concerned, while the objective beauty of what you refer to in this video finds some resonance in my being, I'm just bowled over and left agape at the beauty of nature. All other categories are pale shadows that disappear instantly in the brilliant, glorious beauty of a blue sky, a green forest, a spring meadow ...
I mean my spiritual director told me that God is the biggest artist of them all. He started it. Makes me want to appreciate everything around me alot more.
Bishop Barren, I too had that experience of the body rejoicing in movement. Listening to your description of just jumping, because words simply couldn't express, is what I remember. I was much younger than you when I had that experience, I wasn't speaking yet and there were two other children with me, another boy and a baby girl. It's my earliest childhood memory. Likewise 36 years ago at 18, music opened up a door to a very deep soulful, spiritual experience and likewise the door, thank God, has never closed. It was after reading the book of revelation, everything changed that nite, praise God! Thanks for sharing. I believe music is going to be the medium that brings the beauty of the truth, of all that is sacred and profane by the Holy Spirit of Truth. Much love. Prayerfully, Jeffrey LaPorte
I live in California, not near any of the major cities. I grew up protestant -- we went to church sometimes. The bible was never really explained to us in a way that took us or itself seriously. The churches I would go to weren't particularly pretty either, (let alone beautiful), everything was sort of washed out. I was introduced to Bishop Barron by way of Jordan Peterson's podcast. I never once in my entire life heard anyone speak of religion and God in that way. I was stunned by the deep and intellectual history of Catholicism. After much learning, reading, and exploring of Catholicism I was interested in visiting a Catholic church. The ones in my area were hideous. And I thought "I wonder how many people that's turning away". Fast Forward a few years and here I am. A few days ago I googled Catholic churches near me that were known for their beauty. I found one 4 and a half hours away. I drove there. I walked in and was confronted with awe -- just pure beauty. The experienced jolted me out whatever hole I had dug for myself for the past decade. I sat there for a few hours, alone. I left feeling something I had never felt before: that I could aspire to something beautiful. That beauty for beauty's sake is a worthwhile pursuit. I'll never be the same. I now have to piece my life back together with the beautiful in mind.
Bishop I often haven't been your biggest fan (I was listening to too much outside noise), but I stuck with you and I must say you have impressed me beyond all expectations. I apologize for judging you short and I now find myself desperate to consume your next homily. Congratulations on your new appointment to Winona/Rochester and you will forever be in my prayers as all priests are. God speed!
I do believe beauty is important as well. I've been reading Dietrich Van Hildebrand on the topic, and I appreciate, Bishop Barron, how you said "my subjective response to the objectively beautiful." You put so much about how encounter with beauty works into one sentence. I just wanted to show my appreciation for it.
Beloved Bishop Barron, can you please cover on the beauty of each soul that was taken from the shooter in Uvalde TX? That although each Soul was abruptly taken from their families & this world; each one of them are tremendously beautiful. My prayers are with them & all their loved ones. With your extensive knowledge, your grasp of God's Healing Love would bring the peace that the world needs to hear 🙇💖🌎🏰
Sometimes. Sometimes I think about how nothing matters in a way there is no good or there is no bad/evil. It's just is. I don't think that way too intensely but what gets me out of that mode of thought is Beauty. I find everything beautiful and it can be easily misunderstood when someone else shares what they believe is beautiful with me. Bold statement to find every little thing beautiful but I at least try if I struggle.
Dear Bishop Barron, I was really struck when in one of recents sermons on Martyrs of the Catholic Church (‘the only imperialism of the Church is the imperialism of the martyrs’), you said that the martyrs spoke English, French, German, Italian and some more, and you omitted Spanish. Considering the army of martyrs that this country and all the Spanish speaking countries have given, many of them blessed and saints, this omission is even more incredible. For example, in recent time, think of the thousands, religious priests and nums and even normal persons who were executed for his faith by the Republicanos in the Spanish Civil War, most of them declared blessed by different popes. I could cite many more. You really dessapointed me. Best regards,
I love impressionist and expressionist art because of their relation to nature, but God also provides moments where art comes to life if we take the time to notice them. I remember playing a round of golf late one afternoon and I came up to a short par-three hole I had played countless times before. But for some reason I saw it that particular day in a different light. The wind completely stopped and the Sun was coming through the pines and other tress in way that seemed to spread the light in a very ordered fashion, causing it to reflect off the pond in front of the hole in a way I may have seen before, but on this day it just grabbed a hold of me. And there was a quiet quality to it, no birds, nothing rustling, just a snapshot of nature the way I suppose God imagined it when he inspired whoever designed the course. Rather than walk up and hit my shot I sat there and just admired it until the Sun moved along and the wind picked back up. But for that brief time, it was like I was part of a beautiful painting, one painted by the hand of God. Anyway, it's just a reminder that God speaks to us every day in many ways, we just have to stop and listen is all.
Monseigneur Barron, Merci mille fois pour tout ce que vous fait ! Je pense que nous avons beaucoup de chose en commun. Je suis americaine et excusez mes fautes mais: tous les deux nous adorons la cathedrale Notre- Dame! Aussi il me plait beaucoup de parler et d'ecrire en francais! Alors en italien: Tante belle cose a votre ! P.S. Sorry about not having the accents.
I agree that the transcendentals of beauty, truth, feeling, consciousness, and identity are all objective parts of reality that ground us and so people can all agree about beauty. However, what is beautiful is a purely subjective experience that we each have as individuals and so we can disagree about what is beautiful, but still agree about beauty. I also appreciate the beauty of Gothic cathedrals and the feelings that go along with beauty. Of course, the transcendental good is just one of many transcendental feelings that we have about something that is beautiful...
Atchison KS: Benedictine College! I know that place, Bishop. It's a very beautiful school. And good people who offer good space for meditation and prayer, as well.
When I was a kid, I thought to myself how ugly it would be if the sky is purple or grey or yellow on a clear sunny day, instead of the clear blue that we have, and how the green color of the leaves truly match the bright blue of the sky. Honestly, I can be depressed when in winter the sky is often grey and some of the trees are barren. I thought, how good God is that he made the sky and the leaves of the trees, the flowers, the rivers, the tall mountains, so beautiful so that we can enjoy these right away.
Would you consider reposting the older video where Bishop Barron talks about Art and things that are “well made” as giving glory to God? I think it was part of the Flannery O’Connor series and included a clip from Chariots of Fire. That video changed my life
Moments encountering beauty depend on the beholder's ability to receive it. It is as when tasting good food with a healthy appetite. One acquires a taste for good wine, also. So, how does one acquire an eye for beautiful art or a seasoned traveler for splendid scenery? Many of the most objectively beautiful places may only be accessed by accomplished climbers, skilled sailers, or experienced SCUBA divers. The moment one first summits a mountain peak at elevations over 10K ft. is the moment one knows how tenuous life, our existence is. We are at the mercy of the elements where the air is thin, the cliffs are sheer and steep, the terrain, technical and the weather changeable. This is when we are dancing with life and cheating death. Yet, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Yet, we recall the precious moments when our spirits are light and filled with intense childlike wonder. Might not have experienced the most profoundly beautiful objects. Rather, they are the moments when in awe of even the most commonly beautiful like a little flower, a single ray of sunlight, the mist of morning or the shape of cirrus clouds, we are ready to receive the beauty that is always already there. We reveal the beauty within us through our appreciation of an aspect of God's creation, that of beauty, just as we are, in the words of ... "here and now being created by God." So too, we are able to look at the weathered face of St. Mother Teresa and see how God sees and with a photographer's eye and know that the lines on her face make the most profoundly beautiful work of art.
WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT BEING A HINDU? By Francois Gautier. Diversity in Divinity and Unity in Spirituality. 1) Believe in God ! - Aastik - Accepted 2) Don't believe in God ! - You're accepted as Nastik 3) You want to worship idols - please go ahead. You are a murti pujak. 4) You dont want to worship idols - no problem. You can focus on Nirguna Brahman. 5) You want to criticise something in our religion. Come forward. We are logical. Nyaya, Tarka etc. are core Hindu schools. 6) You want to accept beliefs as it is. Most welcome. Please go ahead with it. 7) You want to start your journey by reading Bhagvad Gita - Sure ! 8) You want to start your journey by reading Upanishads - Go ahead. 9) You want to start your journey by reading Purana - Be my guest. 10) You just don't like reading Puranas or other books. No problem my dear. Go by Bhakti tradition . ( bhakti- devotion) 11) You don't like idea of Bhakti ! No problem. Do your Karma. Be a karmayogi. 12) You want to enjoy life. Very good. No problem at all. This is Charvaka Philosophy. 13) You want to abstain from all the enjoyment of life & find God - jai ho ! Be a Sadhu, an ascetic ! 14) You don't like the concept of God. You believe in Nature only - Welcome. (Trees are our friends and Prakriti or nature is worthy of worship). 15) You believe in one God or Supreme Energy. Superb! Follow Advaita philosophy 16) You want a Guru. Go ahead. Receive gyaan. 17) You don't want a Guru.. Help yourself ! Meditate, Study ! 18) You believe in Female energy ! Shakti is worshipped. 19) You believe that every human being is equal. Yeah! You're awesome, come on let's celebrate Hinduism! "Vasudhaiva kutumbakam" (the world is a family) 20) You don't have time to celebrate the festival. Don't worry. One more festival is coming! There are multiple festivals every single day of the year. 21) You are a working person. Don't have time for religion. Its okay. You will still be a Hindu. 22) You like to go to temples. Devotion is loved. 23) You don't like to go to temples - no problem. You are still a Hindu! 24) You know that Hinduism ☺ is a way of life, with considerable freedom. 25) You believe that everything has God in it. So you worship your mother, father, guru, tree, River, Prani-matra, Earth, Universe! 26) And If you don't believe that everything has GOD in it - No problems. Respect your viewpoint. 27) "Sarve jana sukhino bhavantu " (May you all live happily) You represent this! You're free to choose, my dear Hindu! This is exactly the essence of Hinduism, all inclusive .. That is why it has withstood the test of time inspite of repeated onslaught both from within and outside, and assimilated every good aspects from everything . That is why it is eternal !!! There is a saying in Rigveda , the first book ever known to mankind which depicts the Hinduism philosophy in a Nutshell -" Ano bhadrah Krathavo Yanthu Vishwathah"- Let the knowledge come to us from every direction...
I agree about the taking the beautiful seriously idea. However, it was probably easier in your early days than today and in mind. Growing up in PA many churches lock there doors after mass. Its impossible to walk into a church when the mood might strike and run into something beautiful. Unless someone has a previous conviction to attend church during mass I think our "closed door" policy with churches is a terrible policy and is hurting evangelization.
Pope Francis: "world - as Prince Myshkin said in Dostoyevsky’s The Idiot - then we must be vigilant so that the world also saves beauty. To achieve this, I invite you to embrace a “global beauty compact” with all the young people of the world, for there is no education without beauty. “We cannot educate without leading a person to beauty, without leading the heart to beauty. Forcing my talk a little, I would say that an education is not successful if you do not know how to create poets. The path of beauty is a challenge that must be addressed"
Hi 👋🏻 Love to all 🙏🏻 My daughter is currently sitting her High School Exams. Today in her RE exam, one of the questions was, what is the nature of the Catholic Church. I was just wondering how any of you would have answered it?
Please help me! We live in Texas and my children are in the second and fourth grades, the same ages as the children who were murdered in Uvalde. They are so scared and confused, as am I. They don't know how a person could murder little children and I don't know what to say. We are all so heart broken and upset. What do I say? What do I do? Please help me.
I have always found it completely false to say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. No it's not, beauty is objective. It's real and truthful and it does not even notice your ignorance of it.
@argon their life can be beautiful, beauty is not confined to mere physical things that you find attractive. You are making my exact point. You believe you get to define what beauty is based on what you find attractive. That's just not the case.
@argon an extremely intelligent person isn't automatically exceptionally unique. There have been countless extremely intelligent people. That's not unique by definition.
@argon exceptionally unique. Not just unique. Unique in an exceptional way. And yes awe wells up inside of us when we recognize the exceptional uniqueness of a particularly beautiful thing. The objective truth of how things became exceptionally unique are absolutely not subjective.
IT’S ALL TRUE, GOD’S SACRIFICE IS FOR YOU: There is One God in three parts, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Humans are ONE person (in three parts) The body, soul and spirit. The Bible says that we are all sinners. As it is written: There is none righteous no not one. Romans 3:10 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 But we are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousness are as filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6 For the wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23(the word “death” in this verse means eternal separation, from God in hell). Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.Isaiah 1:18 Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures and that He was buried and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures.1CORINTHIANS 15:3-8 In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:14 For by grace ye are saved, through faith; and not of yourselves it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Galatians 2:21 After you trust in Jesus to save you from hell, God wants you to be Baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
If what the bishop says is true then it applies to a person influenced by Muslim Mosques, Tibetan Monk Singing, Greek Temples and other beauty(?). Does that make their god/s any more real than his? Art is art, it's you who give meaning to it. Judging by the comments below beauty is evidence for a god/s. Really?
