Episodes
536 Episodes
WOF 403: Scapegoating in the Digital World
Friends, why are we so tempted to scapegoat people, especially online? And how do we escape that trap?
WOF 402: The Faith of J.R.R. Tolkien w/ Holly Ordway
J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece, *The Lord of the Rings*, is one of the best-selling books ever, selling over 150 million copies. In a 1999 poll of Amazon.com customers, *The Lord of the Rings* was judged to be their favorite "book of the mill
WOF 401: A Theology of Work
Friends, is work something good or bad? Is it central to being human, or a punishment resulting from sin? And how do we understand our work theologically, tying it to God?
WOF 400: Three Paths Beyond Scientism
Today we share with you Bishop Barron's keynote talk from the 2023 Wonder Conference, hosted by Word on Fire.
WOF 399: Why You Should Ponder Your Death
Friends, death is a topic most of us try to avoid. So, why does Catholicism teach we should meditate regularly on our death?
WOF 398: The Most Important Decision in Life
Today we share Bishop Barron's 2023 Commencement Address at Hillsdale College, delivered on May 13, 2023.
WOF 397: What Makes Great Leaders Great?
Friends, what makes great leaders great? Why do certain men and women seem to lead with such effectiveness?
WOF 396: Why Parishes Fail to Engage 93% of Parishioners w/ Matthew Warner
We know Church leaders need to be trained well in theology, morality, scripture, liturgy, and pastoral ministry. But if we want them to be able to wield those skills as effective leaders, they must also be great *communicators*.
WOF 395: Knowing Jesus Personally
Friends, Christians often speak of "having a personal relationship with Christ" or "knowing Jesus personally," but what does this actually mean? Is it possible? How do we go beyond *knowing* *about* Christ to truly *knowing him*? That's wha
WOF 394: The Beauty of Sainthood w/ Dr. Gianna Emanuela Molla
In this talk from the 2022 Good News Conference, Dr. Gianna Emanuela Molla shares the story of her mother, St. Gianna Beretta Molla, patron saint of mothers, physicians, and unborn children. She also discusses her parents' love through thei
WOF 393: Mrs. Davis, Algorithms, and God
Friends, my favorite current TV show, "Mrs. Davis," features an adventurous nun, a search for the Holy Grail, and an all-powerful algorithm. It also raises many interesting questions about artificial intelligence, God, free will, and our my
WOF 392: Poetry, Beauty, and the Shock of Grace w/ Fr. Paul Murray, OP
In this talk from the 2022 Good News Conference, Fr. Paul Murray reminds us that the God whom we are seeking is endlessly seeking us. It is through beauty that our hearts can be pierced with the desire to know God more deeply, and it is oft
WOF 391: Why Modern Men Look Elsewhere for Spiritual Wisdom
Friends, an interesting article was published at The Gospel Coalition titled ["Savior or Stoics? Why Modern Men Look for Spiritual Wisdom Outside the Church"](https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/savior-stoics-modern-men/). The author
WOF 390: Finding Beauty in the Loss of Control w/ Britt Fisk
In this talk from the 2022 Good News Conference, Britt Fisk, shares her wisdom on what it means to hand over complete trust to the Lord, particularly in times of great suffering. Though we may feel like we're at a loss when we are not in co
WOF 389: Catholics and the Culture of Contempt
Friends, what fuels our modern "culture of contempt," so prevalent online? And how can Catholics resist it?
WOF 388: What Is the Laity's Role in Evangelization?
Friends, in February 2023, at the Sharing the Church's Story Conference in London, I reflected on the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and how these counsels can be lived out by the laity.
WOF 387: It's Time for Eucharistic Revival
Friends, a [recent study from the Pew Research Center](https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/08/05/transubstantiation-eucharist-u-s-catholics/) found that nearly seven-in-ten Catholics (69%) believe that during Mass, the bread and wine
WOF 386: Christianity, History, and the Modern Age w/ Tom Holland
Friends, in February 2023, award-winning historian, author, and broadcaster Tom Holland and I discussed Western culture, the intellectual and moral aspects of Christianity, and the doctrine of original sin, among many other topics, at the S
WOF 385: The Franciscan Intellectual Tradition
Friends, many people are familiar with the Thomistic tradition, following St. Thomas Aquinas, but what about the Franciscan intellectual tradition, following St. Francis? Who are some of the great Franciscan theologians, and what can they t