Episodes
529 Episodes
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
WOF 384: Bishop Barron and Jonathan Roumie: A Conversation
WOF 383: What Christianity Brings to the Public Conversation
Friends, does Christianity still have a place in the public square? What can it contribute to the broader culture?
WOF 382: The Beauty of Hope w/ Fr. John Riccardo
Friends, in his talk at the 2022 Good News Conference, Fr. John Riccardo speaks about the unwavering trust and hope that Christians are called to.
WOF 381: Why the Liberal Arts Matter
Friends, what are the liberal arts, and why are so many schools getting rid of them? A recent article in *The New Yorker* titled ["The End of the English Major"](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/03/06/the-end-of-the-english-major) re
WOF 380: The Evangelical Power of Beauty
In his keynote talk at the 2022 Good News Conference, Bishop Barron speaks on the evangelical power of beauty in the Catholic tradition. True beauty leads by steady steps to the ultimate source of beauty, Christ.
WOF 379: Pope Francis and the Dangers of Technocracy
Friends, one major theme appearing throughout the teachings of Pope Francis is the danger of technocracy. In his 2015 encyclical, *[Laudato si'](https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_encic
WOF 378: Bishop Barron, Fr. Mike Schmitz, and the Priesthood
Friends, in this conversation at the 2021 Good News Conference, Bishop Robert Barron and Fr. Mike Schmitz share about their vocation stories.
WOF 377: How to Live with Joy w/ Chris Stefanick
Friends, today we share with you Chris Stefanick's talk from the 2021 Good News Conference. In a world fraught with fear, anxiety, and denial, Chris explores the fundamental rules for living joyfully.