WOF 486: Celebrating 25 Years of Word on Fire

WOF 486: Celebrating 25 Years of Word on Fire

Author: Bishop Robert Barron April 21, 2025 Duration: 41:09

Word on Fire is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. That's twenty-five years of proclaiming the Gospel, evangelizing the culture, and working hard to bring people to—or back to—Christ and his Church. It's worth pausing to look back to remember where it all began and how the ministry has grown along the way. What is Word on Fire's origin story? When, where, and why did Bishop Barron—then Fr. Barron—first conceive of the idea to found Word on Fire? What were the early years like? What have been some major developments along the way? What obstacles were encountered, what lessons learned? And what does the future look like for the next five, ten, and even fifty years?

A listener asks how he might be able to become a part of the Word on Fire religious order. 

00:00 | Introduction
01:22 | Minnesota bishops visit state capital
02:55 | A brief look at Bishop Barron's early priestly life
06:18 | Bishop Barron's cathedral project
06:58 | Word on Fire's beginning
09:49 | Beginning the Catholicism series
11:24 | Cardinal Francis George
14:30 | Early days with Fr. Steve Grunow
15:41 | Reddit's "Ask Me Anything"
18:48 | Sunday Sermons
23:22 | Bishop Barron Presents
25:45 | The Word on Fire Show
27:07 | Public speaking events
28:32 | Speaking at Google and Facebook
29:57 | Expanding into the United Kingdom
31:17 | Word on Fire's Institute and Publishing
33:58 | The Word on Fire Bible
37:08 | Looking into the future
38:32 | A message to donors
39:17 | Listener question: How can I join Word on Fire's Third Order?
40:35 | Join the Word on Fire Institute


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Each week, The Word on Fire Show-Catholic Faith and Culture offers a thoughtful conversation with Bishop Robert Barron. This podcast explores the rich intersection of belief with contemporary life, examining everything from art and philosophy to current events and personal spirituality through a Catholic lens. Listeners will find deep dives into theological concepts, reflections on scripture, and discussions on how ancient wisdom addresses modern challenges. The tone is engaging and accessible, designed for anyone curious about the deeper questions, whether they are longtime in their faith or simply exploring. Bishop Barron brings his distinctive perspective as a theologian and communicator to these dialogues, making complex ideas relatable. It’s a space for meaningful exploration, where faith is presented as a compelling force for understanding our world and our place within it. New episodes arrive weekly, continuing a long-running series of insightful commentary and analysis.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
Podcast Episodes
WOF 472: Bishop Barron on the Theology of Balthasar (6 of 12) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:24
We bring you the sixth lesson of Bishop Barron's lecture series on one of the most important and influential Catholic theologians of the twentieth century, Han Urs von Balthasar. We will come to understand his life, his…
WOF 471: How to Reclaim Civil Society for the Common Good [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:17
A cultural shift seems to be underway, at least within the United States, that is potentially making society more open—perhaps even more positively disposed—to the wisdom of the Catholic social thought tradition. If ther…
WOF 470: Bishop Barron on the Theology of Balthasar (5 of 12) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:42
Today we share the fifth lesson of Bishop Barron's lecture series on one of the most important and influential Catholic theologians of the twentieth century, Han Urs von Balthasar. We will come to understand his life, hi…
WOF 469: 5 Reasons to Be Hopeful in the New Year [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:30
One of the defining features of the Christian moral and spiritual life is the supernatural virtue of hope. What is hope? What makes hope more than a mere superstition? How does hope help us live both individually and in…
WOF 468: Bishop Barron on the Theology of Balthasar (4 of 12) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:12
We bring you the fourth lesson of Bishop Barron's lecture series on one of the most important and influential Catholic theologians of the twentieth century, Han Urs von Balthasar. We will come to understand his life, his…
WOF 467: The Fall—and Rise?—of Men [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:29
Despite the enduring, progressive narrative that society favors and privileges men, the sociological data reveals men have and continue to experience devastating declines in education, earning power, economic mobility, r…
WOF 466: Bishop Barron on the Theology of Balthasar (3 of 12) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:40
Today we bring you the third lesson of Bishop Barron's lecture series on one of the most important and influential Catholic theologians of the twentieth century, Han Urs von Balthasar. We will come to understand his life…
WOF 465: Recapping the Synod on Synodality [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:41
After spending nearly a month in Rome, Bishop Barron has just returned from the concluding session of the Synod on Synodality. However, numerous basic questions remain among the faithful: What challenges were discussed d…
WOF 464: Bishop Barron on the Theology of Balthasar (2 of 12) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:54
Today we bring you the second lesson of Bishop Barron's lecture series on one of the most important and influential Catholic theologians of the twentieth century, Han Urs von Balthasar. We will come to understand his lif…
WOF 463: The Importance & Power of Prayer w/ Tammy Peterson: Part II [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:51
Through a litany of trials and grace, Tammy Peterson found her way to the Catholic Church. We bring you the second half of an hour-long conversation she had recently with Bishop Barron. The two explore transubstantiation…