Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith

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Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith

4.54 of 5 stars 4.54 · rating details · 311 ratings · 56 reviews

“What I propose to do in this book is to take you on a guided exploration of the Catholic world, but not in the manner of a docent, for I am not interested in showing you the artifacts of Catholicism as though they were dusty objets d’art in a museum of culture. I want to function rather as a mystagogue, conducting you ever deeper into the mystery of the incarnation in the...more

Hardcover, First, 279 pages

Published September 6th 2011 by Image

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Oct 13, 2011 Julie Davis rated it 4 of 5 stars

Since my conversion, I have read many a book about saints, angels, prayer, virtues, and all those good Catholic subjects. Reviewing the list, however, I was surprised to see how few of them covered Catholicism as a whole.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, of course, is a reference I use regularly. The impeccable logic of Peter Kreeft's Catholic Christianity helped settle my mind about Catholic teachings on controversial issues. Catholicism for Dummies and The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Cat...more Since my conversion, I have read many a book about saints, angels, prayer, virtues, and all those good Catholic subjects. Reviewing the list, however, I was surprised to see how few of them covered Catholicism as a whole.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, of course, is a reference I use regularly. The impeccable logic of Peter Kreeft's Catholic Christianity helped settle my mind about Catholic teachings on controversial issues. Catholicism for Dummies and The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Catholic Catechism are favorite references.

None of them, however, are designed to be engaging, uplifting reading (although the Catechism certainly can perform that function).

Enter Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith by Father Robert Barron. Barron has the knack of articulating Catholic theology in a way that makes one sit up in astonishment and delight as well-worn concepts take on fresh, new life. Look at his presentation of what the Incarnation means to us, as human beings.

In their own ways, Marx, Freud, Feuerbach, and Sartre all maintain that God must be eliminated if humans are to be fully themselves. But there is none of this in the Christian doctrine of the Incarnation. The Word does indeed become human, but nothing of the human is destroyed in the process; God does indeed enter into his creation, but the world is thereby enhanced and elevated. The God capable of incarnation is not a competitive supreme being but rather, in the words of Saint Thomas Aquinas, the sheer act of being itself, that which grounds and sustains all of creation, the way a singer sustains a song.

And the Incarnation tells us the most important truth about ourselves: we are destined for divinization. The church fathers never tired of repeating this phrase as a sort of summary of Christian belief: Deus fit homo ut homo fieret Deus (God became human so that humans might become God). God condescended to enter into human flesh so that our flesh might partake of the divine life, that we might participate in the love that holds the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in communion. And this is why Christianity is the greatest humanism that has ever appeared, indeed that could appear. No philosophical or political or religious program in history—neither Greek nor Renaissance nor Marxist humanism—has ever made a claim about human destiny as extravagant as Christianity's. We are called not simply to moral perfection or artistic self-expression or economic liberation but to what the Eastern fathers called theiosis, transformation into God.

God's noncompetitive love and our transformation into the divine are touchstones that Barron returns to throughout the book. As he presents Catholicism in all its complexity—from Jesus as warrior to Mary and the saints to the Eucharist and beyond—readers begin to grasp that love and transformation are indeed the core of the Catholic faith.

Barron's enthusiasm is palpable and his examples vivid. I especially enjoyed the way he wove imagery throughout his text, only to suddenly expand it to make larger theological points. I already was familiar with Noah's ark as an image of the Church, as a place of safety for all. However, it was a revelation when he took it one step further and pointed out how medieval architects reinforced the connection by endeavoring to make cathedrals look like great ships. He gave me potent, mind's-eye images that stuck with me through the rest of that section.

Here, Barron makes a similar leap, bringing the gospel to life, and into our immediate lives, with great enthusiasm.

Saints are those who have allowed Jesus thoroughly to transfigure them from within. Paul caught this when he observed, "yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me" (Gal 2:20). In chapter 5 of Luke's Gospel we find an odd story about Jesus and Peter. As the eager crowd presses in on him, Jesus spies two boats moored by the shore of the lake. Without asking permission, he gets into the boat belonging to Peter and says, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch" (Lk 5:4). What followed, as we have seen earlier when analyzing Mark's version of this scene, is the miraculous catch of fishes. Read with spiritual eyes, this story reveals the essential feature of sainthood. For a Galilean fisherman his boat was everything; it was his livelihood, his work, the means by which he supported his family. Peter's fishing vessel represents, therefore, his professional creativity, his link to the wider world, the key to his survival. Jesus simply gets into the boat and commences to give orders—and the result is the greatest catch Peter the fisherman ever made. Jesus' uninvited boarding of the vessel represents the invasion of grace, the incoming of the divine love into someone's life. Precisely because God is noncompetitive with creation, precisely because he wants human beings to come fully to life, this inrushing of grace does not destroy or interrupt what it invades; it enhances it and raises it to a new pitch. Peter, one presumes, had been successful enough as a fisherman, but now, under Jesus' direction, he goes out into the deep and brings in more than he could ever have imagined possible. This is what happens when we cooperate with grace, when we allow Christ to live his life in us.

The saints are those who have allowed Jesus to get into their boats and who have thereby become not superhuman or angelic but fully human, as alive as God intended them to be. The entire purpose of the church, as we have seen, is to produce saints.

The book is not perfect. Over a hundred black and white photos are included and they are well enough in their way, but color would have packed a greater punch. I would have traded the eight-page color plates at the center for colored photos scattered throughout the book, instead. Too many shots of great art were rendered unremarkable in black and white, which is ironic, as the book is a companion to a ten-part Catholicism television series. A key point of the series is the beauty of the Catholic faith as expressed through the work of human hands. While the book stands alone, it fails to amplify that beauty for its readers.

I also found that Barron occasionally couldn't resist diving instantly into complex concepts that might have done better with a more extended simple introduction. This is especially true in the chapter about prayer. He moves too quickly into the prayer lives of Thomas Merton, St. John of the Cross, and St. Teresa of Avila, all of whom may intimidate even seasoned Catholics with their far-reaching concepts. While Barron does address the sort of basic petitionary prayer that is the cornerstone of most people's experience, he quickly jumps to Merton. I was thoroughly confused halfway through and had to reread the chapter. Barron would have done well to recall that some readers may be completely new to prayer or may come from Christian backgrounds that might view the mystics with deep suspicion.

These points aside, Barron's book is a real treasure. His development of Heavenly imagery into a place I could actually imagine myself inhabiting has charged me with excitement about getting to Heaven. His points about Jesus as a warrior reminded me that I, too, am called to never give up, never surrender. His guide to Dante's Divine Comedy invested layers of meaning in the books about Purgatory and Heaven I completely missed when I read them.

Catholicism is a wonderful guide to the heart of the Catholic faith. It will no doubt explain the faith to many, and light the imaginations of those already on that journey.(less)

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Jun 10, 2012 David Withun rated it 4 of 5 stars

Although Fr. Barron clearly, as the title itself indicates, intended this book to be an introduction to Catholicism, I think that what he has written here is an excellent introduction to Christianity as a whole. And I say that in spite of the two swipes (on pages 3 and 164) he takes at the Orthodox Church, of which I myself am a member. Other than perhaps his understanding of the interrelations of the three divine persons in the Trinity, which seems to be based largely around the filioque, and,...more Although Fr. Barron clearly, as the title itself indicates, intended this book to be an introduction to Catholicism, I think that what he has written here is an excellent introduction to Christianity as a whole. And I say that in spite of the two swipes (on pages 3 and 164) he takes at the Orthodox Church, of which I myself am a member. Other than perhaps his understanding of the interrelations of the three divine persons in the Trinity, which seems to be based largely around the filioque, and, of course, his discourse on papal infallibility, there was hardly a thing I could find with which I disagreed. In fact, that may be the greatest message that I took away from the book, probably contrary to Fr. Barron's desires: that perhaps East and West aren't so different after all.

Fr. Barron is, in turns, poetic and intellectual throughout the book. His initial descriptions of the Incarnation (pages 9-10) and the liturgy (pages 172-4), for instance, are so beautiful they could easily become verse. And his discussion of God (chapter 3), for example, wonderfully breaks down very difficult and rather heady concepts in language that anyone can understand. Adding to the beauty of the book are the black and white photographs of some of the most beautiful sites in Christendom sprinkled throughout the book and the wonder-evoking set of color photographs in the center.

Also contributing to the excellence of this book are the numerous short quotations, bits of wisdom, and anecdotes sprinkled throughout. For these, Fr. Barron draws especially heavily on modern Christian thinkers like Paul Tillich, Thomas Merton, and Edith Stein, giving us a presentation of a Christianity that has grappled with the great problems of the modern and postmodern world and its thought as encapsulated by such figures as Marx and Freud (whom Fr. Barron references specifically). In course, he demonstrates to the reader that Christianity is not the medieval superstition and antiquated silliness some would like to paint it as, but it continues to be what it has always been: the Truth, the way to Life from the realm of unbecoming.

I recommend this book as an introduction to Christianity for the newcomer and an engaging refresher for the experienced – with a uniquely but not exclusively Catholic flavor. I especially recommend that all Catholics have a read of this book.(less)

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May 07, 2012 Cathy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

One of the very best books I've ever read about the Catholic faith, and Christianity in general. And that's saying a lot, becaue I've read so many books about the faith that I've lost count.

One of the best things about this book is it's readability. I think it should be just as accessible and enjoyable for the novice theology reader as it is for the theologian.

Also, it covers the gamut of basic Christian belief in an exciting and non-offensive way. I think non-Catholic Christians who want to und...more

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Nov 05, 2011 Nefficus rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: religious

Father Barron has done the faith a great service with this book. A great overview of the faith - Barron has a knack for explaining key doctrines in ways that make them seem simple and eminently understandable. He also has a great ability to integrate the faith so that what sometimes seems like a long list of "rules" becomes an integrated whole centered on an encounter with a person - Jesus Christ. The best part of this book is Barron's explanation of the Beatitudes - simply incredible, and shed...more

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Sep 21, 2011 Ruth rated it 5 of 5 stars

This one is a keeper. This is one, that if it didn't go completely against my grain to highlight books (I didn't even like doing it when I was in college--I don't even highlight or put notes in my Bible) would be highlighted all over. It is a very readable book but one that has a lot of information. I'd like to share a few of my bookmarks with you.
p. 50: Regarding turning the other cheek: "To turn the other cheeck is to prevent him from hitting you in the same way again. It is not to run or to a...more This one is a keeper. This is one, that if it didn't go completely against my grain to highlight books (I didn't even like doing it when I was in college--I don't even highlight or put notes in my Bible) would be highlighted all over. It is a very readable book but one that has a lot of information. I'd like to share a few of my bookmarks with you.
p. 50: Regarding turning the other cheek: "To turn the other cheeck is to prevent him from hitting you in the same way again. It is not to run or to acquiesce, but rather to signal to the aggressor that you refuse to accept the set of assumptions that have made his aggression possible.....The promise of this approach is that it might not only stop the violence but also transform the perpetrator of it.
p. 141: Discussing Hans Urs von Balthasar's comments on Peter and Paul: Every priest...is...a descendant of Peter. Every missionary...is... a son or daughter of Paul. Without the Petrine discipline the Pauline work would be unfocused and continually in danger of dissolution. Without the Pauline energy, the Petrine work would devolve into cold management and ecclesiastical bureaucracy. The two together, in tensive harmony, have propelled the church through the centuries and around the world.
p. 146, quoting St. Joan of Arc: "About Jesus Christ and the church, I know only this: they're simply one thing, and we shouldn't complicate the matter." As an articulation of the peculiarly Catholic sense of the church, it would be hard to improve on that.
The book begins with a look at the Nativity as the beginning of Christianity and at some high points in the life of Christ. From there, Fr. Barron takes a look at the beatitudes and the parable of the Prodigal Son. He points out that the older son, in saying that he has been working like a slave all those years, said nothing of reciprocal love; rather his were the comments of one driven by mercantile calculation. He then spends a chapter on the nature of God and the Trinity. While I claim on great expertise in non-Catholic Christian theology or beliefs, I doubt there would be much in these chapters, other than the presumption that the Catholic church is the original Christian church, with which most non-Catholic Christians would disagree.

Chapter 4 is a different story. It covers Catholic Marian doctrines of the Immaculate Conception and Assumption of Mary. It talks about why those doctrines are important in understanding the nature of God and Jesus, and what they mean to us. Mary's apparitions at Lourdes and Mexico are covered as well. Chapter 5 is about Peter and Paul and the complimentary natures of their ministries. Fr. Barron mentioned one of the great issues of the Reformation--what is necessary to be saved, per Paul.

I'd tell you about the other chapters, but I haven't read them yet--as a matter of fact I'll commit to telling you more about them later so this book doesn't languish under the stack of junky romance novels that take a lot less brain power to read. Though it takes more brainpower to read than a trashy novel, it isn't a hard to read book, so don't let that remark scare you off. Rather, it is one of those books that should be read a little at at time and the ideas mulled over in your mind and heart. Grade: A(less)

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Jan 06, 2012 Josh Mcdonald added it

Aristotle said that the best activities are the most useless. This is because such things are not simply means to a further end, but are done entirely for their own sake. Thus watching a baseball game is more important than getting a haircut, and cultivating a friendship is more valuable than making money The game and the friendship are goods that are excellent in themselves, while getting a haircut and making money are in service of something beyond themselves. This is also why the most importa

...more

Aristotle said that the best activities are the most useless. This is because such things are not simply means to a further end, but are done entirely for their own sake. Thus watching a baseball game is more important than getting a haircut, and cultivating a friendship is more valuable than making money The game and the friendship are goods that are excellent in themselves, while getting a haircut and making money are in service of something beyond themselves. This is also why the most important parts of the newspaper are the sports section and the comics, and not, as we would customarily think, the business and political reports. In this sense, the most useless activity of all is the celebration of the Liturgy, which is another way of saying that it is the most important thing we could possibly do.

My own total lack of interest in sports notwithstanding, this passage does a good job, I think, of capturing the heart of why I remain a devoted Catholic. That sense of God's values being mostly the polar opposite of the World's values is, for me, a large part of what following Christ is all about.

My one disappointment with the book is that it does feel very much like it's preaching to the choir. I found myself nodding in agreement with most of it and enthusiastically agreeing with bits of it, and finding almost all of it to be familiar and well-trod territory. There was really nothing here to challenge me or force me to re-think or see anything in a new light. And I've always felt that religion and religious thought is pretty much useless if it doesn't challenge one's comfort zones or prompt the occasional re-thinking of one's accustomed values. Although I will say that this book does a very good job of stripping away the fluff and boiling down to the essence of what a Christ-centered life is all about -- and the reminder of what is truly important certainly has value. So maybe it did prompt me to re-think some long-held assumptions after all...?

On the whole, this book was a very good refresher on why I am and remain a Catholic.(less)

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Sep 08, 2011 Margaret rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Margaret by: Cindy Brovsky

Shelves: firstwild, random-house, image-books, catholic

This is an absolutely awesome book. It is a FIRST Tour book which usually means that I post about it, but do not quite have time to read it all. Yesterday I started reading and had serious trouble putting it down. I'm about half way through and plan to finish it today if possible. (We've already had a late start, so we'll see...) Last night I found myself trying to tell the Enginerd about this book and why I like it so much. Honestly it is hard to put it into intelligible words outside of Margar...more

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Sep 12, 2011 Kristen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: firstreads, historical-religious, religious

I have a book packed away in my basement titled Catholicism: An Incredibly Difficult To Read and Boring Introduction to the Faith. OK, maybe that wasn't the title, but it should have been.
Father Robert Barron's book is the opposite. It's meant for well-meaning people like myself who prefer to learn about interesting topics the National Geographic way - well written, insightful, and plenty of pictures. Like this book, which came after Barron's documentary series. That shows. It's not dumbed down...more

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Apr 20, 2013 Alice rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: audio-books

I listened to this book during Holy Week and the two weeks following Easter, and it was an excellent 'refresher' course on Catholicism. Barron covers all major areas of Catholic belief and practice, but does so using an engaging style using individual stories of saints, Mary and other church leaders to bring energy into his presentation. His overview of the mass was also very helpful. However, while the audio-narration was good, I also want to buy the book because there are many paintings and Ca...more

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Aug 26, 2011 Jennifer rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I won this book on Goodreads and I learned a lot from it: I hadn't realized that such a thing as "Evangelical Catholicism" existed. Robert Barron, the author of this book and the movement's leader, is well educated in the history of religion and the details he provided about daily life in Jesus's time are fascinating. (his description of the Temple in Jerusalem stands out). So do his anecdotes about the lives of famous Catholics like Dorothy Day and Mother Teresa. But anecdotes are not the poin...more

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Oct 05, 2011 Sandra Hestand rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

This was a book I won through Goodreads giveaways. I was excited to receive the book as I have been Catholic most of my life, but have always felt like there was so much about the church, that I didn't know. Of course, after reading this, there is still so much that I don't know, but this provided a thorough introduction to the religion while leaving me wanting to know more. It also helped to enlighten me on some of the more difficult aspects of Catholicism, such as papal succession.
The book...more

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Jun 27, 2012 Fr. Kyle rated it 5 of 5 stars

The book reads like one of Fr. Barrron's YouTube videos. It is clear, deep, insightful, and still down to earth. He makes reference to Max Scheler and John Lennon touching the student, the scholar, and the layman. His depth of language allows fro him to write clearly without extending a topic farther than is necessary for his goal. I would suggest this book to anyone because of its ease of prose and its clarity of doctrine.

As I began to move through the book, I realized that Fr. Barron has put i...more

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Mar 09, 2012 Scott rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: theology

A clear and concise evaluation of real Catholic beliefs. The author, Fr. Robert Barron, is a proponent of the new evangelization to reach out to the broader culture through Youtube, Wordonfire.org, and his 10 DVD series of Catholicism which is the essence of this book. Having watched all DVDs of Catholicism and having read the book, I'd recommend both. The DVDs of course have the audio-visual component which no book can match. The book, of course, has a more detailed treatment of the different t...more

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Dec 20, 2011 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-list

I think this book is one that everyone I know should read. Yes, that means YOU. ESPECIALLY if you have an interest in your Catholic faith.

As I read and delighted in Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith, by Fr. Robert Barron, I tried to give it a nifty one-line description. (It’s a little marketing challenge I play when my brain is awake.) I came up with a few:

- A Catholic text for the rest of us
- Theology as faith study, punctuated with pictures
- Delightfully Catholic, universally fa...more I think this book is one that everyone I know should read. Yes, that means YOU. ESPECIALLY if you have an interest in your Catholic faith.

As I read and delighted in Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith, by Fr. Robert Barron, I tried to give it a nifty one-line description. (It’s a little marketing challenge I play when my brain is awake.) I came up with a few:

- A Catholic text for the rest of us
- Theology as faith study, punctuated with pictures
- Delightfully Catholic, universally faithful
- If Catholic = universal, then this book = wonderful
- More than just another reference, here’s a book to read with your heart

It has ten chapters, and it clocks in at 279 pages. It spans the faith from the history to theology to philosophy to application. I was, above all, fascinated.

I’ve read a few popular Catholic theology books, but very few of them can stay long on my office “must reference” shelf.
When I raved about it to my pastor (I stopped just shy of suggesting that we use this, along with the Youcat, with the next class of Confirmation students), I compared Barron’s work to Scott Hahn. Another parishioner had emailed him already about Father Barron’s Catholicism project (which will be airing on one of our local channels!), so he recognized Barron’s name.

I am, admittedly, pretty excited about my faith. After reading Father Barron’s book, though, I find myself renewed and reenergized. Throughout the entire book, I was turning the page, wondering what was next.

When’s the last time a theology book kept me turning the page like a novel would? Honestly, I don’t remember. I’ve read some great books this year, but this one is up there with the best (if it’s not the best) that I’ve read.

Barron’s treatment of the faith is at once tender, factual, and intriguing. He presents it almost scientifically, but in a way that bespeaks a deep love. It reminds me of the way I hope I would speak about my husband, and that warms my heart.

Bottom line: read this book. Then buy a copy for your parish library, because without a doubt, someone else needs to read it too!(less)

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Jan 30, 2012 Baroquem rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm not sure that there's much more to say about Father Barron's work that hasn't already been said in countless other reviews. _Catholicism_ — both the book and the TV series on which the book is based —is a fantastic exploration of the major facets of the Catholic faith, with a particular emphasis on its spiritual and cultural riches. Father Barron has a gift for illustrating theologically complex material with useful practical examples, and when examples won't do, he can explain a philosophic...more

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Oct 18, 2011 Greg rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, christianity

Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith is a solid introduction to many of the things Catholics believe. However, the ideas are not just presented as a list of beliefs. Instead, Robert Barron attempts to provide a solid and secure theological basis for the ideas and concepts he presents.

On the whole, I do believe Barron was successful in his endeavor. There were sections which I yearned for a more thorough explanation of a concept or a better response to known criticisms, but one can n...more

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Oct 18, 2011 Jim Andersen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christianity, theology

This book is one of the core books that both those outside the faith ought to read and those who were born, raised, but fell away from the faith ought to read!

This book is an amazing book, originally I was still a bit taken back that the author stayed simply within the confines of the Latin Rite of Catholicism, hoping that he would have gone to describe that Catholicism is more then just the popularized Roman Catholic Outlook. However, toward the end of the book I felt that it was good that he...more

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Sep 21, 2012 Kristin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Catholicism is a notable book that is well worth a read for anyone interested in learning more about the Catholic church's history, beliefs, teachings, and traditions. It is an easy read and is packed with information, so it can easily be read and reread. Barron's voice is approachable and informative, and the examples of saints' stories and church art enrich this book. This is a truly amazing book that has found a permanent place on my shelf! More at www.shelfishness.blog.com

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Nov 26, 2012 Adam Shields rated it 4 of 5 stars

Book Review - Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith by Robert Barron - I picked this up because it is the companion book to a documentary that tries to explain Catholicism. So it seemed to fit in my focus of understanding what Catholicism teaches. I should have assumed that this is mostly an explanation of Christianity (albeit the Catholic expression of Christianity). Overall very helpful, especially the three chapters on the church.

Click through for a longer review on my blog at htt ...more

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Mar 13, 2013 Diane rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: catholicism, kindle, non-fiction, read-in-2013, theology

Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith is a companion book to the documentary with the same name, and is an exploration of various aspects of Catholic thought and Catholic life. The book is engaging, intelligent and well-written, and will teach you something that is worth learning.

Topics include: Christ and the birth of Christianity; the mystery that is God; the Church as the Mystical Body; the Church’s founders, Peter and Paul; Mary and the saints; worship, prayer and the Mass; and f...more

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Jul 28, 2012 Lynn rated it 5 of 5 stars

I LOVED this book! It had one of the best explanations of the beatitudes I have ever heard. It was a very good look at not only Catholicism, but at Christianity in general. I also especially liked the author's explanation of why "Faith, Hope and Love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is Love." When we are sharing in the glory of heaven, Faith ends because we see and no longer merely believe; Hope ends because we have realized our greatest desires; but Love remains because heaven is...more

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Apr 17, 2013 Paula rated it 5 of 5 stars

We read this in my Women's Group and watched the companion DVD. I loved how Fr. Barron intertwined religious icons and pictures to tell the story. Many of the great locations in Christendom were included. I saw the great cathedral at Chartres, San Xavier Mission Church, the Basilica in Rome, the flying buttresses in Paris and all the places in between.

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Feb 20, 2012 Kimberly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I won this as a Goodreads Firstreads giveaway.

At first glance this seems to be a book for the average person to read to understand Catholicism. That is not the case. The author writes with a vocabulary that uses an educated person's vocabulary an in a style that is very poetic but probably challenging to the average reader to understand.

The first several chapters were difficult to slog through but the chapters where the author elaborates on the mass, it's meaning and history, the author shines....more

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Nov 14, 2011 Susan Paxton rated it 4 of 5 stars

A lot of good stuff here for Catholics and for people who are interested in Catholicism and its core beliefs. Protestants will find a lot to like too as Father Barron clearly explains how Catholics view things. His chapter on four recent saints - Katherine Drexel, Edith Stein, Therese of Lisieux, and Mother Theresa - is very illuminating in explaining what makes saints different and worthy of our admiration.

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Apr 17, 2012 Dawn rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book for many reasons - but mostly because in his journey across the Catholic church he touched on what seemed to be everything I wanted to know. It inspired me personally: intellectually and spiritually.

Anyone who feels Christianity, in particular Catholicism, tugging at them - should pick up this book and read it.

Enjoy.

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May 23, 2012 Robert Lobretto rated it 5 of 5 stars

One of the more complete and accessible books about the Catholic faith and Christianity in general. Father Barron is a plain speaking and writing author who brings some complicated theological dilemmas into the realm of everyday conversation. A most enjoyable read!

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Apr 03, 2013 Mike added it

The book accompanies the 10-part PBS series; not having 10 hours to watch, I read the book! Illuminating discussions of the life of Jesus, the founding of the Church, and various Saints. Recommended for Catholics.

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Feb 07, 2012 Alex rated it 4 of 5 stars

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars, because it was difficult for me to keep up with all the theology in it. The initial chapters were difficult. However, Robert Barron creates a full and understandable survey of the Catholic Church and the roots of the Catholic Faith. It's not for a basic understanding of what Catholic's believe it goes deeper.

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Feb 08, 2013 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: english, god

Enjoying this so far, appreciating the freshness that Barron's approach brings to what Christianity is about, even if some of the argumentation seems now and again a bit dubious. A focus on the Catholic side of things is there but not overdone: there's plenty to be got from this for anyone interested in getting a new or fresh angle on matters Christian although maybe not aimed at complete newcomers to the faith.

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Jul 20, 2012 Sean Tessmer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Excellent, down-to-earth representation of some of the hardest to grasp concepts and doctrines/dogmas of traditional Church teaching. Highly recommend.

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About Robert Barron

Father Robert Barron is an acclaimed author, speaker, and theologian. He is the Francis Cardinal George Professor of Faith and Culture at Mundelein Seminary near Chicago and also is the founder of Word On Fire (www.WordOnFire.org).

Fr. Barron is the creator and host of CATHOLICISM, a groundbreaking ten-part documentary series and study program about the Catholic faith. He is a passionate student of...more Father Robert Barron is an acclaimed author, speaker, and theologian. He is the Francis Cardinal George Professor of Faith and Culture at Mundelein Seminary near Chicago and also is the founder of Word On Fire (www.WordOnFire.org).

Fr. Barron is the creator and host of CATHOLICISM, a groundbreaking ten-part documentary series and study program about the Catholic faith. He is a passionate student of art, architecture, music and history, which he calls upon throughout his global travels in the making of the documentary.
Word On Fire programs are broadcast regularly on WGN America, Relevant Radio, CatholicTV, EWTN, the popular Word on Fire YouTube Channel, and the Word on Fire website, which offers daily blogs, articles, commentaries, and over ten years of weekly sermon podcasts. In 2010, Father Barron was the first priest to have a national show on a secular television network since the 1950s.

Father Barron received his Masters Degree in Philosophy from the Catholic University of America in Washington DC in 1982 and his doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Institut Catholique in 1992. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1986 and has been a professor of systematic theology at the nation's largest Catholic seminary, the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary since 1992. He was visiting professor at the University of Notre Dame in 2002 and at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in 2007. He was also twice scholar in residence at the Pontifical North American College at the Vatican.

In addition, Fr. Barron lectures extensively in the United States and abroad. Cardinal George calls Fr. Barron “one of the Church’s best messengers.

Fr. Barron was baptized at Queen of All Saints Basilica in Chicago and grew up at St. John of the Cross parish in Western Springs, Illinois.
WordOnFire.org - Fr. Barron's website launched in 1999 and currently draws over 1 million visitors a year from every continent. Fr. Barron posts weekly video clips, commentaries and radio sermons and offers an audio archive of over 500 homilies. Podcasts of his sermons are widely used by tens of thousands of visitors each month.
TV - EWTN (The Eternal Word Television Network) and CatholicTV broadcasts Fr. Barron's DVDs to a worldwide audience of over 150 million people.
Radio - Since 1999, Fr. Barron's weekly Word on Fire program has been broadcast in Chicago (WGN) and throughout the country (Relevant Radio - 950 AM Chicago) to 28 million listeners in 17 states. Fr. Barron also is a regular commentator on the "Busted Halo Show" on the Sirius satellite radio network based in New York.
DVDs - Fr. Barron's DVDs are used as powerful faith formation tools in universities, schools, churches and homes around the country. The series includes Seven Deadly Sins, Seven Lively Virtues; Faith Clips; Conversion: Following the Call of Christ; and Untold Blessing: Three Paths to Holiness.
YouTube - With over 180 online video commentaries by Fr. Barron, over 1 million viewers worldwide have made him the most popular of any evangelist on YouTube. These frequent, high-quality productions include brief and lively theological reviews of contemporary culture, including movies such as No Country for Old Men, Apocalypto, and The Departed, a three-part critical review of Christopher Hitchen's book God is Not Great, The Discovery Channel's The Jesus Tomb, the HBO series "The Sopranos", "Rome" and more.
Missions - MISSION CHICAGO features evangelization lectures by Fr. Barron at the behest of Cardinal George. These special missions and presentations throughout the Archdiocese are centered in downtown Chicago and attract business, civic, and cultural leaders.
Books - His numerous books and essays serve as critical educational and inspirational tools for seminarians, priests, parishioners and young people worldwide. His published works are also central to the numerous retreats, workshop and talks that he leads around the country.
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Books by Robert Barron

The Strangest Way: Walking the Christian Path

And Now I See . . .: A Theology of Transformation

The Priority of Christ: Toward a Postliberal Catholicism

Heaven in Stone and Glass: Experiencing the Spirituality of the Great Cathedrals

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Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith

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