What is beauty? Is beauty undefinable and entirely relativistic? Or is beauty an objective reality, backed by reason and understanding? How do Catholics define beauty, and how has Catholic Church evangelized through beauty over the centuries? In this episode of the Word On Fire Show, Bishop Barron answers these questions and more about the transcendental nature of beauty. The listener question comes from Argentina and wonders how art might be used in evangelization?
Also, be sure to take advantage of our Word on Fire Show listener sale! ENTER PROMO CODE: DAVID to save $10 on our newest film at DavidTheKing.com
Topics Discussed
- 0:05 – Intro, a Cardinal visits and the sun eclipses
- 4:00 – Why has Bishop Barron considered beauty the privileged route of evangelization?
- 8:25 – What is beauty?
- 10:55 – What three things combine to make something beautiful?
- 15:55 – Why do some people disagree about a masterpiece being beautiful?
- 19:20 – How can someone be transformed by beauty?
- 24:14 – What was a profound moment of beauty in Bishop Barron’s life?
- 25:43 – Question from listener: How can the arts aid in evangelization?
Bonus Resources
- Study Program
- Articles
- “A Strategy for the New Evangelization” (Bishop Barron)
- “The New Evangelization and Seminaries” (Bishop Barron)
- “Effective Evangelization Commences with Joy” (Bishop Barron)
- “Practical Strategies of the New Evangelization” (Bishop Barron)
- Videos
- Books
- The Priority of Christ: Toward a Postliberal Catholicism by Bishop Robert Barron
- Word on Fire: Proclaiming the Power of Christ by Bishop Robert Barron
- Seeds of the Word: Finding God in the Culture by Bishop Robert Barron
- Bridging the Great Divide by Bishop Robert Barron
- Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
- Websites