Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith [Hardcover]

Robert Barron (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 6, 2011

“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 hopes that you might be transformed by its power.” –Father Robert Barron
 
What is Catholicism? A 2,000 living tradition? A worldview? A way of life? A relationship? A mystery? In Catholicism Father Robert Barron examines all these questions and more, seeking to capture the body, heart and mind of the Catholic faith.

Starting from the essential foundation of Jesus Christ’s incarnation, life, and teaching, Father Barron moves through the defining elements of Catholicism – from sacraments, worship, and prayer, to Mary, the Apostles, and Saints, to grace, salvation, heaven, and hell – using his distinct and dynamic grasp of art, literature, architecture, personal stories, Scripture, theology, philosophy, and history to present the Church to the world.

Paired with his documentary film series of the same title, Catholicism is an intimate journey, capturing “The Catholic Thing” in all its depth and beauty. Eclectic, unique, and inspiring, Father Barron brings the faith to life for a new generation, in a style that is both faithful to timeless truths, while simultaneously speaking in the language of contemporary life.

Includes over 100 black and white and color photos.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Clarity, intelligence, passion and elegance – these are the marks of a writer in top form, and Father Barron brings all these gifts to bear in this extraordinary reflection on the Catholic faith. If you read one book this year on what Catholics believe and why, this is the book to read – and to share with others.” –Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap, Archbishop of Denver

“Father Robert Barron’s Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith takes a path less traveled in leading us to explore the faith through stories, biographies, and images. In these pages, we meet the “Word made Flesh” not only in theological formulations, but also in saints and poets, cathedrals and chants, priests and prophets. What makes Catholicism so compelling are the ways in which Father Barron shows how the Incarnation goes on in the true, the good, and the beautiful.” – Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New York
 
“Catholicism is one of the most significant efforts ever to advance what Pope John Paul II called ‘The New Evangelization.’” –George Weigel, author of Witness to Hope and The End and the Beginning
 
“Prepare yourself for an entrancing tour of the many facets of Catholicism.  From Her art to Her architecture, Her theological riches, to the inspired personalities that have filled Her pews, the Catholic Church is laid bare by a priest who is more than up to the task. Like the Faith it seeks to capture, it is a journey that will leave you full – and then hungering for more.” –Raymond Arroyo, New York Times Bestselling Author of Mother Angelica and host of EWTN's The World Over Live
 
“Father Robert Barron is a brilliant academic, a popular writer, a seeker and a seer. In Catholicism he illuminates truths that have the power to set us free. It will be a benchmark book for years to come.” –Michael Leach, author of Why Stay Catholic?
 
“When Father Barron is talking, I can't stop listening. Whatever he writes, I can't put down unfinished. He loves the people he addresses. He writes about what matters to us. To read him is to be loved in word after word. In these pages, heart speaks to heart.” –Mike Aquilina, co-author of The Mass: The Glory, the Mystery, the Tradition

“Father Robert Barron’s great gift is to wed intellectual depth with clarity and vividness of expression. His Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith is a superb exploration of the Catholic vision that seamlessly unites theological reflection and masterpieces of architecture and art. The story he tells comes truly alive in his portraits of concrete men and women who, in every age, have lived the journey of faith to the full. –”Rev. Robert Imbelli is Associate Professor of Theology at Boston College

About the Author

FATHER ROBERT BARRON is an acclaimed author, speaker, and theologian, and the founder of the international media ministry Word On Fire. Through television, radio, podcasts, his blog, and YouTube videos he pursues the simple but revolutionary mission of evangelizing the culture. Additionally, Father Barron is the Francis Cardinal George Chair of Faith and Culture at Mundelein Seminary, and the creator and host of Catholicism, a groundbreaking ten-part documentary series and study program about the Catholic Faith. For more information visit www.wordonfire.org.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Image (September 6, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307720519
• ISBN-13: 978-0307720511
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 1.1 x 9.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (138 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,423 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > History
  • #12 in Books > History > World > Religious > General
  • #70 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Catholicism

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

243 of 246 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The best single-volume introduction to Catholicism September 6, 2011

By Brandon Vogt

Format:Hardcover

When defining Catholicism, many first turn to its unique practices and characters--the Mass, the sacraments, Mary, priests, and the Pope. Others point to its intellectual traits--its distinctive apologetics, theology, and philosophy.

In his new book, Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith (Image, hardcover, 304 pages), Fr. Robert Barron explores these typical characteristics but doesn't stop there. He looks through many more lenses to reveal the core of Catholicism.

Barron is not just concerned with what's good and true about the Catholic tradition but also what's beautiful. The Catholic faith is not just a matter of the mind and the soul but of the body and the senses. Therefore if we want to fully understand "the Catholic thing", we need to gaze on art, history, culture, music, literature, and architecture:

"In order to grasp (Catholicism) more fully, we have to read the Gospels, the Epistles of Paul, the Confessions of St. Augustine, the Summa Theologiae of Thomas Aquinas, The Divine Comedy of Dante, Saint John of the Cross' Ascent of Mount Carmel, The Story of a Soul of Therese of Lisieux, among many other texts. But we also have to look and listen.

We must consult the Cathedral of Chartres, the Sainte-Chapelle, the Arena Chapel, the Sistine Chapel ceiling, Bernini's Ecstasy of Saint Teresa; the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Grunewald's Crucifixion in the Isenheim Altarpiece, the soaring melodies of Gregorian chant, the Masses of Mozart, and the motets of Palestrina."

In his Catholicism book, as well as in his epic ten-part film series with the same name, that's exactly what Barron does.... Over the last five years he's traveled to more than fifty locations from Rome to Jerusalem to India to Poland to highlight the Catholic tradition in all of its splendor, richness, texture, and genius. The film series will debut in October on PBS stations across the country, but the Catholicism book will be available in September.

To be blunt, this is simply the best book on Catholicism I've ever read. And I've read a lot of them. Without hyperbole, I can say that this will now be the first book I'll recommend to anyone exploring the Catholic faith.

Barron is a systematic theologian at heart, and Catholicism presents a complete tapestry of God and his Church. The book touches upon every facet of Catholicism--Jesus, the apostles, Mary, the Church, the saints, prayer, the sacraments, and more.

The content in the book aligns very closely with the scripts from the film series. In fact the book devotes one chapter to each episode in the series. But since "the medium is the message", the book communicates Barron's content differently than the documentary does.

For instance, one of the most complex chapters concerns the existence and character of God. It's titled "That Than Which Nothing Greater Can Be Thought", an allusion to St. Anselm's famous ontological argument. In the film series, Barron's dense philosophical arguments can be tough to track. Moving fast they can fade behind the stunning visuals. But the text in the book makes it easy to read slowly and grasp each concept before moving on (it also lets you flip back if you want a refresher.)

On the other hand, having seen large chunks of the film series, the book can't compete with the film's astonishing images and music. The book does include more than one hundred black-and-white photos along with an eight-page color insert. But in the film, Barron's words are illumined as you see the very places, culture, and artwork he is speaking about.

When he explains the Incarnation, for example, he doesn't just present his image of a strange baby King who thwarts the violent Roman Empire--he stands at the site of the Nativity. He doesn't just describe the vibrant celebration of the Ugandan martyrs--he takes you to Africa so you can see the tribal excitement for yourself. So while the book makes it easier to digest the more complex material, it does lack the visual and audible flair of the film series.

Those familiar with Fr. Barron's other materials will quickly recognize his favorite themes in this book. For instance, the "loop of grace" and the non-violent, non-competitive nature of God are seen throughout. And his chapter on the saints, one of the book's most exhilarating, recalls material from The Priority of Christ.

In this chapter he profiles four holy women--a not so subtle reply to those who accuse the Church of being anti-feminist. Therese of Lisieux, Katherine Drexel, Edith Stein, and Mother Teresa exemplify what Barron calls "elevated virtue" and they let us taste the wildly diverse community of saints.

Barron also applies his characteristic intelligence and artistry to the peculiar teachings of Jesus, the missionary zeal of Peter and Paul, the central importance of Mary, the riches of Catholic spirituality, and even death, judgment, heaven, and hell.

Catholicism closes with a grand crescendo, climbing and trumpeting toward one of the most stirring conclusions I've ever read. The whole book flows similarly to Dante's Divine Comedy. When you finish Catholicism, just like finishing Dante's Paradiso, your soul is left soaring.

Ultimately, Catholicism stands as Barron's magnum opus, the culmination of his life's work so far. Which means it's the best work from one of the world's best theologians, a monumental gift to the Church. RCIA programs across the country should adopt the book as a foundational text, and through Word on Fire's own study program, parishes should use the film series and book to reignite the passion of their flock.

One reviewer described the book and film series as "the most vivid catechism ever created." And I think he's right. This will go down as the greatest catechetical tool of our generation, the premier, single-volume book on Catholicism.

In a culture hungry for truth, Catholicism offers answers. To people searching for goodness, it provides the path toward sainthood. In a world desperate for beauty, this book ravishes.

If you're a Catholic, get this book and discover the radiance of your faith.

If you're not a Catholic, get this book and glimpse the Church's splendor, maybe for the first time.

If you know a young person, an RCIA candidate, or a fallen away Catholic burned out by religion, let this book spark new wonder.

Whoever you are, and for whoever you know, buy this book. I simply can't give it a higher recommendation. Read more ›

65 of 66 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Digging Deep into the Treasure of Catholic Thought September 6, 2011

By E. G. Lewis

Format:Hardcover

In his book, Catholicism -- A Journey to the Heart of Faith, Fr. Robert Barron has dug deep into the treasure of Catholic thought. He articulates the Catholic approach and perspective to Christianity extremely well, explaining the multitude of ways...art and architecture, liturgical practices, sacraments and saints, great theologians, and so on that can lead us to an understanding of God.

No book on Catholicism would be complete without a discussion of the two uniquely Catholic concepts: The Mass and Mary. Each has a full chapter devoted to it. He follows the steps, symbolism and meaning of the Mass in great detail and addresses what he calls fallen mankind's solitary boast, Mary, the Mother of God.

There are two recurring themes in the book, both of which I found to be insightful. The first of these is the noncompetitive nature God. On the surface, simple logic leads one to realize that God has no reason to be jealous of the feeble little creatures He created. However, the idea is seldom articulated as well as Father Barron has done. The second idea is equally subtle. So much so, in fact, that it has been reduced to the trite expression, "God is love." We so often say it, but never plumb the depth of its meaning and implications. I also enjoyed his discussion of the Communion of Saints and the individuals he chose to illustrate God's hand working in human lives.

In the first chapter Barron says that he hasn't written "a plodding theological study" and the rest of the book delivers on that promise. Though Catholicism draws from the great reservoir of Catholic theological writings, it never becomes dry and inaccessible. I highly recommend this interesting and educational book to Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

47 of 48 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Challenging Survey Course of Catholicism September 22, 2011

By Anne Gomes

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Fr Barron's work is a masterpiece. It is accessible for someone looking to understand the historic Catholic Church better. It is inspirational for someone looking at the Catholic Church seriously, whether they are already Catholic or considering a journey to the Catholic Church. More than those, it is an excellent outline for a lifetime of study of the fullness of the Christian faith and the Church founded by Jesus.
The book documents the foundations, Traditions, traditions, works, trials and history of the Catholic Church in the whole world. Fr Barron presents an excellent introduction to classical education to a world that is technically educated, but culturally illiterate, educated by mediocre music and tv sitcoms.
If you read this book, chapter by chapter and delve into the original sources for each of the subjects Fr Barron presents, you will come out a better educated, analytical person with a broad understanding of western and eastern civilization, history and philosophy, art and architecture as well as the basics of the Catholic faith.
Excellent resource for RCIA, Church History, Western Civilization, Philosophy and art.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful introduction to Christianity, from the Catholic perspective November 30, 2011

By David Withun

Format:Hardcover

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. Read more ›