Catholicism

By: Robert Barron

Narrated by: Robert Barron

Length: 8 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's Summary

Fr. Robert Barron's comprehensive work goes straight to the core of the Catholic faith. He first examines the foundations of Christ's incarnation, life and ministry, and then works through the essentials of the Catholic tradition: from sacraments, worship and prayer, to Mary and the saints, and on to salvation, heaven and hell. Throughout this epic journey, Fr. Barron uses art, literature, personal stories, Scripture, theology, philosophy and history to present a complete picture of the Church to the world.

©2012 Robert Barron (P)2012 Franciscan Media

Critic Reviews

"Clarity, intelligence, passion and elegance...Father Barron brings all these gifts to bear in this extraordinary reflection on the Catholic faith." (Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap., Archbishop of Philadelphia)

Beautiful Journey!

It's almost always better to listen to an author reading his own book than to listen to a narrator who didn't write the book - Catholicism is one of those. Father Barron's own voice provides his own interpretation of the intent of each word - and it is a WONDERFUL listen!

I have the video series and the audiobook covers the same points as the videos, minus the lush visuals, but containing all the same clarity and focus.

The book is filled with apologiae - Biblical references, early Church Fathers -the Church speaks for herself from twenty centuries and she's still saying the same things she's always said. She's still true to the Bridegroom.

Fr Barron is a great gift to the laity in our time, after so many years of muddled thinking and murky teachings - here is a firm voice of clarity and truth - but also kindness.

No false ecumenism, no watering down of the faith passed on to us from the Apostles, but no snarky jabs at those who have been kept away from the Catholic Church by culture, by misunderstandings or even by other Catholics.

Here is uncompromising truth. Thanks be to GOD!

26 of 26 people found this review helpful

Father Barron is a compeling author and reader

What made the experience of listening to Catholicism the most enjoyable?

Father Robert Barron reads with style his own book which gives new insights to wake up a person's faith. Not just a standard catechism although it is truly authentic, but it is a fresh and compelling view of what Catholicism is and is not. The little pictures and stories collected here bring faith to life, presenting a real life picture of a startling, radical religion that is Catholicism.

What about Robert Barron’s performance did you like?

Father Barron is a good reader and clearly believes what he has written and now reads. The tone is enthusiastic without false excitement, honest and refreshing.

Any additional comments?

If you want to really think out your faith, this is a great place to start.

19 of 19 people found this review helpful

Love Shines Throughout

Where does Catholicism rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Catholicism by Father Robert Barron is an exceptional nonfiction audiobook. Written and read by the author, I was struck by the sincere and loving text and inviting narration. Other reviewers have noted the contents very well and its relationship to the DVD series. If a listener would like to hear why Roman Catholicism continues to capture the hearts and minds of people today despite the glaring and truly sad headlines of these past years, this is an excellent place to start. The reality of wrongs is not minimized, but the strength of love between God and man shines brighter. Highly recommended.

11 of 11 people found this review helpful

An excellent overview

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This brief book very effectively overviews Catholicism and it core beliefs. Father Barron is an excellent writer and narrator, who passionately describes how Catholicism differs from other religions, especially with regard to the Trinity, Transubstantiation, and its Hierarchy.

10 of 10 people found this review helpful

Excellent material - well read

Fr Barron wrote a very engaging and informing work. It is a combination of history and apologetics with brief areas of chatechesis and philosophy - but never dry or dull. He covers complex topics in very straightforward ways, always bringing in very colorful analogies and engaging stories.

10 of 10 people found this review helpful

Catholic and proud!

If you aren't able to catch Father Barron's incredible TV series at a PBS station or a Catholic church near you, this is the next best thing. The good Father walks the listener step-by-step through Catholic doctrine and history in an insightful and non-threatening way that still manages to respect the listener's intelligence. Particularly good are the discussions of Jesus' identity, why Catholics honor Mary and the saints, why Sts. Peter and Paul are "indispensable". I strongly recommend this book for Catholics who want to know more about the faith, and for non-Catholics who want to hear "the other side of the story".

19 of 20 people found this review helpful

Articulate and Inspired!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is the text of the PBS DVD series by the same title, which was filmed around the world at the various locations mentioned in this book. I highly recommend both. Both his narration and the content in this book are excellent. Fr. Robert Barron's insights and obvious gifts as a teacher come through to create an excellent summary that is bound to inspire Catholics and non-Catholics alike, and in the end provide a more accurate and truer idea of what it is to be Catholic, and what the Catholic faith actually is. He communicates concepts that can be difficult to understand and does this by using all manner of tools. His explanation is perfect for our generation, being both modern in its insights but true to the traditions and teachings of the faith. His presentation is articulate, inspired and authentic. It is not simply history, nor catechesis, nor scripture, nor tradition, but the totality of human expression and experience that he blends with such dexterity so as to paint a picture, in the end, of our Faith. He acknowledges there have been mistakes and sin committed by those within the Church at times, which do not make the teachings of Christ, nor His claims about His identity, any less true, and confirms that since Jesus' ministry, He has surrounded himself with sinners, who strive to become more like Him. God has worked and continues to work with imperfect human beings to ultimately bring about His plan. I listened, and re-listened to portions of this, took notes and find still that it speaks to the heart of the greatness of God, and His radical and persistent attempts to reveal Himself to us. Highly recommended.

17 of 18 people found this review helpful

Wide as a lake, but only an inch deep

Fr. Barron does a phenomenal job here, as he dose with the TV series. The Catholic Religion is something you can study for a life time and still not know all of it. Fr. Barron does a great job of covering a wide variety of topics, but due to the amount of space he has can only go so deep into each topic. For example, when he speaks of the saints, There are hundreds or maybe thousands of recognized saints, but he only has time for a brief biography of four saints: Sts Edith Stein, Therese of Lisieux,Katharine Drexel, and Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. I recommend this for anyone who is not Catholic and wants to learn more about the faith or is Catholic and wants to dig deeper.

26 of 29 people found this review helpful

Great book

Very insightful and engaging. Fr. Barron is obviously very articulate and covers the topic so anyone can understand and enjoy.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

I Feel Very Rich to Be Catholic

I'm a big fan of Fr. Barron's and enjoy his insights and intelligence. Although I missed the lush images that go along with his fine narration in the DVD series of the same name, I still truly apprciated this great work. What a monumental task and one I hope he continues in other series.

11 of 13 people found this review helpful

Does what it says on the tin!

If anyone ever wants to know exactly what Catholics believe and why then the easiest thing to do is read this book. It is as simple as that. Fr Robert Barron is a Catholic phenomenon who has been recognised by his superiors in the Church as having a gift for communicating complex Catholic theology and factual history in an honest and accessible way. The driving force for that honesty and accessibility is his love for God and his enthusiasm in his faith. He literally sings his faith to the world through his writing and broadcasting. For Catholics this is a "must have" book. It has been adopted by RCIA groups in Catholic dioceses the world over. For those who are curious about Catholicism and want to know why Catholic believe what they do, then you can do no better than read this luminous work. The audible version is all the more awesome because Fr Robert narrates it himself and his love and enthusiam burst out of every chapter.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Informative content yet told as to an individual

Where does Catholicism rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

As I rediscover my faith, this has been an excellent story book rather than text book. It provides information you will be looking for but in a kinder way than some less gifted priests may deliver the same information with an "or else" tagged onto the end.

What other book might you compare Catholicism to, and why?

I have listened to a few Books by James Martin SJ, I would recommend his book Jesus: A Pilgrimage if you enjoyed this book and vice versa.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The latter chapters on the Church's views of Heaven, Purgatory and Hell which has become far more kind over the last few decades. It makes a reasonable case for Purgatory outlining the shortcomings of this within the Biblical sense.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

NO, too much to take in. In truth, I will have to listen to it again and perhaps again to fully embrace and understand all that was said.

Any additional comments?

I have read up on the author and he appears to be a safe pair of hands with whom we can trust as it applies to his understanding and approach to passing on his knowledge. For those like me who perhaps have lost their way, and even those who would like an introduction to the Catholic Faith, this is a worthy read. Just as I have read books on Islam and Buddhism, it is one of those friendly inviting books rather than a dictatorial book that will turn you off within the first few pages.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Quite good. Especially the second half

If you could sum up Catholicism in three words, what would they be?

Deep, valuable, nourishing

Any additional comments?

Generally, sound teaching on a spiritual level. Especially the second half where the author was bringing the examples of the Saints of the Church moved me and helped me a lot

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Fantastic Book For Anyone Wishing To Learn More

Would you listen to Catholicism again? Why?

It's a fantastically detailed book without being so complex you can no longer understand it. You learn more about the faith without it being complicated or overly simplified. It's written and read in a fantastic way and each time you listen to it you learn something new.

What did you like best about this story?

The detail and honesty of the writing. It was very informative.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes definitely.

A Struggling Catholics Primer on Faith

As a Catholic who knew nothing of the Faith, I am indebted to Bishop Barron for his work in evangelisation. Without him I may have never begun my journey back to Roman Catholicism.

Note well: The title is misleading

What would have made Catholicism better?

A witness to the Catholic Faith, what used to be known as Catholicism .. not now-Bishop Barron's own Private Idaho type of Hollywood Screen Shot travels through a (dumbed-down) version of Sir Kenneth Clark's Civilisation. A nice TV mini-series, even a rather well packaged and presented one, indeed a jolly travelogue ramble through some remarkably well-maintained ruins. But a sort of unreasonable - everyone, or almost everyone, goes to heaven - jamboree mirage .. it's just that Catholics have many nicer old places to hang about in (if they so please).

Would you ever listen to anything by Robert Barron again?

Probably not, though he is rather difficult to avoid.

What didn’t you like about Robert Barron’s performance?

The smarm. Unlike the classic presentations by Fulton Sheen, there is no real bite .. just an almost constant grinning-voice-over welcome. Whatever else this might be, it certainly isn't Catholicism.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Catholicism?

I could be unkind and say all of them, but I'll resist; it is worthy the listen .. and a view .. only don't mistake it for the Real Thing.

Any additional comments?

It is well present - especially for today's seemingly endless busy snatch-and-go (majority) spirituality. While mostly comforting, or entrancing - maybe even helpful, if you want a fashion magazine to flick through not the gritty reality of taking up your cross and following the Pioneer of our Faith. But do not be mistaken, Bsp Barron does not present the Catholic Faith, not even in his personal taste of Post-Vatican-II church persona; however, if you truly desire to know Catholicism as the Faith, go to the titles not for sale on sites like this one .. e.g. Tumblar House,Tan Books, Sheed And Ward (currently with Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group) .. etc ... Or ask Audible to commission them in audio format.

Very well developed and performed

As a person of no religion considering conversion I found this book informative, easy to understand and quite compelling.

Thought provoking and educational

Although I am a lifelong Catholic I still found this thought provoking and educational. Really enjoyed this book.