Bishop Barron Dishes Theo on Theo Von

If you didn't already know, Theo Von is an American stand-up comedian and podcast host. He has one of the most popular long form podcasts called, ‘This Past Weekend W/ Theo Von’. Known for his ‘aw shucks’  Southern charm combined with sometimes irreverent comedic timing and wit. He maintains an aura of authenticity and genuineness that breaks through on a very human level. 

For these reasons, Theo has appealed to a wide swath of viewers and this is reflected in his unusual spread of guests. He likes to interview ordinary people who come from unique backgrounds. Some are well known celebrities, most are not. In probably his most famous interview, he sat down with an Amish teen boy and what followed was one of the most fascinating and funny conversations ever. Even Bishop Barron mentioned that he had seen that episode. Spotify named 'This Past Weekend' the 4th biggest podcast globally on its platform, and it ranks among the top ten most popular podcasts in the United States.

Theo's recent one hour and fiftyone minute interview which came out on September 10 was with Roman Catholic Bishop Robert Barron. In just one day after posting it on YouTube, it has been viewed over a half million times. For those of us who know them both we were delighted but surprised to see them together. As one commenter put it, “These are my two personalities”. Hearing Theo call Bishop Barron 'dude' made it even more entertaining.

Judging by the comments, this interview introduced one of the American Church’s most articulate and educated evangelists to a vast new audience. Many of Theo Von’s regular listeners aren't Catholic and may have been turned off by common misconceptions. Much like a missionary stepping onto unfamiliar shores, Bishop Barron took advantage of a rare opportunity in this single interview to clear up myths, introduce the Theo Von world to the Catholic world of Saints, writers, art and artists, architecture, prayers and scripture. As more and more people share and view the video, he will have introduced millions to the truth of Jesus and the Catholic faith. 

He didn't just name drop, Bishop Barron took the time to weave the stories of saints and Catholic stuff showing relevance to their dialogue. He made it look easy. While he was introducing these giants of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, the producer of the show was pulling up pictures on the internet of the people and the books mentioned by the bishop..

It was like participating in a gigantic CCD class about everything but not boring or a waste of time. Instead it was interesting and edifying for all. 

Below, is a categorized list of the saints, Catholic thinkers, writers, works of literature, sacred art, architecture, practices, and other elements of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition mentioned in the interview. For nearly two hours, Bishop Barron pulled the brilliant gems out one by one, from the treasure box of our rich Catholic heritage and culture... awesome in scale and scope. 

Catholic Saints and Biblical Figures talked about by Bishop barron in the interview...

Jesus Christ: Founder of the Church; the fullness of revelation; the Way; the model of self-emptying love; the crucified and risen Lord; the “transcendent third” in marriage 

St. Paul the Apostle: “All things work together for good”; the struggle to do the good; powers and principalities; reconciliation in Christ; the spiritual body

St. Peter the Apostle: “Upon this rock I will build my Church”; the Church is not merely defending itself but advancing against the gates of hell

St. Thomas Aquinas: Medieval theologian and one of Barron’s personal heroes; God as the sheer act of existence; love as “willing the good of the other”

St. Maximilian Kolbe: Franciscan martyr who volunteered to die in place of another prisoner at Auschwitz; example of supernatural, self-sacrificing love

St. John Paul II: Helped bring Kolbe’s story to worldwide attention and canonized him

St. Augustine of Hippo: Describes sin as wandering into the “land of dissimilitude”; author of the Confessions; recognized that he was “drunk on ambition”

St. Francis of Assisi: “Brother Sun and Sister Moon”; creation forms one family because everything comes from the same Creator

St. Thérèse of Lisieux: The “Little Flower”; author of Story of a Soul; teaches the “Little Way” of choosing love in every moment

St. Ignatius of Loyola: His spirituality of detachment: accepting either success or failure, a long life or a short life, according to God’s will

St. John Henry Newman: Describes conscience as the “aboriginal vicar of Christ” in the human soul

Mary, the Mother of Jesus: Present implicitly through the Rosary and the repeated Hail Mary

Catholic Thinkers, Writers, and Churchmen...

Thomas Merton: Trappist monk, poet, spiritual writer, and major influence on Barron; prayer requires us to “take the time” and find where God is creating us here and now

Venerable Fulton J. Sheen: Bishop, teacher, writer, and pioneering Catholic radio and television evangelist; promoted the daily Holy Hour; author of Three to Get Married

G. K. Chesterton: Catholic English writer; quoted on modern humanity having lost not only its way but also its “address”—its sense of destination and purpose

J. R. R. Tolkien: Catholic author whose Nazgûl illustrate the classical Christian idea that evil is a deprivation or absence of good rather than a positive substance

Cardinal Francis George: Former archbishop of Chicago, Barron’s mentor and personal hero; described as intellectually serious and perceptive about culture and the spiritual mission of the Church

Catholic (Christian) Literature...

The Seven Storey Mountain: Thomas Merton

Story of a Soul: St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Confessions: St. Augustine

Three to Get Married: Fulton Sheen

The Lord of the Rings: J. R. R. Tolkien

Romeo and Juliet: William Shakespeare

Poetry of W. H. Auden: W. H. Auden

Bible: Book of Job, Psalms, Genesis creation account, Tower of Babel,  Romans 8:28, 2 Corinthians 5, Eph 6, The Gospels, New Testament, 

Other: The Creeds, Catholic tradition.

Sacred Art, Liturgy and Architecture...

Gothic cathedrals, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris, Notre-Dame’s rose window, Chartres Cathedral, Raphael’s Transfiguration, the crucifix, statues of St. Thérèse, liturgical vestments, Sacred chrism oil placed on the forehead during the Sacrament of Confirmation

Music and Pop Culture...

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and “Ode to Joy”, One of Barron’s heroes; Dylan’s  “Like a Rolling Stone”, Willie Nelson, “Sugar, Sugar” by the Archies

Philosophy...

Aristotle — The virtues of courage, prudence, and justice; friendship; and the “transcendent third,” something higher that two friends love together.
Plato — Presented mainly as a contrast with biblical thought. Barron rejects a spirituality that treats the body as a prison and salvation as an escape from matter.
Classical metaphysics — God as the uncaused cause, first mover, ground of being, and reason why anything exists.
Privation theory of evil — Evil is not an independently existing thing but the lack or corruption of a good that ought to be present.
Objective value — Truth, goodness, and beauty are discovered rather than invented by the individual.
Aesthetic arrest — Great beauty stops us, draws us out of ourselves, transforms us, and can send us on a kind of mission.

Other stuff Bishop Barron covered in interview...

Creation as a free gift or grace
God as the sheer act of existence
Love as willing the good of the other
Grace and supernatural virtue
Faith, hope, and charity as theological virtues
The goodness of creation and the human body
Resurrection of the body
New heavens and a new earth
Transfiguration
The Communion of Saints
Conscience as the voice or representative of Christ within
Metanoia or conversion
Detachment
The universal call to holiness
Divine providence and God’s permission of evil
Sin as disordered attachment or addiction
The Church as light, salt, and a city on a hill
Christians as ambassadors of reconciliation
The Church Militant and the gates of hell
Heaven as the beatific vision
The treasury of Christ and indulgences
Purgatory
The “transcendent third” in marriage and friendship
Catholic prayer, worship, and sacramental life
The Holy Hour
Eucharistic adoration
The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist
The Blessed Sacrament
The Rosary and the Hail Mary
Mental prayer and contemplative silence
The Liturgy of the Hours or Divine Office
Psalms and biblical canticles
Confession or the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Confirmation
Sacred chrism
The older symbolic “slap” during Confirmation
The Sign of the Cross
Liturgical prayer and preaching
Prayer of lament
Intercessory prayer
Meditation on the crucifix
Catholic institutions and historical traditions
The papacy and appointment of bishops
Apostolic nuncios
Seminaries and priestly formation
Trappist monasticism
Franciscan religious life
The Knights Templar
The Knights of Malta
Christian pilgrimage to Jerusalem
The Crusades
Vatican II
The medieval practice and later abuse of indulgences
The Eucharistic Congress
The canonization and beatification process

Phew! That sounds like a lot...but that was just the tip of the iceberg...in short, this podcast is a must watch classic.