The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture WOF 528: The Early Days w/ Bishop Barron & Fr. Steve (pt. 2)
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Feb 9, 2026 
Fr. Steve Grunow, CEO who steers Word on Fire strategy, and Bishop Robert Barron, theologian and media evangelist, reflect on the ministry's patron saints and formative influences. They discuss Thomas Aquinas' inspiration, restoring Catholic intellectual beauty, surprising pilgrimage moments, lessons in evangelization, and plans for a priestly community and evangelization centers.
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Aquinas Sparked A Vocation
- Robert Barron traced his vocation back to an early encounter with Thomas Aquinas that ignited his intellectual curiosity.
- That experience led him to study Aquinas deeply and shaped his priestly and academic life.
Restore Beauty And Intellect
- Robert Barron emphasizes that Catholicism should be both beautiful and intellectually serious.
- Word on Fire was founded to restore beauty and the intellectual tradition of the faith.
Train-Station Encounter With A 'Little Flower'
- Robert Barron recounts a late-night train-station encounter in Tübingen where a mysterious girl helped them find a hotel.
- He interprets the event as an experience of St. Thérèse's intercession that drew him deeper into her writings.
