When and if I find myself with more time, Vox Nova readers may discover my growing appreciation for Father Robert Barron. Many know Father Barron as the Youtube priest who engages issues cultural, theological, political, economic etc. from a Catholic perspective in short 5 to 8 minute clips. Most theologians cringe when someone tries to do a 5-minute spot on the Trinity, but Father Barron knows the tradition inside-out, never (in my experience) falls into theological oversimplification or caricature, and communicates well. I breathe easy knowing people get their catechesis from Father Barron. (Incidentally, part of my motivation for promoting Father Barron here is the disturbing news that RealCatholicTV, featuring Michael Voris, is the most watched Catholic source on Youtube. The sooner Voris loses that distinction, the better for the Church.)
Beyond his Youtube apostolate, Father Barron is a busy man. He is a professor of theology at Mundelein, is in the midst of a huge production known as the Catholicism project (check out the trailer) and is the author of several first-rate books. His short work Eucharist is the single best resource I’ve encountered for adult catechesis in that area, and I’ve spent the last three years reading in that area. I would also recommend The Priority of Christ, his most academic work, for those looking for something meatier.
Of course, as a priest, Father Barron also gives the occasional homily. It is my preference to get my homilies at my parish. St. Basil’s in Toronto features solid preaching, so I have no concerns in that area. But even if I did, I get nervous about the kind of tribalism that can emerge when people feel that they must replace aspects proper to parish life with e-substitutes. As such, I was never one for listening to homilies online. Nevertheless, as a father of two small boys, the quality of preaching at my home parish is, in many instances, quite immaterial. I am so busy trying to herd cats during Mass, that many a homily goes by unheard. On such days I have taken to tuning in to Father Barron’s homilies over at www.wordonfire.org.
And this got me thinking: what are the best homilies available online? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Brett Salkeld is a doctoral student in theology at Regis College in Toronto. He is a father of two (so far) and husband of one.
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