Welcome back to the Word on Fire Show. I'm Matthew Petrusek, senior director of the Word on Fire Institute and the host of the Word on Fire Show. Thank you for joining us. We're delighted to announce that a new feature film by Bishop Robert Barron will be hitting theaters—yes, theaters—soon. The full-length documentary, entitled Heaven in Stone and Glass, draws on the collective shock and sadness the world experienced watching Paris's Cathedral of Notre-Dame burn in 2019 to explore the enduring philosophical, theological, aesthetic, moral, and evangelical significance of the great Gothic cathedrals of France. Recognizing the potential destruction of Notre-Dame—happily, it has since been restored—as much more than the loss of a historic building, Bishop Barron personally walks us through Gothicism's soaring architecture and richly detailed symbolism to explain everything from the unity and diversity of creation, the nature of the human person, the objectivity of beauty, the meaning of the incarnation, the living communion of saints, and the hope of the beatific vision, and how all of this matters more than ever for a rapidly secularizing West at risk of losing its Christian civilizational identity. Here to share the story behind the making of the film, and what he hopes audiences will take away from it, is Bishop Robert Barron. Topics Covered 00:00 | Introduction 01:24 | Bishop Barron ordains new priests 02:57 | The role of film in the early days of Word on Fire 06:04 | Connecting Heaven in Stone and Glass to Word on Fire's other films 07:26 | Why a new film on cathedrals? 09:00 | Personal origins of the new film 11:23 | Unpacking the film's title 15:18 | Explaining the full meaning of a church and cathedral 19:20 | Theological reflections within a cathedral 24:11 | Medieval times and the so-called Dark Ages 25:51 | The objective reality of beauty 28:44 | The role of the profane in the Gothic cathedrals 32:33 | Overcoming blindness through appreciation and emulation 33:36 | Evangelical opportunities for Heaven in Stone and Glass 34:56 | Listener question: How can the laity advance beauty today? 36:53 | Join the Word on Fire Institute Links: Word on Fire Institute: https://institute.wordonfire.org/ NOTE: Do you like this podcast? Become a Word on Fire IGNITE member! Word on Fire is a non-profit ministry that depends on the support of our listeners . . . like you! So become a part of this mission and join IGNITE today to become a Word on Fire insider and receive some special donor gifts for your generosity.

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