Bishop Barron Celebrates 40th Priestly Anniversary With Bob Dylan Tribute| National Catholic Register

Bishop Robert Barron is known for his theological wisdom and his sharp cultural commentary, but jamming folk singer? 

In a rare video tribute, Bishop Barron marked his own 40th anniversary of priestly ministry by honoring the 85th birthday of Bob Dylan. 

When Bishop Robert Barron was ordained to the priesthood on May 24, 1986, he wasn’t just embarking on a life of ministry; he was sharing a birthday with one of his greatest cultural heroes. The video showcases his talent not only has a guitarist, but also his ability to play harmonica and sing, even with close-up shots. 

The shepherd of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, bypassed the songwriter’s obvious, standard radio hits. Instead, he opted for a deep-cut favorite from the 1975 masterpiece Blood on the Tracks called You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go — a song that juxtaposes heartbreak with references to the French symbolist poets Verlaine and Rimbaud. Leave it to Bishop Barron to turn a Dylan tribute into a mini-masterclass on 19th-century French literature.

Of course, Dylan’s relationship with faith has always been a massive talking point for believers, especially with songs like Knocking on Heaven’s Door.

Personally, my favorite Dylan song has always been, I Shall Be Released, with the very best version performed by The Band with vocals by Richard Manuel. There are versions on YouTube, but perhaps by the end of this article, we’ll be close enough where you can come over and enjoy the live version currently playing on my record player. This verse here is reminiscent of Good Friday:

Now yonder stands a man in this lonely crowd

A man who swears he’s not to blame

And all day long I hear him shouting so loud

Just crying out that he was framed

Decades before Bishop Barron’s video, Pope John Paul II famously engaged with the poet, playing in front of a huge Catholic crowd with 300,00 young people gathered for the Eucharistic Congress in Bologna Italy in 1997. The Pope took the opportunity to touch upon some of the religious undertones of Dylan’s music. Considering the lyrics of Blowin’ in the Wind that begins with: How many roads must a man walk down, before he knows he’s a man, the Polish Pope told the audience: 

“A representative of yours has just said on your behalf that the answer to the questions of your life ‘is blowing in the wind.’ It is true! But not in the wind which blows everything away in empty whirls, but the wind which is the breath and voice of the Spirit, a voice that calls and says: ‘Come!’”

Pope John Paul II continued:

“You asked me: How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man? I answer you: One! There is only one road for man, and it is Christ, who said: ‘I am the Way.’ He is the road of truth, the way of life.”

While the verdict on Dylan’s personal theology remains a mystery to many, his life’s work has consistently led listeners to contemplate the good, the true and the beautiful. The songwriter himself confirmed this enduring spiritual streak in a rare 2022 interview with The Wall Street Journal, stating, “I’m a religious person.” He went on to share details of his daily Bible reading, his prayer life, and even his habit of lighting candles and praying to the saints when visiting churches.

Whether navigating his famous “Gospel era” or lacing secular tracks with heavy scriptural imagery, Dylan’s catalogue inevitably begs the question of the spiritual life. And with Bishop Barron’s tribute already clearing 65,000 views, the prelate is proving once again that the quickest path to modern hearts often winds directly through the landscape of American culture.

Happy birthday to Bob Dylan, and a very happy anniversary to Bishop Barron, who offers such light to a secular culture. For those who would like to learn the lyrics and play along, here they are: 

I’ve seen love go by my door 

It’s never been this close before 

It’s never been so easy or so slow 

Been shooting in the dark too long 

When something’s not right, it’s wrong 

You’re gonna make me lonesome when you go

Purple clover, Queen Anne’s lace 

Crimson hair across your face 

You could make me cry if you don’t know 

Can’t remember what I was thinking of 

You might be spoiling me too much, love 

You’re gonna make me lonesome when you go

Dragon clouds so high above 

I’ve only known callous love 

It always hits me from below 

This time around it’s more correct 

It’s right on target, it’s so direct 

You’re gonna make me lonesome when you go

Flowers on the hillside blooming crazy 

Talking back and forth in rhyme 

Blue river running slow and lazy 

I could stay with you forever 

Never realize the time

Situations have ended sad 

Relationships have all been bad 

Mine have been like Verlaine and Rimbaud 

There’s no way that I can compare 

All those scenes to this affair 

You’re gonna make me lonesome when you go

Gonna make me wonder what I’m doing 

Staying far behind without you 

Gonna make me wonder what I’m saying 

Gonna make me give myself a good talking-to

When I look for you in Honolulu 

San Francisco, Ashtabula 

You’re gonna have to leave me now, I know 

But I’ll see you in the sky above 

In the tall grass, in the ones I love 

You’re gonna make me lonesome when you go.