Modern movies are often
unsuitable for younger family members, no matter what the religious affiliation
of their parents. The following article lists films which are suitable for any
children, but which will be especially meaningful for young Catholics, as well
as the more mature members of the family.
The Sound of Music (1965)
After entering the convent, Maria
(Julie Andrews), a young nun from Salzburg, discovers she is not suited for the
religious life after all. She is assigned to be governess to seven children of
a Austrian naval officer (Christopher Plummer), who is a widower. The presence
of appealing children and memorable music make this movie a family favorite.
Jesus of Nazareth (1977)
This epic presentation tells the
story of the life of Jesus Christ in a reverent and engrossing manner. It
boasts an international all-star cast headed by Robert Powell, Ann Bancroft and
Olivia Hussey, as well as beautiful music and superb cinematography. Because of
the film's length, over 6 hours, it will provide several evenings of
outstanding entertainment for families with children.
Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)
Teens will love this film version
of the Broadway play, because it speaks their language. It is the musical
depiction of the last few weeks of Christ's life. The memorable music score is
by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and costumes are a mixture of ancient Israeli garb and
the hippie style of the 1960s. It's sure to be a hit with the youngsters, and
even the dyed-in-the-wool traditionalists may find their toes tapping along to
the music.
The Ten Commandments (1956)
This biblical epic film was
directed by the masterful Cecil B. DeMille. It has an all-star cast featuring
Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner. It follows the life of Moses from the time he
was discovered as a baby in a basket in the Nile's rushes. Later, viewers watch
as he leads the Israelites out of Egypt, receives the Ten Commandments from
God, and finally as he leads his people to the Promised Land. Shot in wide
screen Technicolor, this 219-minute film is one of the most impressive family
members will ever see.
Ben Hur (1959)
Another epic depicting biblical
times, this movie won 11 Oscars, a record number up until that date. With a
cast of thousands, it stars Charlton Heston as Judah Ben Hur, a Jewish prince
who became a slave when the Romans invaded Israel. Through the story, he
struggles against his childhood friend Massala, an ambitious Roman tribune. The
story of Jesus is woven into the main plot in a reverent and inspirational
manner. The three-and-a-half-hour film features the legendary chariot race
between Heston and his adversary.
Pope John Paul II (1984)
The film provides a front row
seat to modern history as it follows Karol Wojtyla from his childhood in Poland
through his sojourn as the two hundred and sixty-fifth Supreme Pontiff of the
Roman Catholic Church. Filmed on location in Poland and Rome with close
collaboration of Vatican officials, it relates how this Pope helped reshape the
world and the Church. Masterful performances by Cary Elwes as the young
Wojtyla, and Jon Voight as the adult cleric, make this movie one that will be
long remembered.
Despite the difficulty of finding
film entertainment suitable for Catholic family viewing, there are many quality
movies available. As a beginning, check the listings on this website:
http://www.ncregister.com/info/top_100_pro_catholic_
movies/
Popcorn anyone? Happy viewing!
It is cruel and unwise to tell
anyone that he or she is going to hell. That is a judgement only God can make.
Even the ultimate destination of Judas Iscariot is uncertain. Who knows what
transpired between God and him in the last few moments of his life?
In order to answer the above
question knowledgeably, one must reflect on the nature of God.
God is perfect. He is the sum and
total of every virtue. Among other things, God is all-good, all-knowing,
all-powerful and all-just. Through His chosen people, the Jews, He sent His
only Son to teach us about Himself and save sinners from hell.
Christians are fortunate people.
Most of us have known Jesus from earliest childhood.
Consider for a moment, those
people who never had an opportunity to hear about Jesus, who never saw a Bible
or who were never reached by missionaries. I am referring to indigenous peoples
of every land, and to other early and remote societies in Africa as well as
other non-Christian societies.
Would an all-just God send these
souls to hell because they did not follow Jesus, about whom they had never
heard? Of course not. If He were to do so, He could no longer be thought of as
being all-just.
However, every society
instinctively realizes that there must be a Transcendent Being, Someone who
created the earth and the stars and who is involved in the affairs of humans.
Native North Americans worshipped the Great Spirit, Muslims adore Allah, the
Jewish people called God Yahweh, Buddhists venerate Buddha.
Jesus Himself did not make
faithfulness to him, in his human form, a criteria for attaining heaven. He
designated love as the ultimate virtue.
When a scribe asked Him which
commandment was the greatest of all, He answered,
" Hear O Israel: the Lord
our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The
second is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no
commandment greater than these." Christians believe in the Blessed
Trinity. There is three Divine Persons in one God. God the Father is God, God
the Holy Spirit is God, and God the Son (Jesus) is God. Therefore, anyone who
worships God, and tries to obey His commands is, in reality, worshipping and
obeying Jesus, as part of the Trinity.
Jesus was referring to this truth
at the Last Supper:
Philip said to him, " Lord,
show us the Father and we will be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "
Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me?
Whoever has seen me has seen the Father." John 14: 8-9
Because of the doctrine of the
Trinity, we believe that whoever worships God, by whatever name they know Him,
and does their best to follow His will, is worshipping Jesus as one of the
Persons of God. These may be called "Anonymous Christians". If they
remain faithful to their conscience, which is the Holy Spirit speaking within,
they will probably get to heaven.
They may, in fact, fare better
than those who learn about Jesus, are baptized, read the Bible, and later
reject Him and His teachings of their own free will. As mentioned above, God,
Who is all-loving is also all-merciful.
The Jesus of history and the
Jesus of faith must be confirmed to be the same person, or Christianity may be
viewed by some as a grand delusion. If the fact that Jesus actually existed
becomes doubtful, in the eyes of some people He may fall into the same category
as Santa Claus or the tooth fairy. For this reason, the study of the historical
Jesus must never be cast aside.
The writers of the Gospels were
perhaps aware of the necessity to locate Jesus within a definite historical
framework. They included many references to political figures and conditions
existing during Jesus' lifetime: "In the time of King Herod..." (Mat
2:1), "In those days, a decree went out from Emperor Augustus..."
(Luke 2:1) , and "In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius,
when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and
his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanius
ruler of Abilene, during high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas..." (Luke
3:1-2).
There are continual
archaeological digs in the Middle East and Europe as people search for more
knowledge about ancient civilizations. The date of the construction of the
pyramids in Egypt, and Stonehenge in Britain, are both estimated to be circa
2,000 B.C., well before the time of Jesus.
If it is considered to be so
important to study these ancient historical sites, should it not be more vital
to find out everything possible about Jesus of Nazareth, whom many believe to
be God Incarnate? Since the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity willingly left
the perfection of heaven to live among His creatures on earth, why would we not
want to know every detail about His sojourn among us?
Unfortunately, because of Jesus'
lifestyle and social position, there are few relics or artifacts which can be
definitely linked to Him. Many of His contemporaries viewed Him as only an
itinerant Jewish preacher. It was only after His death and resurrection that
His followers, the first Christians, became a recognizable group
However, if any of relics of
Jesus could be found and authenticated, they would be priceless. Consider the
passionate devotion and intense study centered on the Shroud of Turin, or the
centuries-old search for the legendary Holy Grail. The quest for evidence of
the historical Jesus will continue, even if only for potential wealth and fame
guaranteed to the successful seeker.
The Didache is a manual for new
Christians containing the teaching ofthe twelve Apostles. It is dated about 50
A.D. or shortly after, and was possibly the result of the First Apostolic
Council (50 A.D.) in Jerusalem.
The majority of New Testament
scholars date Mark's gospel shortly before or shortly after A.D. 70, Matthew
and Luke roughly 80-90, and John close to the end of the first century. All of
these documents are evidence not only that Jesus existed, but that He left a
deep and lasting impression on those who knew Him. The martyrdom of early
Christians who went willingly to their deaths in the Roman coliseum rather than
deny their faith, are testimonies written in blood.
The first independent account of
Jesus is that of the historian Flavius Josephus (37-100 A.D.) who wrote in his
account "Jewish Antiquities", Book 18, Chapter 3, paragraphs 1-5, :
"Now there was about this
time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of
wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He
drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was the
Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had
condemned him to the cross those that loved him at the first did not forsake
him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day as the divine prophets
had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And
the tribe of Christians, so named for him, are not extinct at this day."
The study of Jesus from an
historical perspective must and will continue. We can never learn enough about
the God-Man who loved humanity enough to enter history and secure our salvation
through His suffering and crucifixion. Compared to this quest, all other
studies of ancient sites and peoples fade into insignificance.
References:
1. The Holy Bible, NRSV.
2. New Advent
Website:
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0714.htm
The Didache
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/didache.html
