Catholic Fire

Image Source Lent is a season of  drawing  into a deeper intimacy with Jesus. Watching sacred films during Lent is one method I use to draw closer to Christ. Here are seven films I recommend watching this Lent: 1. Risen (2016) It opens in theaters on February 19, 2016. While I have yet to see this film, the reviews are wonderful! Catholic World Report reviews it as does Our Sunday Visitor and Lisa Hendey gives her endorsement.  2. Restless Heart: The Confessions of Augustine (2012) Filmed in Europe, the first full-length feature movie on Augustine uses a historic backdrop to tell the true story of one of the Church's most beloved and well-known Saints. Its message of sin, conversion, redemption is as timely today as it was in the 5th century of Augustine. It is the story of a gifted man who pursues fame and fortune without a moral compass - and the dramatic changes that occur in his soul when challenging events lead him to see the light of truth. It al...

The Letters is one film I am looking forward to watching, as I am a big fan of Blessed Mother Teresa, who will be canonized St. Teresa of Calcutta on September 5, 2016. The film will be released on December 4. Take a look at the official trailer: MOTHER TERESA, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, is considered one of the greatest humanitarians of modern times. Her selfless commitment changed hearts, lives and inspired millions throughout the world. THE LETTERS, as told through personal letters she wrote over the last 40 years of her life, reveal a troubled and vulnerable woman who grew to feel an isolation and an abandonment by God. The story is told from the point of view of a Vatican priest charged with the task of investigating acts and events following her death. He recounts her life’s work, her political oppression, her religious zeal and her unbreakable spirit. Written and directed by William Riead, THE LETTERS stars the acclaimed four-time BAFTA nominated British Actre...

1. Happy Feast of the Guardian Angels! Do you have a personal relationship with your guardian angel?  Here are five ways to develop that special relationship with your heavenly protector.  Here are seven great quotes about the guardian angels. 2. Recommended Book of the Week--  Our Lady, Undoer of Knots: A Living Novena by Marge Fenelon 3. Saint of the Week -- St. Therese of Lisieux on Love 4. A Must-See Movie: God's Mighty Servant -- Ignatius Press -- This is the amazing story of Sister Pascalina Lehnert (1894-1983) who was the personal confidant and secretary to Pope Pius XII for 40 years, when he was the Papal Nuncio in Germany, and then after for his whole Pontificate. The Pope had great confidence in her wisdom, energy and loyalty, and she became known as "the most powerful woman in the history of the Vatican." I watched this film this evening and loved it! It is in German with English or Spanish subtitles and is most appropriate for tee...

Lent is a season of  drawing  into a deeper intimacy with Jesus. Watching sacred films during Lent is one method I use to draw closer to Christ. Here are the films I recommend watching this Lent, which have served that purpose for me: 1. Babette's Feast (1987) Babette, a French Catholic woman flees to Denmark after her husband and son are killed. There, she works as a domestic servant for two aging Protestant sisters and ends up winning the lottery.  This film contains a beautiful message about God's great generosity and Jesus' total self-sacrifice as manifested through the charitable actions of Babette. 2. Les Miserables (2012) The musical version of Hugo Victor's tale of love and self-sacrifice comes to the big screen. Jean Valjean, an ex-convict, strives to build a new life of nobility and compassion, only to be pursued by the callous Inspector Javert, who doesn't intend to let Valjean escape his past. 3. Into Great Silence (2005) Direct...

This isn't your average movie... -You're late -I'm sorry about that -Since when are you paid to feel? An undercover officer, is given a specific assignment. People are having a change of heart, and his mission is to find out why. -Who leads the group? -They talk about a Father, a Son, and they also mention a woman, whom they refer to as Mother. That Mother, of course, is the Virgin Mary and the film titled 'Mary's Land' has a specific purpose. JUAN MANUEL COTELO Mary's Land, Director  "It's a movie about finding God through Our Lady.” Juan Manuel Cotelo is the director of the film. He describes it as part documentary, part fiction. In it, he interviews people, not actors, from all over the world, who actually experienced a spiritual conversion, and Our Lady played a key role in all of it. "I heard a voice that was so sweet and so motherly.” "The voice came, it was feminine, direct to me: Why are you hurting? I ...

Origin Entertainment will release a biographical film on Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (1910-97) in 2015, according to a recent Hollywood Reporter article . The producer of the film, entitled I Thirst, is the former executive producer of the television series 24; the scriptwriter co-wrote the script for the 2004 film Hotel Rwanda. The film’s producer, Tony Krantz , said that he would work in “lockstep with the Missionaries of Charity,” the religious institute Mother Teresa founded. “They should not just be a part of it but also be one of the authors,” he said. Source

The Vatican Film Library is home to some unique cinematic treasures and demonstrates that the popes have always embraced new forms of communication.

This looks great! I can't wait to see it! MARY OF NAZARETH is an epic new motion picture on the life of Mary, mother of Christ, from her childhood through the Resurrection of Jesus. This full length feature film about Our Lady, shot in English in High Definition, was filmed in Europe in very authentic locales with outstanding cinematography, a strong cast, and a majestic music score. Actress Alissa Jung gives a very beautiful, compelling and inspired portrayal of Mary. Pope Benedict XVI had the opportunity to screen this film in the Apostolic Palace, and was touched by the portrayal of Mary so vividly captured on film. MARY OF NAZARETH will become available for sponsored screenings in theaters through Ignatius Press and Carmel Communications beginning September 8, 2013. Don't miss your chance to bring the life of the Mother of Christ to a theater in your town during this limited engagement! For more information: screenings@carmelcommunications.com or call Carmel Comm...

August 15, 2013. (Romereports.com) Every year, an all across the world, millions of people visit sactuaries dedicated to Our Lady. Behind each pilgrim there's a story. A documentary “Fiction or Reality” shares the testimonies of people that have come back to the Catholic faith, after experiencing a type of intervention from the Mother of Christ.   “I heard this voice that sounded so sweet, so... motherly. She told me, 'My son, it's enough. Are you ready to come back home?'” JUAN MANUEL COTELO Producer “Fiction or Reality” “The movie is based on that. The easiest and most nurturing path to go back to God is through Mary.” 3:16 – 3:31 “It's very, very beautiful to see how Our Lady is not some precious legendary figure or a Greek tale. She is not just another legend.” Juan Manuel Cotelo explained that the main goal of this film is to investigate, to learn more about the people's reality; including those who claim they speak to God himself. JUAN MANUEL ...

(Romereports.com) The International Catholic Film Festival celebrated its fourth anniversary. Recognized as the most important festival of its kind, it promotes the New Evangelization through movies. This year the Festival's prize, also known as 'Silver Fish' was awarded to Noelle, a film directed by David Wall, who also received  recognition for his work. The film is about the inner transformation of a priest who is sent to a small English village to shut down a parish. But in the process, he gets to know the people. The prize for Best Leading Actress went to young Katia Miran for her role in the French film Je m'appelle Bernadette. She plays Saint Bernadette, the young shepherdess who witnessed the apparition of Our Lady of Lourdes, in France. As a theme, the nearly 2,000 films presented this year shared the 'The Year of Faith.' Each movie deals with this very topic in an original way.  Some are about parishes, priestly vocations or  saints. LIANA M...

April 1st, 2013. (ROMEREPORTS.COM)  A Spanish film titled 'Un Dios Prohibido' which translates to 'A Forbidden God' describes the tragedy suffered by a group of Claretian Missionaries who were executed, back in 1936, during Spain's Civil War. The film, which is based on a true story, recounts how young seminarians were threatened because of their Christian faith. Given an ultimatum, they decided to keep practicing their faith, despite the death threats. They prayed and received Communion in secret, yet eventually they were shot to death. They were killed in August 1936. John Paul II beatified the martyrs in October 1992. The film will be released in Spanish theaters before the 2013 summer.

Based on the memoirs of Sister Maria Lucia de Jesus, and thousands of independent eyewitness accounts, The 13th Day is a dramatic retelling of the supernatural experiences of three shepherd children nearly a century ago. The events depicted in the film transpired between May 13, 1917 and October 13, 1917 in the Cova da Iria (Cove of Irene) region of Fatima, Portugal. The 13th Day is the first major motion picture by directors Ian and Dominic Higgins. The filmmakers tell an accurate, relevant and artistic story about the Blessed Mother's appearances to Lucia Santos and her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto. Over six months, Our Lady gave incredible prophecies and warnings to the children that included a harrowing vision of hell, the timing of World War II, the spread of communism and the attempted assassination of a Pope, who later was revealed to be Pope John Paul II. Ignatius Press is the North American distributor of the film. In cooperation with Catholic Dioceses and org...