Culture

Catholic novel reflects on the nature of work

The first of May is recognized in countries around the world as a day celebrating the contributions of labor, and in the Catholic Church particularly as the feast of St. Joseph the Worker. This great feast day encourages Catholics to ask some important questions: What is the nature of work? Is it just an activity for making money, or does it have some higher purpose? What makes work dignified, and what, if anything, makes for a “good job”?

Pope Francis on Film

From the moment of his election in early 2013, Pope Francis naturally became one of the world's most newsworthy individuals. But it was especially in the latter half of his pontificate that he proved an intriguing figure for moviemakers. Both documentarians and the creators of feature films were drawn to him over that time.

The King of Kings — PG (A-l)

Over the course of several years in the 1840s, Charles Dickens, already renowned for his novels, penned a different kind of text. Entitled "The Life of Our Lord," his version of the Gospel story was intended for a small and exclusive audience: the nine of his 10 children who survived infancy.

Erin Cahill stars in Hallmark’s ‘Journey to You’

It usually takes up to a month, weather permitting, for travelers to hike at least a section of El Camino de Santiago, the Way of St. James. This famous and historic pilgrimage path has for its goal, of course, the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain's region of Galicia.

Bible-based films for Holy Week and Eastertide

From the silent era through the mid-1960s, Bible-based films constituted a reliable staple of Hollywood's output. Directors both famous and obscure mined the Scriptures for stories they could bring to the big screen, with results that ranged from the reverential to the exploitative.

Drop — PG-13 (A-lll)

Moviegoers may want to take a break from their cellphones after seeing the intriguing thriller "Drop" (Universal). That's because the technology involved in sending the titular type of message -- as well as the ubiquity of the devices themselves -- has the film's protagonist in a quandary.

‘The Resurrection of the Christ’ to begin filming

Despite the considerable amount of controversy that surrounded it, including allegations of anti-Semitism, Mel Gibson's 2004 biblical drama "The Passion of the Christ" was sufficiently popular that it took in more than $612 million at the box office. In fact, it remained the highest grossing R-rated film domestically for over 20 years.

A Minecraft Movie — PG (A-ll)

Motion pictures based on popular video games may have found their perfected form in "A Minecraft Movie" (Warner Bros.).

Short story collection perfect Lenten read

Although this writer usually makes an effort to select works for review according to the season, sometimes the appropriate book is not so much chosen as falls into her lap. Such was the case with Joshua Hren’s “In the Wine Press: Short Stories” — an appropriate Lenten read if there ever was one.

The Chosen: Last Supper – Part 1 — A-II

Beginning with its 2017 pilot episode and a first full season that kicked off in 2019, showrunner Dallas Jenkins' Gospel-based TV series "The Chosen" has gained a wide following. Viewers, moreover, have proved willing to devote their money as well as their attention to the successfully crowdfunded production.

A Working Man — R (O)

The formula is an old, but by no means venerable, one in Hollywood. Give a character with a military background an excuse to put his calm civilian existence on hold temporarily and so unleash his slaying skills on a host of wrong-doers.

Lent in Guatemala: The journey of faith

Every year, when Lent arrives, my heart fills with vivid memories of Guatemala. Now that I live in Minnesota, I appreciate even more the richness of having grown up where faith is not only professed but also breathed in every corner.
Trending
Free Newsletter

Before You Go!

Sign up for our free newsletter!

Keep up to date with what’s going on in the Catholic world