{"id":3159,"date":"2010-05-14T01:53:08","date_gmt":"2010-05-13T15:53:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sisterrose.wordpress.com\/?p=3159"},"modified":"2010-05-14T01:53:08","modified_gmt":"2010-05-13T15:53:08","slug":"priests-in-films-models-of-faith-and-humanity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/sisterrosemovies\/2010\/05\/priests-in-films-models-of-faith-and-humanity\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Movie Priests and Priests in Films: Models of Faith and Humanity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

CINCINNATI\u2014When Pope Benedict XVI announced the Year for Priests last June, he wanted it \u201cto deepen the commitment of all priests to interior renewal for the sake of a stronger and more incisive witness to the Gospel in today\u2019s world.\u201d His announcement inspired lists of favorite priest films or priest characters posted on various blogs. An informal poll sent out via the Internet by Sister Rose Pacatte, F.S.P., film reviewer for St. Anthony Messenger<\/em>, revealed that people have strong opinions about their favorite movie priests.<\/p>\n

Sister Rose\u2019s analysis of priests in films is the subject of an article entitled \u201cThe Best Movie Priests\u201d for the June issue of St. Anthony Messenger<\/em>. It is featured alongside two other articles\u2014\u201cFather Don Archambault: Uniting People for God,\u201d by Marylynn G. Hewitt, S.F.O., and \u201cOur Fathers: Reflections on Beloved Priests,\u201d by Assistant Editor Christopher Heffron\u2014for a special section commemorating the end of the Year for Priests. After May 20, Sister Rose\u2019s article, which includes sidebars by Rev. Scott D. Young and Rev. Peter Malone, M.S.H., will be posted at: http:\/\/www.AmericanCatholic.org<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Among those who responded to her poll, the representation of the priest they most admire is one who is realistic and down-to-earth, self-sacrificing and prayerful. The film that was named most often as a favorite priest film is 1981\u2019s True Confessions<\/em>, <\/em>starring Robert De Niro and Robert Duvall, about loving but sparring brothers\u2014one a detective and the other a priest.<\/p>\n

On the Waterfront<\/em>, a 1954 classic, is a favorite on almost every list of cinema priests. Maggie Hall, a free-lance writer from Florida, writes: \u201cIf I had to pick only one film priest who really impressed me, it would be Karl Malden\u2019s Father Barry in On the Waterfront<\/em>. His sermon in the hatch always moves me to tears. I\u2019ve often wished I could attend Mass and hear a sermon from a Father Barry who was passionate about social justice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sister Rose lists Saving Grace<\/em> (1981) as a favorite. Tom Conti plays a youthful Pope Leo XIV who finds himself locked outside of the Vatican. Disguised by a beard, he takes a holiday in a remote village, where he helps the community build an aqueduct and stave off local crooks. \u201cThe pope\u2019s commitment is tested,\u201d Sister Rose writes, \u201cbut he perseveres in humility. The film is filled with Gospel analogies and metaphors where the pope and the people receive mutual saving grace.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sister Rose feels that cinematic depictions of priests\u2014from Edward Norton in Keeping the Faith<\/em> to Gregory Peck in The Keys of the Kingdom <\/em>to Ed Harris\u2019 complex performance in The Third Miracle<\/em>\u2014can be galvanizing, faith-enriching experiences. \u201cThe gift of these cinema priests is for us to see how they are transformed and become agents of change for others,\u201d she writes. \u201cIt is their ability to change in response to grace\u2014or not\u2014that creates a compelling story.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor those of us watching, these are sacramental moments because the spiritual journey is acted out. As these characters encounter God in the narrative of sight and sound, we, too, are invited to encounter the divine in the darkness of the theater. We, too, emerge changed and graced. These movies and more can touch and change hearts through the love and mercy of Christ and make every year a Year for Priests.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201430\u2014<\/strong><\/p>\n

Permission is granted to reprint this release.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The other articles posted will be<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>Father Don Archambault: Uniting People for God\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

by Marylynn G. Hewitt, S.F.O.<\/strong><\/p>\n

and
\n\u201cRivets, Flex and a Father\u2019s Faith\u201d by Jacob Frost.<\/strong><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.AmericanCatholic.org<\/strong><\/p>\n

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