If you have not seen the movie Cabrini, go see it even if
you are not Catholic or Christian or any religion. It is a well made movie and
it is great. Yes, it is about a Catholic Saint, but there is much more to it than
a pious film about a Saint, which leads me to my critique of Father Schmidt’s
critique.
But first if you haven’t seen it, stop, see it then come
back to this post. I am about to describe some of the scenes in the movie and I
don’t want to be the spoiler guy.
Father Schmitz overall is right on target with his thoughts
on this movie. He describes it well and presents an excellent discussion. His
review is on youtube so you can see for yourself. He states his one critique
with the movie is God or Christ is not emphasized enough. He then states this
is not a Church film, this is a main stream film. Yet this is not the point I
want to make. And my point is God is in the movie, it is the quiet part not
said. The better half put it well, this is a movie about a Saint in action.
And that is one part of what is Christ in the movie. We
revere God, Christ, yet we do not always have to say it. One of the primary
teachings of the Church is to live our life as Christ lived his. Mother Cabrini
does this and it is in the film. Her actions, her acts of love made in the face
of all her adversaries and adversities show something that she has, faith. I too
came out of the movie and wanted it said somewhere in the movie that it was her
faith that gave her the strength to do what she did. Like Father Schmidt
wanting more emphasis on God in her life, I wanted some recognition of her
faith emphasized. Yet as I now critique Father Schmitz I realize the strength
of the movie. It is the unspoken faith, the unspoken devotion to following God’s
will that gives the movie more power.
Sure some people who do not want the Church to succeed or
want to criticize the Church are saying this movie is more about a strong woman
and will not concede what is behind her strength. Yet the movie is so well made
a person has to ask themselves what gives her this strength, what helps her persevere
when no one is behind her. You have to ask yourself how does a woman in the
late 1800’s go to an all male world and conquer them and obtain what some will
say what she wants. We know in reality it is God’s will that marches her
on. Who says to people I want to create an empire of hope? Where does this come
from?
And when you see that her actions have a foundation of love,
it becomes obvious that there is more than just one determined woman involved.
For people who may not believe for whatever reason though this movie can open
them up to asking themselves these questions. Her life, her work, her love for
the children and the sick are all what Christ asks us as Christians to do. For
a person who has not been brought up on Christian teaching the movie can inspire
them to think, reflect and ponder what drove this woman to such efforts. This
is where God or more specifically the Holy Spirit comes in. Once a person
starts asking questions, once their heart opens a tad, once they think, what is
behind all this, then they will look for answers. We, as Christians, know the
answers, yet if we try to force them it does not always work.
We are to evangelize, and in this case and all cases the we
is spelled with a capital “I”. It is our responsibility to bring souls to
Christ. Yet telling people about Christ so they know he exists is one approach,
yet a true conversion a true understanding of the need for repentance doesn’t
come with the vocal word, it is when a heart opens and lets the Holy Spirit
touch on the longing we all have to what can truly bring us joy. This movie
shows a Saint in action and gives the fence sitters, the non believers, the
atheist, the agnostic food for thought.
I do not want to compare myself to any Saint, and I say this
to illustrate a point. The greatest compliment anyone has ever given me was
when I left one of my employments the person in charge said you could see
Christ in me in my work and what I did. I never went around telling people they
needed to convert to save their soul. I never preached, but this recognition
that I do try to treat all people with real respect and it was noticed in the
little things I do every day is a compliment like no other. By no means at all was I like Mother Cabrini,
but it was the notice of the simple things I did for others each day and
recognizing it was one of the best moments of my working life and it left me
speechless. Again it is us living as Christ that shows the world Christ. Mother
Cabrini does this so well and the movie gives us this in all Christ’s glory
without ever having to say Christ.
So Father Mike Schmitz, you know so much more than I. And I know
this because I do listen to your work and teachings, yet I truly think you
missed this very important nuance. I ask you to remember the final scene of where
she is drowning and then comes a man that sees her and reaches down to her and you
see her looking up to see the help she needs and then he rescues her. This
scene comes at the point in the movie when she received the strength she needs
to overcome the final obstacles to get what she needs to start the success of
her mission. Just because no one says God or emphasizes God, you see God, not
in the individual man, but in the help, him pulling her up to live so she can
become the Saint we now admire. The example she gives us to emulate. Many of us
may never become Saints like her, but if us who are already Christians become
inspired to be more Christ like similar to her or those who have not yet seen
Christ in their lives open their hearts and begin to ask the questions then the
emphasis of God is seen and hence is there.
YBIC
Cheers!.
No comments:
Post a Comment