Hey there,
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Read a book?
Play a video game?
Go shopping?
These are all good options. I like to watch movies.
Streaming in the comfort of my home or in the theater … I enjoy movies.
I particularly enjoy mysteries and dramas, but I can also get wrapped up in a sappy love story. Yes, I admit it. I’m a Hallmark Channel groupie.
Growing up, I always looked forward to watching “The Ten Commandments” on Easter night. Of course, the film is not about Jesus, but about Moses and the Israelites’ exodus.
In recent years I’ve made watching “The Passion of the Christ” an annual Lenten tradition. Rather than romanticizing the Way of the Cross, the film depicts the true brutality of Jesus’s Passion. It’s a difficult movie to watch (viewer discretion is advised), but I figure if He could experience it, the least I could do is watch it.
There are other movies that cover aspects of Jesus’s life. Or that delve into Lenten themes. So without further ado, this week’s issue of Genuflect raises the curtain on how we can extend our Lent beyond the typical prayer, fasting, and almsgiving … and invest some of our free time learning more about Jesus or contemplating lenten topics through movies.
Hopefully you didn’t give up movies or Netflix for Lent!
Keep Believing-
Katy Barrilleaux
Founding Editor, Genuflect
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4 Movies About Jesus’s Life
Lent is about Jesus, so let’s begin with this recommendation from Catholic Link. Four movies that center around an aspect of the life of Jesus.
4 Movies About The Life of Jesus to Watch This Lent | Catholic Link
5 More Lenten Movies
Busted Halo gets in on the fun with their own list of 5 movie recommendations for Lent. These may not all be obvious choices, but they focus on Lenten topics.
Curate Your Own Lenten Movie Marathon | Busted Halo
Lots of Movies to Choose From
Tom Hoopes provides a long list of movies that may assist your Lent. He focuses on films with various Lenten themes like salvation, conversion, prayer, fasting/sacrifice, and almsgiving. You’re sure to find something here for your next Lenten movie night.
Movies That Might Help Your Lent | Benedictine College
Revisiting The Passion of The Christ
It’s hard to believe it’s now been 20 years since “The Passion of The Christ” was released on Ash Wednesday in 2004. Brian Williams takes a look back at how the movie and its cast and creators were received. And provides some behind-the-scenes information about the development of the film’s script.
Revisiting Gibson’s Passion of The Christ | One Peter Five
The Passion of The Christ Sequel is Coming
Did you know that Mel Gibson and Jim Caviezel are teaming up again to film a sequel to “The Passion of the Christ?” The first movie focused on the final 12 hours of Jesus’s life. The sequel reportedly will be about the three days between Jesus’s death and resurrection. It’s still early in the production, but here’s an overview of the information released so far. I can’t wait!
The Passion Of The Christ 2: Cast, Story & Everything We Know | Screen Rant
Lent on FORMED
“FORMED is excited to present curated content to help the Church journey through this Lenten season. In this collection are resources to help the faithful deepen their understanding of various Lenten days, practices, and devotions.” You may have heard of the website FORMED before. If you haven’t, or if you haven’t logged in in a while, it’s worth looking at this Lent. Many parishes provide free accounts for their parishioners. Check your parish’s website or create your account at the FORMED site and identify your parish.
Lent – FORMED | FORMED
Great American Pure Flix
Great American PureFlix is like Netflix, but for “quality movies and programs that celebrate Faith, Family, and Country. I must admit I’m not a subscriber to Great American PureFlix, but they offer a 7-day free trial so it may be worth checking out one week during Lent.
Pure Flix | Pureflix
Jim Caviezel: Become a Warrior For God
This is not a movie, but this video is definitely worth a watch … even if you’ve seen it before. It’s by the actor who played Jesus in Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ,” Jim Caviezel. He gives a motivational speech about how we are called to take up our cross and become a warrior for God. If this doesn’t get you fired up for Lent, nothing will.
Jim Caviezel: Take up Your Cross and Become a Warrior for God | Genuflect
Cabrini in Theaters March 8th
On March 8th, the movie “Cabrini” opens in theaters. It’s a movie about Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, aka Mother Cabrini, the first American to be canonized. And though it’s not a movie about the life of Jesus, or specifically for Lent, but according to the film’s director, Alejandro Monteverde, “This is a kind of movie that … leaves you in a state of reflection to face your battles with courage.” Here’s an interview with the award-winning director ahead of the film’s release. Let’s go support this Catholic film in theaters this Lent!
The Power of a Woman’s Voice: “Cabrini” Director Says Film Inspires the “Fight for Good” | ChurchPOP
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