Religious life is a core part of Catholic culture, and stories help young people explore possibilities about their futures ... and whether that might include becoming a priest, monk, or nun.
These movies explore vocations in different forms.
Not all are suitable for younger children, but older kids and parents can enjoy them together.
The Mission (1986)
Featuring Ennio Morricone’s haunting theme “Gabriel’s Oboe," The Mission chronicles a devoted Jesuit missionary’s struggle to evangelize South America. Jeremy Irons stars as the missionary, with Robert DeNiro as a mercenary and slave trader doing penance for a murder.
Their vocational gifts shine as they connect with the native people, bring them into the Faith, and attempt to defend them from the conquering locals.
While the colonizing government sees the natives as chattel to be enslaved, the priests bear witness to the humanity of each child of God. Available on Amazon Prime.
The Scarlet and the Black (1983)
Both a deeply Catholic story and a World War II thriller, The Scarlet and the Black stars Gregory Peck (a Catholic in real life) as Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, who hides Jews in the Vatican.
A Nazi colonel (Christopher Plummer) forms a vendetta against the good Irish monsignor, who manages again and again to brilliantly hide refugees, disguise himself, and even box his way out of scrapes, successfully bringing thousands to safety.
He’s not just a monsignor, he’s a heroic, clever priest who could rival James Bond for ingenuity and courage.
Into Great Silence (2005)
Director Philip Gröning filmed the acclaimed documentary over the course of six months in 2002-2003 at the Grande Chartreuse, the head monastery of the Carthusian Catholic religious order, located north of Grenoble, France.
The monks take a vow of silence (hence the title), and Gröning added no music or commentary, and used natural light.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Office for Film and Broadcasting listed Into Great Silence as one of the 10 best films of 2007 -- and the monks also liked it.
Unfortunately, it's not currently available to stream, but it is on DVD (as of this writing, though, Amazon says it only has one in stock).
The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945)
Ingrid Bergman and Bing Crosby (also a Catholic) face off as a punchy nun and unconventional young priest, respectively, who must save their parish school from going under.
Father O’Malley takes an optimistically broad interpretation of his priestly duties, reuniting families, encouraging students, and even writing music. He squares off in opinionated rivalry with Bergman’s sweet and spunky Sister Benedict.
Families will enjoy watching them bless their congregation with a delightfully human and very funny attitude towards religious life.
Going My Way (1944)
By the way, Crosby introduced his Father O'Malley character in this musical, in which the young Father must take over the New York City parish from a veteran priest (Barry Fitzgerald).
It was the highest-grossing film of 1944, earning 10 Academy Award nominations, and winning seven, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Crosby) and Best Supporting Actor (Fitzgerald).
Going My Way was also one of the first American films to show the Catholic priesthood in a positive light, along with humor and music.
The Mission (2023)
Disney+ and Hulu offer a documentary about Evangelical missionary John Allen Chau’s misguided attempt to reach an Indian island completely cut off from contact with the world -- a situation enshrined in law.
As FTP producer-at-large Father Vince Kuna commented in an FTP post on the film:
I found the documentary to be the fairest non-fiction story streaming anywhere. I think secular audiences can have their smugness and their perceived settled atheism challenged, and I think religious audiences will be challenged in thinking more deeply about mission work and what it means to be martyred for the Faith.
This year, a scripted version of this story was released, called Last Days. While taking a nonjudgmental view of Chau's desire to reach North Sentinel Island, and fleshing out his backstory, director Justin Lin and screenwriter Ben Ripley add a great deal of fictionalized material, including some questionable elements.
Best to stick with the documentary.
The Sound of Music (1965)
The classic Rodgers & Hammerstein musical centers around novice Maria (Julie Andrews), who's pondering whether she should pursue the vocation of religious life or the one of marriage.
Masterful storytelling portrays the life of cloistered nuns in a positive light. The film's central theme is that your ultimate choice is between you and God, but it will affect the people who love you.
This joyful family story symbolizes what Mother Superior says regarding Maria's decision: “Loving this man doesn’t mean you love God less.” Available on Amazon Prime.
Image: Adobe Stock
Sophia Sariego is a Los Angeles native working in the pro-life movement. She loves Eucharistic Adoration, making music, and hitting the beaches in her spare time.
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