A Catholic Movie for Every Month

Dostoevsky wrote, “Beauty will save the world.” I’m not one for making New Year’s resolutions, but I think we can all agree that intentionally seeking out beauty in our daily lives is a goal to get behind. We want to glimpse that uplifting, wild, raw goodness that is the music behind the world, and which we can hear if we only stop to listen.

As a storyteller, taking in Catholic Christian art and media is my favorite way of intentionally immersing myself in beauty. Think of all the amazing Catholic art that continues to inspire even the secular world today, from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings to Michelangelo’s Pietà.

Catholic and Christian films sometimes get a bad rap because of a few books or movies that fall flat. I want to push back on the myth that Catholic films are cheesy. Right now I’m presenting you with a list—a Catholic movie for each month of the year. My challenge is this: once you’ve watched them all, I dare you to say that Catholic films can’t be among the most powerful you’ve ever seen.

I’ve compiled a list of movies paired with each month of the year. Many of these are contemporary and some are oldies-but-goodies. All of them dig deep into what it means to be human and the quest for the ultimate Beauty.

So what are you waiting for? Grab a bowl of popcorn and get watching!

Ok, yes, I’m that person—the weird one who likes black-and-white films. But I couldn’t help including Boys Town as the first must-see movie on the list; especially since January marks the second half of the school year, which fits in perfectly with this film.

Boys Town dramatizes the inspiring life of Father Edward Flanagan, a 20^th century pioneer in education who took in the abandoned boys that society could care less about. This heartwarming movie follows Father Flanagan’s students, who go from being homeless and crushed by life to gradually learning the most important lesson: that they, too, have dignity and worth.

Golf’s in full swing this February with tournaments such as the WM Phoenix Open, The Genesis Invitational, and more. What better time to watch one of my favorite sports movies, The Greatest Game Ever Played? This film is a long-forgotten Disney movie that will make you cheer—even if, like me, you know next to nothing about the game!

The Greatest Game Ever Played portrays the true story of the nerve-wracking contest between young Francis Ouimet (Shia LaBeouf) and veteran golfer Harry Vardon (Stephen Dillane) during the 1913 U.S. Open.

The reason I classify this as a “Catholic” movie is partially because of the portrayal of Vardon facing anti-Catholic prejudice as a professional golfer in England. Ouimet’s family is also portrayed as Catholic. Although the movie is not overtly religious, its message ultimately is: your mission in life is to become the person God meant you to be, using your talents to uplift others.

Let’s switch sports and turn to basketball in honor of Selection Sunday coming March 16th! The Mighty Macs is the hilarious, exciting tale of the struggling Immaculata College women’s basketball team and their stunning 1972 championship victory.

My favorite part of the film is witnessing the vocational journey of assistant coach Sister Sunday (Marley Shelton). Through helping coach Cathy Rush (Carla Gugino) imbue confidence into the discouraged girls at Immaculata, Sister Sunday learns that God sometimes speaks in highly unexpected ways!

This classic film is an adaptation of the novel by Franz Werfel, a Jewish exile who escaped the Nazis and who was greatly impacted by his visit to Lourdes, France. For those who aren’t familiar with the Blessed Mother’s apparitions to 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous—and even for those who know the story like the back of their hand—The Song of Bernadette brings the Blessed Mother’s message to life. I recommend watching it in honor of St. Bernadette’s feast day April 16th.

This Italian movie portraying the life of the patron saint of joy is hands-down my favorite movie of all time. For many storytellers, it’s difficult to pull off the portrayal of saints; it can feel cheesy or unrelatable. This is far from the case in I Prefer Heaven.

The two-part film tells the story of Filippo Neri, whose feast day is May 26th. Throughout the movie, he discovers his calling to bring the joy of Christ to the jaded people of Rome, and he’s not afraid to journey into the darkest places. Filled with drama and infused with humor, the characters and the message of this movie will stay with you forever. By the end, you will literally cry from happiness.

A screenplay about a Catholic saint written by an agnostic? It’s true—Robert Bolt wrote this play-turned-film about the incredible true story of martyr Thomas More. I encourage you to watch the 1966 version because I think Paul Scofield does a fantastic job portraying the anxieties and dangers that lawyer-politician Thomas More faced under the persecution of King Henry VIII. Watch this movie to honor St. Thomas—a husband and father who sacrifices his life to remain faithful to God—on his feast day, June 22th.

This moving, adventure-filled story chronicles the life of a fictional missionary priest (Gregory Peck) who transforms the lives of all around him. While many of Father Chisholm’s superiors see him as a failure, his story reminds us that showing love to others is the true mark of a successful life. 

This comedy will leave you in a mood as warm as a summer day! The Reluctant Saint brings to life the (mis)adventures of St. Joseph of Cupertino, the patron saint of students. Poor Giuseppe (Maximilian Schell) is dismissed by neighbors as the village idiot, but his innocence and kindness will melt your heart.

Olivia Hussey stars in this inspiring, down-to-earth dramatization of St. Teresa of Calcutta’s life. To celebrate her feast day, September 5th, watch my favorite portrayal of Mother Teresa and her work. It’s a gritty, moving representation of the challenges she faced and the incredible work that God accomplished through her. After watching this film, you will no longer wonder why even the secular world is so fascinated by this incredible woman and her mission.

If I Prefer Heaven is my all-time favorite movie, Karol: A Man Who Became Pope comes in a close second. This outstanding film depicts the tumultuous young adulthood of St. John Paul II, a.k.a. Karol Wojtyła, whose feast day falls on October 22nd. Piotr Adamczyk is stellar at portraying Karol’s incredibly difficult life in Nazi- and Soviet-occupied Poland. This film doesn’t shy away from the intense suffering of the time period, but it is always illuminated by hope. The characters and storytelling will stay with you forever.

Maybe you’ve never heard of this fascinating saint, whose feast day is celebrated on November 16th. This Italian film tells the true story of Dr. Moscati, a genius at serving patients during the turbulent late 19^th century and early 20^th century. There’s never a dull moment in this film, from volcanic explosions to plagues—and the powerful, unexpected ending will give you chills!

I admit that classifying Going My Way as a Christmas movie is debatable, but that doesn’t stop me from watching it every winter! It’s not only because the story happens to conclude near that season. To me, this long-lost classic embodies the spirit of Christmas.

This fictional tale revolves around Father Chuck O’Malley (Bing Crosby) and his “undercover” mission to rescue a declining parish without stepping on the toes of the cantankerous pastor, Father Fitzgibbon (Barry Fitzgerald). This wholesome, refreshing comedy includes characters that are among the most memorable you will ever see on the silver screen. Going My Way exudes the Christmas message: Christian living means being alive to joy.

Author’s Note: Feel free to leave a comment: what other movies would you add to this list? How else do you strive to seek authentic beauty in your daily life?

Photo by Lika Yer on Unsplash