A Movie Worth Watching

A Beautiful Sunday in Cornwall.

Dear Friends and Family,

Today is Remembrance Sunday in England: the annual Sunday where requiem Masses are offered all throughout England and Wales to pray for the repose of the souls of all the soldiers who gave their lives in battle during the First World War.

So at Lanherne this morning, as is the custom in churches where the usus antiquior is celebrated, a "catafalque" was placed out before Mass, covered with a black funeral pall and flanked six large candles. For those not familiar, a catafalque is essentially an empty casket or something designed to look like an empty casket when covered by a pall. Before Mass, the six large candles around it are lit, providing a powerful visual aid for the congregation to pray for the souls in purgatory, and a reminder that we should live our own lives in view of the fact that we will one day find ourselves in a casket.

Though a solemn occasion, it is, in a unique way, a particularly joyful one. For by the end of the Mass surely a good number of souls will have left purgatory to enter the infinite joy of Heaven. And what greater joy is there than that?

Last Saturday, Nov. 2nd, following the three Masses offered for the Holy Souls in purgatory, I led a men's gathering during which we watched the film "Unplanned." If you have not seen it, I highly recommend it. It is the beautiful story of the conversion of Abbey Johnson, who, as the director of a Planned Parenthood for years, was complicit in taking of the lives of 22,000 children. And if someone in that position can convert, then there is hope for anyone!

A few parts (probably 5 - 7 minutes in total) are not easy to watch because two abortions are shown, sort of. Nothing graphic is directly shown, but you see an ultrasound in one scene and in another some of the results of taking RU486. But while not easy to watch, these are very real evils that thousands are dealing with each week. Speaking for myself, the film was a powerful reminder of the depth of evil taking place, of its consequences upon so many women, of the power of grace to work conversions, and of the need to pray and work more earnestly for an end to abortion.

On the whole, the move is quite uplifting, and is beautifully and professionally done. I have been told that copies can be purchased even at a local Walmart. If you have yet to watch Unplanned, I recommend it.

Finally, I had to travel to London Thursday and spent some time praying in the beautiful St. James' Church in Spanish Place, pictured below, and also spotted this cafe walk walking through downtown. It appears to have been there for some time and to have no connection to the Amazon Syond, but its title was of interest.

May Jesus and Mary watch over you and guide you this week.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Pillari

The lighting is quite dim in this photo, but the church is truly beautiful.