Vocation videos, a contrast

Thanks for linking this Jeff. I’ve got to say, a tear comes to me eye everytime I see this video.

Having teenage sons come back from Cologne saying: “Dad, you’ve just got to see this new video” – now that’s powerful stuff.

All I can say is, thank God it wasn’t around when I was a teenager … or I might have followed a different calling!

Does that sound bad? It’s not that I want my wife to die, obviously. I am confident that I discerned my married vocation correctly. I’m just saying that is a very powerful video. Who wouldn’t want to be a priest after seeing that?

I have seen this video and I agree that it is one of the most powerful videos I have seen. It sends shivers of a good sort up my spine. I hope that this video will help young men discern their vocation to the priesthood. We need holy priests. Pray that we get some.

I think I had seen that USCCB video before (or at least parts of it). The NYC video was clearly better, clearly more inspiring. Yes, the NYC video boldly showcases our traditions as well as our belief in the Eucharist and its undeniable connection to the priesthood. Would anyone stone me though, if I said it was clearly more “Hollywood”? Let me explain: If you have ever scene Catholicism portrayed in a Hollywood movie, ritual, usually extremely dramatic ritual, is always depicted when Catholicism is dealt with (it matters not whether the movie wishes to take a positive (We were soldiers) or negative (Stigmata) or neutral (Road to Perdition – actually, The Road to Perdition was probably filled with a lot more Catholic content than was conveyed in the film) view of Catholicism – Whenever a filmmaker wishes to portray Catholicism they always show darkened gothic or romanesque churches dimly lit by large banks of candles, imposing marble altars, cassocks and surplices, gold vessels, beautiful vestments, lots of incense – almost so much you can smell it rising up in the theater), they even show nuns that look like nuns – Sr. Helen Prejean, being the exception, as that was based on a true story (and she really dressed like Susan Sarandon.) I cannot recall once seeing a film which depicted the “beige Catholicism” – Thank you Fr. Robert Barron – of the 1970-2000 era – ie. polyester vestments, beige or orange carpted churches with low ceilings, glass vessels, lapel pin nuns (except Sr. Prejean). What I am getting at is that the business of Hollywood has an eye for the dramatic and the traditions (small t) of the Church are a virtual treasure trove for such drama – in my intended use of this word, drama does not equal theater or theatrics! There is just something appealing, something inspiring, something which actually uses the senses to move the soul about Catholicsim (we call it sacramentality [small s]) Those well-meaning purveyors of the Beige era of Catholicsim still fail to see that such a project fails becuase it is uninspiring.

The NYC video succeeds becuase its producers, who might well have been hollywood types, understand the sensual appeal of Catholicism even better than the Hollywood establishment – they understand what underlies that appeal!

The USCCB video fails because its producers are following the same line that Bueracracy has been pushing since the mid seventies!

I would like to relate a lasting impression I was given by yet another vocations video. It was put out by the PIME fathers (Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions) It shows all sorts of missionaries in different areas (mainly in Africa, but some in the South Pacific) engaged in evangelization, Sacramental duties, etc. They are laughing, smiling, having a good time – some are in clerics, others are dressed more casually – but the last scene in the video shows a picturesque stretch of wilderness and the narrator speaks a line which betokens sacrifice, the ultimate sacrifice that as a PIME Missionary, you too may be called to witness to Christ – With Your Life! It left not doubt in the minds of its viewers what this life is all about.

I was once annoyed by a priest who couldn’t figure out why he couldn’t inspire any vocations: “Father drives a cool car, I never want for anything, it is a comfortable life! But I am sure it would be more appealing if the church didn’t proscribe marriage for priests!”

His line sounds more like that of the USCCB – I like NYC and I think the PIME did a pretty good job with their video too.

Finally, as we near the twenty-fifth anniversary of EWTN, we would do well to reflect that as the network has grown it has become more media-savvy. It has become more sophisticated in showcasing the beauty of the Catholic faith. No doubt part of that is the influx of trained professionals who sought to work at EWTN putting their skills to use for the spread of the Gospel. It is no wonder the USCCB television project failed if they sought to project the beige catholicism of the last thirty years!

Speaking of EWTN, I believe that video was produced by Grassroots Renenwal Project which is associated with Father Groeschel’s Franciscan Friars of Renewal. I read they were at WYD 2005, so I’m anxious to see what they produce regarding that event.

I don’t know if any of you read the Angry Twins blog, but their parish is included in the NYC video.

I was at that procession. Although it was planned months in advance, it (providentially) coincided with JPII’s death. It was the most beautiful experience of my life. It was solemn and exuberant, joyful and exhausting (we walked far!), a whole bundle of contradictions that can only be explained by the Mystery. In the midst of my sorrow and tears I sang out for joy because Christ was (visibly) among us and walking with us. I truly believe the Archdiocese of New York is still reaping the graces that overflowed from that weekend. I know I am.

Bishops Launch DVD to Promote Vocations

The Curt Jester links to a different (better?) video produced by the Legionaries of Christ and Regnum Christi, and notes that Bishop Clayton has not only panned the Conference’s offering, but thinks it will do more harm than good (cap tip: St. Leonar…