Where's the Body?

The Roman soldiers assigned to guard the tomb of Jesus do not know where the body went. They also don't know what to tell Pilate about it.
Doctrine: Resurrection, Liturgical Year - Easter

Olaf Explains Love

Princess Anna doesn't know anything about true love, and her attempt to find true love leads to disaster. Too often, we measure love by looks and words rather than actions. Olaf explains to Anna that love is about "putting someone else's needs before yours."
Doctrine: Chastity, 6th/9th Commandments

St. Patrick

The story of St. Patrick, courtesy of Veggie Tales. The faith that St. Patrick helped to spread in Ireland helped foster the monastic life in that country. Irish monks in turn helped to preserve learning,  evangelize northern Europe, and revive the faith in Italy.
Doctrine: liturgical year, evangelization

Council of Elrond

Frodo has brought the Ring to seeming safety in Rivendell, but Elrond calls together a council of all in Middle Earth to discuss the destruction of the Ring. The races of men, dwarves, and elves dispute who is most fit to take the task, but the small hobbit volunteers to carry the fate of all to the fires of Mount Doom.
Doctrine: Beatitudes (Blessed are the Peacemakers); Just War
Use: Peace means doing what is right out of love. Peace is not avoiding evil or chaos, but keeping the truth of Christ and His will at the center of all decisions.

Saving the Runt

This clip highlights the sanctity of life while also providing an opportunity to discuss the value of human life. Fern does not see the difference between the life of the newborn pig and the newborn child. She acts according to her conscience in undertaking to care for Wilbur. This clip could begin a discussion on the fifth commandment.
Doctrine: Life, Morality

Bells of St. Mary's Christmas Play

From the mouths of babes, here is a classic first grade version of the story of Christmas.
Doctrine: Incarnation, liturgical year

Love and Do What You Will

For the Feast of St. Augustine, an excerpt from one of his homilies on love.
Doctrine: virtues - charity

The King's Good Servant...

from A Man for All Seasons
St. Thomas More obeyed the voice of his conscience up to his death. Though he upset many people, even those whom he loved, by his fidelity to the truth, he knew that he could not lie to himself and would one day have to stand before the throne of God and answer the ultimate judge. Thus, he died, "the king's good servant, but God's first."
Doctrine: morality, conscience, law, saints

Be Our Guest

From Beauty and the Beast
Those who serve in the Master's mansion welcome a newcomer to a sumptuous banquet. In heaven, we are welcome to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
Doctrine: heaven; Eucharist
Use: Incorporate into a celebration to conclude the Beatitudes or one of the parables on the kingdom of heaven.

Les Misérables - Passover

The Maccabeats
Who knew that Les Mis fit so splendidly with the Passover story? This medley provides a nice overview of the Exodus account, complete with the final note of hope that leads the Chosen People to re-present this historic event every year.
Doctrine: Scripture - Moses, Exodus; Liturgical Year - Holy Week, Passover

Non Nobis

from Henry V
This setting of Psalm 115 is sung after the battle, serving as a reminder that any victory belongs to God - "not to us, O Lord, but to Your name give the glory." Even in times of seeming defeat, it is important to thank God for those blessings which He does bestow upon us.
Doctrine: gratitude, worship, humility

Buddy and Jovie's Date

From the movie Elf
Although a grown man, Buddy the Elf maintains a childlike spirit as he takes Jovie on a date. Spending time with him, she realizes that he brings out the same childlike spirit in her.
Doctrine: Beatitudes - "Blessed are the pure in heart"
Buddy's pure heart enables him to live simply and love purely. This singleheartedness is different from immaturity.

Butterfly Circus

Written by Joshua and Rebekah Weigel; directed by Joshua Weigel

Find out more

This short independent film tells the tale of a travelling circus that brings hope to the destitute during the Great Depression. One day, a man without limbs joins their troupe and must discover who he is by accepting himself. He learns that the other performers have experienced great suffering, which has enabled them to transform passions once used for evil into beautiful gifts they share with others.

Doctrine: Morality of the Passions, Dignity of the Human Person

Audience: high school

Use: Show clip to students in explanation on how the passions can be transformed into virtue or vice.

A Little Princess

This scene from the movie's end begins with Sara's father commenting, "It's a strange feeling having your heart remember something your mind cannot." She recognizes her father, but he still cannot remember her. After a moment of "divine intervention," he discovers who he is through his relationship with her.
Doctrine: Revelation, Identity
Show clip to illustrate how knowledge of self comes through relationship with others and allowing God to reveal this knowledge.

Hugo

Screenplay by John Logan, based on the book by Brian Selznick; directed by Martin Scorsese

In this clip, Hugo compares the world to a machine, which comes with the perfect amount of parts. If there are no extra parts, then each person must have a specific purpose for being placed in the world.

Doctrine: God’s plan, Argument for God’s existence by design

Audience: Junior high

Use: In explanation of how God creates all men with a specific plan in mind, show clip to students and discuss its relevance. At the same time, being part of God's plan doesn't make Him a "divine clockmaker" who removes Himself from our lives once He sets us into existence. Rather, the metaphor suggests, like Blessed John Henry Newman, that "I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons."

Gandalf vs. the Balrog

from Lord of the Rings
Even wicked creatures flee from the evil Balrog. Gandalf faces it and fights with all the power he possess. He is willing to give his life if it means that his companions might press on. When he has given all the strength he possesses in battle, his life is restored, and he returns to his companions "at the turn of the tide."
Doctrine: St. Athanasius, Arainism: It seemed as though the entire world was converting to Arianism at the time of St. Athanasius. Rather than submit to those who denied Christ's divinity, Athanasius took up the fight against Arius and the many others who supported his theology.
Use this clip to demonstrate the power against which Athanasius thought, as well as the certainty of defeat that many in the Church at that time must have felt.

I Am David

Director/Screenplay by Paul Feig; based on novel by Anne Holm

In this scene, David visits a church for the first time in his life. While inside, he has flashbacks of the time in the concentration camp when Johannes took the blame for something David did, the punishment for which was death. As David recalls this act, the choir in the church sings Mozart’s “Ave Verum.” This is a healing experience for David: he realizes that Johannes chose to die in order that he might live. This realization enables him to trust other people.

Doctrine: Eucharist as healing

Audience: junior high

Use: Include the clip in a lesson on the Eucharist, explaining the healing power of the Sacrament. To do this, provide a translation of the “Ave Verum” to show its Eucharistic significance. Ask students how this clip illustrate our words at Mass, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed”?

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Written by Dr. Seuss, Irv Spector, and Bob Ogle, directed by Chuck Jones and Ben Washam

The Grinch despises Christmas and all the festivities accompanying it. He believes that by taking away the material realities contributing to the day, he can eliminate the holiday. However, he discovers that Christmas is not about things; rather, it “meant a little bit more.”

Doctrine: Conversion, Reasons for Incarnation

Audience: junior high or high school

Use: Show movie to students during Christmas as an example of how God became man to save us from sin. The graces of the Incarnation bring about conversion in the lives of men.