For the formation of religious women, men religious and seminarians

In this month of May Pope Francis invites us to pray for the formation of religious women, men religious and seminarians: “Let us pray that religious women, men religious and seminarians may grow in their vocational journey through a human, pastoral, spiritual and community formation, which will lead them to be credible witnesses of the Gospel”. In light of this intention and Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Gaudete et exultate on the call to holiness in today’s world, I recommend these films for discussion and analysis in our communities.

John Paul I, the Smile of God by Giorgio Capitani (Italy, 2006, 200 min.)

This film tells us the life of Albino Luciani as a child, when he felt the call to become a priest and when he exercised his ministry as village priest, bishop, patriarch of Venice and, finally, as pope under the name of John Paul I. The resemblance of the actor Neri Marcorè to Pope John Paul I is striking, as well as his interpretation that reminds us of the sweet, kind and smiling figure of this pope who was called by the people ‘The Pope of the Smile’ or ‘The Smile of God’. Let us welcome Pope Francis’ invitation to discern our mission: “You too need to conceive the totality of your life as a mission. [Always ask the Spirit what Jesus expects of you in every moment of your existence and in every choice you have to make, so as to discern the place it occupies in your own mission. And allow him to forge in you that personal mystery that reflects Jesus Christ in today’s world” (n. 23). Let us pray with the Pope for seminarians, that they may grow in their vocational journey and find in Blessed John Paul I a witness of joy in proclaiming the Gospel.

Chronicle of a holy man by Cristián Campos (Chile, 1990, 121 min.)

This film was a Chilean miniseries on the life of Father Alberto Hurtado, S.J. (1901-1952) that was produced and broadcast by Canal 13 in 1990. Here we are told in chronological order the most relevant events of this Jesuit priest from his entry into the Society of Jesus until his death. In all his ministries – as spiritual director and counselor to hundreds of people, university and college professor, director of the Exercises, advisor to Catholic Action and the Marian Congregations, founder of Hogar de Cristo – we can see Father Hurtado as a contemplative in action. Let us reflect and comment on these words of Pope Francis: “It is not healthy to love silence and shun the encounter with others, to desire rest and reject activity, to seek prayer and disdain service. Everything can be accepted and integrated as part of one’s existence in this world, and is incorporated into the path of sanctification” (n. 26). Let us pray with the Pope for religious so that through a human, pastoral, spiritual and communitarian formation, they may be credible witnesses of the Gospel.

Sergio Guzmán, S.J.

National Coordinator of the Pope’s Prayer Network Mexico