The Valley Catholic
MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Calvary’
By John Mulderig
NEW YORK (CNS) -- Set in rural
Ireland, the bleak but powerful seriocomedy “Calvary” (Fox Searchlight)
kicks off with a startling premise. In
the confessional, a grown victim of
childhood sex abuse by a priest tells
Father James Lavelle (Brendan Gleeson),
the dedicated pastor of a County
Sligo parish, that in a week’s time he
intends to avenge himself by killing the
innocent clergyman.
With the perpetrator of the crimes
against him dead, and despairing of
being healed by therapy, the victim
reasons that to take the life of a cleric
would draw people’s attention.
As writer-director John Michael McDonagh chronicles the seven days that
follow Father James’ life-threatening
encounter, we learn that this thoroughly
decent but otherwise ordinary man of
the cloth is a widower and father ordained after his wife’s death.
He deals with his emotionally fragile
daughter (Kelly Reilly) and with the variety of errant or merely eccentric souls
who make up his small flock (including
Chris O’Dowd, Orla O’Rourke, Dylan
Moran, Aiden Gillen and M. Emmet
Walsh), all the while wavering about
how to respond to the threat on his life.
Gleeson gives a memorable performance as a thoroughly decent but ordinary man confronted by the ultimate
challenge, and McDonagh ably explores
September 9, 2014
Art & Life/marriage minute
7
Marriage Minute
Seven days of marriage wisdom
‘CALVARY’-- Brendan Gleeson portrays a
priest who is faced with troubling circumstances brought about by a mysterious
member of his parish. (CNS photo/Patrick
Redmond, Twentieth Century Fox)
themes of faith, moral failure, reconciliation and sacrifice.
Unsparing, yet mostly respectful
in its treatment of the contemporary
Church, the film is nonetheless a demanding experience with a narrow appropriate audience. Brief but extremely
gory violence, drug use, mature themes,
including clergy sexual abuse, homosexual prostitution and suicide, a few
uses of profanity, much rough and crude
language.
The Catholic News Service classification is L -- limited adult audience,
films whose problematic content many
adults would find troubling. The Motion
Picture Association of America rating
is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
• John Mulderig is on the staff of Catholic
News Service.
By Paul & Stephanie Francois
Worldwide Marriage Encounter
We first saw these 7 tips below on Facebook as adapted
from Proverbs 31 Ministries:
Day 1 – Be the person you’d like to be married to. If you
need more love and understanding, give more love and understanding to your
spouse. As flawed human beings, most of us tend to think in terms of “What I
need/what I want from you.” This first piece of wisdom challenges us to reverse
that and think instead, “What do YOU need/what can I give to YOU?”
Day 2 – Nobody is perfect. Don’t let the world find out about your spouse’s
imperfections from you. The book of proverbs tells us: “The heart of her husband
trusts in her.” (31:11) We are reminded that we are called to speak favorably about
our spouse to others – our children, our parents, our siblings, our friends, and
our co-workers.
Day 3 – The best of you. Make it a point to give your spouse the best of you-the best of your touch, your good attitude, your laughter, your words. Don’t bring
them what’s left of you after the world has drained you.
Day 4 – Be intentional. Each day look for a way to bless your spouse. A thankful, giving heart will repulse blame and discontent. The book of Romans tells us:
“Outdo one another in showing honor.” (12:10)
Day 5 – Believe the best. Believe the best about your spouse, even when he/
she doesn’t communicate well. Sometimes it’s hard to find the right words. St.
Paul tells us: “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures
all things.” (1Cor: 13). In our relationship, we call this “presuming good will.”
Day 6 – Positive touch. Greet your spouse with a kiss. Positive touch releases
endorphins, so you associate your spouse with pleasant feelings. Bonus: You can’t
say anything regrettable when your lips are occupied!
Day 7 – Reconnect. Life affects all of us. No one remains the same. We change
physically, act less romantically, are tired, etc. Take time to find the two people
who fell in love and reconnect. “Rejoice in the wife of your youth.” (Proverbs 5:18)
Reflection: Which of these 7 pieces of marriage wisdom do I most need to
work on to enhance our relationship?
For more tips on creating a joy-filled marriage, visit www.sanjosewwme.org.
SEPTEMBER 12-14
An Ignatian Experience of God
Silent Retreat for Men
Fr. Kevin Leidich, S.J. and Mr.
Michael Cheney
Consider how God is actively
involved in your life every day.
SEPTEMBER 19-21
A Journey with Henri Nouwen
Silent Retreat for Women
Fr. Jim Flynn, S.J. and Mr. Michael Cheney
Henri Nouwen insisted that an
authentic life comes from living
out of the core of who we truly
are.
SEPTEMBER 26-28
More Life: The Great Work
Begins | LGBT Retreat
Non-silent Retreat for Women
& Men
Fr. Michael Zampelli, S.J. and
Dr. Sheila Nelson
A weekend retreat for the gay
and lesbian community to consider the questions that really
matter.
OCTOBER 10-12
Let Your Life Speak
Non-silent Retreat for Women
& Men
Ms. Chris Rodgers and Ms.
Rosemary Robinson
What does it mean to be to be
called forth by God in a particular, personal way?
www.dsj.org