I am a visual learner and I love to use movies to talk about spiritual things because I think it allows us to draw many analogies and comparisons. The following is a list of movies and reflection questions that I use to teach junior high students about the seven Sacraments. The answers is blue are by no way all the possible answers.
Clip: From the beginning of the movie to when Rafiki lifts up baby Simba
From right after Nala finds Simba to after Rafiki hits Simba in the head with his staff.
1. Why do you think this clip was chosen?
It shows the ritual by wish Simba is enducted into the animal community and Simba's need to remember his dignity as the son of the king.
2. Describe the ceremony that marked Simba’s membership into the animal community.
All the animals gather - We all gather together no matter what our race/income/etc.
A holy man (Rafiki) is present - the holy man's presence shows that there is something spiritual going on.
Dust is poured over the head to remind him of death - in baptism we die with Christ to rise again.
He is anointed - we are anointed priest/prophet/king with Chrism oil.
He is presented to the community - We are now a part of the community.
3. What qualities did baby Simba posses that indicated that he was ready to become king at the time of the ceremony?
He himself possess no traits as a cub - we do not earn baptism it is a gift given to us by God.
He his chosen because of his heritage - we are all sons and daughters of the great King.
4 Why do you think Simba was dedicated as a young cub? Why did they not wait until he was old enough to accept the role for himself?
He was dedicated at such a young age because he had a divine mission and needed to know his royal idenity - We all have a vocation in life but we need to know that we are sons and daughters of a loving God in order to fulfil it.
5. Why did Simba run away? What did he run away from?
He was afraid that he had committed an unforgivable sin. He was running from his past and his true identity.
6. Was Simba truly happy living his life with “Hakuna Matata” as his motto?
Simba was not truly happy because he lived in fear of people finding out about his past.
7. What did Rafiki tell Simba that got him to acknowledge that he was the king’s son? Why was it so important for Simba to remember who he was? Why is it important for us to remember who we are?
Rafiki reminded Simba that he was the son of the king and that there was nothing that he could do to lose his royal identity.
Clip: The part of the movie where Lady and the Tramp have their spaghetti dinner.
1. Why do you think that this clip was chosen?
It was chosen to show how a meal can bring to people closer together.
2. How does sharing a meal bring Lady and Tramp closer together?
They take time to learn about each other and to develop their friendship.
3. Who provided the meal and what went into the making of the meal?
The two chefs provided the meal. The chefs did it for love of the dogs. They did it free of charge.
4. How do Lady and the Tramp show their love for each other away from the meal? What is the most important way in which they show this love?
They spent time together and they risked their lives for each other.
5. Who gives us the Eucharist and how is he similar or dissimilar to the person who gives Lady and Tramp their meal?
God gives us the Eucharist as a gift and out of love.
6. How are we supposed to show our love for others?
We are to take care of each other and love each other.
7. Why do you think God gave us the Eucharist and expects us to go to Mass?
He gave us the Eucharist as a way of allowing us to get together and to experience His love for all of us so that we can help each other love like God loves us.
Clip: When Wart pulls out the sword from the stone until he is coronated king.
1. Why do you think this clip was chosen?
It was chosen to show how one moment can change a person's life for ever. Confirmation can be the same thing. It is a moment to claim our baptismal idenitity.
2. How do you think Wart felt when he realized that he was now king?
He probably felt a great sense of awe and responsibility.
3. What did Arthur do to become king? Was this something that he did on his own or did he receive help?
He did not do anything but accept his responsibility. He pulled the sword out by God's grace. We are led to confirmation through God's grace. Do we accept the responsiblity?
4. How is the name change that the main character goes through from being called “Wart” to being called “King Arthur” similar to the practice of choosing a Confirmation name?
It is similar to a confirmation name because it shows a change in our relationships to others. We are now adults and not jus children.
5. Is Arthur ready to become king? Who has been preparing Arthur for this moment? How is this person similar to a Confirmation sponsor?
Arthur is not ready to become king but that does not mean he cannot be king. Sometimes we make decisions not knowing the end and thus it is important to have someone to walk with you. Merlin is kind of like the confirmation sponsor here.
6. How is the Sacrament of Confirmation similar to Arthur pulling the sword from the stone?
It is a moment in which our idenity is confirmed through the Holy Spirit and our decision to renew our baptismal promise.
7. How should the life of a person change when he or she receives the Sacrament of Confirmation? Are there any similarities with the way Wart’s life changed after he pulled out the sword?
A person should be an adult now in his or her faith accepting all the responsibilities with God's help to be a Catholic adult.
Clip: Scene 1 is when the witch queen makes the poison apple. Scene 2 is when Snow White gets the apple until she is kissed by Prince Charming.
1. Why do you think this clip was chosen?
It shows sin causes bad things to happen and the kiss from the Prince is like the anointing of the sick - a sign of God's love.
2. Explain the purpose of the Apple and how it symbolizes death?
The apple is a symbol of all the evil and hate in the old queen's heart. As part of the spell you see the skull within the apple.
3. Why did the witch create the Apple? What sins led her to create the poison apple?
She wanted to hurt Snow White out of envy. Sins that led her to create the apple were pride, envy, wrath, jealously.
4. If Snow White was a good person why did she have to suffer? Why is their illness in the world?
She suffered becuase the old queen had free will.
5. What does the witch sacrifice in order to poison Snow White?
She sacrificed the beauty that she had and even her life.
6. How did the dwarves show their love for Snow White while she was ill? How can you show love to those who are sick around you?
They remained with Snow White during her illness.
7. Compare Prince Charming to Jesus and explain how the kiss is similar to the Anointing of the Sick?
The Prince comes to Snow White and offers her his love. God comes to us through the illness.
Clip: Tigger tries to find out what he does best on a cold day and gets stuck in a tree. The narrator has to help him down.
1. Why do you think this clip was chosen?
It was chosen to show how one person's sins can get themselves in trouble and sometimes we need God to help us out of these situations.
2. What are some of the sins that Tigger commits? What sin is Tigger’s biggest problem?
Tigger's biggest problem is pride. He is all worry about "what he does best". He does not see how his actions are hurting others like ruining Rabbit's garden or placing Roo in danger.
3. How did Tigger’s sin get him into trouble?
He got himself stuck up in a tree and alienated his friends.
4. Why did Rabbit want to hold Tigger to his promise? What eventually led Rabbit to forgive Tigger?
Rabbit wanted Tigger to be safe and stop hurting people. Rabbit forgave Tigger because he wanted Tigger to be happy but also holding a grudge was not much fun either.
5. How is the narrator like God? How does he help Tigger get out of his predicament?
The narrator divinely intervenes by turning the book sideways so that Tigger could slide down easily. God forgives us with very little effort on our part. All we have to do is want and accept His grace.
6. How should we treat other people knowing that God forgives them?
We should forgive them also. We should forgive many times over.
7. How does God help us out of our predicaments in the Sacrament of Reconciliation? Why do you think people stay away from the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
God helps us by forgiving us and helping us reconcile with others. People are afraid that God will not forigive them but that is not the case.
Clip: The scene when Jiminy Cricket agrees to be Pinocchio's conscience
1. Why do you think this clip was chosen?
Jiminy Cricket freely chooses to help Pinocchio live a good and moral life.
2. Why did Pinocchio need a conscience?
Pinnochio does not have any experience and thus need a spiritual guide.
3. How did Jiminy become Pinocchio’s conscience? Why did he agree to become Pinocchio’s conscience?
Jiminy was commissioned by the Blue Fairy and he wants what is best for Pinocchio.
4. How does the role of Jiminy the Cricket mirror that of a priest?
A priest and Jiminy both try to help people live a moral life.
5. Compare Jiminy the Cricket with some of the priests that you know. What were some of the qualities that made Jiminy a good conscience and what were some of the qualities that made him a bad conscience?
6. Why do you think that some people are chosen to be priests?
God wants us to give us assistance in living out good holy lives.
7. How could Pinocchio have stayed out of trouble more? How could you stay out of trouble more?
He could have listen to his "conscience."
Clip: First Scene is at the beginning when Shrek is reading from the book and the second scene is at the end when Shrek enterups the wedding.
1. Why do you think this clip was chosen?
These clips show us that Marriage is more than a fairy tale and that true love is about sacrificing for the others.
2. Why do you think Shrek dismisses the fairy tale book about romance so easily?
Fairy tale romance is all about destiny, looks, etc. Real love is about choices and sacrifice.
3. What type of obstacles did Shrek and Fiona had to overcome to get married?
They had to overcome their ideas of love, bad relationships, dishonesty, etc.
4. When did Fiona realized that Shrek was her true love? What prevented her from realizing it sooner?
When he was willing to sacrifice himself for her. She had a misconception about what love is.
5. How did Shrek demonstrate his love for Fiona?
He was willing to risk his life for her.
6. Why did Lord Farquaad what to marry Fiona?
He wanted power, prestige, and a beautiful person. He did not care about her as a person.
7. What are some of the proper attitudes couples need to have before they get married?
A willingness to sacrifice for each other. To love the person as a person and not as an object.