Catholic Movies for Families: Disney's Pocahontas and The Holy Spirit

This month's Catholic movie for families is Pocahontas. While it's not a Christian movie, this secular movie can illustrate very Catholic themes. This month, we are exploring the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Has anyone else grown up with Disney movies as your primary entertainment? One of the first Catholic Family Movie Nights was how the movie The Lion King illustrated the Seven Sacraments. I’ve written about several Disney movies since. 

As I contemplated the theme for this month: Holy Spirit and Renewal, it had me go back to a beloved movie growing up: Disney’s Pocahontas, specifically the role of the wind in her story, providing clarity with where she ought to go, reminding her of something deep within her.

Let’s begin with a family prayer:

Come, Holy Spirit,

Fill the hearts of your faithful

And kindle in them the fire of your love.

Send forth your Spirit,

And You shall renew the face of the earth. Amen.

Background on The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is an often misunderstood and underutilized member of the Trinity. The more we learn and understand about the Holy Spirit, the closer to God we become.

The first mention of the Holy Spirit is in the second verse of the bible, “The earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.” The Hebrew word for might wind used here is the word, “Ruah” which means wind, spirit, breath, and mind.

It’s common for us Catholics to describe the Holy Spirit as wind, a dove, tongues of fire, etc. As Catholics, I believe we could all benefit from a better interpretation of who the Holy Spirit is and what he is sent to do for us, the Body of Christ. Hopefully this Catholic Movie Night for Families can help you and your family grow in it's knowledge and appreciation for the Holy Spirit in your lives!

Roles of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. Jesus sends us His Spirit after he ascends into heaven. Jesus sends the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to help us, the Body of Christ, specifically to sanctify us or to make us holy. The Spirit accomplishes this in several ways, but for today’s movie we will focus on how the Holy Spirit…

• Guides us

• Converts us

• Encourages us

• Unites us

• Renews us

In the movie Pocahontas, we can see the roles of the Holy Spirit sanctifying the characters in those ways. Let’s explore… 

Movies for Catholic Families: The Holy Spirit in Pocahontas 

The Spirit Guides Us (Like the Wind)

Pocahontas listens to what she ought to do. She seeks wisdom and “listens with her heart” to what her path should be. Similarly, we are called to consult the Holy Spirit when we feel lost or need direction.

John 16:13 says, “But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming.”

Discussion:

• Do you ever hear God or the Holy Spirit talk to you? Do you ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and your decisions? What makes it hard to listen to God?

  
  

The Spirit Changes Hearts

John Smith goes from selfish to selfless. He learns of the sanctity of life, both in the human form and in nature. Similarly, we can invite the Holy Spirit's help in our on conversion.

The Catechism says, “The first work of the grace of the Holy Spirit is conversion, effecting justification in accordance with Jesus' proclamation at the beginning of the Gospel: ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Moved by grace, man turns toward God and away from sin, thus accepting forgiveness and righteousness from on high. ‘Justification is not only the remission of sins, but also the sanctification and renewal of the interior man.’ (CCC 1989)

Discussion:

• Have you ever experienced conversion? Like changing a bad habit to a good habit? Do you believe people can change?

The Spirit Gives Courage (Fortitude)

Pocahontas risks her life to stop violence against John Smith. She risks her life and her reputation by standing up to defend life. Similarly, we must remember to ask the Holy Spirit to make us brave, especially in times of fear.

Saint Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:7, “God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self -control.”

Discussion:

• Can you think of a time when you had to be brave? Did you ask the Holy Spirit to help you be brave? If not, try it next time, it works!

  
  

The Spirit Brings Peace and Unity

Pocahontas creates peace between enemies. She helps each side understand the other through listening and patience. She encourages peace among two groups of people. Similarly, we can ask the Holy Spirit to help unite others through our own actions. Let us strive for peace in all it's forms.

Saint Paul tells the Ephesians, “Live in a manner worthy of the call you have received with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.” (4:1-3)

Discussion:

• Does our family strive to preserve unity? Why or why not? How can we bring peace?

  
  

The Spirit Helps Us Begin Again

In Psalm 104, we read the prayer, “Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.” Renewal means to make something new again. The ending of Pocahontas shows a new path forward for Pocahontas and John Smith and all the Native Americans. This new beginning is one of peace and collaboration, not revenge. Almost all the characters see the effects of a life lived in the Spirit, they all become holier. Similarly, let's remember that each day can be a new beginning. The Spirit can refresh and renew us, even when we struggle with the same things or begin to feel trapped.

The Catechism reminds us of a continual renewal and ongoing conversion, “Christ's call to conversion continues to resound in the lives of Christians. This second conversion is an uninterrupted task for the whole Church who, "clasping sinners to her bosom, [is] at once holy and always in need of purification, [and] follows constantly the path of penance and renewal."¹⁸ This endeavor of conversion is not just a human work. It is the movement of a "contrite heart," drawn and moved by grace to respond to the merciful love of God who loved us first.¹⁹ (CCC 1428)

Discussion:

• Why does God always give us another chance? Are you thankful that God is merciful and loves to encourage us to begin again?

  
  

Important Point

Important Distinction from this movie and the comparison between nature and the wind and the Holy Spirit:

• Nature is not God

• The wind in the movie is a symbol, but the Holy Spirit is a Person

• God reveals Himself fully through Jesus Christ and the Church, not just through nature.

Closing Prayer (5 minutes)

"Holy Spirit, Help us to listen to your prompts and requests with our hearts, To choose what is right, To be brave when it is hard, And to trust that You are always leading us to something good. Help us begin again when we fail. Amen."

Optional Resources:

Scripture

• John 14:26 – The Spirit teaches and reminds us

• Romans 8:14 – We are led by the Spirit

• Galatians 5:22–23 – Fruits of the Spirit

Catechism References

• Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 683–686): Who the Holy Spirit is

• CCC 736: The Spirit transforms us from within

• CCC 1830–1832: Gifts and Fruits of the Spirit