Catholic Movies for Families: It's a Wonderful Life When You Have Community!

This month's Catholic movie for families is It's a Wonderful Life. While it's not an overtly Christian movie, this secular movie can illustrate very Catholic themes. This Catholic Movie for Families illustrates the importance of Community Life. We are not made to be alone, but exist within a greater community of people.

While this movie is a classic Christmas movie, I think it's important to watch outside of the Christmas season. We need the reminder to build community all year long, not just around the Holidays.

As I contemplated the theme for this month: You are not alone, it had me think about the movies I've seen when someone feels alone, but realizes that their community loves them more than they could imagine! Our challenge this month is building your Village on Heaven and Earth, and this movie reminds us and encourages us to do just that!

Let’s begin with a family prayer:

God our Father, send your Holy Spirit.

Teach us to build one another up and seek you in all we do.

Lord, we want a Village. Help us to seek out others in our parish. Help us to grow closer to your Saints in heaven.

Give us the courage to get outside our comfort zone and build a village in heaven and earth.

Amen.

Why a Social Group is Vital For Your Health

One of the newest threats to our mental, emotional and physical health is Social Isolation, according to a recent Surgeon General's warning in April 2023. Many of us seek community through our kids friends, their basketball team, or even their school.

But what happens when our kids no longer play basketball? Or they switch schools? Or our kids stop being friends?

We need to find a community that will be around no matter what, that's based on something unchanging. Our deepest identity is that we are beloved sons and daughters of God. That identity can never change, no matter what we do or don't do! So If we seek out a community that is associated with that identity, chances are that community won't fall away!

Community Life:

• Increases meaning and purpose and sense of belonging.

• Holds you accountable in growing in virtue.

• Reminds you in good times and bad, that you are not alone.

• Reminds you that our decisions affect others and that we are all connected.

• Reminds us of the truth that we are beloved sons and daughters of God, no matter what.

When we live as a part of a greater community, we are protected against the nasty effects of social isolation. It provides a sense of belonging to your entire family and it even protects us against some mental illness.

Movies for Catholic Families: God loves us through Community Life

"Worth More Dead Than Alive"

It's tempting for us to believe this lie from Satan. Sometimes our faults scream louder than our strengths, and we are our own worst critic. When life gets hard, it's easy for some of us to blame ourselves, to hate ourselves, like George Bailey. The hero in this tale is imperfect, and oh so relatable.

Yet Clarence is able to show him all the good George has done, all the lives that George's actions have benefitted.

Discussion:

• Do you ever hear Satan whisper this lie to you? Do you believe him? Have your choices ever made a difference to anyone else? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal your impact around you.

  
  

Our First Community is Our Family

We first see George Bailey's examples of virtue in his family. His dad supporting the infrastructure of the community with the Building and Loan, often lending to risky cases due to trust and love. George's mother perfectly illustrates a warm, loving, and generous mother. George, having learned virtue through his parents' lives, illustrates true agape (or selfless) love by jumping in a frozen pond to save his little brother's life.

Discussion:

• Do we as parents show positive, virtuous examples to our children? Do we encourage our children to practice virtue to one another before the greater community?

We aren't meant to carry burdens alone

Jesus, our perfect example, needed help with the weight of his cross. Simon is a beautiful example of community. Together, community makes the burdens of life lighter. Throughout George's life, people repeatedly step in when he needs help. His friends and neighbors aren't merely acquaintances; they become part of the fabric of his life. The ending of the movie is a glowing example of this: everyone in the community coming out to support George and his family. God is able to love us through Community Life.

Discussion:

• Has there ever been a time when your community in heaven or on earth has helped you carry a burden? Have you told your children this? As a family, have you ever stepped in to help others in your community? Prayerfully consider helping someone out with your time, talent or treasure and share in God's joy!

  
  

Others help us remember the Truth

All throughout Salvation History, we can see a pattern of humanity: we remember, then forget, remember, then forget. As God's people, we remember how good and faithful God is... but life gets in the way and we forget. We begin to grasp the fruit of control rather than await the will of God to influence us with trust. But every now and again, a prophet of sorts will come and remind God's people the truth: God is good, forgiving, and full of mercy to all who call. God loves us and he is our God and we are his people. We are good and loved and apart of his family.

When George becomes overwhelmed and loses perspective, like all of us often do, Clarence (a member of George's heavenly community) enters the story and helps him see what his life has meant to others. So often the lives of the Saints, as well as friends in our community, step in and remind us of the goodness of God and that choosing His will for our life far outweighs the shallow goodness of our own control.

Discussion:

• How has the lives of the angels and saints reminded me about why trusting God is better than trusting my own will? Has God ever called me to remind others in my community that they are loved and seen by a faithful God? Ask everyone to share their favorite saint and why.

  
  

Consider downloading this free resource, Your Catholic Village, to help you grow your current community.

Consider accepting this month's Date Night Challenge with a double date!

Consider listening to our podcast episode on Community.

Closing Prayer (5 minutes)

"Holy Spirit, thank you for your influence on our Church. Ignite within each of us, your power to build up and sustain the Church around us. Give us courage, wonder and awe, counsel, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, and reverence and help us use your gifts as well as our own charisms to strengthen our communion of saints. In your name we pray, Amen."