Ditch Doc

So far as I can remember, this was the first weekend I’ve ever spent at an event mentioned on page one of a Major National Periodical. Do give the article a gander: it’s called “Faith put into Practice.”

If anyone is entertaining ideas that I’m involved in a conspiracy to take over the medical world in the name of the Vatican, I’d like to confirm your worries by telling you that I stayed for the weekend in a residence operated by Opus Dei.

After a rejuvenating weekend of the laughter and good red wine to be expected at such an unapologetically Catholic gathering, I said goodbye to a couple of good friends and went back to the residence to sit down for a talk with the superior of the house. (Chosen for the priesthood by St. Josemaria himself. Conspiracy theorists take note.) We said vespers in Latin, and he heard my confession. I was on my way out when I realized I’d forgotten my penance.
“Could you remind me what my penance was Father?”
[Deadpan] “It was the Memorare.”

Come to think of it, the Catholicism in Bella is a lot like the Catholicism in New York, where it’s set: all you can point at is a nun here and a handful of palm leaves there, and yet it seems like the whole city is vaguely aware of the presence of Christ. After you see Bella, go visit New York.

Before I start, you should understand that I am not one who automatically approves of movies that are popular with Catholics just because they’re popular with Catholics. The “Jesus inventing the table” notion in The Passion annoyed me as much as the next guy, and after two poorly acted, poorly produced hours of a movie on JPII, I plan not to watch the other four. So you should take me seriously when I say “Go see Bella.” The story is touchingly handled, a couple of the actors are superb, and the directing is subtle and inventive. The flavour of Catholicism is indispensable to the story, and yet unobtrusive. It’s more like the rum in the Christmas pudding than the pink and green icing flowers on the cake at the office party. The same goes for the prolife “message,” which isn’t really a message at all. There’s not a word about the rights of the unborn or the sanctity of life. There’s just a movie about forgiveness, the little surprises of providence, and people living happily in spite of suffering. I doubt that Bella will make you a much better soldier in the fight for life. But it is a cheerful reminder that when all is said and done, life is still worth fighting for.

This is one of the funniest spoofs I’ve read. Rowan Williams should be proud to be the subject.