TOS036 Watching the Saints-Lesser Known Saints with Patti Brunner for audio: TOS036: Watching the Saints – Lesser Known Saints – Truth of the Spirit (podcast) | Listen Notes
Watching the Saints – Lesser Known Saints. Join Patti Brunner to look at the lives of Saint Joseph of Cupertino, Saint Josephine Bakhita and St. John Bosco. It was quite easy for movie makers to choose these three saints as subjects for their movies because of their unique stories: Joseph of Cupertino: a dim-witted flying monk, Bakhita: a tattooed slave, and John Bosco: a gatherer of delinquent boys. The movies artfully portray the lives of these saints and Patti Brunner will give you some of the truth behind the poetic license of the moviemakers about these inspiring saints. This is the final and fourth of a series of movie reviews on movies about saints.
Welcome to Truth of the Spirit and Watching the Saints. I’m Patti Brunner. On this episode as we wrap up this movie review series, I want to share with you some movies about lesser known saints. “Reluctant Saint” is a movie about Saint Joseph of Cupertino. It is titled “reluctant” but the character of our movie could have been called “Idiot Saint”, a word used in the movie to describe him. Giuseppi had to go to school until he was 20 years old because of his learning disability. The movie shows him receiving his diploma because the nuns wanted to get rid of him. As a young man Saint Joseph “Giuseppi” of Cupertino is portrayed as very slow and foolish but gentle. After his graduation his strong-willed mother pushed him off on her brother who is a monk so there would be someone to take care of him. We are shown quirky circumstances that lead to his ordination. Later in the movie we realize that there is a lot more to this man than face value. After I had seen the movie numerous times I read a short biographical note on his feast day on Laudate and discovered that he was also known as “the Gaper” not from being stupid but because at age 8 he began to receive ecstatic visions that left him gaping and staring into space. The visions were easily triggered by a sacred sound or pictures and even holy thoughts. But even not knowing this, I have always been encouraged by the movie where a simple man was advanced by circumstances into the priesthood. In truth, he could barely read or write and also had a hot temper. In truth he was not allowed admittance to the Friars Minor Conventuals for lack of education at 17 and he was also kicked out the Capuchins because his frequent ecstasies made him a poor worker and he was then accepted by the Franciscans. The movie shows Joseph’s hidden wisdom in the barnyard discussing the Trinity. Usually his wisdom was quite hidden as we watch Joseph studying for the priesthood but unable to learn. With a tutor he learns the scripture about the Good Shepherd—mostly because he loves the animals– in the Gospel of Luke to the exclusion of learning anything else. When he is tested the only question they asked him was to quote that passage.
In truth he is the patron saint of students and test takers. I can see how students could ask for his intercession to help them study for tests and for the test to only included items they studied. I can remember praying for that to happen but I wish I had known to call upon the intercession of St. Joseph of Cupertino. I have prayed Psalm 119 for my children and grandchildren verses 99 & 100: “I have more insight than all my teachers, because I ponder your testimonies. I have more understanding than my elders, because I keep your precepts.”
When I was younger I watched a cute TV series called “The Flying Nun” with Sally Field. The premise of that series was that because Sr. Bertrille was so tiny, the wind could pick her up and she could fly around to various places, doing the Lord’s work. Here we have a true flying monk: A key occurrence in the movie is the levitation by Joseph of Cupertino whenever he prayed in ecstasy. For this trait he is the patron saint of air crews, Air Forces, air travelers, flyers, aircraft pilots, aviators, flyers, astronauts and paratroopers all of which did not exists when he was born in 1603. In the movie his nemesis accused him of occult influence and in truth he was questioned by the Inquisition, and sent from one Capuchin or Franciscan house to another. I love the end of the movie where his nemesis walks beside him holding a rope tied to him, tethering him like a balloon at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, resigning to his oddity and recognizing his sanctity. In truth, his Joseph’s ecstasies in public caused both admiration and disturbance in the community, and for 35 years he was not allowed by his superiors to attend choir, go to the common refectory, walk in procession, or say Mass in church; to prevent making a spectacle, he was ordered to remain in his room with a private chapel.
The Reluctant Saint stars Maximilian Schell and his nemesis is played by Ricardo Montalban.
The next movie I’ll review is Bahkita. This Italian movie from 2009 has English subtitles. The story of this modern saint is so compelling and the acting so well done that as long as your screen is large enough to read the subtitles you will be totally engrossed in the story. Saint Josephine Bakhita was born in Sudan in 1869 and died in Italy in 1947 and was canonized in 2000 by Pope John Paul II. The movie follows truth telling her compelling story of her childhood in Africa and how her village was overtaken by another tribe and the horror of her life as a slave. Bakhita was not the name she received from her parents at birth. The fright and the terrible experiences she went through made her forget the name she was given by her parents. Bakhita, which means “fortunate”, was the name given to her by her kidnappers.
The movie then takes a lot of poetic license to share how she becomes a nanny servant to a little girl, Aurora, in Italy, whose mother dies at her birth. The movie shows her rescue of Bakhita by Aurora’s father, Marin, a Venetian merchant. A rescue but not a liberation; he retains her like a slave. The movie then gives us a view of the harsh treatment within the peasant landlord society of Italy. We begin get to witness the goodness within Bakhita who eventually wins over the town through her caring service during a smallpox epidemic. She is rescued by a priest when her owner turns against her and she begins to learn about Christ. She wants to become a nun and Marin objects leading to a court case where she is given the freedom to choose staying with Aurora or with the convent.
The truth is just as dramatic. After the horrors of her slavery and childhood which are accurately portrayed by the movie, so not rated “G”, she was sold and resold in the markets of El Obeid and of Khartoum. At the age of 13 she was sold to a Turkish general and every day his mistresses’ punished her with whips and beatings. Bakhita underwent the excruciating ordeal of tattooing. In the Capital of Sudan, Bakhita was bought by an Italian Consul. For the first time since the day she was kidnapped, no one used the lash when giving her orders; instead, she was treated in a loving and cordial way. Political situations forced the Consul to leave for Italy. Bakhita obtained permission to go with him and with a friend of his, Augusto Michieli. In Italy Michieli’s wife talked the Italian Consul is allowing Bakhita to stay with them and later she become the nanny for her daughter Mimmina. The Michielis, who returned to Africa to work, sent Bakhita and Mimmina to live at a convent school where Bakhita learned about God whom “she had experienced in her heart without knowing who He was” ever since she was a child. Receiving her sacraments she received the name Josephine. Later the Michielis wanted Bakhita and Mimmina to return to Africa with them and a court decided that since Italy did not allow slavery, Bakhita was of legal age to freely to choose her own future. She spent the next 50 years in the convent. The movie accurately portrayed her gentleness with children as a Daughter of Charity including her use of the African rhythms of music. St. Josepine Bakhita dictated her autobiography used as a source in the movie. In truth she did say, “If I were to meet the slave traders who kidnapped me and even those who tortured me,” Josephine reflected, “I would kneel and kiss their hands, for if that had not happened I would not be a Christian and Religious today.” Just be sure to have your tissues handy as you watch this great movie.
There are so many other saints to choose from who have movies about their lives: St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Barbara, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Rita, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Phillip Neri, and on and on. The final saint of this series is St. John Bosco. There are two excellent movies about his life, “Don Bosco” starring Ben Gazzara in 2004, and “Saint John Bosco Mission to Love” starring Flavio Insinna in 1988. The second one is dubbed into English and is twice as long as the first but both movies give us the insight to this saint who went against public thinking to not just in educating poor young boys, but to give them love, attention, nourishment and fun. The main difference, other than length, in the two movies is the main adversaries. In “Saint John Bosco Mission to Love” his main adversaries are clergy who object to his waste of talent, time and money. In “Don Bosco” his main adversaries are the merchants and it covers political revolution. In truth at various times he received their support in his beginnings. As his following grew he faced so many obstacles they seem overwhelming. His perseverance in the face of all difficulties led many to the conclusion that he was insane, and an attempt was even made to confine him in an asylum. Complaints were lodged against him, declaring his community to be a nuisance, owing to the character of the boys he befriended. After he moved to the open field, shown in the movies, and then to the shed his group grew to 700 members. Don Bosco took lodgings nearby, where he was joined by his mother. “Mama Margaret”, as Don Bosco’s mother came to be known, gave the last ten years of her life in devoted service to the little inmates of this first Salesian home. When she joined her son at the Oratory the outlook was not bright. But sacrificing what small means she had, even to parting with her home, its furnishings, and her jewelry, she brought all the solicitude and love of a mother to these children of the streets. The evening classes increased and gradually dormitories were provided for many who desired to live at the Oratory. Thus was founded the first Salesian Home which grew to house about one thousand boys. The municipal authorities by this time had come to recognize the importance of the work which Don Bosco was doing, and he began with much success a fund for the erection of technical schools and workshops. These were all completed without serious difficulty. In 1868, Don Bosco decided to build a church. He experienced considerable difficulty in raising the necessary money, but the charity of some friends finally enabled him to complete it. That same year fifty priests and teachers who had been assisting him formed a society under a common rule which Pius IX approved.
As in the movie Saint John Bosco originally saw the plight of the boys as he visited the prisons. The movies show the conditions of child labor and make the point that Fr. Bosco doesn’t let the boys work more than 8 hours and makes sure they get a break for lunch. The tradesmen didn’t like the source of cheap labor to be upset nor the ideas that spread to others about pay and work hours.
Saint John Bosco attracted the tough boys of the streets of Turin, Italy, with circus type tricks and bread and won them over with love. In truth, John Bosco as a child would go to circuses, fairs and carnivals, practice the tricks that he saw magicians perform, and then put on one-boy shows. After his performance, while he still had an audience of boys, he would repeat the homily he had heard earlier that day in church. Depending on the generosity of others and the provision of God, Don Bosco built oratories for the boys to come and receive faith, civility, a trade and education. He formed the Salesian Society which has spread throughout the world.
In truth, John Bosco’s father died when he was 2 and as soon as he was able, he and his brothers worked to help out his family. Having suffered much in his own youth and growing up without a father gave him compassion for orphans. John’s early years were spent as a shepherd and he received his first instruction at the hands of the parish priest. He possessed a ready wit and a retentive memory. Owing to the poverty of his home, he was often obliged to turn from his books to the field, but the desire of what he had to give up never left him. In 1835 he entered the seminary and in 1841 was ordained priest by the Archbishop of Turin.
His deep devotion to and trust in Our Lady was a great source of blessings and strength for his work with youth. When Fr. Bosco died in 1888, the movies display his popularity. His success is noted at the end of each of the movies when we discover which of his boys became bishops, priests, and successful businessmen. Pope Pius XI beatified him in 1929 and canonized him in 1934. In the United States we have a similar role model in Fr. Edward J. Flanagan, who founded Boys Town in 1917, presented in the 1938 Academy Award-winning movie, “Boys Town,” starring Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney.
During the next episode of Truth of the Spirit we will begin a new series on “The Eucharist and Other Sacraments”.
You’ve been listening to “Watching the Saints” – a movie review series on Truth of the Spirit with Patti Brunner. I invite you to subscribe and come back for more. With the Holy Spirit there is always more!
Amen.
