Salt + Light Blog

On Saturday November 7, I had the great privilege of attending the first ever John Paul II International Film Festival in Miami, Florida. Salt + Light’s documentary Road of Hope: The Spiritual Journey of Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan was one of the film’s screened Saturday afternoon at Just the Funny Theatre in Coral Gables, a well known comedy club that opened its doors to the festival’s charismatic organizers, Laura Alvarado, Frank Brennan and Rafael Anrrich; just one of the many minor miracles in their nine month tour de force, creating, organizing and pulling off a stunningly successful, deeply moving and beautifully presented film festival that captured the essence of John Paul II’s call for evangelization through media.

I attended the afternoon screening of Road of Hope which was shown as a double feature along with God in China, a collaborative effort between the Becket Fund for Religious Freedom and Rome Reports. After each film two distinguished panelists gave their thoughts and then I had the chance to answer questions from the audience. It was a real privilege to discover a vibrant faith-filled community in Miami eager to see their spiritual values and faith transmitted through film and television.

Saturday evening a crowd of several hundred gathered at Florida International University for the premiere of Human Experience, the closing film of the festival. This powerful documentary, produced by Grassroots Films, chronicles a band of young men from Brooklyn, NY who travel the world in the search of the answer to life’s burning questions: Who am I? Who is Man? Why do we search for meaning? From living with the homeless on the streets of New York City, to caring for orphans and disabled children in Peru, to time spent ministering to abandoned lepers in the forests of Africa, these men found themselves forever changed, and so did the audience at the John Paul II International film Festival Saturday night.

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David Naglieri

This Friday I will be traveling to Miami for the first ever John Paul II International Film Festival where Road of Hope: The Spiritual Journey of Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan has been chosen as one of the official entries.

The warm weather and beautiful environs of sunny Miami are not the only reason I am looking forward to this trip. I am thrilled that a few entrepreneurial and faith filled Catholics have decided to launch this ambitious and much needed undertaking: a film festival that will celebrate faith, film and the legacy of Pope John Paul II.

Here is a brief synopsis of how the festival got started, taken directly from the official website:

A few years ago, Rafael Anrrich heard John Paul II talk about art as a form of understanding the Divine, a way to bring Truth to generations, a powerful tool for evangelizing God’s Love to the masses. Rafael is not an artist. He has simply been a man who heard a call and longed to answer it. In 2007, Rafael helped lead a youth retreat in his church where he met fellow volunteers Laura Alvarado and Frank Brennan. During this retreat, he learned that the couple was made up of a filmmaker and an actress, both interested in integrating their faith into their art. Though Rafael kept his ideas to himself for almost two years after meeting Frank and Laura, he finally felt it was time to invite the couple into creating his vision: a film festival structured by the ideas and teachings of John Paul II– a place where faith-based filmmakers and artists could share their witness with the community and, eventually, the world.

You can learn more about the John Paul II International Film Festival and the many worthy productions beign showcased by checking out their site HERE.

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David Naglieri

By the time this blog gets posted it is likely that more than a million internet users will have seen a crass and disrespectful rant against the “wealth” of the Vatican by the notorious comedian Sarah Silverman.

In the You Tube piece Silverman accuses the Vatican of hording wealth and says by selling Vatican City the Pope can feed the planet, and still have enough money left over to buy some nice condos for himself and his “friends” (presumably she means curial Cardinals).

Silverman is a comedian and success in her career involves making people laugh by poking fun at prominent people, institutions and socio-cultural mores. I don’t typically give a second thought about the opinions of comedians. But in this case Silverman’s point is one I have heard all too often. We probably all know someone who claims to have a major difficulty with the Vatican’s great wealth in the face of widespread global poverty. Since Silverman was playing on a widespread distortion in society’s way of thinking I believe it warrants a response. And she is getting one.

Silverman’s irreverent and profane stand-up routine has garnered her much attention. She’s been accused of anti-Catholicism by the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights and her comments even became a subject of debate at the Synod of Bishops for Africa in Rome.

Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan of Abuja told reporters covering the synod “I think the joke is not only offensive, but in bad taste and stupid. What they should be asking is: What is the Vatican doing about poverty in the world?”

The answer is a lot. The Catholic Church is the largest charitable organization on the planet with charitable donations dwarfing the likes of the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, or the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

As for the often heard claim that the Vatican should sell its priceless artifacts Vatican correspondent John L. Allen Jr. offers a different perspective in his book All the Pope’s Men. He says one reason the Vatican will never have a fire sale of its artistic valuables is that such treasures are not the Vatican’s to sell. They are considered the patrimony of the history of humanity, entrusted to the Holy See for posterity. (In fact, Vatican accountants value each piece of art at just one euro each for purposes of internal bookkeeping.)

Allen has also frequently lectured on what he calls the “myth” of Vatican wealth. He points out that the Vatican’s annual operating budget is less than a quarter of Harvard University’s, and that the University of Notre Dame has an endowment four times greater than the Vatican’s. Has anyone asked those two universities to sell their buildings and lecture halls and cash in their endowment to feed the poor?

The arguments against the Church’s wealth will probably never go away. Similarly Christ said the poor will always be with us (Matthew 26:6). The best we can all do is to do our best to fight both realities: one, through reasoned argument; the other through our own charitable giving to the many needy people on our planet.

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David Naglieri

The news late last week that U.S. President Barack Obama had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize brought an onslaught of criticism upon this century-old prestigious award. We can debate endlessly whether or not Obama was worthy of this rare honour (it is interesting to note that Obama was nominated just 12 days into his presidency and that notable peacemakers such as Mahatma Gandhi, Pope John Paul II, John XXIII and Archbishop Oscar Romero were never awarded the prize). However, that is not the point of this post.

I think it is fascinating to reflect on the history of the Nobel Peace Prize as it tells us much about human nature and ourselves. The award is the brainchild of Alfred Nobel, a Swedish chemist, who at the time of his death was best know as the inventor of dynamite.

Despite the fact that dynamite was the most dominant explosive of its time, Nobel nevertheless considered himself a man of peace. He once said to a political activist crusading for world comity, “My factories may make an end of war sooner than your congresses. The day when two army corps can annihilate each other in one second, all civilized nations, it is to be hoped, will recoil from war and discharge their troops.”

In 1888, Alfred was granted the rarest of all opportunities. He was able to read his own obituary…eight years before his death. When Alfred’s brother Ludvig passed away, a French newspaper mistakenly ran an obituary for Alfred. The obituary stated Le marchand de la mort est mort (”The merchant of death is dead”) and went on to say: “Dr. Alfred Nobel, who became rich by finding ways to kill more people faster than ever before, died yesterday.” Nobel was said to be tremendously affected by reading of his death. Inspired to improve his legacy, he left approximately 94 percent of his worth to the establishment of five prizes (physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and peace) to “those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind.”

Few of us will ever have obituaries that make headlines in newspapers, and even fewer of us will have the chance to preview our own obituary before we die. But we can all learn from Alfred Nobel’s attempt to rescue his legacy. It is never to late to realize that a successful life is not measured in wealth, material success or earthly fame, but in the amount each of us has contributed to building up a civilization of love, through our families, communities and above all, through our relationship with God.

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David Naglieri

Several years ago I got in a friendly argument with an acquaintance about a very important topic. We were debating the acting skill of Al Pacino. Not much to debate, you might say? Well, I agree. However, my acquaintance insisted Pacino was overrated and had a tendency to “scream” throughout his films. Maybe it’s just me but Pacino is one of those rare actors who I would pay to see read the phone book. That’s why I was thrilled to learn this week that we may soon be seeing Al Pacino on the big screen in the biblical role of King Herod.

This month filming begins on Mary, Mother of Christ an independent film exploring the life of our Blessed Mother. Before fear sets in that this could be another Hollywood trashing of traditional religious faith you should know that the script was written by Barbara Nicolosi (a devout catholic and founder of ACT One–a screenwriting school aiming to empower Christians in Hollywood) and The Passion of the Christ co-writer Benedict Fitzgerald.

Actress Camilla Belle, (10,000 BC) will play the role of the Virgin Mary. Other A-list actors in the film include Peter O’Toole in the role of Symeon; Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Match Point, TV’s The Tudors) in the dual roles of Lucifer and Gabriel, and Jessica Lange as Anna the Prophetess. As for Pacino, he will have to tap into his prior experience playing a mob boss (The Godafther) and the devil himself (The Devil’s Advocate) as he portays the evil Herod, who led the slaughter of newborns in Bethlehem at the time of Christ’s birth.

MGM plans to release the film wide in 2,000-plus theaters April 2, 2010, which is Good Friday.

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David Naglieri

The rise of the blogosphere has been one of the top trends influencing the spread of information in our digital age. Blogs have many critics who point to their lack of credibility, tendency to sensationalize and to strip journalism of ethics and due diligence. Many of these concerns are valid, which means it is all the more important to be prudent when finding new blogs to check out and dutifully follow.

I have been pleased in recent weeks to learn of an excellent and informative blog by one of our own bishops in Canada. Archbishop Terry Prendergast has launched a frequently updated blog titled Journey of a Bishop. His site is filled with spiritual reflections, updates on his busy schedule, and unique glimpses into the life of the Archbishop of Ottawa.

I encourage you to bookmark http://archbishopterry.blogspot.com/ and become a frequent visitor. Blogs dwelling on Hollywood gossip and operated by political hacks are a dime a dozen these days, but hopefully Archbishop Terry’s blog will start a new trend of blogs that inform and enlighten rather than momentarily titillate only to be soon forgotten.

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David Naglieri

Last year I wrote and produced the documentary film A Hand of Peace: Pope Pius XII and the Holocaust. While it was a privilege to be able to present the historical truth about Pius’ many efforts to save Jews from Nazi aggression I also regretted the many other accomplishments of his papacy that were left on the editing room floor. Our efforts to vindicate the Pope from false accusations of being a Nazi accomplice led us to ignore a vast treasure trove of accomplishments and initiatives during Pius XII’s watershed papacy.

I would like to focus on but one of his distinct characteristics: an unwavering devotion to Our Lady.

Several decades before the world encountered the pontificate of Pope John Paul II, whose motto was “Totus Tuus” signifying that his entire personhood and papacy was devoted to the Mother of Our Lord, Pius XII graced the world scene with the reputation of a consummate diplomat and as a passionate Marian devotee in his own right. He defined the Dogma of the Assumpution of Mary into heaven, declared a Marian Year from 1953 to 1954 to commemorate the centenary of the definition of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception, established the feasts of Mary’s Queenship and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and canonized three saints linked with Marian devotion: St. Catherine Laboure, St. Louis Marie Montfort and St. Anthony Mary Claret.

In 1944 Pius XII instituted the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary to be celebrated each year on August 22nd. He further decreed the memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, to be for the whole Church a way to obtain Mary’s intercession for “peace among nations, freedom for the Church, the conversion of sinners, the love of purity and the practice of virtue.” In 1969, Pope Paul VI moved the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary to the Saturday immediately after the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In turn, Paul VI moved the Queenship of Mary to August 22nd. Pius the XII had instituted that feast day in his 1954 encyclical Ad Caeli Reginam and it’s the feast we celebrate this Saturday.

Pius XII’s enyclical begins:

From the earliest ages of the Catholic church a Christian people, whether in time of triumph or more especially in time of crisis, has addressed prayers of petition and hymns of praise and veneration to the Queen of Heaven. And never has that hope wavered which they placed in the Mother of the Divine King, Jesus Christ; nor has that faith ever failed by which we are taught that Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, reigns with a mother’s solicitude over the entire world, just as she is crowned in heavenly blessedness with the glory of a Queen.

With seven major wars taking place around the world, numerous other insurgencies and local conflicts, economic unrest, and countless injustices it is even more imperative that we turn to Our Lady on these days with petitions of peace, pleas for brotherhood and equality, and supplications for those who are suffering.

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David Naglieri

I am writing from sunny Arizona where I am currently getting ready to host Salt + Light Television’s exclusive live coverage of the 127th Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus.

From August 4-6 thousands of Knights from Canada, the USA, and around the world will gather with more than 80 Bishops and Cardinals for the annual convention which celebrates the charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism that lie at the core of the Knight of Columbus.

For this year’s coverage we will be partnering with CatholicTV in Boston. I will be hosting with Kevin Nelson and producers Michele Nuzzo and Alicia Ambrosio will be on the convention floor bringing you interviews, analysis and constant updates. You can check out our broadcast schedule HERE.

There is another important element of this year’s convention that you will want to keep your eye on. Tomorrow (August 4) Supreme Knight Carl Anderson’s latest book goes on sale. Entitled, Our Lady of Guadalupe: Mother of the Civilization of Love, Anderson and his co-author Monsignor Eduardo Chavez explore the incredible impact of Our Lady of Guadalupe over the past four centuries. The book not only examines the history of the 16th century apparition, but also demonstrates the relevance of Our Lady of Guadalupe on our contemporary Church.

The book’s publication coincides with the The First International Marian Congress on Our Lady of Guadalupe, which will take place immediately following the Supreme Convention in Phoenix. Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, the Festival will bring together prominent Catholic speakers and world class musicians, including members of Quebec’s Famille Marie-Jeunesse community, as they celebrate the importance of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Though we won’t be broadcasting the Marian Congress live, we will be present filming highlights for a future program on the event.

Our production team is excited about being present for this incredible week of faith and fellowship. We hope you enjoy our coverage of the 127th Supreme Knights Convention.

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David Naglieri

Few news stories grab the public’s attention in as spellbinding a manner as an aviation tragedy. On July 23, 1983 Canadians breathed a collective sigh of relief as Air Canada Flight 143 just missed going down in history as an aviation disaster. Instead, the story of the Gimli Glider stands as testimony to the importance of preparation and calm during times of trial and difficulty.

The story begins when maintenance crews discovered malfunctions with the computer that calculates how much fuel was needed to get the plane from Montreal to Edmonton. Not wanting to cancel the flight they decided to do the calculations manually, even though this was not part of their training. Their nearly fatal mistake? They used imperial measurements to calculate how much fuel was needed rather than metric.

A warning signal began beeping at 12,300 metres somewhere over Red Lake, Ontario. The flight crew was struck by the sickening realization that the plane had run out of fuel. Captain Bob Pearson and First Officer Maurice Quintal faced a grim task. They had to land a 300,000 pound glider, without engines, power, and the use of most of their instruments. They quickly calculated that they would not be able to glide all the way to Winnipeg.

The only option was an old Air Force base in Gimli, Manitoba.

What the crew did not know was that the site had been decommissioned and converted into a drag strip. July 23 was also “Family Day” — the runway was covered with cars and campers as racing fans enjoyed the day’s events. As Flight 143 glided towards Gimli the skill of pilots Pearson and Quintal was put to the test. Captain Pearson was an experienced glider pilot and he resorted to many useful tricks he had learned. He executed a rarely used forward slip maneuver to slow the plane and reduce altitude just prior to landing.

Incredibly, he was able to land the plane on the runway stopping within 30 metres of the crowds. All 69 passengers and crew escaped unharmed. Both pilots were awarded the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Diploma for Outstanding Airmanship.

The story of the Gimli Glider is fascinating in many respects.

One part of the story that jumps out at me was the knowledge, skill and calm demonstrated by the pilots when encountering a situation that was unprecedented. Neither Pearson or Qintal had ever experienced, or even simulated, a situation where you run out of fuel several miles in the sky. Yet, their preparation and resolve saved lives.

Similarly, we as Christians cannot always wait until the time of our testing to begin preparing ourselves. We need to view every day as an opportunity to grow in our faith and virtue so that when we are confronted with difficult circumstances, we too can land the 132 ton glider that suddenly appears in front of us.

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David Naglieri

On this day in history (July 7, 1946) the first American Saint was canonized in Rome. Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, known to the world as “Mother Cabrini” left an indelible imprint on the Church in the United States and around the world. As we commemorate the anniversary of her canonization I reflect on just one aspect of her lifelong ministry: her willingness to sacrifice her own vision for God’s will.

Born in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, in Lombardy Italy, Maria took religious vows in 1877. Three years later she became one of the seven founding members of the Institute of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She then set up two missions in Rome all the while nursing her true dream, which was to be a missionary in China.

Mother Cabrini gained an audience with Pope Leo XIII seeking his approval for this missionary endeavor. However, at this time in history tens of thousands of Italian immigrants were arriving in the United States and in desperate need of pastoral care. Poor and destitute, cut off from their home and tradition, Italians were encountering difficulties adjusting to the Anglo Saxon, capitalistic American system.

The Pope told Cabrini “Go West, Not East” telling her the Church needed her more in the USA than in China. Despite her initial hesitation she accepted the Pope’s view and soon after began her long and storied service to the Italian immigrant community and poor she encountered in the US. She founded an orphanage in New York, which would become the first of 67 institutions she launched in New York, Chicago, Seattle, New Orleans, Denver, and Los Angeles.

Mother Cabrini’s willingness to forsake her own personal ambition to evangelize in China turned into a blessing for millions of underprivileged immigrants who benefited from her ministry. Sometimes when we are determined to have our way, we should stop and listen to the voice of God, and to those we trust, to make sure we truly are following the right course.

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David Naglieri