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This episode I share about “A Man For All Seasons”, the second selection of the Lenten Movie Club, which, at the time of this writing, is available to all members of Amazon Prime (which may have a trial subscription).
The playwright and screenwriter is Robert Bolt, a man who does not have faith. It is a true love letter to those of faith, by one who does not have one.
By contrast, a current motif in a lot of religious-based movies today demonstrate the irrationality of faith, but because “life is hard”, faith is well-worth clinging to. This is a lie.
Faith can be based on logic and insight, as demonstrated by the writings of some of the great theologian/logicians, from St. Thomas Aquinas (the Summa Theologica), to C.S. Lewis, Peter Kreeft, or even… St. Thomas More (the main character).
St. Thomas More was a great layperson, an author of a classic “Utopia”, a Chancellor, a lawyer, a skillful politician, one who educated his daughter at a time when doing such was frowned upon.
King Henry VIII wanted to have his current marriage annulled so to marry another, but when the pope wouldn’t provide one, he broke from the Church of Rome.
All King Henry VIII wanted to have assurances from Thomas More, that what he was doing was right, because he was honest; but Thomas More’s silence spoke more of his disapproval, even though he never once voiced such.
We see how easy it is to compromise when your life is at stake, but here was a person who would not bend his own conscience, because his faith was built on facts, on logic, and not in emotions.
A current example for today, is the battle for Catholic employers being forced to pay for artificial contraception, which goes against their faith (for those who agree with Catholic Church teaching).
Next week: Into Great Silence
The schedule is as follows:
Lent 1: The Diary of a Country Priest (available on Hulu+)
Lent 2: A Man For All Seasons (available on Amazon Prime)
Lent 3: Into Great Silence (available on Netflix)
Lent 4: Ordet (available on Hulu+)
Lent 5: The Passion of Joan of Arc (available on Hulu+)
HolyWeek: The Gospel According to St. Matthew (avail on Hulu)
Episode Log Times
2:54 – Worship Session (Music and Prayer)
3:45 – Repent! ‘Tis the Voice of Jesus
8:04 – Create In Me A Clean Heart
11:04 – Jesus Walked That Lonesome Valley
12:27 – I Want Jesus to Walk With Me
15:44 – Now Are the Days of Humblest Pray’r
18:01 – O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
21:44 – Intellige Clamorum Meum
23:34 – Spoken, Spontaneous Prayer
29:18 – Song of the Week (“Lord Have Mercy” by Steve Merkel)
38:34 – Reflections (Lent Movie:”A Man For All Seasons”)
53:42 – Final Comments and Doxology
A songsheet is available for free download. Right-click here and select “Save As” to move to your desktop.
SONG OF THE WEEK
“Lord Have Mercy” by Steve Merkel
From the album “Intimate Worship” (2000)
Copyright (c) 2000 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
********************SONGS***********************
REPENT! ‘TIS THE VOICE OF JESUS
Rev. A.H Ackley, B.D. Ackley
1. Repent! ’tis the voice of Jesus
Now sounding in your ear
The message of God rings loud and clear
Now seek Him for He is near.
Repent and be saved. Repent and be saved.
Repent and be saved. Repent and be saved!
2. Repent! while the Lord invites you;
Before the Savior fall
The wages of sin is death to all
Who heed not the Gospel call.
3. Repent! while the Holy Spirit
Is striving with Your soul
The burden of sin on Jesus roll
Surrender to His control.
4. Repent! for the days are flying
The final hour draws nigh
No pleasure have I says God on high
In seeking the wicked die.
5. Repent! for He made atonement
He took the sinner’s place
O turn to the Lord and seek His face
And trust in His saving grace
Public Domain;
CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART
Author unknown
Create in me a clean heart, O God
And renew a right spirit within me. [repeat]
Cast me not away from Your presence, O Lord
And take not Your Holy Spirit from me
Restore unto me, the joy of Your salvation.
And renew a right spirit within me.
Public Domain
JESUS WALKED THAT LONESOME VALLEY
Spiritual
Jesus walked that lonesome valley
He had to walk it by Himself
O nobody else could walk it for Him
He had to walk it by Himself
You must go and stand your trial
You have to stand it by yourself
O nobody else could stand it for you.
You’ve got to stand it by yourself.
We must walk that lonesome valley
We must walk it by ourselves
O nobody else could walk it for us
We’ve got to walk it by ourselves.
Public Domain
I WANT JESUS TO WALK WITH ME
Spiritual
I want Jesus to walk with me
I want Jesus to walk with me
All along my pilgrim journey
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.
In my trials, Lord, walk with me.
In my trials, Lord, walk with me.
When my heart is almost breaking
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.
When I’m in trouble, Lord, walk with me
When I’m in trouble, Lord, walk with me
When my head is bowed, in sorrow,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.
Come Lord Jesus, walk with me
Come Lord Jesus, walk with me
All along my pilgrim journey
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.
Public Domain
NOW ARE THE DAYS OF HUMBLEST PRAY’R
Rev. Fr. Faber
1. Now are the days of humblest pray’r
When consciences to God lie bare,
And mercy most delights to spare.
Oh hearken when we cry,
Chastise us with Your fear
Yet, Father, in the multitude
Of Your compassion hear.
2. Now is the season, wisely long
Of sadder thought and graver song
When ailing souls grow well and strong.
3. The feast of penance… oh, so bright
With true conversion’s heavenly light
Like sunrise after stormy night.
4. O happy time of blessed tears
Of surer hopes of chastening fears
Undoing all our evil years.
Public Domain
O LOVE THAT WILL NOT LET ME GO
Albert Lister Peace, George Matheson
1. O love that wilt not let me go
I rest my weary soul in Thee
I give Thee back the life I owe
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer fuller be
2. O cross that liftest up my head
I dare not ask to fly from Thee
I lay in dust life’s glory dead
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be
Public Domain
INTELLIGE CLAMORUM MEUM
Roman Gradual
Intéllige clamórem méum: inténde vóci oratiónis méae,
Rex méus, et Déus méus: quóniam ad te orábo, Dómine.
Come know these lamentations of mine
Listen to the words of this petition from me.
King of mine, and Lord to me,
Know that it is to You I pray, Dearest Lord.
Public Domain
All songs are in the public domain, unless otherwise noted.
Any songs written or adapted by Nick Alexander are available on music notation, for those who wish to introduce these songs in their own communities.
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Next week: Lenten Movie Club: Into Great Silence