The Face of Mercy

Last updated

The Face of Mercy
The Face of Mercy poster.jpg
Poster
Directed byDavid Naglieri
Screenplay byDavid Naglieri
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyGeorge Hosek
Edited by
  • Marc Boudignon
  • Ted Maynard
Music bySean Beeson
Production
company
Spirit Juice Studios
Distributed by American Broadcasting Company [1]
Release date
  • October 16, 2016 (2016-10-16)
Running time
57 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Face of Mercy is a 2016 documentary about Faustina Kowalska, her mystical visions, and the role that the Divine Mercy has played in different people's lives. It is narrated by Jim Caviezel. [2]

Contents

Synopsis

In 2015, Pope Francis declared an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. The "year of mercy" [3] began on December 8, 2015, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and ended on November 20, 2016.

Since his election to the papacy, Pope Francis has inspired millions by urging us to embrace Mercy, ultimately revealed in the face of Christ. Now comes an extraordinary new film on this powerful message that brings hope, healing and forgiveness to a broken world. [4]

The documentary "draws connections between the history of Divine Mercy and this year's Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy" and weaves together a thoughtful, beautiful, and educational film. [5] Thus it is fitting that it is Pope Francis who says the first lines on screen. This is the context for this documentary, which came out during the last month of the Extraordinary Jubilee.

One of the first things said in the documentary, during the opening montage, is that "mercy is loves second name," which is a paraphrased quote of John Paul II. Divine Mercy, they argue, is God's response to the horrors of the 20th Century. [6]

History

It begins with the history of St. Faustina and how John Paul II (Karol Wojtyła) brought the message given to St. Faustina by God. It also highlights the influence Divine Mercy played in the life in the young Wojtyła. George Weigel explains that this devotion culminated years later in his second encyclical entitled Dives in misericordia (or Rich in Mercy). [7]

In addition to Weigel are John Allen, a Vatican Journalist, and Andrzej Duda, the President of Poland. [8] They both tell of their perspectives on Divine Mercy.

Theology

Led by Scott Hahn, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Fr. Michael Gaitley, Cardinal Seán O'Malley, and Fr. Seraphim Michalenko, the film uncovers the depth of the message St. Faustina received from Jesus. Furthermore, Weigel articulates the message of John Paul II's Dives in Misericordia saying, "In Christ we meet the Merciful face of the Father and the Truth about our Humanity." [9]

Film Festivals Awards

YearTitleNotes
2016International Lisbon Film Festival [10] Winter Edition
2017International Christian Film Festival [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pope John Paul II</span> Head of the Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005

Pope John Paul II was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his death in 2005.

A jubilee is a special year of remission of sins, debts and universal pardon. In Leviticus, a jubilee year is mentioned to occur every 50th year; during which slaves and prisoners would be freed, debts would be forgiven and the mercies of God would be particularly manifest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercy</span> Benevolence, forgiveness, and kindness

Mercy is benevolence, forgiveness, and kindness in a variety of ethical, religious, social, and legal contexts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Divine Mercy (Catholic devotion)</span> Catholic devotion

In Catholicism, the Divine Mercy is a devotion to Jesus Christ associated with the reported apparitions of Jesus to Faustina Kowalska.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Divine Mercy Sunday</span> Catholic feast day

Divine Mercy Sunday is a feast day is observed in the Roman Rite calendar, as well as some Anglo-Catholics of the Church of England. It is celebrated on the Second Sunday of Easter, which concludes the Octave of Easter. It is originally based on the Catholic devotion to the Divine Mercy that Faustina Kowalska reported as part of her encounter with Jesus, and is associated with special promises from Jesus and indulgences issued by the Catholic Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teachings of Pope John Paul II</span>

The teachings of Pope John Paul II are contained in a number of documents. It has been said that these teachings will have a long-lasting influence on the Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Divine Mercy image</span> Depiction of Jesus Christ

The image of the Divine Mercy is a depiction of Jesus Christ that is based on the Divine Mercy devotion initiated by Faustina Kowalska.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chaplet of the Divine Mercy</span> Catholic devotion

The Chaplet of the Divine Mercy, also called the Divine Mercy Chaplet, is a Catholic devotion to the Divine Mercy, based on the Christological apparitions of Jesus reported by Faustina Kowalska (1905–1938), known as "the Apostle of Mercy". She was a Polish religious sister of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy and canonized as a Catholic saint in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Works of mercy</span> Meritorious works or acts in morals

Works of mercy are practices considered meritorious in Christian ethics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cathedral of St Joseph, Sofia</span>

The Cathedral of St Joseph is a Catholic cathedral in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It is the co-cathedral of the Diocese of Sofia and Plovdiv, together with the Cathedral of St Louis in Plovdiv.

<i>Dives in misericordia</i> 1980 papal encyclical by Pope John Paul II

Dives in misericordia is the name of the second encyclical written by Pope John Paul II. It is a modern examination of the role of mercy—both God's mercy, and also the need for human mercy—introducing the biblical parable of the Prodigal Son as a central theme. The original text was written in longhand in Polish. The encyclical was promulgated on 30 November 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faustina Kowalska</span> Nun and saint from Poland

Maria Faustyna Kowalska, OLM, also known as Maria Faustyna Kowalska of the Blessed Sacrament, was a Polish Catholic religious sister and mystic. Faustyna, popularly spelled "Faustina", had apparitions of Jesus Christ which inspired the Catholic devotion to the Divine Mercy and earned her the title of "Secretary of Divine Mercy".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Divine Mercy Sanctuary, Kraków</span> Church building in Kraków, Poland

The Divine Mercy Shrine in Kraków, Poland, is a Roman Catholic basilica dedicated to the Divine Mercy devotion, and is the resting place of Faustina Kowalska, canonised by the Catholic Church on 30 April 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michał Sopoćko</span> 20th-century Catholic priest

Michael Sopoćko was a Polish Roman Catholic priest and professor at Vilnius University. He is best known as the spiritual director of Faustina Kowalska. He was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy Rosary Church (Baltimore, Maryland)</span> Church in Baltimore, United States

Holy Rosary Church is a Roman Catholic church located within the Archdiocese of Baltimore in Baltimore, Maryland. It was established to serve Baltimore's Polish community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Youth Day 2016</span> International Catholic youth event

World Youth Day 2016 was the 15th World Youth Day, an international event organised by the Catholic Church and focused on faith and youth that took place from 26 to 31 July 2016 in Kraków, Poland. It was the third World Youth Day held in Central Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy</span> 27th Holy Year in the Catholic Church

The Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy was a Catholic period of prayer held from 8 December 2015, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, to 20 November 2016, the Feast of Christ the King. Like previous jubilees, it was seen by the Church as a period for remission of sins and universal pardon focusing particularly on God's forgiveness and mercy. It was an extraordinary Jubilee because it had not been predetermined long before; ordinary jubilees are usually celebrated every 25 years.

<i>Misericordiae vultus</i> Papal bull issued by Pope Francis

Misericordiae vultus is a papal bull of indiction issued on April 11, 2015, by Pope Francis, proclaiming an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy from 8 December 2015, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, to 20 November 2016, the Feast of Christ the King.

<i>Liberating a Continent: John Paul II and the Fall of Communism</i> 2018 American film

Liberating a Continent: John Paul II and the Fall of Communism is a David Naglieri documentary about the role Pope John Paul II played in the demise of the U.S.S.R., the end of Communism in Poland, and lifting the iron curtain. It is narrated by Jim Caviezel, his fourth narration of a documentary regarding the Catholic faith and the second of which is about John Paul II. It is directed by David Naglieri, who has also directed John Paul II in Ireland a Plea for Peace and John Paul II in America: Uniting a Continent. The former was the first documentary Caviezel narrates that deals with John Paul II. It portrays the 9 day visit to Poland the Pope made in 1979, where he influenced the Solidarność movement. It also documents John Paul II's role in the movement to end martial law as declared by leaders of Poland, positing that his meetings with Communist leaders of Poland changed the course of history.

<i>Divine Mercy: No Escape</i> 1987 film

Divine Mercy: No Escape is a 1987 American religious biographical film edited, produced, and directed by Hermann D. Tauchert, written by Tauchert and Fr. Seraphim Michalenko, and starring Melanie Metcalf as Polish nun Maria Faustina Kowalska.

References

  1. "The Face of Mercy: Documentary Features Stories of Divine Mercy to Transform the World".
  2. "The Face of Mercy DVD – Narrated by Jim Caviezel".
  3. "Everything you need to know about the Holy Year of Mercy".
  4. "The Face of Mercy".
  5. "Documentary on How God's Mercy Transforms Lives to Air on ABC Affiliates".
  6. "'The Face of Mercy' Film Offers Hope to a Hurting World".
  7. "Dives in Misericoria".
  8. "The Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy_The Face of Mercy".
  9. "The Face of Mercy" on Formed
  10. "Lisbon International Film Festival".
  11. "2017 Official Selection". on International Christian Film Festival