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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Twelve Films I Recommend to Catholic Artists

Gwyneth Holston · January 20, 2014


GWYN_Diary of a Country Priest Big
LTHOUGH TRULY meaningful films are few and far between, there are some that are profound on both artistic and theological levels. Most of the films on my list have subtitles and are in black and white. It takes more effort to watch these movies, but they stick with you for a long time.

Here are my favorites in no particular order. They withstand repeated viewing because of their richness and complexity. Most of them are available through the Criterion Collection.

Please comment with your recommendations!

1. Jeux Interdits (1952). Two young children cope with the idea of death on a small farm in France during WWII. This is suitable for teens and adults.


GWYN_Jeux Interdits

2. Diary of a Country Priest (1951). Excellent film adaptation of the book. A young priest is stationed in a difficult parish and all he does seems to result in failure. A visual representation of spiritual turmoil. This is suitable for all ages, but children and teens may find it incomprehensible.


GWYN_Diary of a Country Priest Small

3. The Flowers of St. Francis (1950). A series of vignettes that are of such purity and charm that they come very close to the spirit of the written version. This is suitable for all ages.


GWYN_Flowers of St Francis

4. The Seventh Seal (1957). A Swedish fantasy drama about the meaning of life. This is suitable for all ages, but I don’t think children would enjoy it.


GWYN_The Seventh Seal

5. Black Narcissus (1947). An incredible novel by Rumer Godden that follows the story of a group of Anglican nuns who attempt to found a mission in India. The intoxicating landscape attacks each of the nuns differently. This film is suitable for adults.


GWYN_Black Narcissus

6. La Grande Illusion (1937). A film by Jean Renoir that questions war via a dialogue by a cast of complex characters. Suitable for all ages, but only appreciated by adults.


GWYN_La Grande Illusion

7. The Ninth Day (2004). The story of a Priest who is on leave from a concentration camp for nine days. Each day he must converse with a young Nazi officer on the topics of good and evil. Suitable for teens and adults.


GWYN_The Ninth Day

8. The River (1951). Startlingly beautiful yet brutally unexpected film adaptation of Rumer Godden’s coming of age novel of a British girl in India. Suitable for adults.


GWYN_The River

9. The Mission (1986). Two Spanish Jesuits work in a South American mission and must defend them. Suitable for adults.


GWYN_The Mission

10. Pickpocket (1959). Interesting portrait of a man who flirts with temptation and almost loses his identity. Visually exquisite. N.B. The little girl from Diary of a Country Priest plays an adult in this film. Suitable for teens and adults.


GWYN_Pickpocket

11. Whistle Down the Wind (1961). When an injured wife murderer takes refuge on a remote Lancashire farm, the owners three children mistakenly believe him to be the Second Coming of Christ. This is suitable for children.


GWYN_Whistle Down the Wind

12. Angels with Dirty Faces (1938). A priest tries to stop a gangster from corrupting a group of street kids. This film is suitable for children.


GWYN_Angels with Dirty Faces

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Gwyneth Holston

Gwyneth Holston is a sacred artist who works to provide and promote good quality Catholic art. Her website is gwynethholston.com. Read more.

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President’s Corner

    2-Voice Arr. • “Creator of the Starry Height”
    Do you direct a choir consisting of women or children only? (Some call this a “treble” choir.) Download a two-voice arrangement of Creator of the Starry Height set to the tune of IOANNES by clicking here and then scrolling to the bottom. In our times, this hymn is normally used during ADVENT, and the Latin title is: Cónditor alme síderum. It’s important to say “cónditor”—placing the accent on the antepenult—because ‘condítor’ in Latin means “one who embalms the dead.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Equal Voices” Choir Pieces
    My colleague, CORRINNE MAY, has posted some delightful compositions for equal voices: that is, choirs consisting of all men or all women. Included there are settings of the “Ave Maria” and “Tantum Ergo.” They strike me as relatively simple and not excessively lengthy. (In other words, within reach of volunteer singers.) Even better, all the scores have been made available as instant PDF downloads, completely free of charge. Bravo!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Typo in the “Missale Romanum” (1962)
    The 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM was a transitional missal. It was on its way to becoming the 1970 version, but wasn’t there yet. It eliminated certain duplications, downplayed the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, expanded the role of laymen, minimized the Last Gospel, made many items optional, and so forth. Father Valentine Young spotted many typos in the 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM, especially incorrect accents. The Offertory Antiphon for this coming Sunday (OF kalendar) contains an error, citing the wrong verse from Psalm 118. It should be 118:107b, not 118:154. If you read verse 154, you’ll understand how that error crept in. [In this particular case, the error pre-dates the 1962 Missal, since the 1940s hand-missal by Father Lasance also gets it wrong.]
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Our Father” • Musical Setting?
    Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“To me it is a most inspiring reflection that, while empires and kingdoms have tumbled down, while language and custom of every kind have changed beyond recognition, still day by day the humblest Catholic priest in the remotest mission stands at his altar dressed in the garb of old Rome.”

— Father Adrian Fortescue (8 February 1912)

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