The Sacrament of Divine Mercy

Video Description:

Based on an incident from the life of St. John Bosco, this film explores the pull of Satan but the eventual triumphant of fervent prayer and one’s desire to be right with God through the sacrament of confession.

Award Category: Individual – Sacraments
Video Category: Sacraments
Church/School/Group: St. Theresa Catholic Church
Created By: Gabriel Castillo
Location: Sugar Land, TX

15 comments on “The Sacrament of Divine Mercy

  1. Robert Schwartz on said:

    Thanks for this inspiring theology on Confession. It is one sacrament we can receive regularly, cleansing us, renewing God’s grace in us, requiring us to be humble in acknowledging our human weaknesses, but remembering that we are really speaking to God, who loves us even more by our seeking His pardon.

  2. Angel Palacios on said:

    This awsome and really beautiful, I think you got the reconciliation right on! and the priest’s prayer for the souls, WE should always be praying for all our priests, and our soul as well as our brother’s in the world, may God bless y’all

  3. anonymous on said:

    What do you do if you haven’t been to confession in a long time (a year) and you don’t know the number? Should you guesstimate or say you don’t know?

    • Suzanne on said:

      Hello!
      Great question! It’s helpful to the priest to know about how long it’s been (guesstimate) since you’ve been to confession just so he has a sense as to whether it was last week or 5+ years or so. Just guesstimate as accurately as possible. If it’s been awhile, no worries, the attitude of the priest is often “Welcome home!”
      Here is a link to an article I wrote (years ago!) called “How to Make a Good Confession”. I hope you find it helpful. Thanks again for the question. I’m sure there are many out there who had have the same thought. God bless you for your courage! Suzanne

      http://www.georgiabulletin.org/local/2000/03/16/c/

  4. Fr. James Farfaglia on said:

    Gabriel:
    Really awesome. Thanks!
    Fr. James

  5. Gabriel Castillo on said:

    Most people don’t know that the official teaching of the church is that in order for a confession to be valid the penatent must confess all grave matter in kind and in number. It is also necessary to have sorrow for our sins and a desire to change. If we have a grave sin we must have a minimum of attrition in the confessional. Attrition is a fear of the consequence I.e. hell.

    The goal of this film was to convey these truths as envisioned by John Bosco. He was fighting the same battle priests are fighting today and he is a role model priest. The other goal of this film is to encourage vocations rooted in the victimhood and sacrificial nature of Christs priesthood. A priesthood that models the Father in the story of the prodigal son… a father who is waiting and ready for his son to return so he can forgive him. Without the priesthood their is no Sacrament of Confession. Without victimhood their is no salvation.

    St. John Bosco… Pray for us
    Mary Help of Christians… Pray for us

    Thank you to all of those kind and generous souls who have helped me put this together.
    And greater thanks to those good priests especially at St Theresa’s Catholic Church who hear confession 3 times a day.

    • Gabriel Castillo on said:

      Although it is not the topic of this film it should be noted that the CCC strongly encourages frequent confession even when there is no mortal sin. Pope Paul VI defined frequent confession as every 8 days. A mortal sin is 1)Grave Matter 2) Done Knowingly 3) Done willingly.

      Peace, God bless you, and God love you!

      Come Holy Spirit and help us to be the holy people you created us to be. Thanks for the votes!

      • Gabriel Castillo on said:

        Scriptural References

        Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
        ***John 20:21-23***
        NB: This happened AFTER Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Confess your sins to God? yes, me too… but I also confess my sins to God through his minister. Why? Because Jesus’ words are clear.

        “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” James 5:16

        “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
        Matthew 18:18

        “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation”
        2 Corinthians 5:18

        “There is such a thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that you should pray. All wrong doing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.” 1 John 5:16-17

        “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
        Galatians 5:19-21

        “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
        1 Corinthians 6:9-11

  6. AFhobbie on said:

    This is the reality of confession these days.
    Meanwhile there are many out there fighting for “Hey , just accept Christ, that is all”.
    I wonder, who wispered in those ears.?

    • Suzanne on said:

      This video is a modern-day adaptation of an event from the life of St. John Bosco, who lived in the 1800s. He has an interesting history, including having had a dream at 9 when he was called to eventually minister to unruly boys. Here’s a bit more on his life: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=63.
      Also, check out the video “Confession” on this site–it gives you a good perspective of the sacrament from a teen and young adults. God bless!

  7. Sonda on said:

    Thank you for the prospect of our Priest. I’m sure most people don’t realize what they are willing to endure, all for their love of Jesus. Great job! May God continue to bless you and your missions.

    Sincerely,

    Sonda

  8. Wil Bernhard on said:

    Haha I used iMovie ’09 and was considering upgrading right before the contest

  9. Anonymous on said:

    Thanks! I used iMovie 11 and Garage Band.

  10. Wil Bernhard on said:

    Hey great video! What editing software did you use?

  11. Suzanne on said:

    Thank you for this! You’ve effectively portrayed the tug of war between good and evil using this incident in the life of St. John Bosco and have illustrated the relief and freedom from our sins when we ask for forgiveness and seek God’s grace to do better the next time. Many people can benefit from this message.
    I would love to hear of your experience when making this film and what you learned from the process.
    God bless your efforts!
    Suzanne

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