The Church Militant
Video Description:
A film by Margaret Pustejovsky from St. Malachy Parish in Geneseo, Illinois, USA.
Contest: 2013 Goodness Reigns “Share the Story”
Created By: Peter Pustejovsky
Parish/School Name: St. Malachy Parish
Location: Geneseo, Illinois, USA
Experience Level: Beginner
Video Length: 3 min 57 sec
YOUCAT/Catechism Inspiration: The Communion of Saints (also known as The Mystical Body, of which The Church Militant is the church on earth).
Creative and technically well-done film. The difficulty lies in the theology of the Church Militant. Yes, we are the Church Militant on earth (as opposed to the Church Suffering in Purgatory or the Church Triumphant in Heaven). However, the Church does not see herself as Church Militant in military terms, in terms of tanks, guns, and soldiers. Some of the references were good (the armor of faith). You will notice that when St. Paul speaks of “Putting on the full armor of God” it is in a different sense than what you are presenting. The Church Militant is “fighting the good fight” of faith, of conquering our own selfish desires so as to die to Christ, resisting the assaults of the devil. It is doing battle in the desert! Analogies always limp, but this one was a fatal flaw in the film, because even if your overall message was good, and even if my interpretation is bordering on being too literal, this is how the audience will view and evaluate your film.
-Fr. James Bromwich