ON FAITH & MEDIA | Howl's Moving Castle

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Howl's Moving Castle

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Source: Catholic News Service

Marvelous, hugely imaginative Japanese animated feature based on a popular novel by Diana Wynne Jones about a young girl (voiced by Emily Mortimer) transformed into an old lady (Jean Simmons) by a witch's curse (Lauren Bacall) who becomes the housekeeper to a handsome, but reclusive, wizard (Christian Bale) and his apprentice (Josh Hutcherson) and fire demon (Billy Crystal). Hayao Miyazaki's utterly absorbing film works so well on many levels that it can be equally appreciated by children and adults, and imparts beautiful messages about taking a moral stand, respect for the elderly, forgiveness and the senselessness of war. Subtitles in Japanese version. Battle scenes, some frightening images for very young children. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested.

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Romuald: After a wasted youth, Romuald saw his father kill a relative in a duel over property. In horror he fled to a monastery near Ravenna in Italy. After three years some of the monks found him to be uncomfortably holy and eased him out.
<p>He spent the next 30 years going about Italy, founding monasteries and hermitages. He longed to give his life to Christ in martyrdom, and got the pope’s permission to preach the gospel in Hungary. But he was struck with illness as soon as he arrived, and the illness recurred as often as he tried to proceed. </p><p>During another period of his life, he suffered great spiritual dryness. One day as he was praying Psalm 31 (“I will give you understanding and I will instruct you”), he was given an extraordinary light and spirit which never left him. </p><p>At the next monastery where he stayed, he was accused of a scandalous crime by a young nobleman he had rebuked for a dissolute life. Amazingly, his fellow monks believed the accusation. He was given a severe penance, forbidden to offer Mass and excommunicated, an unjust sentence he endured in silence for six months. </p><p>The most famous of the monasteries he founded was that of the Camaldoli (Campus Maldoli, name of the owner) in Tuscany. Here he founded the Order of the Camaldolese Benedictines, uniting a monastic and hermit life. </p><p>His father later became a monk, wavered and was kept faithful by the encouragement of his son.</p>

Jesus has suffered for all of us, and he suffers in all of us. He is the reason why redemption and glory are destined to rise up out of our own suffering. We simply need to adhere to him in faith, hope, and love.

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