ON FAITH & MEDIA | Nearing Grace

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Nearing Grace

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Source: Catholic News Service

Melancholy coming-of-age drama set in 1979 about an 18-year-old (Gregory Smith) trying to cope after the recent death of his mother -- his despairing father (David Morse) numbs the pain with booze and his older brother (David Moscow) retreats into mind-altering drugs -- while torn between lust for a sexually aggressive high school seductress (Jordana Brewster) and his affections for his soul mate and best friend (Ashley Johnson). Director Rick Rosenthal's adaptation of Scott Sommer's novel touches on themes of love, loss and death, and, despite the amorality of its characters in navigating their brokenness and grief, ultimately endorses a deeper appreciation of life and others. Sexual situations, teen smoking and drinking, drug content, an attempted suicide, rear nudity, a vulgar gesture, an irreligious dispersal of ashes, as well as rough, crude and sexually blunt language and profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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Theophilus of Corte: If we expect saints to do marvelous things continually and to leave us many memorable quotes, we are bound to be disappointed with St. Theophilus. The mystery of God's grace in a person's life, however, has a beauty all its own.
<p>Theophilus was born in Corsica of rich and noble parents. As a young man he entered the Franciscans and soon showed his love for solitude and prayer. After admirably completing his studies, he was ordained and assigned to a retreat house near Subiaco. Inspired by the austere life of the Franciscans there, he founded other such houses in Corsica and Tuscany. Over the years, he became famous for his preaching as well as his missionary efforts. </p><p>Though he was always somewhat sickly, Theophilus generously served the needs of God's people in the confessional, in the sickroom and at the graveside. Worn out by his labors, he died on June 17, 1740. He was canonized in 1930.</p>

God doesn't abandon people just because an accident happened. He doesn't abandon people who are the victims of poor judgment or of evildoers. He is always there. It's up to us to find him.

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