Author: Maria

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Film Review: The Shift

I love sci-fi, and I love romance. The Shift, a new film from Angel Studios, combines both genres to explore faith in a powerful battle pitting one man’s convictions with the author of all lies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fozskMtdwI8

In this powerful film, the protagonist, Kevin Garner (Kristopher Polaha), suffers loss after loss when his business and reputation tank, his child is abducted, and he creates emotional distance from his wife, Molly (Elizabeth Tabish) thereby losing her. The accumulation of grief sends him spiraling down a dark path where he encounters The Benefactor (Neal McDonough).

The Benefactor presents himself as a savior to Kevin, but he cannot sustain that facade, revealing the aggressive evil that lives underneath this persona. The Benefactor tries to seduce Kevin with the idea of controlling his destiny in a metaverse with infinite outcomes, encouraging Kevin to join him and in return being given the universe of his choosing.

In a despairing moment encompassing both fear and helplessness, Kevin turns to God, surrendering in prayer. The enraged Benefactor vanishes, beginning a cycle of violence and intrigue as Kevin seeks the tool that will return him to his rightful universe. In the course of this search, he is beset with false friends and declining health in a universe filled with despair. Despite this, he endeavors to share his faith.

In a poignant moment when he is sharing a story from scripture, he discovers that he is like Job. Despite the trials and tribulations he encounters, it is his faith that drives him to reunite with his wife, Molly.

The commanding theme of evil’s seductive pull is overriden by the hope found in one man’s faith.

Available in theaters on December 1st. I highly recommend this film for mature audiences. It is sure to spark great conversation.

An Angel Studios film produced by Ken Carpenter and directed by Brock Heasley. More information is available at angel.com/watch/the-shift. 
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Book Review: Come to Me: Living the Nine First Fridays by Sister Anne Flanagan, FSP

Sr. Anne Flanagan’s new book, Come to Me: Living the Nine First Fridays, is a boon to my faith life.  Sr. Anne invites us to enter into the extraordinary devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and she does so through a foundational education that prepares the reader for heeding Christ’s call to a closer relationship with Him.

cover of Come to Me with beautiful sacred Heart imagery

Preparing Our Hearts

I was not unfamiliar with this devotion when I first picked up this book. In fact, I have often attempted this discipline of attending Mass and receiving Communion on and off for probably two decades with no success at completing the devotion. I often struggled with my spirit being willing but my flesh being weak (Matthew 26:41) and succumbing to whatever distraction kept me from finishing the devotion.

In Come to Me, Sr. Anne prepares our hearts to listen to Jesus and enter into an intimate sharing with Him. She details the meaning of the devotion, its history, and its practice, and includes a scriptural understanding of how this devotion shapes us and molds our hearts for Jesus. At the end of the book, she provides a beautifully curated selection of prayers for us to continue in our spiritual practice.

“Devotion to the Sacred Heart is a solid foundation for our life of prayer.” (4)

As my knowledge of this devotion increased, so did my desire to try again. Each chapter that accompanies a month of the devotion matches a theme with a Saint and an accompanying Adoration guide. I am confident that experiencing this devotion with the guided prayer for each month will yield great spiritual fruit for me, and I hope, for you as well.

Come to Me: Living the Nine First Fridays

Sister Anne Flanagan, FSP

Pailine Books & Media

2023

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Review: Grieving Daughters Club

Andrea Bear’s novel, Grieving Daughters Club, captures the myriad ways we grieve as women. We are daughters, and we are daughters of the Father. Whether our earthly relationship as a daughter is a happy one or fraught with pain, it is our heavenly relationship with the Father that consoles and heals.

Through her characters, Bear explores the complexity of grief surrounding the death of a parent, but also touches upon metaphorical (and physical) deaths endured by the characters, such as the death of a child, the ending (or changing) of relationships, and in many ways, the little deaths to aspirations and dreams.

All of these themes are explored through friendships that develop over the course of a book club that is aptly named a “book talk.” The meetings use a book as a backdrop for conversation, enjoying wine, and building community.

When things in these women’s lives take a dark turn, it is in this community that they find the strength and support to overcome their grief.

Well-written and engaging, with interesting characters and plot twists, Bear captures a wide spectrum of grief responses and the role of community, relationship, and faith in healing.

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