Catholic books and movies for families to get to know the saints better

CNA Staff, Nov 1, 2024 / 06:00 am

On Nov. 1, the Catholic Church celebrates the solemnity of All Saints, a day in which all who have attained eternal life in heaven are honored and celebrated. 

The Catholic Church has tens of thousands of saints, blesseds, and venerables — some of whom have had their life stories told in movies and books.

Here are several Catholic favorites to get to know some of the Church’s beloved saints a little better:

St. John Paul II

The two-part movie “Karol: A Man Who Became Pope,” starring Piotr Adamczyk, who became known around the world for his role portraying Pope John Paul II, tells the true story of Karol Woityla from his childhood and his teenage years to his life as an actor and writer, his entrance to the priesthood, and all the way to his death as well as the lasting impact he left on the Catholic Church and the world.

The film can be purchased through EWTN’s religious catalogue as well as Amazon and can be streamed on Formed and most major streaming platforms. (Editor’s note: EWTN is CNA’s parent company.)

Blessed Carlo Acutis

To learn more about the first millennial to be beatified in the Church, Blessed Carlo Acutis, look no further than the book “Blessed Carlo Acutis: A Saint in Sneakers.” Written by CNA Vatican journalist Courtney Mares and published by Ignatius Press, the book takes the reader on a tour through Italy to hear from several individuals who knew Carlo and share their stories about him. 

St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare of Assisi

“Clare and Francis” is a classic film shot in Italy that tells the story of beloved saint friends Francis of Assisi and Clare of Assisi. Known for its historical accuracy and authentic portrayal of these saints, the film is unique in that it’s one of the only depictions to tell the story of both saints and the role they played in each other’s life. The film can be streamed on Formed as well as most major streaming platforms and purchased from EWTN’s Religious Catalogue, Amazon, and the Catholic Market. 

St. Giuseppe Moscati 

A medical doctor in Naples, Italy, during the early 20th century, St. Giuseppe Moscati treated poor patients free of charge, encouraged his patients to receive the sacraments, and always placed himself in the presence of God before examining a patient. The movie about his life, “St. Giuseppe Moscati: Doctor of the Poor,” received praise when it was released in 2007 for its realistic and moving script telling the saint’s story, cinematic style, and ability to accurately depict Moscati’s humanity, deep faith, and medical achievements. The film can be purchased through EWTN’s Religious Catalogue, Amazon, and the Catholic Market, and streamed on Formed and most major streaming platforms.

St. Gemma Galgani

“The Diary of St. Gemma” is a translation of St. Gemma Galgani’s original diary that her spiritual director ordered her to write. The diary was translated by Passionist Father William Browning and published by Sophia Institute Press. The book gives the reader a glimpse into the life of the Italian saint and her numerous encounters with Christ crucified, the Blessed Virgin Mary, her guardian angel, and her physical experience of receiving the stigmata every Thursday evening.

EWTN original productions

EWTN has a plethora of original productions of movies that tell the lives of saints and can be viewed on EWTN OnDemand. Among these movies are “Mother Cabrini,” “St. Rose of Lima,” “Kateri,” and “St. Martin de Porres.”

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Books for children

To introduce children to the lives of the saints, “Saints Around the World,” written by speaker, writer, and missionary Meg Hunter-Kilmer, shares the stories of more than 100 saints from over 60 countries.

Theotokos Kids, a small, Catholic company run by husband and wife team Allan and Veronica Caballero, offers wonderful board books for younger kids on the stories of several saints and Marian apparitions. The books are also available in Spanish.

For older children, “57 Saints,” written by Sister Anne Eileen Heffernan, a Daughter of St. Paul, includes biographical information, feast days, reflections, and narratives about the lives of 57 saints including Sts. Lucy, Monica, Katherine Drexel, Edith Stein, Augustine, Juan Diego, and many more.