As much as I love reading to my kids, there are times when my voice is shot or we need something different.
We’ve been experimenting with using movies in our homeschool — take a look at some of the Catholic movies that we’re watching. These help us to learn more about our Catholic saints or reinforce virtues I want my children to emulate.
When we’re studying our Catholic saints, I’ve found a huge selection of movies to explore. Some are geared for younger children, while others are best for teens and adults.
Studying Catholic Saints with Movies
October is filled with wonderful saints. One favorite is Saint Therese of Lisieux.
St Therese of Lisieux
Rated PG, this movie depicts the life of St Therese and reminds us of her unconditional acts of love and kindness.
Pope St. John Paul
We’ll be celebrating the feast day of Pope St John Paul II soon. To celebrate, take a look at some of these movies:
Karol: A Man Who Became Pope
Pope John Paul II
Nine Days that Changed the World
St Damien of Molokai
St Damien worked tirelessly with the lepers in Hawaii during the 1800s. This movie tells his story and how he cared for these outcasts, exiled to Molokai.
Mother Teresa
Enjoy this story of Mother Teresa, our modern day saint, and learn how she brought love, hope and salvation to the poorest of the poor.
St Francis of Assisi
Your children will enjoy Francis the Knight of Assisi – the story of how Francis gave up everything to follow God.
Don’t forget to add Clare and Francis to your ‘must watch’ list, too.
St Francis Xavier
St Francis Xavier was a Jesuit missionary, traveling the world to save pearl divers, battle with pirates and quested with samurai. My children love to study the globe and trace his travels.
St Bernadette
St Bernadette is one of our family’s favorite saint stories. You can watch Song of Bernadette or enjoy Bernadette the Princess of Lourdes
Our Lady of Fatima
Have you read about the Miracle of the Sun with your children? Grab your favorite snacks and settle in to watch The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima
St Padre Pio
Follow the boyhood of Padre Pio and throughout his 50 years of being a Capuchin friar.
St Nicholas
While you’re gathering the supplies to make Saint Nicholas crafts, put on Nicholas the Boy who Became Santa for your children to enjoy.
Teaching About the Mass with Movies
Wondering about Confession, Communion, or Intercessory Prayer? You’ll find the answers here, in The Greatest Miracle
The series of Brother Francis movies cover a wide variety of Catholic topics, from the Mass to the Rosary, to the saints and more.
Movies with Catholic Themes and Virtues
Keys to the Kingdom
Gregory Peck stars in this timeless classic of Father Chisolm, sent to China to rebuild an abandoned mission.
This beautiful story of marriage is based on a book written by Pope St. John Paul II. It’s a beautiful reminder of how our actions affect those around us.
Imagine a fourth wise man, who missed the Magi’s trip to visit the Child Jesus. He seeks Jesus all of his life, missing him at every turn, only to finally find him on Easter Sunday.
This story encourages you to live your faith and use your gifts to help those in need.
The Way is Aa powerful and inspiring story about family, friends and the challenges we face. Martin Sheen embarks on the Camino de Santiago, or the Way of St James.
The Miracle of Marcelino
tells the story of the friars of a poor war-ravaged monastery find an infant abandoned on their doorstep.
In the classic Bells of St Mary’s Father O’Malley and Sister Benedict indulge in friendly rivalry, and succeed in extending the school through the gift of a building.
In The Trouble with Angels, two mischievous students turn a convent upside down with their hijinks. (this is one of my very favorite Haley Mills movies!)
Lilies of the Field tells the story of Homer Smith meeting up with five nuns in the Arizona desert. He’s asked to fix their roof, then stays on to build a chapel, without a monetary reward.
In Scarlet and the Black, Gregory Peck plays a Vatican priest who helps Allied POWs escape Nazi-occupied Rome.
A young Catholic priest from Boston confronts bigotry, Naziism, and his own personal conflicts as he rises to the office of The Cardinal
Two French nuns come to America and set operations in a local stable to earn money for a children’s hospital.
What about you? Do you have a favorite Catholic movie I left off the list? Be sure and share your ideas in the comments!
Head over and visit my friends at the iHomeschool Network to see how they use movies in their homeschool, too!
Can you provide age appropriate ratings? We have 6 kids from 3-19
Blessings!!
Joan of Arc, the original one! An absolute favourite.