#11 - Life Truths from the movie “Saint Ralph”

Haven’t seen a good movie lately? Then try watching “Saint Ralph,” which was released several years ago. This movie, while not a Christian movie as such, makes many life truths for Christians to embrace. What follows are just the ones I’ve discovered so far. I discover something new almost every time I see this movie, which has been more times than any other I can remember. As you reflect on this movie afterwards, I wouldn't be surprised if God reveals other life truths to you. I would appreciate your sharing them with me so that I can add them to this list.

[Warnings: (1) It is best NOT to read the following until AFTER you have seen the movie. Some statements refers to scenes in the movie AND the statements will make more sense if you’ve seen the movie first; (2) When you see the film, be sure to advance it when it gets to the swimming pool scene. It’s enough to know that Ralph sees a girl showering and experiences a “wet dream” that results in the entire pool being emptied and cleaned. Funny scene but a certain stumbling block.]; and (3) but if you truly want to make this a family friendly movie, just start the movie at the scene where Father Fitzgerald is speaking to Ralph after the swimming pool incident. You could just summarize the movie until then if you wanted to. Note though, that Ralph and Chester do swear several times and there are two brief sexual references which should hardly be noticed.)]

1. Even the “religious,” such as Catholic/Christian guys do struggle with “raging hormones.” It’s possible that even quiet, studious, and unathletic guys with glasses also struggle. (Remember why Chester wanted to go to the swimming pool?)Struggling with sin should not make you question whether you really are a Christian. Despite what you may think, there are NO Super Christians who always have their act together. The very fact that we struggle is proof that we are God’s forgiven child because only a believer would engage in struggle. It’s the unbeliever who easily surrenders to his/her fleshly self because he/she does not have a new nature that wants to conform him/her into the image of Christ.

2. (Relationships) If you’re attracted to a girl, it’s okay to be shy, even somewhat intimidated but be sure to stay bold. Better to make your self and your feelings known than to live to always wonder what would have happened if. (Remember Ralph not so much asking for but MAKING a date with Claire.)

3.(In the first scene with Father Fitzgerald, Ralph say, “I’m destined for greatness.” Father Fitzgerald replies, “You’re 14 years old, greatness is not an option.” This is one of the most outrageous statements in the movie.) I Timothy 4:6 says, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.” If you meet an adult who questions your ability or your faith because you are just a teen, either don’t have anything to do with them or just ignore them. Mary, Daniel, and David were among the many teens who achieved greatness in the Bible. Before the last 100 years in America, many achieved great things when they were very young. Today, too many adults expect too little from youth and insult them by failing to challenge them and to believe in them to do great things. Yes, even if you are in middle school , a preteen, or even younger, with God’s power especially, you can accomplish a whole lot more than you or most adults realize if you’ll just “attempt great things for God.” (C.T. Studd)

4. Difficult/impossible situations (such as Ralph’s Mom going into a coma) will often lead us to seek God in ways we might not otherwise (as Ralph did in trying to secure a miracle for his Mom).

5. You can sometimes discover just by accident what you are great at doing and enjoy doing, how God has gifted you – such as to do marathon running.

6. When you ask and believe God to do the miraculous, you need to put yourself in a place where He can make it happen. (Ralph not only became disciplined in running, but he studied the subject, adapted the suggested diet and training methods of past marathon winners, and even sought to practice spiritual disciplines he believed earned God’s favor.)

7. While practicing spiritual disciplines– such as praying and confessing sins – is a good thing to do, we need to avoid extreme, ascetic practices(such as touching and praying over dead bodies rubbing your knees with sandpaper).

8. Be discerning about what you are taught, as teachers will sometimes have an agenda that is not in line with truth but is biased. (Father Fitzgerald WAS correct in forbidding Father Hibbert’s promotion of the teachings of Nietzsche, an anti-God atheist who influenced the Nazis.)

9. When you step out in faith and attempt something that seems impossible, expect to face ridicule from some (Ralph’s classmates) and opposition,hostile at times, even from those from whom you would least expect it, such as spiritual elders and leaders (the elder priest, Father Fitzpatrick). (Matthew 23:31)

10. A person’s spiritual title or authority may not indicate spiritual maturity or greatness. Even those “closest to God” (as Ralph called Father Fitzpatrick) can be Pharisaic, or legalistic in wanting rules obeyed rather than the individual blessed. The gospels are filled with examples of when Jesus’ miracles met the condemnation of the Pharisees.

11. Be where you can exercise and develop your strengths and gifts, and not be in those places that discourage you from doing so. (The younger priest, Father Hibbert) wrongly submitted to those who asked him to disregard his giftedness – running. ) When God honors you with a talent or gift, honor Him by displaying it and bringing Him glory.

12. (Relationships) You may like someone and they may like you in return but it never mean they will always respond in ways that indicate that or that even make sense. (Consider the first time Ralph was swept away by Claire during a Mass.)

13. God is honored by our best efforts and our seeking to live right before Him. But doing none of these things REQUIRE God to answer our prayers the way we want Him to. (God was not obligated to heal Ralph’s Mom just because of all the things Ralph did. He acted according to His choosing and His timetable and not Ralph’s.)

14. In trusting God (say, for a miracle), you may face circumstances (such as your house burning, physical injury, etc.) as well as opposition and ridicule that make you want to give up. But those are the times especially that you must step out in even greater faith in pursuing your faith goal.

15. Don’t be bothered by those who don’t believe in you; its just not worth being bothered by their opinions. Choose to be with those who stand by you. Above all, remember that as a Christian, you have the Holy Spirit as your constant Helper, whose referred to as your “parekletos” or “one who comes along beside you.”

16. (In the scene where Father Hibbert tells Father Fitzgerald that he is going to Boston to support Ralph, he talks about how we all will be asked by God if we’ve ever just “put in on the line.”) God wants to do great things in us and through us if we are just willing to give Him the opportunity. Every day, we need to tell God, “Father, though I struggle to walk with and to become more like Jesus, I believe you still want to give me an opportunity to see you work in and through my life. I make myself available to see you do just that; use me however you choose to make an impact for the Kingdom of God in some way. I ask this in the name of your beloved Son and my Savior and Lord Jesus, Amen.”

17 . If you are blessed, you will have friends who will risk their own best interests to stand up for you (such as by hijacking a public address system (Chester) or risking their job to be there for you (Father Hibbert). But then again, this is what true friends and mentors do.

18. (Relationships) Men (and women) of character and faith are attractive people. (Remember Claire’s reaction when Ralph prays by his Mom’s bedside before the marathon.)

19. (After Father Fitzgerald tells him that he threatens him about the consequences of not going to Boston, and then Father Hibbert tells him that he cannot go and that he will no longer coach him, and then Chester expresses his lack of faith that he can win Boston, Ralph desperately tries to waken his mother and realizes he is unable to do so, he goes into despair and gets drunk while burning pictures of his family.) When we listen to those who either refuse to support us or friends who even abandon us, and we forget our originally calling from God (looking like Santa Claus to Ralph), we open ourselves up to questioning God and losing hope. Those are the times that test our faith and commitment but through which we can be made stronger if we realize more than ever that we can do great things for God only in His power and not simply through our own efforts.

20. Even though we will at times fail to reach our goals (whether it is winning a marathon or just getting the grade we want in a class), we are called to seek to do things with excellence, confident that whatever the results we have done our best. It is not our accomplishments/victories that bring God glory, but our doing things in a way that bring honor to Him.

21. You may fail to reach your faith goal, but your faithfulness will often win you the respect of others and may inspire them to believe God for their own faith goals. (Recall especially the respect Ralph received from his once ridiculing classmates when he entered the lunchroom after the marathon. Also, note how (1) Father Hibbert was inspired to not only revive his interest/gift for running but to even stand up against Father Fitzgerald; and (2) Chester was inspired to "lay it on the line" for Ralph.)

22. (As you recall what happened when Ralph walked into the school lunchroom after the marathon…) Remember that as a believer, one day you will walk into the Great Banquet Hall in Heaven for the Great Feast. On that day, do not be surprised if the people assembled do not stand up and applaud as you do. Be sure that their applause will not be because of your great accomplishments on earth but simply because you chose to live your life in a way to bring God the greatest glory and honor. And don’t be surprised that leading that ovation will be none other than the Savior Himself. (This will be in great contrast to Father Fitzgerald, the one Ralph called “closest to God,” failing to join in the ovation for Ralph.)

23. The theme of the movie is stated by Father Hibbert in the final scene of the movie: “If you’re not chasing after miracles, what’s the use?” We need to live our lives always looking for opportunities to step out in faith, to exercise our faith muscles and believe God to do the supernatural in and through our lives. To do anything less is to live a life that fails to honor God and one in which we will never fully realize all that God has for us to enjoy in this life. And, in so doing, we deprive those around us of seeing God work and deprive God of greater glory.

I hope that this movie motivates you to watch movies that not only entertain but which have great truths to teach. And I hope this movie illustrates how we can discover or be reminded of great truths not just in “Christian” movies. All well told stories, I believe, tell part of God’s story and things He wants to teach us. Sometimes, those truths may not be evident at first but will become clear as we take time to reflect on what we have viewed. Of course, reflecting on God’s Word has even more to teach us than reflecting on movies, if, as with movies, we’ll just take the time to do so.

* If you watch this with a group of people, here are some questions you might enjoy discussing afterwards:

Discussion Questions: (note specific incidents involving the individual)
1. What things can you learn from Ralph’s example?
2. What can you learn from the character of Father Fitzgerald?
3. What can you learn from the person of Father Hibbert?
4. What can you learn from the character of Chester?
5. What would you say is the theme of the movie?

[To a youth leader: In fact, you could take almost any of the 23 points above and lead a very good discussion for any youth group meeting.]