My Mother is a Saint. . .
September 15, 2009, 10:27 am
Posted by Cathleen Kaveny
CNS has an interesting interview with one of the daughters of St. Gianna. I’ve always been uncomfortable with her story, because of the way her decision left the other children motherless.
Another take on having a saint for a mother is the underrated movie The Third Miracle, with Ed Harris and Anne Heche. If you have’t seen it, it’s worth a spot on your Netflix lineup. The Anne Heche character is dealing with isssues of abandonoment by her mother –of a different sort.
I’ve never read anything by Dorothy Day’s daughter, but I imagine that can’t have been easy, either.
Consider this, for what it’s worth, another enthusiastic endorsement for “The Third Miracle.” Ed Harris’s portrayal of a priest struggling with his own doubts and disappointments is very well done.
Rick’s right on that–it’s a very good movie, all around.
And how about a third endorsement of The Third Miracle, which has a lovely score by a personal favorite film composer, Jan A. P. Kaczmarek.
You’ve convinced me – I’ve added the Third Miracle to my Netflix queue. Which, by the way, is looking kind of dull to me as I’ve worked through most of the movies I’ve wanted to see. So what else can you recommend?
I wonder how unusual St. Gianna’s decision is, to put off or refuse medical treatment for the sake of the baby in the womb. I’ve heard of several women – ordinary moms who live in my area – who have made similar decisions (and not all of whom survived, btw). Are there any doctors or nurses who could comment?
Fwiw, Blessed Franz Jaegerstatter is another (almost) contemporary who chose to die for a principle over his duties to his young children. And I suspect that if one searches the annals of the martyrs, there are a number of other examples. Not that I’m comfortable with it, either. It makes a person think.