By Matt C. Abbott
Below is a brief interview with broadcast journalist and filmmaker-turned-Catholic priest John Clote, OFM, Conv.
I recently had the opportunity to see Purgatory: The Forgotten Church, and it's quite good! The film begins by featuring the phenomena of near-death experiences from scientific as well as mystical viewpoints. It then goes into Catholic teaching on the afterlife. One of my favorite interviewees in the film – there are several, including [the late] Cardinal Francis George – is Father Doug Lorig, a convert from the Episcopal Church. Click here to read an interesting article about Father Lorig's experiences with purgatorial souls.
Click here to order the DVD.
1. I see you have a background in documentary filmmaking and broadcast journalism. Could you give my readers an overview of why you decided to pursue, and enter, the priesthood?
Friar John: "I decided to enter the priesthood ultimately because I felt genuinely called. But my call to the priesthood is a little different for two major reasons. First, it came later in life, after 20 years as a broadcast journalist and filmmaker; and secondly, I consider it a continuation of that first vocation. Grace builds upon nature.
"As strange as it sounds, I understand my vocation of being a filmmaker as a preparation for my vocation to the sacramental priesthood. As a filmmaker sharing stories of faith through cinema, I'm able to administer the 'sacrament of story' to God's people. Stories, like the seven Catholic sacraments, have the unique power to transform our hearts. Stories have, like the sacraments, the power to make visible unseen realities. My experience tells me God has a reason for constructing my call in this way, although I do not completely understand it."Through my career in filmmaking, I was involved in making films about the lives of heroic priests in Church history – St. Maximilian Kolbe, Pope John Paul II, Blessed Seelos, Solanus Casey. I began to notice how God worked in transforming their ordinary lives and how these moments of transformation were so fruitful for them and others. So it's both this relational aspect of the Catholic priesthood and its transformative nature that appeals to me greatly."
2. What made you interested in doing a film on the subject of purgatory?
Friar John: Purgatory has been misunderstood for a long time because of poor preaching and poor understanding. Over the centuries it has become distorted. I also was dismayed by the fact that so many priests were confused or ignorant of the Church's teaching. Consequently, today many Catholics are somewhat embarrassed by the doctrine of purgatory. So I wanted a film that would provide a clear understanding and explore what a beautiful expression of God's mercy Purgatory truly is. I think we have accomplished that task in this film."
3. What do you think it will take to get more Catholics interested in Church teaching on the afterlife?
Friar John: "First, watch this film. It's meant to educate, inspire, and ultimately create discussion, reflection, and prayer. Its purpose is ultimately evangelization. The Church's teaching is meant to bring us safely home into the heart of God. If we are open to listening to the wisdom of the Church, we realize that the Church's teaching on purgatory is an expression of divine mercy of the highest order. I think the viewer will be inspired to tap into the incredible spiritual power that exists in the communion of saints. If you begin to pray for those whom God inspires you to pray, you will inevitably become more deeply convinced of this powerful spiritual connection. The poor souls are called 'poor' because they can no longer pray for themselves. But we can. They are called 'holy' because they cannot sin anymore. Over time, these souls will reveal themselves to you in ways that will be very meaningful to you. Don't wait – and don't think you must know someone personally in order to pray for them. If you read the news and find someone who has died, simply say a prayer for that person. No prayer is ever wasted."
4. How do you think non-Catholics will benefit from viewing your film?
Friar John: "This film provides an historical, cultural and spiritual perspective on the afterlife. The film is meant for everyone. It's not just a Catholic film. It explains and illuminates Catholic teaching, but it's not categorically a Catholic film. This is intentional. That's why I began the film with an exploration of near-death experiences and with the question: 'Does human consciousness survive beyond bodily death?' If we start the conversation there, it casts a wide net in terms of the audience."