Thursday, October 18, 2007

Leo Severino on Life on the Rock this week

EWTN has been doing a wonderful promotion of "Bella" this week by interviewing Eduardo Verastegui on "The World Over" and Leo Severino tonight. (I have included a photo I took of Leo last January when I attended a screening of "Bella" at the Catholic Underground in Manhattan; note the pilgrim image of Our Lady of Guadalupe behind him)
Both Eduardo and Leo are part of the team of "three amigos" who, along with Director Alejandro Monteverde, took great risks by leaving lucrative careers, and began Metanoia Films.
Leo discussed with Fr. Francis the role of providence in making this film possible, how they found a financier ten days after the late Pope John Paul II blessed their effort, how the filming began on the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, how the first public screening was on the feast of the Annunciation.
This film is dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Leo has asked Catholics to promote the film by buying up as many tickets as possible, with our churches, youth groups and respect life groups. But, more importantly, we are to pray. Pray that "Bella" which has already saved two babies' lives, may touch millions more, and open the way for more such films. Leo discussed his deep devotion to St Philomena. He got engaged to his new wife next to her tomb, they both wore her cord to preserve their purity during their engagement, and visited her shrine in Italy on their honeymoon three months ago.
So, Leo asks us to pick a novena and starting today, which is nine days from the opening of "Bella" on October 26, pray for the success of the film. If they do well the first weekend, other theatres will open up, and Metanoia can go on to make more beautiful films for God. They have an idea to make a film about Blessed Miguel Pro and the Mexican Martyrs of the 1920s.

So, here on this blog, I will ask you to pray a Novena to St. Philomena for this intention. Please comment below if you wish to join me in this novena.

2 comments:

Elizabeth Kathryn Gerold-Miller said...

I will join in the novena with you!

Anonymous said...

Leticia -

The Bella team can't thank you enough for your unwavering support and prayers - if God wills success for this film, your intercession will be no small part of that.

God bless you and reward you in heaven.

Yours in Christ,
-leo severino