• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Katarina Tominec as Blessed Pauline Jaricot and extras in “Heart of a Missionary: The Story of Pauline Jaricot” (Courtesy of Castletown Media).

Movie Review: ‘Heart of a Missionary’

August 29, 2022
By John Mulderig
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Feature, Movie & Television Reviews

NEW YORK – The life, work and legacy of the principal founder of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith is celebrated in the engaging documentary “Heart of a Missionary: The Story of Pauline Jaricot.”

Using interviews, dramatized scenes and a globetrotting survey of the current activities of the Society, filmmaker Tim Moriarty makes a strong case for the lasting impact of Jaricot’s apostolate.

Born in 1799 – as the rise of Napoleon was about to curb the excesses of the French Revolution, including its attacks on the Catholic Church – Jaricot was raised in Lyon by parents who were both prosperous and pious. Though she was tempted by bourgeois worldliness, the youthful Jaricot’s faith was deepened by an accident that almost claimed her life and required a long convalescence.

Her initial foundation was a union of prayer among female factory workers aimed at making devout reparation to the Sacred Heart. Out of this grew organized intercessions on behalf of – as well as small-scale but eventually bountiful fundraising for – the spread of worldwide evangelization.

Jaricot’s recognition of the role the laity could play in broadening the reach of the Gospel anticipated, in a significant way, one of the major themes of the Second Vatican Council. Among the clergymen with whom she cooperated was her beloved brother Philéas, a would-be missionary barred from traveling abroad by ill-health.

Jaricot’s other activities, as touched on in the movie, included establishing the Living Rosary Association, membership of which exceeded 2 million in France alone at the time of her death. Her attempt to create a model factory – one in which industrial laborers would be well-treated, appropriately paid and allowed time for leisure and prayer – ended in disastrous failure, however.

Swindled by those to whom she had entrusted the funds for the project, which constituted her entire fortune, Jaricot was forced into bankruptcy and treated as a disgrace by Lyon’s previously receptive middle class. She died penniless in 1862.

Yet that was hardly the end of her influence. As Moriarty’s script reminds us, the United States was considered mission territory until the early years of the 20th century, and the Society was vital to the growth of the American church, particularly in the South.

Prominent among the host of Jaricot’s heirs, moreover, was Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, author, radio and television personality as well as national director of the Society from 1950 to 1966.

Archbishop Sheen’s current successor, Monsignor Kieran Harrington, appears on screen to celebrate Jaricot’s accomplishments. So, too, do Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and Archbishop Giampietro Dal Toso, both of whom serve in the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization.

Jaricot was declared venerable in 1963. She was beatified May 22.

While unlikely to interest small children, “Heart of a Missionary” is suitable for all ages and will make inspirational viewing, whether screened in a home setting or used as a catechetical tool for groups. It can be watched for free online, in English or Spanish, at: blessedpauline.org.

Read More Movie & Television Reviews

Videogame Review: ‘Death or Treat’

Movie Review: ‘Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse’

Movie Review: ‘Padre Pio’

Movie Review: ‘The Boogeyman’

Videogame Review: ‘The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’

Shia LaBeouf: ‘I fell in love with Christ’ to portray Padre Pio on screen

Copyright © 2022 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

John Mulderig

Formerly a staff member for Catholic News Service, John Mulderig has been reviewing visual media from a Catholic perspective for 15 years. His column is syndicated by Catholic Review Media. Follow his reviews on Twitter @CatholicMovie.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Sisters Poor of Jesus Christ bring love to troubled streets
  • Leadership changes on way at two Jesuit schools in Baltimore
  • Oblate Sisters celebrate 10th anniversary of transfer of Mother Lange’s remains
  • The day a tractor-trailer hit my van
  • Cathedral of Mary Our Queen will host Corpus Christi celebration

| CURRENT EDITION |

| 2023 Attorney General’s Report |

Abuse survivor reflects on John Merzbacher’s death

Archbishop Lori affirms support for transparency in addressing sexual abuse

Believe us: Survivors express anger, hope following release of attorney general’s report

‘Good is stronger than evil,’ Archbishop Lori proclaims at Easter Mass

Maryland attorney general acknowledges that church has changed response

| Crisis in Ukraine |

Ukraine dam destruction a ‘diabolical act’ in genocidal war, says archbishop, Ukrainian Catholics

Papal envoy meets Zelenskyy in Kyiv amid destruction of critical dam that flooded south of country

Ukrainian religious scholars provide advice to British experts collecting evidence of Russian crimes for trial in The Hague

After visit to Ukraine, Swedish cardinal says he hopes for ‘just peace’

Ukrainian church leaders cite lack of information on Vatican initiatives

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

| Movie & Television Reviews |

Videogame Review: ‘Death or Treat’

Movie Review: ‘Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse’

Movie Review: ‘Padre Pio’

Movie Review: ‘The Boogeyman’

Videogame Review: ‘The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’

| En español |

Expertos esperan avances en salud, discapacidad y ministerio hispano en la reunión de junio de los obispos de EE.UU.

La comunidad católica de Uvalde marca doloroso aniversario con Misa y oración

Una encuesta revela que la mayoría de los estadounidenses ‘rara vez’ o ‘nunca’ asiste a servicios religiosos

Defensores católicos de la migración piden una política justa al expirar el Título 42

¿Qué se espera con el fin del Título 42?

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Experts: Catholic media is essential to informing world about the church and the church about world
  • Pro-life activists mark Dobbs’ first anniversary, advocate for more pregnancy support
  • Missouri-based network connects abortion survivors worldwide
  • Pope on liquid diet, calls mother of baby he baptized in March
  • Survey: permanent deacon numbers in U.S. expected ‘to remain stable’ but continue slow decline
  • Trip to Uvalde, Texas, leaves Capitol Hill pastor ‘still processing’ how deep community’s trauma remains
  • Pope doing well after abdominal surgery, asks for continued prayers
  • Videogame Review: ‘Death or Treat’
  • Deadline approaching to apply for BOOST scholarships

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2023 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED