An "Unplanned" Discovery: A 1949 Prayer for Motion Pictures (UPDATED April 2)

This weekend the controversial movie Unplanned opened in theaters across the US. Tickets sales were double the rather pessimistic expectations. No one really thought that a pro-life conversion story that told a behind-the-scenes story from Planned Parenthood would be much of a hit at the box office (especially since major media players refused to sell the time for commercials).

Even the social media marketing was compromised (all weekend long) as Twitter repeatedly took the movie's account @UnplannedMovie offline for algorithmically identified "violations of policy." Around midnight this morning (Monday), it was happening again: the account went from over 200,000 followers to 2,000, and if someone attempted to follow the account, they were bounced off as soon as they clicked elsewhere. The problem was resolved rather quickly once high-profile actress @PatriciaHeaton (with 400K+ followers) weighed in:

UPDATE: Simcha Fisher makes some relevant observations, however, especially noting that at first the Twitter shutdowns were acknowledged by Abby Johnson to have been caused by the unexpected (and massive) increase in the number of followers to the movie's account. To the Twitter computers, that really did look suspicious. But there may be some backroom manipulation at play on the "white hat" side, too. (I hope to God not.) Anyway, read Fisher's post for more detail. I had never heard of the alt-right group she mentions, but, as Paul says, "what fellowship has light with darkness?" (2 Cor 4:16): Does the pro-life effort really need to resort to sneaky and backhanded methods? 

You can find all the really relevant material on the movie's website, including an offer for a free audiobook of the original story of the Planned Parenthood manager, Abby Johnson, whose life and conversion are at the heart of the movie.

The movie itself hopes to be the beginning of a conversation, and invites women and men alike to begin to share their own "unplanned" stories (something that has begun already on Twitter), and to inspire any "closet" pro-lifers to begin to take more active steps.




All this by way of almost an introduction to the prayer I discovered yesterday in my ongoing project of translating some of the works of our Founder. Flipping through a book of his newsletter items, I found a 1949 prayer for the Cinema which I cannot remember ever seeing, hearing or praying before. It has a breadth of scope and vision that I believe filmmakers of all monotheistic religions would readily embrace; in fact, we can all pray this prayer to support the artists of the world of film, starting today with all of those who put so much work into making Unplanned a moving and fair portrayal of the needs, desires, and pressures so many women juggle while being bombarded with an array of messages that often contradict each other, and the common good.

So here, from the heart of Blessed James Alberione and from the dawning of the age of popular cinema, is a "new" prayer for motion pictures. You can also download a printable version or share the link: Prayer for Motion Pictures by Blessed James Alberione! http://online.fliphtml5.com/untp/hjqb/.

Prayer for Motion Pictures

O Lord, hear our prayer, listen to our desire. 
   On the silver screen where the image of man lives and moves, stretch forth your hand, O Lord, to guard filmmakers on the way of truth by your light which is purity, by your image which is good.

   Across the limits of distant lands and unknown languages may film become a profound bond that unites people in their knowledge of your beauty by means of the universal beauty of your works.

   Grant that motion pictures might also become truth, the teacher of those who are thirsty for knowledge and for peace, a guide for uncertain and and embittered consciences.

   Grant that the cinema become for us a magnificent book of images that teach us responsibility, that communicate a wealth of virtue and wisdom, that make us capable of uplifting our life toward an ideal which is you yourself, O Lord.

   This is the cinema that we want, O Lord, and promise to strive for with our best efforts, so that it might become, as every other discovery, what you willed to offer to human genius: an effective instrument of your glory. 
Amen.