Summer is here and we all know what that means: vacation time. After working hard throughout the year, we’re all due some rest and relaxation to renew our spirits and reconnect with our families. Whether we head for the beach, the mountains, or somewhere in between, there’s one sure bet for most of us: after we’ve spent the day communing with nature and/or the local tourist attractions, chances are we’ll pop in a nighttime movie once we’ve come back inside.

            As I write these words, the American Film Industry (AFI) is broadcasting its annual countdown of 100 classic movies, with this year’s edition focusing on the top ten films within ten popular genres. Included are such categories as Romantic Comedies, Courtroom Dramas, and Sci-Fi Flicks. Notably absent from this year’s list is the category of Spiritual Classics - a shocking omission given the deep spirituality of so many of today’s top executives in Hollywood.

            As a corrective to this oversight - as well as a feature of edification for our parish this summer - I here offer Binder’s Top Ten list of Spiritual Movie Classics:

            #10 Walk the Line (2005). This recent film wonderfully portrays the real-life story of sin and redemption in the life of “the Man in Black,” Johnny Cash. After coming to his faith, Cash once told Billy Graham that he wanted to give up music and become a preacher. Graham advised him to let his music become his message - advice that Cash took to heart. This movie illuminates the roots of Cash’s personal epiphany and how he began to spread that message to the world.

            #9 Godspell (1973). Yes, the outfits and the hair are dated (Stephen Schwartz emailed me that he’d love to do a remake), but the parable-propelled music is both joyous and stirring in this film adapted from the once popular off-Broadway musical. Believe it or not, most of the lyrics are taken straight from the 1940 Episcopal Hymnal. Look for a young Victor Garber as the Jesus character.

            #8 Joyeux Noel (2005). The only foreign film on the list, this movie is actually in three languages (with subtitles): French, German and English. It recounts the so-called Christmas Miracle of 1914 when informal truces were observed on December 24th up and down the front lines in World War I. Watch for the powerful scene where midnight mass is celebrated together by all three armies between the barbed wire - a brief ray of hope in the midst of such horrible human tragedy.

            #7 The Scarlet and the Black (1983). In 2003, the AFI voted the fictitious Atticus Finch as the top movie hero of all time. While a noble choice, my vote goes for Gregory Peck’s portrayal of a real-life hero in this movie: Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, who saved thousands from the hands of the SS during World War II. Be sure to read the epilogue for an account of how O’Flaherty went on to baptize the same German officer who repeatedly tried to have him killed.

            #6 Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972). Franco Zeffirelli’s beautifully filmed movie portrays the early life of St. Francis of Assisi. After seeing this film, you may find yourself ready to throw all your earthly possessions out the window, just as did Francis. Donovan wrote the movie’s many beautiful songs, while Alex Guinness plays Pope Innocent III.

            #5 The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe (2005). C. S. Lewis’ classic tale comes to life in this lightly veiled allegory of Christ’s sacrificial victory over the forces of evil. Technical wizardry, adept acting, and appropriate voicings make the magical world of Narnia seem all too real.

            #4 The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003). J.R.R. Tolkien was instrumental in bringing C.S. Lewis to his faith. But unlike Lewis, Tolkien disliked allegory and preferred to inject Christianity into his novels in a sideways manner. Peter Jackson’s epic depiction of Tolkien’s classic is largely faithful to the trilogy and dramatically displays the cosmic struggle between good and evil as it plays out in “Middle Earth” - a literary precursor of our own fallen world.

            #3 Ben-Hur (1959). Winner of 11 Oscars, this classic film powerfully portrays the title character’s long path to redemption, culminating in his encounter with a soon-to-be-crucified Christ. The chariot race scene alone is worth the price of admission.

            #2 The Ten Commandments (1956). It’s hard to imagine Hollywood today making an epic with such a tight biblical narrative. If it did, it would be difficult to envision anything topping Cecil B. DeMille’s classic tale of one of our faith’s foundational stories.

            #1 Jesus of Nazareth (1977). Even after thirty years, Zeffirelli’s sensitive depiction of Christ’s life remains the best of the “Jesus movies.” Watch for the scene where Jesus skillfully tells the parable of the Prodigal Son to unite Matthew and Peter. A star-filled cast helps make the Gospel narrative jump off the page and onto the screen.

           As you make your movie choices over summer vacation, I hope that you will sprinkle them with some of the above top ten. Remember, we take vacations from the stresses of the daily grind, not vacations from God. Coupled with some prayer and reflection upon Scripture, these films will help you return from vacation feeling spiritually renewed and ready to face the world.