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I love recommending Catholic movies for families to watch together, discussing the Catholic themes within the movie. This month, I chose The Lion King because this movie illustrates how the Sacraments give us strength and guidance. The Lion King is also free to stream on Disney Plus, which makes it easy for many families to watch. As we follow along the big events in Simba's life, we see similarities between certain life events and Sacraments.
Why Catholic Movies for Families are important!
Our children will come across all sorts of media eventually and it is vital that we teach them to look for the good, true, and beautiful of the world!
Each month, we at Jump In Catholic Ministry write up a discussion guide for a secular movie that illustrates Catholic themes. It's a great way to build Catholic Family Identity, have fun together, and teach our kids how to look for the good, true and beautiful in everyday life!
Pre-Movie Discussion Questions:
Before we watch the movie together, I want to point out that The Lion King does a good job of illustrating different Sacraments.
Do you know what a Sacrament is? (“efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us” (CCC 1131).
How many Sacraments of the are there? (7). Can you name them? (Baptism, Confession, Eucharist, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Marriage.)
Do Sacraments help us? (yes, they give us special grace which is another word for God's goodness and life)
Sacrament Similarities of the Lion King (in Chronological Order)
Baptism:
Baptism is the first Sacrament of Initiation, which welcomes people into the Communion of God. Baptism is how God adopts us into his family.
In the opening scene of The Lion King, we see the whole community gathering together to welcome its newest member, Simba. Rafiki acts as priest, facilitating the initiation. He spreads an ointment on Simba’s head and sprinkles dust of the earth on Simba.. Then he presents Simba to the community. Zazu the bird is like the godparent, present to keep Simba on track.
The heavens open, shining light on the newly baptized Simba. I can’t help but think of the Baptism of Jesus, where the heavens opened and God spoke saying, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased,” reminding us that God welcomes each baptized person in a similar way.
The grace of Baptism welcomes us into God’s family and allows us access to all of the Sacraments and the powerful grace of God that comes with them.
Reconciliation:
A sacrament of healing, Reconciliation was instituted to help heal the relationship after we choose sin.
Simba chooses to disobey his father (sin). Simba and Nala go to the Elephant Graveyard (where there is no light), a place Mufasa told him not to go. Zazu, a godparent of sorts, tries to tell him to return. Simba and Nala experience the fright and darkness and fear that comes with concupiscence or the tendency to desire what is not good for us (sin). Mufasa enters into that dark land and saves Simba and Nala. Just like Psalm 23, “Even though I walk to the valley of death, I fear no evil for you are at my side.” Even when we choose sin and deserve the punishment that comes with it, Jesus the protector enters into our darkness and protects us. His self sacrifice saves us from sin and death.
After Simba has disobeyed his loving father, his relationship with his father is hurt. Mufasa is upset with Simba for disobeying, but more because he wants Simba to be safe and happy. Simba and Mufasa reconcile their relationship. Mufasa gives Simba a noogie and wrestle lovingly. “Dad, we’re pals right?” Simba says to Mufasa, recognizing their relationship is healed again.
If we see how sad Simba was when he strayed and how happy he was after reconciling, Simba is freed from guilt and is even closer with Mufasa.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation helps to do the same for us. We mess up, we sin, we make mistakes, but we must always say our sorry to our Father and let him forgive us.
The grace of the Sacrament of Reconciliation helps to heal our relationship with God each time we sin.
Anointing of the Sick:
Simba is broken, has left his community because of sin and shame and searches for a new life. He collapses, sick in body and mind, needing help. He is revived with water splashes from Timon and Pumbaa.
Simba’s face gets washed, which is similar to the head during the Anointing of the Sick). This revives Simba when he is sick in body and soul.
The grace of the Anointing of the Sick, a Sacrament of healing, revives us, sometimes in body, always in soul.
Eucharist:
***Notice how Mufasa (in this movie representing Jesus) dies before the Eucharist analogy appears.
Simba is hungry. He says, “I’m so hungry I could eat a whole zebra.” Simba needs nourishment. His friends Timon and Pumbaa share with him a new food saying, “If you live with us, you have to eat like us.”
He eats a new type of food, “Slimy yet satisfying,” recognizing that it’s less about how it tastes, and more about how this food will nourish him. This food gives him strength to continue on his journey and become a man (lion).
The grace of the Eucharist gives us strength to continue our journey toward heaven and becoming the person God calls us to be.
Confirmation
At 52 minutes, Simba, in need of direction, courage, faith and other gifts of the Holy Spirit, collapses and the wind (a common depiction of the Holy Spirit) carries his prayer. His prayer (scent) is carried by the wind to the priest (or bishop) figure who is able to determine Simba is alive. Using the same substance at baptism (like the chrism oil used at both baptism and confirmation) and anoints the head of the picture of Simba with red (like flames) ointment!
Then Rafiki says, “It is time!” which is what happens to us at confirmation! When we receive the Holy Spirit at Confirmation, we are sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, making them active for a reason which is to help us in our mission that God gives us to live out.
The grace of Confirmation activates the gifts of the Holy Spirit to know and live out God’s purpose for our lives!
Marriage:
God gives us people to help us live out who we are called to be. In Simba’s case, it’s Nala. Through the Sacrament of Marriage, she is able to point him toward his ultimate purpose in life. When we walk toward our purpose in life, we walk towards heaven. The main mission of husband and life is to get one another toward heaven.
“Why won't he be the king I know he is, the king I see inside?” Nala’s prayer for SImba during the Can You Feel the Love Tonight song. They have a martial embrace during this scene. And they kiss one another. I like to think of this as the You may kiss the bride of the wedding.
The grace of the Sacrament of Marriage helps husbands and wives guide one another on their path toward heaven.
Holy Orders:
Rafiki follows Simba and asks, “Whooooo are you?...I know who you are!...You’re Mufasa's boy,” reminding Simba of who he really is. This is a great reminder for all of us: our truest identity lies in being the son of God, adopted sons and daughters of God.
Rafiki tells Simba that Mufasa is still alive and that he will show Simba where he is! Simba follows Rafiki to a pond where he sees his own reflection. Simba says, “That’s not my father, just my reflection.” Rafiki says, “No, Look harder… You see? He lives in you.”
When men discern the priesthood, they discover their purpose is to be in persona christi for others. They literally let God use their body to forgive, feed and pray for the church.
After this exchange, Simba is able to hear Mufasa’s voice from heaven saying: “You have forgotten who you are and therefore forgotten me… Remember who you are. You are my son, and the one true king.”
Rafiki, the bishop figure, hits Simba on the head, in a way laying on hands like in holy orders.
The grace of the Sacrament of Holy Orders allows men to act in Persona Christi and bring Christ into the world in an extraordinary way.
Post Movie Discussion:
Have you ever thought about your purpose in life?
Each of us is called to know, love and serve God. If we choose to do that every day, and receive the sacraments often, we will know what to do when God reveals our vocation and what he wants from us specifically.
Simba heard Mufasa’s loving voice and Scar’s accusing voice. How do we know whose voice to listen to in our lives?
Here is a quick cheat sheet (taken from the book I just wrote, Level Up) to determine the qualities of God.
Simba is stronger than those who have been starving because he has been eating bugs. Do you feel when you receive the eucharist that you are stronger? Why or why not?
Remember: Your deepest identity is a son/daughter of God.
Let us never forget that. I love the quote, “Remember who you are, remember.” Anytime you feel stuck or weak, say to yourself, “remember.”
Thanks for reading! I pray you and your family had a wonderful Catholic movie night and that you all have grown in your love for the Sacraments of the Church!
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