Children of the Rosary 9 | Page 8

To Save a Life: A Review

“To Save a Life” starring Randy Wayne and Deja Kreutzberg is a Christian film with an
amazing story. The plot centers around a senior in high school, Jake Taylor (Wayne), whose
childhood friend, Roger Dawson, commits suicide right in front of him. The basic backstory
is that when the two boys were young and best friends, Roger
pushed Jake out of the way of an oncoming car and took the
hit himself which resulted in a permanent limp. Later, in the
beginning of high school, Roger is ridiculed for his limp and Jake
deserts him for the “popular” crowd. After Roger kills himself the
story turns to Jake’s feelings of responsibility for his friend’s death
and then doing everything he can to keep any and all “outcasts”
included and loved. This results in Jake finding peace and God.
Unfortunately, I don’t advise that any child under 13 (maybe
even 14) watch this movie and even those older than 13 should
keep the clicker handy: there is one scene in which Jake and his
girlfriend Amy (Kreutzberg) engage in unchaste behavior. There
is also some language and teen pregnancy, drinking, smoking,
and drugs. Even so, however, if a mature teenager is interested in this movie, I HIGHLY
recommend it. It is a moving and exceptionally inspiring movie and absolutely worth seeing.

Every Idol But One
The resolution to amend ourselves and our lives must include the rejection of all our
sins. Chromatius, the proconsul of Rome during the reign of the Emperor Diocletian, fell
grievously sick of a malady which was pronounced incurable. Hearing of the miracles which
St. Sebastian worked in Rome at that time, he summoned the Saint to his presence. He
promised that if Sebastian would cure him, he would become a Catholic. St. Sebastian told
the proconsul "You shall recover, but first you must destroy all of the idols in your house."
Chromatius promised to do this. However, a few days later he sent again for the Saint, and
scolded him, saying "You promised that I would recover my health, yet I grow worse day by
day." St. Sebastian answered him "You have assuredly not destroyed every one of your false
gods." The unexpected answer stunned the sick man. Why would Sebastian say that? How
did he know? There was one idol, Chromatius admitted, which he had kept. Only one. It was
made of gold and he prized it greatly. St. Sebastian told him that if he desired to recover his
health, he must part with that idol also, even if he valued it above all his other possessions.
When Chromatius destroyed this last golden idol, he was healed of his incurable disease.
Gratefully he embraced the True Faith, receiving with his son Tiburtius the Sacrament of
Baptism.As it was with Chromatius and his treasured idols, so it is the same with our sins. If
we do not seriously resolve to relinquish our cherished sin then, sadly, it will be of little use
to renounce all the others. © 2011 Holy Family Press. Used with permission.
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Children of the Rosary