Why Catholics Do What They Do (In Church)

Hosted by a group of peppy teenagers buoyed by enthusiastic members of the Catholic Church, Why Catholics Do What They Do (In Church) presents viewers with an overview--in four-to-seven-minute segments--of the signs and symbols of Catholic doctrine. Brief interviews and voiceover narration are combined with footage of various ceremonies and rituals covering the use and significance of candles, the cleansing properties of water and its function as a symbol of both life and death, the importance of various hand gestures (as well as standing, genuflecting, and sitting in Catholic mass), and the meaning of the "sign of the cross." Aimed at young people and catechumens, the film's simple production values and enthusiastic narrative format are effective in making complicated rituals accessible while still continuing to reverence the mystery that is integral to the Catholic faith. Recommended. Aud: J, H, P. (A. Cantú)