"We're glad you got everything you ever possibly wanted [while disregarding everyone else's life]" is an eye-opening summation of the moral in Disney's Little Mermaid. It reflects the ugly side of the me-centric philosophy of our western culture and demonstrates how it subtly proliferates. Great observation guys.

@stlouisix3

Жыл бұрын

Hullo, you should see Mostholyfamilymonastery/Vaticancatholic

@Cruizzerr

Жыл бұрын

​@@stlouisix3No. That is heresy.

@pjsmith4369

Жыл бұрын

@goodlawyer1813 Your avatar is an oxymoron, lol Or she acted like a typical teenager instead of the extraordinarily perfect princesses like Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella, who all lived “ happily ever after “. There is no “ happily ever after “ on this earth. Ever been a teenager or had teenage children?

This video reminded me of my grandmother who was a great storyteller. And they always had a lesson. These stories actually happened to her. I will tell one because it's short. On my grandmothers 7th birthday she was gifted her very own fishing pole. She was the youngest and her mother gave her a stern warning "Do not go to the pond by yourself. You must wait for your father or sister to bring you!" Well. She just couldn't wait so she went against her mother's wishes. She cast in her line of her brand new fishing pole. She gets a bite! It's a big one. She struggles to reel it in. To her horror when it broke the surface all she saw what was to her mind, two horns! She thought she caught the devil and threw the whole brand new rod into the pond. She realized when she was older she had actually caught a catfish!! But it was a good lesson and it's one I tell my grandchildren!

@stlouisix3

Жыл бұрын

Hullo, you should see Mostholyfamilymonastery/Vaticancatholic

@MrsYasha1984

Жыл бұрын

Beautiful story! Thank you for sharing it!

@antoniettadimarco3133

Жыл бұрын

Those life lessons keep us grounded….especially when it’s a personal experience.

@sharonsparks5121

Жыл бұрын

Wow, a moral to the story. ❤️ it!

@ourheartshaven

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing! 🥰🥰

My absolute favorite version of the Little Mermaid was the one that had her turn into seafoam but God saw her and showed her mercy. He made her into a spirit who could go to Heaven if she collected a thousand smiles from children. The story ended with the words: "Maybe her soul is near you right now. Give her your smile." It really struck a cord with me and I didn't want any other version ever again. Even now when I randomly smile I sometimes think of the little mermaid and if she got to Heaven yet.

@cjm537

Жыл бұрын

Beautiful 😊 Thank you for sharing.

@rdelamora17

Жыл бұрын

Where can I watch this?

@wiktoriarynkun3673

Жыл бұрын

@@rdelamora17 It was a book, I don't think it was adapted for the screen. But if it was, I would love to watch it!

@Amadeus_2061

Жыл бұрын

Such a wonderful comment. What version of the story is this? I'd like to read it.

@IONov990

Жыл бұрын

Ooh I haven't heard of this

I think Disney’s The Little Mermaid was more about the relationship between fathers and daughters. Ariel chases all her teenage impulses and like most teens, acts very selfishly. The good lesson to find is that even though she rebels against her father and runs away from him he is still willing to give up all his power and sacrifice himself to save her from her curse. Not as allegorical as Narnia, of course. ;)

@jennifercarr683

Жыл бұрын

Or the prodigal son. 😉

I think Lord of the Rings is one of the best and most impactfully beautiful stories. It enhances and reveals reality.

@brianfarley926

Жыл бұрын

Very true. Peter Jackson tried with the movies but also doesn’t completely understand it either. And I for one love both the book and the movies.

@stlouisix3

Жыл бұрын

Hullo, you should see Mostholyfamilymonastery/Vaticancatholic

@lilydiana8388

Жыл бұрын

Yes and they were all casted as white, as they were meant to be :)

@cardboardcapeii4286

Жыл бұрын

@@lilydiana8388 racist

@johnnewburn4750

Жыл бұрын

@@lilydiana8388 I'm curious of your opinion if there is a difference between LotR and The Little Mermaid in terms of whether the race of the cast is important.

One comment I want to make on Disney’s version: Ariel was turned back into a mermaid after the failed Ursula deal and that would’ve been that, but her father who forgave her and had mercy on her situation actually is the one that turned her back into a human… granting the happily ever after. Looked at that way, it’s a big commentary on a father’s love.

@Mshelt1822

Жыл бұрын

That is an excellent point!!! I forgot she became the shrimp like figure first but then her father took her place

@JoeSmith-gb4ng

11 ай бұрын

Yes that is a way you can look at it. However, you can also look at it in the fact that God's love takes on our sins and we make him into that tiny shriveled up shrimp thing every time we disobey him and sin. He loves us and his mercy and grace take on our sin but our sin has consequences and they turn God hear into a shriveled mess. In that light it's not such a great thing is it?

The Little Mermaid DOES live happily ever after in the original story, because she gets to serve God and earn salvation as she always wanted to.

@ikkinwithattitude

Жыл бұрын

It'd probably be more accurate to call it a hopeful ending? Andersen's Mermaid wants to be human because she wants eternal life, and her refusal to sacrifice the prince to save herself earns her the opportunity to attain it via a purgatorial state whose duration is affected by the behavior of the young audience. The best solution for Disney, then, probably would have been to have Ariel sacrifice herself and nearly die to give Eric the chance to defeat Ursula, then be healed once Triton's powers get restored. That would retain the happy ending while still imposing the consequences necessary to make it feel earned.

So true Father. I think even as adults we can easily just accept what's put in front of us due to the music and fairytale but forget to analyse what is the true story behind it!

I took my daughter to see this movie and came out angry at the lie Disney put out. “I Want More” is the worst. My daughter thought I was ridiculous at the time, but a few days later she came to me and said she agreed with me. Thanks be to God!

@pjsmith4369

Жыл бұрын

And she learned something from seeing it with you. It became a point of discussion for you both.

@SirBlackReeds

Жыл бұрын

There is one angle that you both missed out on. The system that's in the Disney movie is more rigid than the one in the original fairy tale. In the Disney movie, Ariel just wanted one day amongst the humans, and her father would not give her that, went as far as to destroy her valuables to sway her, as if that wouldn't backfire. Even Amish kids get one year to live in the city with as much technology as their hearts desire. In the fairy tale, while the Sea King could not give her human form, the Little Mermaid was directed to the Sea Witch, and even then, it wouldn't be easy to get to her, and she still had to agree to terms and conditions in order to achieve human form. The whole plot of the Disney movie would have been much shorter if King Triton had replaced the system with one that's less rigid.

The original "Little Mermaid" doesn't end with her becoming nothing but seafoam. It's not a tragic ending, but bittersweet and a beautiful illustration of love and selflessness. In the original story by Hans Christian Anderson, the Little Mermaid's grandmother tells her that while a mermaid lives 300 years, humans have much shorter lifespans, but they have an eternal soul that lives on in heaven. The Little Mermaid longs for both the prince and to have an eternal soul. She later hears from the Sea Witch if she wins the prince's love and marries him that part of his soul will flow into her and she will become human. If she fails and he marries another, at dawn the Little Mermaid will die of a broken heart and dissolve into sea foam in the sea at, the fate mermaid's when the die. She does fail. He marries another, but her sisters come with a dagger they bargained from the Sea Witch. If she kills the prince and lets his blood drip on her feet, she will turn back into a mermaid. She loves him and cannot do this and instead, casts herself into the sea. But, while her body returns to foam, she is caught up by a daughter of the air, ethereal earthbound spirits, one who tells her that she has become one of them because she strived with all her heart for an immortal soul and after 300 years of doing good deeds for the people of the world, and because of her selflessness, she will have gained an immortal soul and rise up to heaven.

@ntmn8444

Жыл бұрын

Girl, you missed the whole point of what Fr. Mike was even trying to say. You're clinging on a technicality. You wrote all this, but did you even bother to watch the rest of the video? What came after this is more important than whether or not the Little Mermaid became nothing but sea foam or not.

@merrywilding323

Жыл бұрын

@@ntmn8444 Thank you, but I did watch and agree with the point of the video, and the original story of "The Little Mermaid" actually illustrates Fr. Mike's point about "actions have consequences" and is a story "that helps us enter into the truth, the good, the beautiful," as he says. Many people are not familiar with the original story and by sharing the authentic version, perhaps more people would be drawn to it and can use it as an example of the major points expressed in the video. Best wishes.

@ThaoNguyen-jo7re

Жыл бұрын

@@merrywilding323 I agree, and I too appreciate your sharing the authentic version because the original story illustrates Fr. Mike's point even better than the mistaken version in the video, and has even a deeper Christian message (e.g. the ideal of a purgatorial stage between life and heaven). Also a small point regarding "actions have consequences": for the original little mermaid, the consequence of her transition was immediate: every step she took was like stepping on broken glasses. Ariel didn't have to suffer this.

@merrywilding323

Жыл бұрын

@@ThaoNguyen-jo7re Thank you for your kind comment. And yes, I agree and love that you mention that when she got legs, the every step was like stepping on broken glass showing consequences for her actions. It is an interesting thought too that she was willing to withstand the pain in the hopes of gaining a soul and love, but when the human love she sought didn't materialize, the Eternal love did.

@IDontKnow-pf6en

Жыл бұрын

@Nt mn just cause she didnt comment on it, doesnt mean she didnt get it. also, please dont try to be "holier than thou", it doesnt suit you!

The Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories by William J. Bennett is also a good one for families to have in their home library.

I think it's important to say that adults with well-formed consciences should have a greater capacity to critically evaluate media and decide how it shapes their world-view. It's a complex topic, but I feel really passionately about this. Mature, adult Catholics are not beholden to only watch media/entertainment that aligns with a catholic anthropology/world view. If we're making living our faith the focus of our lives in a way that leads us to mainly take in media that is edifying and promotes the good, true, and beautiful, we can still watch secular TV shows and movies and appreciate the good that is to be found in them without it having a negative impact on us or it being sinful.

@theautisticcatholic

Жыл бұрын

THIS. Thanks for this. I'm really passionate about this, too. Claire Swinaraki of The Catholic Feminist even says that Catholic adults with well-formed consciences can and should engage with media that points towards untruth in order to point out the untruths to others and explain why they are dangerous. And I have encountered a few Catholic columnists saying that a spiritual director is recommended for assistance in discerning what you should and shouldn't be consuming. For scrupulous Catholics like me who are excessively worried about the negative affects of secular media on our hearts, minds, and souls, I would add that I strongly advise getting a spiritual director if you don't have one or talking to him or her if you do have one when there's a particular secular movie or TV show that you're anxious about. Also, Catholic New Service Movie Reviews, Deacon Steven Greydanus's Decent Films, and the CatholicSkywalker Film Blog are all good resources on which secular movies and TV shows are suitable for Catholics to watch. I'd also check for any Paulist movie and TV show reviews in your area. Being a buzzkill about secular pop culture over the negative aspects is likely to hinder scrupulous Catholics rather than help them. Overthinking things is not beneficial for scrupulous Catholics. And for edifying Catholic media, there's Voyage Comics which produces comic books with a Catholic anthropology. So if anyone's interested, do check them out. I do write about the good, true, and beautiful elements in secular media on my blog, The Autistic Catholic. My most recent blog post is about how Marvel Studios' Black Widow promotes free will and condemns using people as a means to an end.

Ariel wasn't directly responsible for all this mess. Yes, she made a very risky decision in trusting Ursula, but the only thing at stake was her own life, not the fate of all the sea kingdom. It was Triton who rose the stakes, because he took Ariel's place in the contract with Ursula out of love for his child. Ariel didn't even dare to ask him to do so, she was willing to accept her fate.

As a mom…I totally 💯 agree 👏 As a child of the 90’s… I TOTALLY agree

Since I found Father Mike and switched parishes where were so blessed with 2 wonderful priest, they make me so hungry to keep digging into the faith. I gave up real TV without even noticing. Our priest also says to feed your soul with things that’ll help you.

It just happens to be Wednesday and I happen to be in the mood for another Fr. Mike video! Funny how things work out.

Fr Mike - life isn’t always easy. You are so right to try to help others in this way. What we tell our kids and others most definitely have consequences. God Bless you🙏🏻🙏🏻

You are always thinking and pondering our world. Thank you for your teaching and bringing us to not just accept but to discern what is going on around us. God Bless. Claire.

The message of the little mermaid is a lot more nuanced then that its more for the parents see if Tritanus hadn't been such a tyrant and let her explore her interest in a safe way none of the events would've happend. He could've let her be human for a bit with him guiding her and showing her why humanity is dangerous for herself and that would've been the end of that instead he destroys all that is precious too her and pushes her out. It does say to kids tho listen to your parents otherwise the consequences will be dire ut it also says to the parents do not be too zealous in your attempt to protect your kids so as to provoke them sometimes you have to let them go or else you'll push them away and they'll end putting themselves in more danger.

This is one of the most brilliant episodes of Acension Presents I’ve seen yet. Such beautiful insights are what we need. Thank you Father Schmidt.

Yasssssss!!! Oh thank you for this video! I have been saying for years that even though I watched these movies growing up, there is something about them that makes me say I dont think my kids should watch them! I have thought too that so many of them seem to send a message of defying your parents rather than being obedient and portray the main characters (basically kids) as “knowing better” than their parents.

I have a confession ... I don't think I have ever seen this, shocking I know, however it was a laugh out loud video of a grown man talking about this cartoon with such knowledge and enthusiasm ! It is great practice to scrutinise just what we allow ourselves to watch.

Yeah, the whole "selling your soul to the devil to get the guy you're crushing on who doesn't know you exist" motif went over my head in my constant rewatchings as a kid, but as an adult, I'm not really into letting my kids watch it. What does Ariel learn? Name one lesson she learns, other than it pays off to get involved with black magic. I don't love Frozen, but at least Elsa learns that self-mastery is hugely rewarding and Anna learns that projecting your relationship desires onto an undeserving recipient is a fast track to a broken heart. Disney changed Little Mermaid both too much and not enough so that it ended up with no character arc and no message. Amazing soundtrack, though.

@meganharoldson8785

Жыл бұрын

(The original....are you talking about the cartoon or the new one?)She learns that her father loves her very much. She had the consequence of having to adjust when her main asset her voice is not there (overcoming adversity), and that when you do things on your own without your authorities permission things can go very bad and put the people you love in peril. Also that good does triumph evil

@pjsmith4369

Жыл бұрын

@@meganharoldson8785 I think you got the right message 😊

@SirBlackReeds

Жыл бұрын

There is one angle that you both missed out on. The system that's in the Disney movie is more rigid than the one in the original fairy tale. In the Disney movie, Ariel just wanted one day amongst the humans, and her father would not give her that, went as far as to destroy her valuables to sway her, as if that wouldn't backfire. Even Amish kids get one year to live in the city with as much technology as their hearts desire. In the fairy tale, while the Sea King could not give her human form, the Little Mermaid was directed to the Sea Witch, and even then, it wouldn't be easy to get to her, and she still had to agree to terms and conditions in order to achieve human form. The whole plot of the Disney movie would have been much shorter if King Triton had replaced the system with one that's less rigid.

@loriwilson7220

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, it always seems wrong to me as a kid for Ariel (as the protagonist who is always good in a little kids mind) to go to a witch to get what she wanted. It was always conflicting because Ariel is celebrated as good in the movie but she did such a bad thing!

What I love about Fr. Mike and his videos, he takes a topic, maybe gives a new spin on it, and that allows us to think deeper about it on our own.

This is so heartening, thank you Fr. Mike and Ascension for this wisdom and reminder that we become what we consume. Once upon a time, I had an excellent youth minister who instructed me in much the same way. He shared with us the fundamental difference between amusement and entertainment, based on their semantic meaning and roots. The root of amuse comes from late 15c., "to divert the attention, beguile, delude," borrowed from Old French _amuser_ "fool, tease, hoax, entrap; make fun of," with the suggestion being that amuse has classically meant to gaze at something without thought. On the other hand, the root of entertain means literally to grasp and hold with attention, from Old French _entretenir_ "hold together, stick together, support." Here we see the historical meaning relates to thinking closely on a person or thing of importance.

This really hit home 6:30-7:44 Thank you, Father Mike! 💟

Whoa. I see it completely different. We as humanity rebel against our Heavenly Father when we sin (just like Ariel-when she signs Ursula’s contract), our Father took our place in punishment (when Triton signs the contract he begins to frail), God sent His only son to save us - whom I view to be prince Eric (Prince Eric says in the movie: “I lost her once, I’m not going to lose her again” as he goes to save Ariel). I feel like someone in the film making process left Christian symbols. I also view the ending as God reunited with His bride the church (on earth as it is in Heaven.) We didn’t deserve heaven but God wanted us anyway. There’s a lot more I see too. (Scuttle-the Holy Spirit warns Ariel to stop Eric from marrying the sea witch.) I also learned that Ariel means - Lion of Judah. God is in everything. It’s just really hard to see it unless He reveals it to us. I truly believe He makes all things good again. All things are possible. He revealed this to me. It maybe possible it was only for me to receive but I felt like sharing (so maybe He wants me to share it with you too.) ✝️🥰🙏🏽💗❤️ Love y’all. ☺️

I completely agree with this. It's important especially to show your kids good art until they are able to distinguish for themselves what is good.

@discerningmind

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for saying that. My mother did this for all of us. And for every subject that she knew about. Having a mother teach her children so many things has been an invaluable boost throughout our lives.

@ntmn8444

Жыл бұрын

@@discerningmind This is so heartwarming to hear. This is the kind of mom I want to be to my little one. I'm still waiting for him to come out, but I want to teach him about different things, but the first thing I want for him is to root him in reality. I've been doing a lot of work in the last 2 years, going to church, studying the Bible, partaking in the sacraments, and this will sound CRAZY...but I swear Jesus himself told me the greatest joy of life was to be fully participant in reality. It was an epiphany I had one day as I was taking communion, and I swear that got me thinking.

@discerningmind

Жыл бұрын

@@ntmn8444 Living in reality is one of the most important things that there is. I didn't have a realistic view when I was a child and into my twenties. But bear in mind that children need a little fantasy when explaining things to them at times, and also for creativity. I think being a parent is 80% being a school teacher to them. The main thing for you to be aware of is not to scare your children with realism that they're too young to handle. My parents made that mistake with me and my brothers at times and the horror can be too much to live with and leads to escapism. Also keep a good eye on what television is presenting to the little ones. There is so much filth on television, just to mention one bad thing about it. I think that you're going to be a great mother simply because you're putting in the effort already. God bless you and your forthcoming little one and those in your future.

@CarolynRobinson814

Жыл бұрын

Yes!! Thank you for bringing this up!

Go Father Mike! So true. What you put in your heart your mind your soul with what you watch listen to and take in you become on some level. I always told my son this and he has taken it to heart

@bonniearonson6786

Жыл бұрын

"WOKEISM"!

Yes!! Thank you for sharing your wisdom Fr. Mike!

Thank you Father Mike for the insight.

Well said! We replay the messages we take in over and over again in our minds so be careful what you take in!

Oh man, in my opinion, this is in the top ten for Fr. Mike- great message while laughing out loud so many times - thanks so much and God bless!!

@ntmn8444

Жыл бұрын

Seriously. What an amazing video. Really liked it. I am sharing it with my husband. I've been telling him for months now about being more choosy with his entertainment.

So very true … sort of like “you are what you eat”. What about a New Year’s resolution to feed our minds/eyes/ears healthy stuff!

For this reason, I've never let my daughter watch any of the Disney princess movies. None of them teach any discernment whatsoever, just that "fall in love and go with the guy though you don't truly know him " reckless handling of relationships. As Catholics, the vocation of matrimony is too important to be constantly painting it that way to children. People always think I'm extreme, but I do believe that the stories we tell have consequences. Thank you, Father, for this in-depth look at the principle.

Hey Father Mike, I used to tell my patients, that if you are what you eat and you are what you watch. What you put in your body effects your health; and what you put in your head effects your soul and your mental health. If people watch CNN all day, they will get depressed and or anxious b/c they cannot control all the bad news they see. If they play video games all day pretending to shoot other people, they may not have a proper respect for life, maybe. Maybe all things in moderation, but we do have to be very picky about what we watch. You cannot un-see these movies and television shows and the images formed in the memories of children are there for a very long time. Also the message as you mentioned, it is insidiously hidden behind the good graphics and great music so we have to be very careful to counter that message with a Christian message. I went to Catholic School and that helped because we talked about these things, and I pray for the ones that don’t get to school or even church b/c they are so easily led astray. You are what you eat and you are what you watch! 😊 So if you wouldn’t eat McDonalds everyday because it isn’t healthy, than don’t watch TV everyday, because it isn’t healthy either.

Thank you, Fr Mike! Once again, you help shape the questions I ask myself . Who do I want to be in a month or by the end of the year? What will I choose to shape me. 🙏

You are spot on Father with this! I always like to find the inner meaning of the stories I see/read and how they are shaping my mind. God bless you Father!

While I understand the point Father Mike made about Ariel escaping the true consequences of her actions, I think there are aspects of this that are being overlooked. Firstly, that Ariel's decision supposedly wasn't going to affect anyone but herself--I think it's a little unfair to characterize Ariel as someone who intentionally put an entire people at risk to get what she wants. Secondly, King Triton seems to have the most significant character arc in the film; he is the one who destroys Ariel's collection in that terrible scene (the collection not a shrine to one human, but to her curiousity about the world above that no one allowed her to express), he is the one who expresses remorse, he chooses to sacrifice himself for his daughter, and he ends up forgiving her and giving her legs. Maybe not the usual take-away of the film, but I appreciate this growth and willingness to be open to genuine love (though I agree, it would have been nice for Ariel to have faced some consequences, or have been the one to talk to her father in the end). Thirdly, there is a parallel to be made for a character curious and longing for a world above in spite of the luxury of her own life, and our faith that underlines our own longing for the transcendant. I completely agree with Father Mike--stories do matter! All of his points are very valid. I'd just like to offer another perspective, and to suggest that the way we interpret stories can also be more expansive.

Love this! So true. The Bible tells us to be careful what we see. I think what you’re talking about is very important.

I love how Fr. Mike can tackle these issues and speak about them with charity.🙂 It is Important to monitor the entertainment we consume and ask what the moral and point of a story is.

Brilliant commentary, 👏 👏. Thanks Father Mike.

Great video, Father! Thank you for drawing attention to this. I completely agree.

This is a timely message about what we let into our heads and hearts in the name of entertainment. I watched the new movie Babylon yesterday, and I wish I'd left after the first 10 minutes. The opening scene was so hedonistic and depraved, and then there was a similar scene toward the end that I felt dirty and sad. I will do more research and be more discerning next time!

@rcavanaugh8302

Жыл бұрын

As a society we are becoming more worldly. I walked out of From Russia with Love at the very beginning with the credits when it came out back then. I also walked out on the second Indiana Jones movies when they pulled the guy's heart out. I stopped watching TV 20 yrs ago. I got hooked on podcasts because of the C-19 thing.

@petercorley2238

Жыл бұрын

The name of this movie was a big clue

@myauthenticlifebykellywoods

Жыл бұрын

@@petercorley2238 No kidding!!

This is so true and little kids can’t separate reality from fantasy

One really good story that is being told right now is The Wingfeather Saga. It's a book series by Andrew Peterson, and now is also an animated show too. A very beautiful story that is grounded in reality. The Green Ember series by S.D. Smith is also very good for families to experience together.

This is a very important commentary Father Mike! So true. Thank you for being the "buzz kill" we all need. It is only in truth that we pray people will begin to put God at the center of their lives and then be transformed in His goodness. We NEED you and all priests, clergy, pastors and faithful followers of Christ to speak truth as you do in meaningful, relevant and thoughtful ways. God Bless!

What a great wake up call and awareness Father Mike Schmitz, may God continue to bless you and all you do to teach his flock. 🙏 Thank you for leading us back into the right path so we can always be mindful of the truth that is the Gospel. I will be more mindful on the entertainment that I listen to or watch.

I though Ariel was a spoiled brat when I watched it with my four year old daughter back in 1994. I was furious, and my friends thought I was crazy (which happens all the time, but I don't care.) Good video Father, and thank you.

@iamjustsaying4787

Жыл бұрын

@ joe woods Beyond spoiled. She disobeys her father and king endangering her entire community to make a deal with a witch to turn herself into something she isn’t to please a boy then once she has the boy she reneges on her deal with the witch and kills her living happily ever after. In the original Hans Christian Andersen story the boy never loves her and she drowns when she falls overboard the ship they are on because she is no longer a mermaid and can’t swim. Seems a better morale.

@ntmn8444

Жыл бұрын

I was a kid, and I felt the same way. I thought she was very spoiled. But I think that was also the point. But to a child, especially one not as sensitive (not all children think the way I did), Fr. Mike's point is absolutely what they get out of it. Hence what we see running around today! My generation is absolutely like this. I don't care about you or anything else as long as I get what I want. This is my generation's philosophy for sure, especially because so many of us grew up on Disney.

@pjsmith4369

Жыл бұрын

@@ntmn8444 She was a typical rebellious teenager. We had them even back in the ‘60’s.

@SirBlackReeds

Жыл бұрын

There is one angle that you both missed out on. The system that's in the Disney movie is more rigid than the one in the original fairy tale. In the Disney movie, Ariel just wanted one day amongst the humans, and her father would not give her that, went as far as to destroy her valuables to sway her, as if that wouldn't backfire. Even Amish kids get one year to live in the city with as much technology as their hearts desire. In the fairy tale, while the Sea King could not give her human form, the Little Mermaid was directed to the Sea Witch, and even then, it wouldn't be easy to get to her, and she still had to agree to terms and conditions in order to achieve human form. Someone else pointed out that Ariel learns that, for all of his faults, King Triton loves her very much, learns to overcome adversity by adjusting to a life on land with no voice, that taking matters into your own hands can have serious consequences, like putting your loved ones in peril, and that good ultimately triumphs over evil.

Thank you father Mike for your videos, love “be picky”. I tell my family to select shows and books with substance, topics that will enrich their existence. It’s difficult t do so when so much garbage (especially past few years as reality) is available and promoted as entertainment. Have a blessed day everyone!

@ntmn8444

Жыл бұрын

Even the stuff that's not reality is complete garbage. I've had moments in the last year when I have felt like my soul grew tired of Netflix. I would just read the Bible or read a book written by a saint. I did that a lot in the past year. I just felt this emptiness from mainstream media. Even things like watching the news. I get tired of it sometimes, not because it's all bad news, but because it's not of the Spirit. The constant message of division and concupiscence eventually grows old on you. Idk, that's my experience.

@pjsmith4369

Жыл бұрын

You know, even if you see something that you feel is not worth watching, you can discuss it afterwards. Just keeping everything from young people does not promote discussion. Very few teens these days read University level books, like I did. I loved books and reading. So, this way, you can reach them at their level.

Father I thought you were going to go there but you didn't. Isn't the story of a person who wants what they want no matter what, no matter if it's in what they're ordered by God to be, no matter the cost to her or family and all the applauding of her choice at the end--isn't that today's way of living? Society is calling us to be happy for what someone achieves no matter how they got it. No matter if they 'should' have wanted it. It's what THEY WANTED so 'yeah' for them??? Father MIke you are such a joy!! Keep 'em coming!!!

When the movie first came out on DVD, I had two little children. It sounded like a good story so we watched it together. But I, like Father Mike, saw that Arielle was completely disobedient to her dad-- And I didn't want that to be the lesson to my children. So I explained to them that one should not be disobedient, even if it means giving up what you want. And so, I think in the original story, when Arielle becomes seafoam, that's a more accurate consequence of her disobedience! I, for one, was glad Father Mike shared the original ending.

@markcobuzzi826

Жыл бұрын

To be fair, though, Triton in this version was also extremely prejudiced against humans, to the point of indiscriminately viewing them all as savages and wanting to crush Ariel’s otherwise healthy curiosity about the human world. So he was not entirely in the right either, and I don’t think it is necessarily a bad thing for a children’s story to point out that parents can make mistakes too. *But with that being said,* Ariel was still wrong to seek out Ursula as the solution to her problems. And I do find it an understandable criticism, that the film emphasizes Triton learning his lesson to not be prejudiced, while not focusing as much on Ariel having to admit her fault (aside from that brief moment when Ariel is trying to apologize, as Ursula holds her hostage and manipulates Triton into signing a similar pact).

Love this for today. You reap what you sow...

Such a excellent, eye-opening video! Thank you, Fr. Mike!!

I agree with you father Mike. The generations that have grown under this is "influence " of Disney remakes, are now the ones who think are entitled to everything regardless of their actions!! Leaving others to pick up the broken pieces... Sad but true. So Glad you are a changing influence in our colleges for our youth!!👍😁👍👍😃

You nailed Father! I was a pop-culture junkie my whole life. If there was a pop movie or TV show especially sci-fi or fantasy, I had the t-shirt, the video game, the collectible. Now sadly, I realize much of what I took in trying to be happy was in fact kind of detrimental to my imagination, and some of it ate away at my faith foundations. I know I have to be a lot more thoughtful about what I watch and really think about what I take-in. I was an English teacher for many years, so I have no problem reading things that are from other perspectives or cultures and appreciating their literary worth, but I don't want to follow paths that lead me away from a Christ-centered life. Yeah, even things as cute as Disney can be filled with philosophies that are antithetical to our faith. I have of late begun to fire networks that I felt actively promoted things that were negative. I don't want to give them my money. I am finding things that are more in line with my faith and giving my money to those endeavors. I have started many a TV series in the past few years only to go, awe man, when they are so creepy dark, and they started really pushing me out of my faith context. I was like ugh. I still really love Lord of the Rings. I think Aragorn is a great Christ like figure. He is the unrecognized king. He is humble in service to the good. He devoted with purity to his beloved putting her first. He goes down to the dead to come again and slay evil and is at the end crowned king. His beloved give ups everything to be his perfect bride. In the end, the king kneels in humility to the good for he is the servant king. Pretty nice. There are things out there that up lift the good; you just have to be selective.

I love the bloopers at the beginning of your podcast 🙂 usually we have to wait for the end of a show to get the bloopers 😊. In some versions of the little mermaid she sacrifices herself for the prince. I also love how well versed Father Mike is in mermaid lore. I also love Father Mike's take on the Disney version of the little mermaid..." You disregarded everything we told you and we are happy that you got what you wanted" Wow Father...that is a powerful message.

I’m so glad to hear this message from you! You once made a podcast about watching the new Batman movie and how dark it was. And I’m not gonna lie, I was worried about you! Obviously, you are super duper strong in your faith and love of God, but just generally speaking I especially worry about our priests and nuns and the content they consume. I know it must be extremely difficult to balance purity with staying in touch with pop culture. Thank you for all that you do! May God continue to bless you! 🙏🏼

I remember reading the original story as a child and she turned into foam. I just thought it was a sad story.

All I can say is 😂. I love your outtakes Fr. Mike!

@discerningmind

Жыл бұрын

Father really surprised me when he had gone rather far with the introduction only to begin again. It was amusing and unexpected.

Thank you father Mike great reflection something to think about❤

The buzz guy !! thank-you Father you have a heart of gold💛

Thank you for your warning. I must be attentive to my actions to keep on that narrow path. Yes I really want that extra piece of food...40 day fasting uncertainty.

What does the Bible say about Eyes being Windows to the Soul? This popular phrase is related to the Bible verses Matthew 6:22-24 which says, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. Thank you, Fr.

👏👏👏👏 Thanks Fr. Mike

Interestingly I just returned from 2 days at Disney World with my adult children and 2 granddaughters, ages 4 and 6. We had a marvelous time, but my 4-year old granddaughter would continually ask, “Mommy, is “this or that” real or pretend.?” The answer was always, “pretend”. So yes, life is not a Hallmark movie nor a Disney movie, but it is sometimes fun to innocently escape this harsh cruel world for a fairytale ending. It is just fun to use our imaginations to bring a smile. 😄

Hahah you are an awesome buzz kill. Thank you for sharing this and getting us thinking about what we watch casually and mindlessly. I will be picky for my family. Thank you!🙏🙏

I’ve been going through a spiritual warfare attack involving demonic activity in our home for the past 3-1/2 years just after my daughter was born…we had to relocate residences 3 times & the archdiocese had to get involved to help me & my child. As I started learning about all the MANY entry points for what bought this into my life, I realized how magic is glamorized & introduced to kids at a very young age (I’m a victim of this myself..) one of the first things I discarded of when the situation started with all the Disney movies involving magic & sorcery which also involved these false realities of “happy endings”… I’m struggling to find suitable entertainment & screen what my child (almost 4 years old now) watches. It’s a battle in itself but I’m blessed & thankful God opened my eyes & removed the blinders to stuff like this. Thank you Fr. Mike for this video. 🙏 … (I pray for you all the time by the way & that you keep doing what you do…your videos have helped me tremendously in what I’ve been going through…)

I don't think that the moral of Disney's Little Mermaid is "bad decisions have no negative consequences," but rather "social prejudice is bad" and "familial alienation can lead to estrangement." The main conflict of the story stems from the fact that King Triton categorically dismisses all humans as "savages" and refuses to even attempt to understand his daughter's interest in them and their society, and then violently lashes out at her when she expresses her romantic interest in the prince, which leads to her becoming disaffected from him, and in a state of mind that makes her inclined to make bad decisions. By the climax of the movie, it becomes obvious that Ariel was wrong to have made her Faustian pact with Ursula, as it leads to catastrophe, but when Eric acts heroically to save the day, Triton realizes that not all humans are evil, and comes to the realization that he was wrong to have been so closed-minded towards Ariel's affection to them. By the conclusion of the story, both father and daughter realize the respective errors of their ways, and forgive each other, proving that their love for each other is stronger than their resentments. TL;DR: Disney's *The Little Mermaid* is "Romeo and Juliet if it had a happy ending."

Father you have tremendous love for little children, God bless you. I like the comment "what you sow that will you reap". I do got stuck at that phrase.

Completing agree. Always thought the same thing. Thanks for posting this

Thank you for this video! This was very insightful and well said. ❤

@villiamkarl-gustavlundberg5422

Жыл бұрын

I like growing older. Part of growing older is becoming more picky with how you spend your time.

Thank you for the laughs, and for the sermon.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! As a mom of littles who is trying to make sure their minds, bodies and souls are being filled with only good things, this affirmation/confirmation is beyond needed. When family, friends, and the rest of the world question my parenting decisions as often as they do, it is inevitable that self-doubt rears its ugly head from time to time. Thank you for being the "joykill"! Maybe, just maybe - if the truth is killing our "joy", maybe we ought to ask if it really is joy. And questioning from where that joy is coming. And thank you for the Sebastian impression. My inner child is one happy camper. xD

6:49 Your retelling of The Little Mermaid omits a pretty big detail: _"Hun talte med den gamle enke, der siger, at menneske kun lever i få hundrede år, og at de har en udødelig sjæl. Da besluttede hun sig for at blive menneske."_ She spoke to an old widow who tells her, men only live a few centuries (?) and they have an immortal soul. This is not the only story of H. C. Andersen about someone's longing for salvation and it's being denied, at least as the earthly part of the story goes. Jødepigen - the Jewish girl - is about a Jewish girl who hears of Jesus, tries to convert despite her parents, and Denmark forbids her to go against her parents. H. C. A. speculates about her being saved anyway, she couldn't have been expected to go against her parents. That's not exactly what St. Lucy tells us. So, the thing you consider as narcissism in the story is really about trying to make it to Heaven.

Wow Father... I never would have realized these things. Thanks

I’m aware of these real life lessons but never thought to distinguish that and fiction. In addition Ariel’s need for instant gratification that frustrates her until she gets what she wants reminds me when you spoke of denying ourselves once in awhile. Awesome. I’m trying to pull back but Amazon has a tight grip on me, lol. I’ll keep trying 😊

First: this is one of the best educational videos I have ever watched. Second: based on this analysis, I would love to see Fr. Mike's comments on the WandaVision series!

@aclark903

Жыл бұрын

On the Catholic Bishops website there is a movie rating section which rates movies according to Church teaching. It's worth a look.

@saralemos1640

Жыл бұрын

@@aclark903 I had no idea about that! Thank you for sharing.

True. I remember being shocked when I read Pinocchio and dismayed that there was no Jimminy Cricket.

@michaelmicek

Жыл бұрын

But there is the Talking Cricket...

I think it is fair as an adult and a parent. I would like to add that exposing ourselves to different ideas and understanding their value, or lack there of, is important too. In the world today it seems very easy bad or misleading messages, but we still have to teach our children to understand them, stand up to them, and defend their selves from them.

great insights Father Mike, awesome stuff as always to help us form our conscience's correctly so that we are better Catholic's and followers of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

The Little Mermaid was the only animated Disney film my mom didn’t let us watch as kids. She wanted us to be old enough to grasp that no matter how pretty and fun and enchanting, Ariel was a bad role model. When I did finally see it around sixteen, I didn’t have much interest in seeing it again because she drove me crazy. Imagine a whole generation of girls growing up thinking that a) they’re adults at sixteen years old and b) flouting family commitments and selling your soul is the mature, proper way to go about getting what you want. Oof 🙈 Also interesting note - in the original Little Mermaid (at least my version) mermaids have no eternal souls and so instead of live for thousands of years and then turn into sea foam, she wants to be human to gain eternal life. The sea witch tells her she has to make the Prince fall in love with her to become human, but if she fails she’ll automatically turn into foam. When she fails to make the prince love her, she has the chance to kill him and gain her thousand years back. She refuses and turns into foam, but then is raised into an air spirit who can eventually gain Heaven if she finds enough good children. The moral implications are so beautiful and numerous with this story!!

@SpaghettiNoob

Жыл бұрын

@bokchoy3511 What does this have to do with her question or did you mean to comment on the main post, still unrelated? In any case a teenager for sure, I don't remember the age or if I ever heard it mentioned anywhere aside from her being a teenager. But probably a young teenager which was accustomed at the time. And Joseph was probably not old as he is mainly depicted. He was probably in his twenties or 30s when he married her, which was accustomed at the time. The age gap between men and women has really shrunk only the last few years. Men have been far older than women over the course of time when they get married, it's kind of weird now though because everyone wants to be the same age and they usually doesn't work out.

AMEN "The stories we allow to shape us have consequences" THANK YOU FATHER MIKE💜✝️💜 I Love the way You give us Truth sprinkled with Your own Father Mike Joyous Self🤗🤗🤗 truly makes me LOL while absorbing the golden lesson!!!

Well done Fr. Mike. For about 5 years I've wanted throw away that DVD. What I did is get the original book and read it to the kids and told them that our actions have consequences.

Thank you Father Mike, yes, we should observe what stories are we allowing to shape us. This is not to say "right" or "wrong", but it worth asking that question: What message am I getting?

Thank you! This is one of many reasons why Disney has no place in our home. I wish more Catholic families would stop following the crowd and kick that garbage to the curb where it belongs. Fill your children's hearts and minds with the good, the true, and the beautiful. Everything else is a waste at best and a danger to their souls at worst.

Well, I did not get such an insidious meaning from the movie. As a teenager, I was rebellious against a tyrannical father. I think I was normal. I felt I could make some decisions for myself at 14. My Dad became stricter with me at 14 than he had been when I was 10. And with no explanation except “ I said so “. Did not jive with the expectations of increased knowledge and critical thinking he had always demanded from us. No such thing exists as “ living happily ever after “ - as almost all of the old Disney movies depicted. What was the difference here? Evil person tricks a young girl and ruins her life temporarily, but eventually, things work out and she lives “ happily ever after “ - just like Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty. These other Disney princesses were completely unrealistic in their “ goodness “. All stories give us something from which to learn. Ban movies, ban books? Not really a great idea. Discuss the value of them - good idea.

Thank you for saying what I have unpopularity been saying to my family for years!

I'm not sure if this is the original or a variation of the original story, but the book version of "The Little Mermaid" that I remember had the mermaids/mermen all destined to become seafoam after they die. They had a lifespan of 300 years, but would become seafoam in the end, whereas the humans lived much shorter lives but had an eternal soul. The book had a bittersweet ending because the prince didn't choose her and she died, but she went to heaven instead of becoming seafoam because she chose not to kill the prince to save herself and had a soul due to being turned human.

Loved Father Mike's mimic of Mowgli's face when he sees the girl haha

Loved your point here. Regarding buzz kill -- I love the term "fun sucker." I think I first heard it from PJ O'Rourke, but I could be wrong. I think he was saying wives are fun suckers but, of course, any of us can be. In the context of your video, I say, "Long live the fun suckers."

AMEN!!!! Thanks so much Father! Just last night I realised how picky I can be with what shows I want to watch. I found it a struggle to find shows that gave that depth to life that I'm, searching for. I hope we all will be able to find those type of shows that shape our hearts in a good way. If anyone finds some PLEASE SEND! 😁🙏🏽🙏🏽

Thank you Fr. BuzzKill!! I am a BuzzKill, too. It’s not always the most popular position, however, someone’s gotta’ do it!! Bless you always ❤

Excellent analysis. Thanks.

Thanks!

This is something that occurred to us as our children grew. My husband pointed out that in Disneys LM, Ariel makes “a deal with the devil”, then beats the enemy at their own game.

This reminds me of Brothers Grimms stories, even within their own lifetime they took out darker themes from the original recorded versions, in my opinion to the stories detriments. I was raised with the original version, and I am very glad for it. 2 books I love, the moral compass and the book of virtues

So true...when we sanitize the lessons and morals of the historical children's tales...what does it say about our society? And its direction?

Thank you Father Mike! Although I am grateful my daughter didn’t really ever fall for those happily ever after stories, it’s a great message you sent here. I as a parent should be more cautious of what I have my kids watch, even if it’s a family movie night, to assure we spend that time learning important lessons, that will please our Lord!

Humorous presentation of an important lesson. Disney is not the only studio that drastically rewrites the book, or the facts, for the screenplay. As you point out, the things people are commenting on suggest that we need to accept our entertainment for exactly what it is.

@thossi09

Жыл бұрын

Even the Grimm brothers did a bit of Bowdlerising, back in their day when they were collecting "folk tales" (and some of those were essentially just "urban legends" of the time).