NAME: Marvel Cinematic Universe
SPECS: a whole bunch of films and shows
SUMMARY: The stories of multiple superheroes begin separately then weave together into a wider and wider fictional world (which in my opinion is a little bit spinning out of control at this point, but is still often pretty fun to watch).
OVERALL RATING: way too many separate stories to give a single rating too - overall solid and well done, my favorites rate much higher, and some rate much lower.
MATURITY LEVEL: Generally PG-13 ish
WHAT I’VE BEEN STRUCK/MOVED BY: So there are definitely going to be some more posts about individual MCU stories. But I wanted to start with a far too broad summary because today is the Feast of All Saints and I think there are some things to be learned about holiness from the MCU.
First - people are called to different things. There are certainly universal principles of morality - like “don’t murder people” and “love is the center of everything.” But the way that virtue and holiness is supposed to play out in unique people is, well, unique. Because holiness and virtue are about human flourishing and becoming the full measure of who God intentionally and specifically created you to be. I have learned a lot about holiness and virtue by, several times over the years, making a list of people I admire and looking at the characteristics they share. I saw certain universals that you might expect to see in anyone who is doing a good job at being human - they love people well, they’re aiming to make the world a better place. I also saw things like “fully and freely themselves” or “living a life that allows them to use their unique gifts in a totally unique way”. And there were also characteristics that were more specific to the kind of person I want to be: “quiet confidence”, “making something beautiful”, “able to bring out the best in the people around them.” It finally became tangible to me that holiness is attractive, specific to the person God created, and includes human flourishing.
All of this is to say - one of the most attractive things about the MCU is that it is populated by a host of unique and interesting characters who remain unique and interesting when their stories overlap and interact. The pantheon of superheroes gives a wide array of options for the viewer to find a superhero that they particularly relate to. It reminds me of the way that Catholics choose a few saints out of the wide array of our litany who particularly speak to them, inspire them, match the brand of holiness they feel uniquely called to. While the MCU is incredibly weak when set beside the communion of saints and certainly has no ability to replace it, I don’t think it’s a bad thing to have as a supplement or a reflection. These stories are big and flashy, but even with all the superhero elements, they succeed because they operate on basic truths of what it means to be human. And if you can see yourself in one of the heroes, that might be an important piece of inspiring you to grow in virtue and become the best version of yourself.
For me, even though I always balk at picking a more obvious choice, Captain America has always been my favorite. And, as I’ve grown along with the stories, I find that I also identify with him more as time goes on. It’s been consoling to see relatable experiences played out in his stories. But it’s also been genuinely and practically helpful to be inspired by his heroism to continue to fight through the daily grind of my own life. There’s a moment in Endgame where, having been brutally beaten down, he gets back up again even though he’s standing alone against an impossible foe and there’s no rational reason for him to be so persistent. And that’s the moment when (spoiler alert!) the ones they lost return and he leads them to victory. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve returned to that sequence in prayer when I’m feeling discouraged, beaten down, and defeated. It reminds me that this moment is not the whole story and helps me to persevere in hope.
Part of this, for me, is that I have long connected the heroism I so admire in stories with the holiness I know I am called to. I don’t think this is a fanciful version of role playing. I think it has informed my understanding of holiness in a way that has not only helped to bring it to life, but also helped me to persevere in pursuing holiness in the times when it is difficult.
So all of this is to say, the MCU can be, if handled properly, a helpful supplement to our understanding of holiness and virtue: making it more concrete and imaginable. And on this day when we celebrate the whole communion of saints - those we know about and, in a particular way, those we don’t - it helps me to remember both that holiness looks different in different people and that it is just as beautiful and inspiring as the heroism I’m moved by in stories.
THIS IS THE FIGHT OF OUR LIVES.
WE ARE GOING TO WIN.
WHATEVER IT TAKES.
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