The film Our Lady looks into why the Virgin Mary has been such a compelling figure in religious history. Photo: Sky Light Pictures
On March 21, Vision TV will premiere a one-hour documentary examining the life and impact of the Virgin Mary in today’s world, her apparitions and the devotion of millions of her followers.
Our Lady features Mary through the eyes of Canadian pilgrims, converts and notable Marian experts such as Judith Dupre, Leslie Hazleton and Charlene Spretnak.
“I have always been intrigued by the Virgin Mary, as well as supernatural aspects of faith,” says Michael MacDonald, who wrote and directed the film. Growing up in the 60s, MacDonald remembers the post-Vatican II veneration of Mary and how that “stirs me in ways I can’t explain.”
A native of Halifax, MacDonald’s interest in doing a documentary about Mary was sparked by a radio interview with award-winning investigative journalist Randall Sullivan, who wrote The Miracle Detective, a book about his transformative experiences in a small village in Bosnia-Hercegovina. Mary has been said to appear daily in this village, called Medjugorje, since June 1981, when six children reported the first apparition. Although the Vatican has not ruled whether the visions are a miracle, many adherents continue to make a pilgrimage there.
MacDonald describes his film as having four levels: Mary’s earthly life, her popularity in culture, the story of Medjugorje and the pilgrims’ journey.
The film looks into Mary’s relationship with her son, Jesus, and why Mary–who as one Marian expert notes is mentioned in the Bible only seven times–has been such a compelling figure in religious history. In addition, Our Lady follows Canadian pilgrims led by New Brunswick native Marie Desjardin, who, for the last 20 years, has been leading pilgrimages to Medjugorje.
“Medjugorje is potentially the most important event in modern history,” says MacDonald. “It is a call to action for all to put their own interests aside to serve their fellow human beings. As the Blessed Virgin said to the visionaries, God is real. He asks us to live like eternal beings–to remember that our pains and sufferings are only temporary…”
Produced by Tell Tale Productions Inc., Our Lady will be broadcast on March 21, 10 p.m. ET on Vision TV.