Christmas Movies – The Inner Life – December 18, 2025

Fr. Eric Nielsen joins Patrick to discuss Christmas Movies

  • Why are Christmas movies important?
  • What is the importance of Scrooge’s story?
  • (16:23) David – My favorite Christmas movie is ‘A Bocelli Family Christmas’

(19:58) Break 1

  • Deb – Christmas Carol Movie. I have 7 versions and watch all of them every Christmas.
  • (24:41) Tony – It’s A Wonderful Life is my favorite Christmas Movie. My wife and I often quote this movie.
  • What is he plot of It’s a Wonderful Life?
  • Pat – Peanuts’ Christmas and It’s a Wonderful Life
  • (34:04) Tim – Beyond Christmas from 1940 is a good one.

(37:05) Break 2

  • (39:47) Sandy – It’s A Wonderful life is #1. One of the very first lines in the movie is often glazed over. Remember the conversation between the angels and God?
  • Bobbie – The Homecoming, the origin of the Walton’s
  • (43:33) LeeAnn – My favorite Christmas movie is The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’ This is a newer movie directed by Dallas Jenkins.
  • What is the redeeming quality of the Grinch?

Resources:

  • A Christmas Carol (any version)
  • It’s a Wonderful Life
  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas
  • A Bocelli Family Christmas (and The Journey)
  • Beyond Christmas (1940)
  • The Homecoming – origin of the Walton’s
  • The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
  • Merry Beggars Christmas Carol
Patrick Conley was born, raised, and baptized in Wisconsin in a Protestant tradition. After meeting his wife, Kendra, through an Evangelical ministry at the University of Minnesota, they entered the Catholic Church in 2010. They listened to Relevant Radio, specifically The Inner Life, while preparing to enter the Church. Conley now holds a degree in theology from Oxford University and has served the Church in both academic theology and grassroots pastoral ministry. Conley teaches religion classes in a Catholic elementary school, serves as his parish Director of Religious Education, and is in formation for the permanent diaconate. He also hosts Practicing Catholic on Relevant Radio, exclusive to the Minneapolis area’s airwaves, and is a traveling presenter for the Catherine of Siena Institute apostolate. He lives in rural Wisconsin with his wife and their bulldogs, Georgie and Bingley.