Sermon Illustrations
Film 'Philomena' Offers Lesson on Forgiveness
Philomena is a 2013 movie based on the true story of Philomena Lee. In 1951 a teenaged Philomena living in Ireland became pregnant outside of marriage. She was sent to Sean Ross Abbey in Roscrea, Ireland where her infant son was born. While working in the abbey's laundry to pay off the cost of her stay, the nuns adopted her toddler-age child to an American couple without warning or giving Philomena the chance to say goodbye.
For 50 years Philomena attempted to find her son without success. She visited the abbey on several occasions only to be told no information was available. When Martin Sixsmith, a British journalist, offered to help her in her search, Philomena discovered her son had become a prominent lawyer serving as legal counsel to both President Reagan and President Bush. She also discovered he had traveled to Sean Ross Abbey in Ireland with hopes of being directed to his birth mother before dying of A.I.D.S. in 1995. Additionally, she learns that her son's ashes are buried in the graveyard of the abbey.
When Martin realizes what the nuns had done, he explodes with anger. But to Martin's surprise, Philomena announces that it is her choice how she wants to respond to the way she was misled and mistreated. Turning to the one remaining nun (now in her eighties) who recalls her baby boy's adoption, she says, "Sister Hildegard, I want you to know that I forgive you." Martin can't believe his ears. "What? Just like that?" Martin asks.
"No, not just like that!" Philomena counters. "That's hard. That's hard for me. But I don't want to hate people. I don't want to be like you."
"I'm angry!" Martin seethes.
"It must be exhausting!" Philomena replies.
She then asks the younger nun in the room if she would be so kind as to escort her to her son's grave and leaves. Before he follows Philomena out the door, he turns to the elderly sister and says, "Well, I couldn't forgive you."
This scene begins at 1:27:25 and ends at 1:28:57. (When playing the scene on DVD be aware that there is a profanity a few seconds before the start of the scene).