Later on in this film, when talking about what will be necessary for a successful revival of the Church in this country, Joanna Bogle says simply "It's going to require a lot of courage". Well, in putting this production together I can say that one small step has been taken on that ladder of courage. For to even suggest that this country could be converted wholeheartedly to the Catholic faith once more, would be laughed at, jeered and mocked in many a quarter - yet that's just what 'Arise Once More' unapologetically and boldly proposes... and good for us all I say to that.

In taking us through five distinct time periods ('Medieval', 'Reformation', 'Second Spring', 'Modern Crisis' and 'The Revival') in the English Catholic Church the narrators of 'Arise once More' succinctly paint the picture of where the Church in this country has been, where it is at, and where we might be going in the future. I was touched by the passion, the compassion, the authority and the humility with which several of the contributors spoke. For example Joanna Bogle in recounting the heroic sacrifice of St Edmund Campion and the English Martyrs, or Fr Marcus Holden speaking about the devastating loss of a nation's whole identity almost overnight during the Reformation period, or Fr Brian Harrison's unequivocal statement regarding the influence of the media in being central to thwarting the Church's efforts to do good. Sister Mary of the Trinity spoke with true compassion in speaking of our need to reach out to those in our workplaces, our families and our schools and places of study. And Joanna Bogle spoke with humility in stating that "the only reason it (our efforts at conversion) doesn't work is because Christians are such poor witnesses. If we were more loving people - if were more as Christ would have us - then people would see that in us." "Too true!" I say to that.

The narrators though do not all quite hit the nail on the head. In speaking of what we need to do to successfully revive the Church, Fr Marcus Holden lists: prayer, the sacraments, the works of mercy/charity, duty and vocation; and concludes: "...and that is the key to the revival", before looking a little awkward and somewhat unsure of what he has just said. Similarly, Fr Andrew Pinsent states: "we have to study philosophy; we have to study more the scriptures; we have to learn about our own history... you cannot love what you don't know". The phrasing of these two statements - particularly the last - encapsulate what I see as contributing to the crisis of the Church in this country (and indeed around the world); and that is that too often we are trying to pass on 'what' we know, rather than 'who' we know in the person of Jesus Christ. If we are to achieve true revival, yes all of the above listed things are absolutely essential, however I believe that our efforts at evangelisation need to focus primarily on the one clear and simple message that above all Christianity offers a personal loving relationship with Jesus Christ - it's that simple. I believe that clear communication of this message is the key to the revival of the Church in this country.

All in all this is a tremendous production though; a production I hope and pray will inspire many to an increase in faith, hope and love, and a belief that the wholehearted re-conversion of this country to the Catholic faith is not an unrealistic, nor necessarily far-off, prospect. After all, to put it quite simply, as Fr Marcus says: "People here need Catholicism".