The Augustine Institute Announces New Documentary Series Showcasing Humanity of Modern Saints
First installment in “Based on a True Saint” series focuses on the humble life
of Blessed Solanus Casey
At a time when the Church turns its attention in a special way toward the heroic and virtuous lives of the many holy men and women who make up the Communion of Saints, the Augustine Institute, in partnership with Digital Continent, announces the release of a new documentary series called “Based on a True Saint.” Through captivating illustrations, photography, video, and immersive storytelling, the new series uncovers the lives of saints (and soon-to-be saints) from the people who actually knew them in real life. Ahead of All Saints Day and his November birthday, Blessed Solanus Casey leads the way as the featured subject in the first installment of the series now available on Formed, the Augustine Institute’s on-demand streaming platform. “The Violinist: Stories of Solanus Casey” tells the story of a simple and humble man who left an extraordinary legacy.
Blessed Solanus Casey may not have excelled in many worldly talents, including his hobbies of singing and playing the violin, but hundreds of people have shared stories of how this unassuming man impacted their lives.
“The life of Father Solanus is simple yet profoundly inspiring,” said Emily Mentock, executive producer of “The Violinist” and co-founder of Digital Continent. “Our research and filming unveiled countless stories of Fr. Solanus’ deep love and friendship with God and unwavering service to others. He offers valuable lessons for our modern world.”
The documentary features the personal accounts of three individuals who knew Fr. Solanus: his grandniece, a Capuchin friar who lived with him at St. Bonaventure Monastery, and an Irish immigrant who frequently organized visits to him. The film brings Fr. Solanus Casey’s life and virtues to light, emphasizing the art of listening, readiness to help others, and gratitude.
“We want everyone to experience Fr. Solanus’ gentle holiness and consider how they, too, can live a holy life in their daily interactions,” Mentock added. “He teaches us that sainthood is accessible to everyone. Sainthood is not reserved for the few but a call for all, and this is ultimately the overarching goal of the documentary series. There’s no better prototype for ‘Based on a True Saint’ than Fr. Solanus.”
The “Based on a True Saint” series confronts the diluted notion that saints are mere myths and legends with streets, buildings, hospitals, and even commercial holidays named after them. It seeks to tell the amazingly human stories of modern saints in a way that stirs us all to holiness.
The thirty-minute film is streaming now exclusively on Formed. The second episode in the “Based on a True Saint” documentary series will chronicle Blessed Carlo Acutis’ life and release in 2025, ahead of his highly-anticipated canonization coinciding with the 2025 Jubilee Year.
To access “The Violinist” and explore additional saints’ content available to Formed subscribers, visit https://watch.formed.org/the-violinist.
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About the Augustine Institute: The Augustine Institute is a Catholic educational apostolate founded in 2005 that exists to help Catholics understand, live, and share their faith through initiatives like Amen, Formed, the Graduate School of Theology, Word of Life, and others.
About Digital Continent: Digital Continent is a media production and marketing agency that partners with organizations to launch and grow digital projects that make Christ known and loved.
