One of my favourite BBC series a long time ago was "The Little Princess" from the book by Frances Eliza Hodgson. Hodgson is one of the original New Age writers, so I do not recommend her books lightly. For a particularly solid child, one who knows the Faith, this book and "The Secret Garden" are fine. The trouble is that Hodgson did not see any differences in religions and was one of the original "relativists".
In the BBC series from 1987 won a BAFTA award and can be recommended for some children. (The Shirley Temple version is not true to the book.) If mothers want a short view, here is one. The entire thing is on line but fuzzy.
The point for this post, however, is that the young girl, named Sara, lost her wealth, status and love when her father died of an illness brought on by an unwise financial investment. She remains a peaceful and strong character despite abuse in a school.
Of course, all ends well, when the man who felt responsible for the losses tries to find Sara and give her the wealth her father really did earn. Of course, it is no accident that he, Carrisford, just happens to move in next to the horrific school where Sara is being mistreated like a slave in order to pay off the debt to the school her father could not.
That the story ends happily ever after is what makes it a tale of patience and suffering ending in reward. At one point, and I am writing from a memory of 15 years ago or so, Sara states that she was not a princess but that " I always behaved like a princess," even when being abused by the evil Miss Minchin, played by Maureen Lipman, CBE. There are many great actors in this series.
The fact that Sara could act like a princess under a very abusive regime is part of the point of the book--character is formed early. The life of the virtues can be encouraged at an early age. Suffering can lead to great holiness, instead of bitterness and hatred. One responds to grace.
This is also a theme in "The Secret Garden" , where two very scarred children are healed through love and acceptance of each other through the example of a servant boy.
Now, sanctifying grace is not mentioned at all by the New Agey Hodgson, but one can extrapolate. Grace is given to those who desire it and seek after virtue. Of course, we know as Catholics that only the sacraments give sanctifying grace and we have an entire "cloud of witnesses", the saints, who are princes and princesses in Heaven. This is one of the titles in the Narnia tales as well. "Once a king or queen in Narnia, always a king or queen in Narnia". Baptism makes each one of us a child of God and heir of Heaven. We are adopted by God. We are called to a life higher than that of an earthly prince or princess.
Now, fairy tales are supposed to help parents communicate character building to children. We need stories to teach virtue. I used to read "The Book of Virtue" at our house. Examples are good.
Being a prince or princess is not automatic in these stories. One is tested, tried, overcomes obstacles in order to become noble.
That we teach our children and grandchildren to overcome suffering by joining it to Christ is part of their journey to holiness. Instead of watching the Disney flicks, I suggest something with more meat and a Christian basis.
