The document discusses a review by Pastor Sheila M. Vitale of the film Tess of the D'Urbervilles. In her review, Pastor Vitale notes how the film reinforces the importance of abiding by natural law. The film tells the story of Tess, a young girl who yields to the advances of her cousin Alec and becomes pregnant. Though she does not love Alec, natural law dictates he is her true husband. By choosing happiness over natural law and running off with another man, Tess loses her life when she is hanged for killing Alec. The review suggests the film's message is that people should prioritize obeying God's law over their own desires, even if it requires

1. Movie Reminds Christians to
Abide by Natural Law
By: Living Epistles Ministries

2. Movie Reminds Christians to Abide by Natural Law
Living Epistles Ministries is a Christian teaching organization headquartered in Port Jefferson
Station, New York. Recently, Living Epistles Ministries’ Pastor Sheila M. Vitale published a review
of the film Tess of the D'Urbervilles. In her review, Pastor Vitale speaks about how the movie
reinforces the importance of natural law.

3. Movie Reminds Christians to Abide by Natural Law
In the film, Tess is a girl in her teens from a poor family. Her parents discover that they have
wealthy relatives, so they send Tess to ask for help.

4. Movie Reminds Christians to Abide by Natural Law
At the mansion of the rich family, Tess meets her cousin, Alec. The young man is smitten and tries
to court Tess, but she is not interested. However, Alec is persistent, and Tess’ parents keep
sending her back to the mansion for assistance.

5. Movie Reminds Christians to Abide by Natural Law
Eventually, Tess yields to Alec’s advances and becomes pregnant. Because she does not want to
marry Alec, Tess runs away and gives birth, but the baby dies.

6. Movie Reminds Christians to Abide by Natural Law
Tess returns home and falls in love with Angel, a young man from an honorable family. Tess does
not tell him about her past until their wedding night. When he hears the news, Angel is shocked
and abandons Tess. She returns to her poor home.

7. Movie Reminds Christians to Abide by Natural Law
After a while, Alec finds Tess, takes her as his wife, and gives her family a better life. Years later,
Angel returns and wants Tess back. She kills Alec to end their marriage and runs away with Angel.
Ultimately, Tess is caught, tried, and hanged.

8. Movie Reminds Christians to Abide by Natural Law
Natural law holds that Alec was Tess’ true husband. If she had stayed with him, she would have
lived a good life. But because Tess chose happiness over natural law, she lost her life.

9. Movie Reminds Christians to Abide by Natural Law
Following natural law requires sacrifice. Pastor Vitale believes that people should prioritize God’s
law over their own desires.