WASHINGTON. Every story has a message within. So does every movie — and every biblically based movie as well.

With the new movie “Paul, Apostle of Christ,” Eric Groth, one of the film’s executive producers, said, “It was real important to tell the story of God’s mercy.”

(Editor’s Note: Starting in this issue and continuing once a month for the next several months, the Herald will feature excerpts from “Ecsodus Vision,” a novella by Deacon Patrick Jones.  Below is Chapter 5 of the novella. To read Chapters 1-6 in their entirety, visit www.apubz.com/pubz/CCH/Ecsodus/index.html )

NEW YORK. The life of pop entertainment pioneer P.T. Barnum provides the subject matter for the big, brash musical “The Greatest Showman” (PG, Fox).

Ironically, the film arrived in theaters almost seven months to the day after the demise of the 19th-century impresario’s most lasting legacy, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

NEW YORK. Its rather ill-chosen title notwithstanding, “The Man Who Invented Christmas” (PG, Bleecker Street) involves no denial of the Nativity.

Instead, this charming fact-based historical drama tells the origin story of Victorian author Charles Dickens’ beloved 1843 novella, “A Christmas Carol.”

NEW YORK. Writer-director Margaret Betts takes a stab at a genre that always seems to fascinate people, even those with no religious affiliation: nun movies.

Unfortunately, “Novitiate” (R, Sony Classics) falls short of presenting a well-rounded picture of what it is — or, in this case, was — like for a young woman to enter religious life and discern whether it’s right for her.