The following comes from a Feb. 8 posting on the Daily Republic by Father Daniel Molyneaux.
American Sniper is a huge R-rated hit at the movies. What is the most successful R-rated film of all time? Answer: Another controversial film, The Passion of the Christ, making $371 million domestically. It may also be the most profitable major motion picture of all time, having a production cost of only $30 million.
Lent begins Feb. 18. The initial theatrical run for The Passion of the Christ was during Lent in 2004. DVD and Blu-ray sales of The Passion continue to be brisk each spring. I know people who watch the film on Good Friday every year.
The reactions of moviegoers during its initial theatrical release were remarkable. One would see people weeping uncontrollably, others appearing profoundly angry, still others had a look of peace upon their faces. All had watched the same movie, but each had their own unique and individual reaction.
The Passion of the Christ is the most unlikely, unusual and controversial blockbuster in the history of movies, even more controversial than American Sniper. Filmed in the obscure “dead” language of Aramaic (the language Palestinian Jews spoke during Jesus’ time), the movie relies entirely upon subtitles and powerful visual imagery to convey its message.
Filmgoers have never been so polarized by a movie.
Some regret seeing The Passion, but many describe it as a life-changing event. Viewers were so moved by the film that even violent crimes were openly confessed after showings. Many people reported a renewed religious fervor after seeing the movie. And yet, a German exchange student remarked to me, “Oh, it was awful! No one should have to be subjected to a film like that.”
In spite of its cruel and sadistic depiction of violence against Jesus, the film’s violent content is not the primary controversy surrounding this film. The heart of the controversy results from the movie’s primary emphasis.
Every other major film about Jesus has dealt with his life as a whole – his birth, ministry, teachings and miracles, not just the execution and resurrection. The Passion is the first film to focus entirely on Jesus’ death as a blood atonement for the world’s sins, which is the single most controversial aspect of Jesus’ story.
Surprisingly few people object to the life and teachings of Jesus. Jews, Muslims, even many agnostics, view Jesus as a “good” person, and his teachings as commendable. Many non-Muslims are surprised to learn that Jesus (Isa) is recognized as a prophet by Islam, that he is mentioned repeatedly in the Quran, that it affirms his virgin birth, miracles and even Jesus’ ascension into heaven.
When one comes to Jesus’ trial, crucifixion and death, this is where agreement about his identity and significance sharply diverge. Islam denies that Jesus was crucified. Most Jews reject that he was the Messiah and billions around the world reject that Jesus’ death paid the price for the sins of the world, or that he rose from the dead.
The truly controversial aspect of The Passion of the Christ is not violence or any other aspect of the film, but the controversial nature of Jesus himself. Whether one loves or despises the movie is primarily determined by one’s view of Jesus, and what was accomplished during the last moments of his life on the cross.
If one believes that Jesus’ suffering and death was a sacrificial act of a loving God to save humanity from evil and death, then one tends to experience a deep appreciation for the film, in spite of its many faults and offensive aspects. If, however, one comes to The Passion without this view, one is overcome by the grotesque and pointless torture of an innocent human being, haunted by the film’s cruel depiction of man’s inhumanity to man, the sadistic enjoyment Romans receive from making others suffer, and the horror of our own frail mortality.
Each viewer’s reaction to The Passion is determined by what he or she brings to the film and what one believes about Jesus, rather than by what is portrayed in the movie. More than 2 billion people worldwide profess faith in Jesus, who remains the most controversial, most significant and most hotly debated person in the history of the world.
The Rev. Daniel Molyneux is the pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Fairfield. His first novel, The Angel of Antioch, was published in January and is available from Amazon. Reach him by email at drcowboy@gmail.com.
Too bad not many Catholic priests preach “Christ Crucified” any longer, as a basis of Faith. With Christ, of course, comes the overwhelming truth of objective sin, of the things that are sinful, and the payment for sin — Hell.
In sports, coaches often talk about “fundamentals” and the need for players to adhere to the basics of the sport. This simple observation is almost completely obliterated when it comes to the Catholic Church. When Christ said that He came for the “poor” and the “poor in spirit,” He was not only talking of the nature of their material assets.
We are all “poor in spirit” without Christ. The Church exists only to advance this understanding, and how, with patience, prayer, supplication, mortification, and charity, we can become “Holy” and therefore, one day, claim a share of Paradise. Do you hear much of anything about this without the howling of objection, of demands of this and that “right”. Sadly, this ululation is often lead by the Pope himself, and his pals,, to which sin seems a completely foreign concept, and the admonition by Christ to ” Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt 5:48), a fairy-tale.
Just take a look at what good Abp. Cordileone is trying to do with Catholic schools in his Archdiocese. While only repeating what the Faith clearly says, the Archbishop has knocked down a hornet’s nest of opposition and protest from students and parents.
“The Passion of the Christ” can still be purchased in DVD format and watched especially on Good Friday.
I gave copies of this movie to each of my adult children.
One can also watch it instantly on PS3, Xbox, Kindle Fire, iPad, PC and other devices.
All through Amazon and other outlets.
I highly recommend it.
I agree. I watch it every year around Good Friday to remind myself what I did, and still do, to Our Lord. I find the intense images help me when I medidate on the Sorrowful Mysteries.
Well said Brian.
I do not like the movie, ” The Passion of the Christ,” as it is too unnecessarily bloody and violent, a distortion of Christ’s holy Atonement for sin! It is not holy and religious! I like dramas of the life of Christ, in good taste, very religious, that present the HOLINESS of Our Lord, in His redeeming Sacrifice for us! However— if the movie, “The Passion of the Christ” does good for others, that is wonderful, too! I love, in particular, the “Passion According to St. Matthew,” of J.S. Bach! It usually lasts nearly three hours, and is very reverent, holy, and uplifting, with the Biblical text set beautifully to music! I am older, and used to better concepts of portraying Christ, viewing Christ, the great Son of God, with great reverence, awe, respect , and dignity! He is beyond the grasp of humanity, and far above and beyond this world!! It was not the extraordinary degree of human pain Christ endured, that saved souls— it was the simple willingness to sacrifice His pure and sinless life for us, out of love and obedience to God! A Divine Mystery, well beyond our understanding!
Linda Maria, if you want people to think the scourging and crucifixion of Our Lord was a cake walk you are sadly mistaken.
And if you want accurate history to be forgotten you are sadly mistaken.
The ‘Passion of the Christ’ is historically correct – as evidenced by Sacred Scripture – which apparently you Linda Maria do not want people to know about.
When you make accusations, back them up with documentation, since you are wrong so often in your posts.
Watching the ‘Passion of the Christ” makes one CRY for the suffering we put Christ through because of our sins.
God chose for Christ to suffer for a reason, and to hide this is sinful.
I hope everyone can get a copy.
“…Linda Maria, if you want people to think the scourging and crucifixion of Our Lord was a cake walk you are sadly mistaken. And if you want accurate history to be forgotten you are sadly mistaken.”
MADDIE, stop putting words into other people’s mouths. While I agree that it is a good thing to show people – Catholics and non-Catholics alike – the depth of Christ’s suffering if only to evoke some level of compunction – something many lack – I do understand Linda Maria’s point. In her day, it didn’t take such a movie to stir folks to understand the nature and gravity of sin.
Sadly, society has reached such a level of superimposed ‘numb’ that the beauty and reality of a sinless and perfect Jesus willing to die for our sins is something that doesn’t reach people anymore. Why? They do not even understand the concept of sin….. or consequences for bad actions.
And statements such as: “… When you make accusations, back them up with documentation, since you are wrong so often in your posts,” calls out MADDIE’s error in believing herself capable of accusing another of sin without any jurisdiction or supporting documentation. MADDIE seems to want to enjoy the suppression of history at will, according to her will, negating the reality of Linda Maria’s often spot on observations of history LIVED. But then one’s life as a faithful Catholic is not ‘official’ documentation, much like MADDIE’S opinion.
You lose credibility,MADDIE, when you accuse others of a standard you yourself fall short of sometimes in a single posting. Please stop.
Maddie, I said in my post, that if the movie, “The Passion of the Christ” does good for some people, that is wonderful! As for myself— it does not take irresponsible, bloody violence in a movie, such as “The Passion of the Christ,” to move me to love Christ, and to appreciate His Sacrifice for our Salvation! Very hardened, insensitive, mindless people, seem to like bloody, violent movies, I suppose, and are not sensitive enough, for NORMAL presentations of Scripture! Of course, oratorios such as J.S. Bach’s “Passion According to St. Matthew” are INCOMPARABLY BEAUTIFUL, with the actual Biblical text, word-for-word!! For hundreds of years, good and decent people have loved and treasured works like this, as a way to deepen their religious devotion for Christ! That is exactly why such timeless classical works were written, by great and gifted people! We have the same thing, in a simpler form— the dramatized reading of the Passion (from one of the Biblical authors) at Mass, every Palm Sunday, and Good Friday, in our Church’s liturgy!
The Passion of the Christ shows what you and I and everyone else did to Jesus. It is not gratuitous violence. Usually we can’t see the wounds we inflict on Him and on our neighbor. It is not a movie. It is a prayer of penance.
MADDIE you said it right. God bless you always.
She said ‘it’ rather uncharitably and rude, Abeca. So much for being about charity. So sad.
No not so, Maddie was correct. It is wrong to discourage others from seeing the Passion of Christ just because they have feelings of their own. Maddies was not uncharitable. Nothing to be sad about. Your reply to Maddie was uncharitable instead, so yes you can be sad about that.
“The ‘Passion of the Christ’ is historically correct – as evidenced by Sacred Scripture – which apparently you Linda Maria do not want people to know about.”
“…And if you want accurate history to be forgotten you are sadly mistaken.”
Statements such as these, Abeca, by MADDIE are presumptious and uncharitable. Your opinion on what constitutes charity is confusing.
That is fine Ann Malley…its confusing to you. What else can I say. I’m sorry that its confusing to you.
Abeca, arrogance and presumption are not confusing, but rude. Encouraging arrogance and presumption to misrepresent, silence, and deride another is cooperation with said rudeness – either that or willful blindness.
It is just such willful blindness that would have many, despite the bloody gore of the Passion of the Christ, turn the channel because they think they ‘know’ the message of Jesus and only care to dismiss it. That, at least in this post, is what MADDIE seemed to be about with her subsequent dismissal of a someone she only thinks she knows.
That is why your endorsement of such dismissal as ‘saying it right’ is off the mark as, at least in some of your posts,you advocate for charity. And that is not what Linda Maria was offered. Not at all.
Ann Malley so what you are saying does not apply to Linda Maria either but only to those who disagree with her or you? No its not how you are addressing it, just look at it as there is a disagreement. You tend to see it as Linda’s but I do not. I tend to agree with MADDIE and not how Linda views it. Not everyone can be right but it does not take away the truth that Linda Maria is sending out messages to discourage people from viewing the Passion from her personal sentiments, that to me is uncharitable. She can state her opinion that she can’t stomach bloody movies, but notice she describes this move as a Mel Gibson movie. Its not, its a story from the our Lord Passion. Its factual as best as man can show. She doesn’t have to like it, its fine, but some of her comments are not ones I agree with. And Maddie was correct to say what she said. You would do Linda Maria charity by helping her not be prideful and to reflect on what others are saying. I say this out of charity not to argue with you or bicker either. PAX Christi
Abeca, you agree with MADDIE’ views, but in other posts have chided others for presuming ill meaning to others. You encouraging MADDIE in this ill-interpretation is what is odd.
You would do well to be consistent as it is rather a show of pride to only chide others for a lack of charity in posting when they do not share your view on a particular issue.
And you are assuming here that Linda Maria is ‘prideful’. That in itself would indicate a certain level of pride, Abeca, as you do not know Linda Maria and have no capability of discerning her motivation without asking.
Ann Malley Wrong, you certainty have something to say every time. Always arguing for the sake of arguing. It is what it is. Apparently pointing out the obvious in Linda or yourself, is not advisable. I still say your views are off. Well such is life.
You mention that I do not know Linda Maria. Well nether do you I suppose, I can almost guess, that most of the people who post here we do not know. With the exception of a few, I’m sure. Plus what you perceive as me judging Linda Maria wrongly is another thing…..too much Seth is correct on what he said about you, he doesn’t have to know you but one can judge by the on going comments that lead to bickering here. Keep trying to explain…as if we need to insult our intelligence by requiring you to keep explaining everything, your own opinions and assumptions.
Thanks Ann Malley nice talking to you. Lets move on, at least we can agree that the Passion Play is a good movie, right? PAX Christi.
I will say one more thing. The movie, “The Passion of the Christ,” reminds me of the horrible, bloody videos, of beheadings of innocent Americans, posted on the computer, by ISIS. Too horrible for me to see! Such videos also should never be allowed, in the first place, on the computer! Today’s corrupt “hippie world” has no standards of morality, ethics, and decency!
Linda, was denying people housing, jobs, and the right to get married due to the wrong skin color “decent”?
Please explain to me the decency of ridiculing unwed mothers, or covering up pedophilia?
Your generation also gave up far more real violence than made up violence on the movie screen. Please explain to me the decency of trench warfare in WWI, or the total war morality of WW2, in which we decided bombing civilian populations was “fair game”.
I guess making nice, sanitized movies makes one decent—while actual wholesale slaughter on the battlefield doesn’t matter.
Please also explain to me the “decency” of “Birth of a Nation” and the KKK.
Another ridiculous post from someone using the pseudonym of “Anonymous!” All generations, old and young— have the same, adult responsibilities! Do your best, and try to make a better world! The world always has big problems, Anonymous! As regards to decisions for war? (Such as the ISIS situation!) That decision, is in the hands of the President and our leaders, in Congress. Our Nation has a big responsibility, to protect our people! Same thing, with the Catholic Church– big decisions are in the hands of the top leaders! (Is the Catholic Church always reliable, trustworthy, responsible? I do not think so!) And YES– all nations should have moral and ethical standards, as well as standards for overall ACCEPTABILITY and QUALITY—for their entertainments, as well as serious works of art! I just signed a petition, to present to government leaders, to outlaw dirty “hippie” people who sit all day long at places like McDonald’s or Starbuck’s, viewing child pornography on their computers.
Btw, I was the one that posted that anonymous blog—by accident.
Linda Marie, you are a real piece of work. So, the “little people” have no responsibility for “big” decision like war. How every authoritarian. Are you saying us “common” folk are just automatons that can do nothing but obey?
Gee, funny how the prosecutors at Nuremberg refused to accept the “I was only following orders” defense. All of us are responsible for our actions. If our leaders demand immoral acts from us, Catholic theology requires us to disobey.
But, let’s take a look at the culture of your “decent” era. Decent people used to believe blacks shouldn’t eat at the same restaurant, live in the same neighborhood, attend the same schools, or get treatment at the same hospitals. Unwed mothers were to be ridiculed and abused by society, and the children rejected by their peers because of their parentage—over which they had no control.
People admired mass murdering criminals like Bonnie and Clyde, and supported machine gun toting gangsters like Al Capone. That society allowed the poor to starve in shanty towns when times were hard—because they need to earn a living.
But, hey, people couldn’t talk about police inspector who wanted to extort sex in the movie Casablanca, b/c such things were just indecent. I guess that makes up for the mass starvation, racisim, and the wholesale slaughter of jews in europe, and Stalin’s mass starvations in Russia.
What a fine, decent time.
Linda Marie, as for wanting to outlaw the “dirty hippies” from sitting around watching porn all day, how exactly are you going to stop them?
Do you want to throw them in prison? HOw, exactly are going to discover what they are doing so as to have proof in court? Should the NSA spy on our computers to prevent anyone from watching porn?
If we give the powers that be the kind of authority to enforce your decent behaviors, what kind of dictatorship have we created?
The more authoritative the government the more frequent, and more violent the wars. The people who fight get little from combat, but the elites who supply the arms and own the land, and build the companies that win markets in these battles make bank.
Thus, the more authoritative power you give them, the more ability you give them to fight wars and create slaughter. Is that your idea of decency? Gas chambers for jews, starvation in the Ukraine, and mass death in communist china—but hey there aren’t any boobs on the movie screen!
Linda Marie, you can not deny the truth, no matter how hard you pretend that the Scourging and Crucifixion was not horrible.
Seeing is believing for most. And you should not discourage others from seeing “the Passion of the Christ”.
As just an example: seeing aborted human beings is changing the knowledge of many. They can no longer deny that the aborted are human beings.
Allie– what a great pity, that you think people need to see violence and bloody images, to convince them of very important matters, such as Christ’s Crucifixion, or standing up for unborn children! What a PITY!! This reminds me of the corrupt, blood-thirsty, ancient Romans, at the end of their mighty Empire, enjoying all the blood and gore, at their violent Roman circus! Good, decent people should be properly EDUCATED in the Church– and thus, they will hopefully be very capable of understanding complex and painfully violent subjects, by reading and thinking things through properly, being SENSITIVE to human suffering– and comprehending Christ’s message in His Crucifixion— BY USING THEIR BRAINS! Does ignorant, bloody indulgence in all sorts of violence, teach you to be a good Christian? Is that good teaching material? I think not!
…sadly, Linda Maria, many have been trained precisely to not use the brain. They are programmed too often to believe nobody pays any price for bad actions and that the notion of ‘sin’ is just that, some old belief. Not reality.
I’ve heard it said,”There is no good or bad, just choices.” That’s what our young people are being brought up on. And that’s often why they just choose to turn the channel.
They are numb and often don’t even understand their own unhappiness/pain until they hit a brick wall. Or can see something graphic – sadly, another acquired appetite – showing them precisely what they are doing.
God bless
Ann Malley are you describing Moral relativism? Sounds like it, a form of it right?
Yes, Abeca, that is what I am describing although most people wouldn’t think of it as moral relativism, but they often will say that what is ‘true’ for one is not ‘true’ for another. Or what was objectively sinful before, no longer can be described as such.
The concept of God being Truth (unchanging) is something dismissed because,well, they are taught that everything is subject to redefinition.
So you have that loss of the sense of sin. Why? Because folks believe there is no sin. And if they do not believe themselves to be sinners, why would they be drawn to a movie like the Passion? That’s a big part of people’s indifference, no matter how high the level of brutality, factual or not.
Then it is form of it. Its too bad Ann Malley. It sounds like you are also addressing the fact that people lack fear of the Lord. To fear the Lord, what a beautiful virtue. Reading the bible at a very young age, and attending Mass with my grandma has given me that sense of fear, that beautiful understanding to my level at a very young age.
I hate sin Ann Malley, but I use to hate it so much that I felt that it was also leading towards pride because I kept intervening and not approaching in humility nor in a meek heart. It took love and great humiliation to break any bad habits that I thought were of our Lord’s. Our Lord is so much more, His ways are not ours. I yet to know our Lord, even in my lifetime, because of my sins, I have yet to be sensitive to His calling. Why is that? Perhaps I am not conveying well but what it amounts to is being sensitive to His passion and what caused that, how sin hurts our relationship with Him. Yes we are all sinners. You got that right too. God bless your day. Praise Be Jesus Christ.
So Ann Malley, I don’t think you really want to stand behind your statement that “Because folks believe there is no sin. And if they do not believe themselves to be sinners, why would they be drawn to a movie like the Passion?”
Does that mean that people won’t go see Wizard of Oz if they don’t believe themselves to be sinners, or if they don’t believe themselves to be a superhero they won’t see Superman? Really?
Abeca Christian, I agree with you that hatred of sin is not necessarily love of God. Jesus and Mary guide us. Holy Spirit, convict us of our sins.
Anonymous thats not what i said.
Please dont twist my words. Lets be clear We are to hate sin.
The Passion of the Christ is meant to convey a serious message about our salvation and Christ’s love as it is a film rendering of the Gospel and the visions of Catherine Anne Emmerich. I am sorry you felt it necessary to make comparisons with children and adult fantasy films. But that does say something about your level of comprehension and/or desperation to discredit anyone who may engage on the level of what Abeca and I were just discussing regarding moral relativism.
Abeca Christian, well I did not mean to twist your words. Perhaps I did not understand what you meant. Peace.
Ann Malley, thanks once again for not actually responding to the content of the question, but instead resorting to insulting the person asking the question. The question stands: People are drawn to films for a variety of reasons. What they get out of them may or may not have anything to do with why they went to the film. A person who goes to see Captain America may go to see the film for the special effects and the battle scenes. But they may come out of it inspired to support their country. Or to not think of themselves as puny little wanna-be’s but instead get encouraged and empowered to discover the strength within themselves. Same could be true for someone who goes to see the Passion. Maybe the person goes because they are fan of Mel Gibson, but comes away having had a conversion experience. I’m quite sure many people go to see films like this not because they have a sense of personal sin going in, which is what you were saying. But go ahead, Ann Malley, belittle me and my motivations, as you love to do.
….I would tend to agree, Anonymous, as often hating sin can be motivated by the desire to ‘be perfect’ for the sake of being perfect. Loving God is more than that as it is directed toward Him, and hating sin because it offends Him, not because the sin makes us think poorly of ourselves or makes others look down upon us.
Yours was a very good point.
History does not change. It either happened or it didn’t.
I think it’s fair to say that different people have different sensitivities. I think the Passion is a beautiful movie about Our Lord but I can see how some people who, through their own backgrounds or experiences as well as their own understanding about the ugliness of sin, could find it too difficult to watch. Ancient Rome was known to be pretty brutal so I’m sure it’s pretty accurate. But people are so different and responses to the film are going to reflect that. Sometimes I like to point out that both St. Therese and St. Thomas Aquinas are Doctors of the Church and very holy saints, but had very different lives, perspectives and differ in their spirituality. It seems natural we would find the same thing in those around us.
“…I think the Passion is a beautiful movie about Our Lord but I can see how some people who, through their own backgrounds or experiences as well as their own understanding about the ugliness of sin, could find it too difficult to watch.”
Well said, Carol.
When I was young, many Catholics would complain, because of the painful, strict disciplines which Catholic education would at times impose, on sensitive young students. Bloody images, bloody crucifixes, reading material grotesquely depicting Christ’s suffering for our sins, the violent penances of saints, encouraging bloody martyrdom for Christ as a high vocation, threatening children that they will go to Hell, and endure torture from an “Angry God” if they committed the tiniest sin! WHY this violence, threats, and bloody gore at times, in our churches, in religious and moral training?? Does that make you a better Catholic, for Christ, and lead you to Heaven?? Christ Himself did not teach people this way!! Can He not open people’s hearts to love and serve Him, in far better ways?? Catholics with good moral and religious training, and a good, solid moral conscience, cannot even DREAM of committing MORTAL SINS— without falling to pieces, with guilt and tears of remorse! They feel TERRIBLE!! They want to run to God, to the Confession Box— to set things right again, with God! They don’t want to hurt Him, or hurt their fellow man!
Linda Marie, I have the video. It is well worth watching just to hear the actual language Our Lord spoke, Aramaic. There are some beautiful scenes in it of the Lord with His Mother. One can fast forward the more violent scenes if one wishes to do so.
I understand what you mean about seeing excessive violence, but it was when I saw actual pictures of aborted children that I woke up to the truth at what it actually does to a child. They should not be shown all the times, but it is necessary to do so at times, or some people will not understand the horrible things they are encouraging being done to an unborn child.
I remember not always wearing my car seat belt in my younger years until I saw a video in a driver’s training class of a woman in an accident who had her face scrapped on the cement when she was thrown out of a car door because she was not wearing one. It certainly was not a pretty sight to see, but I have fastened my seat belt and made others do so in my car ever since. I have been in serious car accidents but survived without a scratch because I had my belt on. So sometimes it is necessary to show violence to keep it from happening again to someone else..
…some of us do need the visual lesson. Great post, AnneT.
Thats true both Anne’s
Anne T., you seem like a very sincere Catholic! If you like the movie, and it is good for you, that is fine! I am not trying to hurt anyone, nor (God forbid!) trying to discourage anything helpful, to someone’s religious faith! I am only giving my own views. I am also very sorry, that you were injured, in a serious car accident! I hope this never happens to you again! May your Guardian Angels always watch over you, and protect you! I could never bear to watch the video you mentioned, in a Driver’s Ed. class! Anyway— God bless you, and many other good, sincere Catholics! LOVE devotions like “Stations of the Cross,” during Lent– but no Mel Gibson movies, for me! LOVE the Family Rosary Productions movies of the life of Christ, made by Fr. Patrick Peyton, a long time ago!
Linda Maria so you call the Passion of the Christ a Mel Gibson movie? Wait you said movies, with an s…Who is talking about about watching his other movies? Not us, just the Passion of the Christ is very accurately told, that it is part of the history of salvation. So it is not owned by Mel Gibson nor anyone else. Jesus passion has been told numerous of times and no one owns the right to it, they just need to tell it like it is. And that he did, better than most other movies. It is very hard to watch because of all the suffering our sins continue to cause our Lord.
I understand that not everyone can stomach the violence, its hard to watch. So I respect that you may not like that but its fine too. But let me tell you that you are not just stating your own personal opinion but you also come off across as discouraging and that to me is not good. Its our Lord’s passion story, told more accurately and we should not stand in the way of people wanting to watch it regardless of ones feelings.
Like many good Catholics, I have always loved the Stations of the Cross, during the Fridays of Lent. I also recall, when very young, being very worried that Christ was suffering greatly, at each Mass, and I trembled at seeing the priest breaking the Sacred Host, at the Fraction of the Host, at Mass! I asked a priest, one day, if Christ was suffering still, for us, in each Mass. I couldn’t bear it! Of course, the kindly priest replied, straight from the Baltimore Catechism– that the Mass was an unbloody Sacrifice! I also loved to memorize, and translate, religious poetry of our Church, in Latin classes, when in high school. Poems such as the “Stabat Mater,” as well as many others— brought sensitive students to tears of love for Christ and His Blessed Mother! It also opened their hearts to COMPASSION for human suffering!! Great religious literature of the Church, as well as Sacred Scripture, along with reflection, prayer and religious devotions, has for many centuries, brought millions of good people to their knees, in adoration of Jesus Christ!!
I grew up in the days, long ago, when all America took it as a FACT— that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and He died for our Salvation! Christ was greatly respected! Even by those who seldom went to church! I recall being frightened at seeing bloody crucifixes, and paintings of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, with His tragic Crown of Thorns— all wounded and bloody, due to our transgressions! And the traditional prayers, accusing all Mankind, of slaying Him, the most adorable Son of God! Oh, how TERRIFYING!! Are lots of people going to Hell?? But I guess some people, on the other hand– are NOT FRIGHTENED, and NOT PHYSICALLY SICKENED, by all that blood Christ shed for us— and are, in fact, converted to love and serve Christ! Well, that is great— if that sort of thing does some good! It would be great, if Mel Gibson made a violent, bloody movie, all about the Virtue of Chastity— depicting Christ being violently SCOURGED, for mankind’s sexual sins!! I’d LOVE to see all the crying and repentance of MORTAL SINS, in the movie audience!! Great idea!!
Linda Marie, Christ was scourged and crucified for sexual sins as well as all other sins.
If someone made a movie about that what you personally want /suggest you would complain about that too.
Some people are just complainers and try to discourage others
from seeing an excellent movie, which could possibly move them to save their Souls.
And FYI, Jesus personally stated that many will NOT be saved. Please read the Bible and you will not have to ask that question.
Mt 7:13-14; and Lk 13:23-28.
“…Some people are just complainers and try to discourage others
from seeing an excellent movie, which could possibly move them to save their Souls.”
Yes, and some people are just rude and believe themselves to be in the judgement seat…. or an ivory tower. Please obtain some people skills and engage them. I’d venture to say you have learned them, DOTTIE, but are choosing to disregard them as you have seemingly made up your mind on what Linda Maria is doing… and her motivation. But then again, I do not know what you are doing precisely and/or what your intentions are. Presumption can be sinful, too.
FYI: Please read all of scripture and use it for your attitude does little to attract.
Isaiah 42:3 The bruised reed He shall not break, and smoking flax He shall not quench: He shall bring forth judgment unto Truth.
Try, if you’re bent on judging and assuming an authority that is not yours, to recall that judgement must be brought forth unto Truth…. not the truth of personal opinion, presumption, unkind dismissal, and authoritative pronouncements based on an overt aura of misperceived superiority.
And of course Christ was scourged to atone for our sexual sins, but that is not necessarily what those who would see the movie would understand, DOTTIE, precisely because they have no context in which to place the brutality. One must already have a grasp of the Gospel/Faith to *know* that the scourging was related to sexual sins.
Ann Malley, thanks for your post! Bless you!
I pray God to continue blessing you, too, Linda Maria. The combination of your forthrightness and gentle spirit is a very necessary and welcome witness. So many have no understanding of how far we’ve come or rather how far we’ve fallen as a society…. and as Catholics.
Ann Malley, glad you stated presumption is a sin, because you do it all the time.
It’s nice to know I shake you up enough to inspire ad hominem attacks based on your opinion, Seth. But please try to be specific in your aspersions.
I stated, “Presumption can be sinful, too.” And it ‘can’ be, Seth, even for those who ‘presume’ they have purity of intention.
God bless you, too.
Amen to that DOTTIE
It is good, if some people are motivated, after seeing bloody, violent movies, to follow Our Lord, and to be responsible, and obey Christ. Maybe that is why our pre-Vatican II Church was so heavy-handed at times, inculcating religious Faith and Moral training, with dire warnings of the dangers of SIN, especially MORTAL SIN– and the risk of the loss of one’s soul, going to Hell! The depravity of human nature, and the inclination to sin, is quite serious, and something serious needs to be done about that! Long ago, children, as well as adults– had to endure very strong punishments, for big or small sins! Spanking a child, or slapping his face, for wrong-doings, was also common. (Personally, I do not believe in violence, to teach a child or adult!) Everyone was deeply inculcated with moral training, the understanding of right and wrong, and a good moral conscience, to lead one in the right pathway! Well— perhaps many people are basically insensitive– and need a HEAVY HAND, to teach them a lesson, and RESPECT FOR GOD!!
I will add one thing, to my above post. It is so sad, that in today’s “hippie world,” in which so many people are HARDENED and DE-SENSITIZED to crime, sin, bloody violence, murder, rape, human trafficking, “LGBTQ” pervert sex acts, pornography, filthy language, child molestation, violent, anti-society fads and clothing fashions, violent noise called rock “music,” and all sorts of hideous evils– it seems there is nothing they will not blindly accept, for entertainment, serious art, or even religious materials! A few years ago, we heard all about the former San Francisco Archbishop, Archbishop Niederauer, announcing that he had gone to the movies, IN PUBLIC, PAYING HIS MONEY— to see “Brokeback Mountain,” a gay love story! When we were all much younger— this “gay sex” movie would have been FORBIDDEN for Catholics to see!! So many human beings in today’s “anti-society” “hippie world,” — have become totally DE-SENSITIZED to all forms of evil!! TRAGIC!! JUST LIKE THE BLOODY, VIOLENT ROMAN CIRCUS!!
I watched the Sniper over the weekend, I didn’t care for some of the inappropriate sex innuendo but other than that it was a good movie. Very patriotic. Shows what men can go through when they are fighting for our freedoms here.
. On the scene towards the end, where there was lots of shooting and they felt overwhelmed, trying to survive and come out of it alive, it reminded me of that being exactly what we go through during any spiritual attack. The spiritual attacks can come after you in numbers, tearing you up and often very intimidating, that any poor soul will be in distraught. Sometimes that moment seems endless, like how is anyone going to survive. The spiritual battle is so strong, that it also comes after your loved ones, it attacks viciously and one is doing everything possible to save their loved ones. Not everyone comes out of it well. In the movie he had guns and knew how to use them, we have prayers, fasting and sacramentals to help but sometimes the demonic forces are much more stronger that even with all we have, it just isn’t enough. That is definitively a spiritual war. God have mercy on us all and help us.
G. K. Chesterton’s The Everlasting Man:
” On the third day the friends of Christ coming at daybreak to the place found the grave empty and the stone rolled away. In varying ways they realized the new wonder; but even they hardly realized that the world had died in the night. What they were looking at was the first day of a new creation, with a new heaven and a new earth; and in a semblance of the gardener God walked again in the garden, in the cool not of the evening but the dawn.”
Happy Lent season, now go and train your soul, work out your flesh, spiritual training season, prep yourself for what this life has God’s people to endure. Trusting In Jesus always.
The only way to win audiences is to tell people about the life and death of Christ. Every other approach is a waste.
(Fulton Sheen)
I do not watch bloody, violent, modern American movies, including “American Sniper!” This, to me, is a severe abuse of the art of film-making! I think film-makers like Mel Gibson, are abusive to their material, to make money! Why do people substitute violent, secular Hollywood movies– for religious devotions, in church?? Well, if this particular movie (and it wasn’t faithful either, to the Gospel texts!) helps someone’s religious devotion, that’s fine! You know, there are modern films, like “Jesus of Nazareth,” that are very good! Also, Fr. Patrick Peyton’s religious movies, on the life of Christ, are outstanding! Why not use that, for religious devotions? I recall, when young, greatly fearing stories of the black-robed, self-scourging Spanish “Penitentes,” who performed extremely violent public penances, during Holy Week. Also in many Spanish countries, young men would re-enact the Crucifixion, being nailed like Christ, to real crosses! Yet, many people claimed that these things were very helpful, for their religious faith! Well– so be it!! SCARY!! And mentally-damaging! Such was the message, of Christ??!!
OK Linda Maria I understand you now. You are explaining why you do not like these movies. OK fair enough. But still regardless of how you feel, the Passion movie is a well made movie and is helping some people understand exactly what our Lord went through because of our sins. This movie does not replace our traditions but it can be added to help one reflect, you do not have to like it, but it does help our youth today, especially since many of today’s youth are spoiled with modern conveniences and take for granted what our Lord went through. Even the protestant movement has done away with the passion, they always reflect only on the resurrection, which is not bad but with out understanding the passion of our Lord, we can’t appreciate the resurrection. While you understand both, just think, our youth have not the blessings you have to understand and sometimes it takes this type of movie to shake one up and help them towards the right path. Reaching them at their level, not everyone is at the same level.
“Unless there is a Good Friday in your life, there can be no Easter Sunday.”
― Fulton J. Sheen