The Passion of Christ*

The Passion of Christ*
This is Holy Week – www.cinopsbegone.com – Thursday, April 21, 2011

“The aim of this movie – says Gibson – is to tell the truth. I want it to be as faithful to the truth as possible so that everyone seeing it will stop to think about the reasons why Christ came and why he was crucified. He died for the whole human race, suffered for all of humanity. So really everyone who sins should see the role he plays in this, and accept responsibility.

“The making of the “Passion of Christ” was a moving experience for the entire filming crew. We had among us Muslims, Jews, Christians, Buddhists, as well as agnostics – observes Gibson – and we all worked in perfect harmony.

“Mass was said every day before work began on the film set. While the Sermon on the Mount scene was being shot, Jim Caviezel, who plays the role of Jesus, was struck by lightning and survived. All the actors witnessed this extraordinary event. In their spare time people held lively discussions on the subject of faith. The mood and intensity of the spiritual experiences during the filming of the Passion was so strong that several Muslims and agnostics embraced the Christian faith…

“For people of good will, Gibson’s Passion is a moving experience. It is an invitation to come to know more closely the person of Christ, who desires to offer everyone His boundless mercy and a part in His victory over sin and death.

“Everything in the Passion comes straight from the Gospel. There is nothing in the film that does not come from there. Those who criticize the film criticize the Gospel – said Archbishop John Foley, President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communication, after seeing the film.

“Observed Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, for me art is a manifestation of God’s attributes, His beauty, His mercy, His love. The Passion contains all these things. It shows God’s divine love for us, and what he had done for us.

“Cardinal Castillon Hoyos, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Clergy observed: On seeing the film, I experienced a profound spiritual closeness with Jesus Christ. This film leads the viewer towards prayer, reflections and meditations that flows from the deepest recesses of the heart.

“I have read accounts of the Lord’s Passion – and Cardinal Francis George of Chicago – I have meditated on them and used many of them in my prayers, many times, but I have never reflected on the Crucifixion with the aid of such images as came to me upon viewing this film. I will never read these words the same way again.

“On viewing the film, the Holy Father (Pope John Paul II) himself alleged to have said: It is as it was.”

George H. Kubeck, *this article by Fr. M. Piotrowski S. Chr. In “Love One Another,” Catholic Magazine -2/2004 p. 5, printed in Poland, www.loveanothermagazine.org – This film is on a DVD or rental.