The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary: The movie also includes all the scenes from the rosary’s five “Sorrowful Mysteries,” subjects on which Catholics meditate while praying with beads: the Agony in the Garden, the Scourging at the Pillar, the Crowning with Thorns, the Carrying of the Cross, and the Crucifixion.
In the discussions about The Passion, the main focus is on its evangelistic use, but its relationship to God’s second commandment is rarely considered
The Stations of the Cross: This is the Roman Catholic practice during Lent to dwell on the sufferings of Christ and meditate on them through the 14 “Stations of the Cross,” supposedly to recall the most prominent events that took place during Christ’s journey to the cross.
The Holy Face of Saint Veronica: The veil with which a pious woman wiped the face of Jesus on his way to Calvary, and on which remained the imprint of his suffering face.
the difference lies in the manner of offering which was bloody upon the Cross and is bloodless on the altar.” 19
Mary: Co-Redemptrix, Co-Mediatrix, Advocate (not the Holy Spirit). In the movie, Mary says at the cross, “Flesh of my flesh, heart of my heart, my Son, let me die with you.”
The Pieta: In the movie, after Christ has been removed from the cross, Mary embraced him. This is not in the Bible, but is often portrayed in medieval paintings and sculptures.
- 1 Outreach, Inc.,
- 2 “Churches Make ‘Stunning’ Show of Support for Gibson’s ‘Passion’,” Newsmax, /2/5/172341.shtml. Steven D. Greydanus, a movie critic for the National Catholic Register, observes, “Protestants have attracted much attention in recent weeks by trumpeting their hopes that Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ will prove a great evangelistic tool. What relatively few have noticed is the https://hookupdate.net/escort-index/fort-collins/ extent to which these groups are themselves being evangelized.”
- 3 Unless otherwise noted, all emphasis in quotations is by the author.
- 4 All Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton: Crossway, 2001).
- 5 Keith A Fournier, “Review of Private Viewing of ‘THE PASSION’ Movie, “
- 6 Peter J. Boyer, “The Jesus War: Mel Gibson & ‘The Passion'”, , The New Yorker,
- 7 Mel Gibson in Primetime interview with Diane Sawyer, ABC News, ,
- 8 Andrew J. Webb’s review, “Five Reasons Not to Go See The Passion,” Banner of Truth Trust, was a very helpful resource.
- 9 For a listing of other Roman Catholic imagery in the movie, see Appendix.
* Nollie F. Malabuyo is an M. Div. student at Westminster Seminary in Escondido, California, and is also a missionary under Wycliffe Bible Translators.
Not only that, The Passion leaves out significant things that are in the Bible. For example, when he was being arrested, Jesus said to the arresting party, “I am he.” John said that when Jesus said this, the people “drew back and fell to the ground,” demonstrating the very important fact that sinful man cannot stand the presence of a holy God (Isa. 6:5; Ezek. 1:28; Dan. ; Rev. 1:7). Another example: after Jesus died on the cross, there was darkness and an earthquake, and at this point, the centurion and his soldiers exclaimed in fear and awe, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matt. ), pointing to the cosmic character of Christ’s sacrifice.
The Scapular: A brown cloth, supposedly worn by Our Lady of Carmel, with a promise saying, “Whosoever dies clothed in this habit shall not suffer the fires of hell
If the movie wanted to present the gospel more clearly, it could have added, for example, a scene where the chief priests were plotting how to get rid of Jesus, and Caiaphas unknowingly prophesied, “It is better for you that one man should die for the people” (John -52).
Perhaps this is because many Christians today believe that the Ten Commandments are not applicable to the New Testament Christian.
Therefore, when we endorse movies like The Passion, aren’t we returning to the medieval and Roman Catholic practice of using visual means to worship God, instead of using the means of grace-preaching, sacraments (the visible Word), and prayer?
In addition to the additions from the visions of Emmerich, the following Roman Catholic imagery are found in The Passion:
