Mary and Holy Week

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Soon we will be entering into Holy Week, a very special time in the Church Year. If you have seen Mel Gibson’s film "The Passion of The Christ", you may like me, often recall vivid images from that film whenever you pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, gaze on a crucifix, or hear the Passion narratives from the Gospels.

The portrayal of Mary in that film, I thought, was especially well done. From an interview with the actress I learned she was a Jewish mother herself and pregnant at the time of the filming:

In a recent interview with the Associated Press, actress Maia Morgenstern said she was pregnant for her role as Mary in Mel Gibson’s upcoming feature film “The Passion of the Christ.”

The shoot finished one month ahead of the birth of her now nine-month-old second daughter. Being pregnant created “a special luminosity which you cannot reproduce with makeup,” she told AP, Feb. 3.

The Romanian actress, whose grandfather died in the Auschwitz death camp and whose parents are Holocaust survivors, does not consider the film anti-Semitic, nor does she think it will promote anti-Semitism.

The Jewish actress said Muslims, atheists, Christians and Jews worked on the film but race and religion were never an issue, and Gibson never imposed his religious convictions on anyone during the shoot.

“When people go and see the film, they will (primarily) see a work of art,” she told AP…( from 2004 article HERE)

Sometimes it can help to have a visual image in pondering the Gospel narratives of the Passion. This Sunday as we listen to the Passion from the Gospel of Matthew, by God’s grace, may we remember our Mother and Model and unite ourselves in love to Jesus as she did. As we go through Holy Week, may Mary our Mother intercede for us and for the whole world so in need of Jesus, and so in need of the Mother He gave to us in His words: “Behold your Mother.”

 

[Casilda]

I have not seen Mr. Gibson’s movie having been warned by like minded friends of its intensity. I have however attended a few passion plays. In one I remember the gentleman portraying Jesus carrying the cross. He was an acquaintance through a Bible study. Yet seeing him being whipped and dragging the cross and stumbling brought about tears and an uneasiness in me. Another play I saw had three men being hung on three crosses with ropes. Visually creative. It was not until Mary, portrayed by a woman wailing and moaning, at the foot of ‘Jesus’ cross did I feel a mother’s sting.

Yes, we must contemplate these mysteries of Jesus’ life and death when praying the rosary as if we are there with Him and Mary.

A few years ago I was at an Orthodox prayer service during Holy week, where they read the four Gospel accounts of the betrayal, crucifixion and passion of Our Lord, back to back. I thought that was very somber and should be done by all Christians.

Thank you for bringing up Mary and Holy Week.

 

[MariaChristi]

I have not seen Mr. Gibson’s movie having been warned by like minded friends of its intensity. I have however attended a few passion plays. In one I remember the gentleman portraying Jesus carrying the cross. He was an acquaintance through a Bible study. Yet seeing him being whipped and dragging the cross and stumbling brought about tears and an uneasiness in me. Another play I saw had three men being hung on three crosses with ropes. Visually creative. It was not until Mary, portrayed by a woman wailing and moaning, at the foot of ‘Jesus’ cross did I feel a mother’s sting.

Yes, we must contemplate these mysteries of Jesus’ life and death when praying the rosary as if we are there with Him and Mary.

A few years ago I was at an Orthodox prayer service during Holy week, where they read the four Gospel accounts of the betrayal, crucifixion and passion of Our Lord, back to back. I thought that was very somber and should be done by all Christians.

Thank you for bringing up Mary and Holy Week.

Dear Casilda,

Thanks for your reply. It’s good to hear from you again. When my husband and I watched the film, “The Passion of the Christ”, it was, as you said “intense” but the actual Passion of Jesus was more than I could have imagined and I believe seeing the movie helped me to appreciate more how “intense” God’s Love is.

The scene where I wept most was perhaps an “artistic” addition, I have not done much research on the sources for the film. I think I read that much had been taken from the writings of one of the mystics, but the scene was certainly a realistic “possibility”.

It was when the apostle John was accompanying Mary along the way of the cross and she said to John I want to be closer to Him. As John was trying to get through the crowd, Mary could see Jesus carrying his cross and she saw Him fall. Then there was a “flashback” to another scene in Nazareth when Jesus was a little boy and Mary sees Him fall and runs to Him taking the little boy in her arms. I began to sob at that point for every Mother it seems to me can see her child as a little one no matter how old they grow to be. The film then returns to the way of the cross and Mary begins to move as quickly as she can to Jesus.

If I remember correctly, Jesus rises and says to His Mother: “I make all things new”. (The actors did not speak in English but we could read translations). At the Foot of the Cross Mary did not wail or cry out. She was silent.

My husband and I have not watched the film since, but I cannot forget the images which I believe were probably as close as possible to the real horror of all Jesus and Mary suffered.

I’ve not seen the movie again. but I do not think I can ever forget the images.

 

[AveOTheotokos]

The Passion of Jesus combined with Mary’s suffering is a lesson to us all on how deeply our sins can wound.

 

[oldgraymare2]

Hi MariaChristi,

I think that this film is very moving and very powerful.

I held up pretty well while watching it in the theater, as I had heard from a friend at the time that it was a very emotional experience when going to see it.

The scene that you describe though, where Mary has her flashback to a little child Jesus where she goes to him, was where I could no longer contain myself when watching the film.

I am reminded of what a loving Mother she is to all of us, as I pray a Novena for her intercession this week.

 

[MariaChristi]

Hi MariaChristi,

I think that this film is very moving and very powerful.

I held up pretty well while watching it in the theater, as I had heard from a friend at the time that it was a very emotional experience when going to see it.

The scene that you describe though, where Mary has her flashback to a little child Jesus where she goes to him, was where I could no longer contain myself when watching the film.

I am reminded of what a loving Mother she is to all of us, as I pray a Novena for her intercession this week.

Dear oldgraymare2,

Thanks for your reply. I too was most touched by that scene and continue to remember it often. It was the scene where I cried most also. Words from the hymn “Stabat Mater” come to mind:

…O thou Mother: fount of love!
Touch my spirit from above,
Make my heart with thine accord.

Make me feel as thou hast felt;
Make my soul to glow and melt
With the love of Christ my Lord…

 

[MariaChristi]

The Passion of Jesus combined with Mary’s suffering is a lesson to us all on how deeply our sins can wound.

Thanks for your reply, AveOTheotokos,

Yes, Mary’s Immaculate Heart suffered immensely because of her union with Jesus. Again words from the hymn “Stabat Mater” come to mind:

…Can the human heart refrain
From partaking in her pain,
In that Mother’s pain untold?

Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
She beheld her tender Child,
All with bloody scourges rent.

For the sins of His own nation,
Saw Him hang in desolation
Till His spirit forth He sent…