Posted on 11/23/2016 2:25:57 PM PST by BlessedBeGod
It’s nearly 30 years since the Vatican condemned Martin Scorsese’s “blasphemous” The Last Temptation of Christ.
But now the director’s new Christianity epic Silence has won the Pope’s seal of approval with a premiere screening at the seat of the Roman Catholic church.
The Oscar-tipped Silence, the story of two Jesuit missionaries sent into the Japanese jungle in the 17th century, will receive its first public screening at the Vatican, in front of an audience of several hundred Jesuits.
Scorsese will present the film and is expected to meet Pope Francis, a film fan who shares a passion for Italian post-War neo-realist cinema with the feted American director.
Silence follows two priests, played by Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver, who are tortured and persecuted when they journey to Japan to find their mentor, played by Liam Neeson.
Based on a book by Japanese author Shūsaku Endō, the story of their attempts to spread the gospel to indigenous peoples during a time of persecution has won favour with the Vatican.
The Pope’s tacit endorsement is considered helpful for films trawling for Oscar votes – Angelina Jolie took her World War Two biopic Unbroken to Rome for a Vatican screening.
She was granted an audience with Pope Francis and the film subsequently garnered three Academy Award nominations.
Last Temptation outraged Catholic church
There appears to be joy in Rome over Scorsese’s “repentance.”
The Last Temptation of Christ, released in 1988, which featured a fantasy scene showing Jesus (Willem Dafoe) having sex with Mary Magdalene, was publicly condemned by the Vatican. Outraged Christian groups organised boycotts of the film.
Movie buff Pope Francis will make his feature film debut in Beyond the Sun, a family story telling the story of the Gospels next year.
It will be the first time a Pope has appeared in a narrative film.
The Vatican also screened Call Me Francesco, a biopic based on the life of the current Pope.
Silence, a project Scorsese has pursued since 1991, is expected to be the Oscar-winner’s longest film, clocking in at 3 hours and 15 minutes.
Some 400 Jesuit priests are expected to attend the Vatican screening of the film, which opens on December 23.
Hmmm...
This is a beauiful and grim and disturbing story of the Faith. Endo is a believing, Catholic Japanese, but boy, he sure knows how to give you a serious shake-up.
This book is the furthest thing in the world from "Cheap Grace" or "Easy Believe-ism". It's harrowing. By the end, I was getting the night-dreads. But it's a testament to the Faith nevertheless.
It would be easy for Scorsese to blow it. I truly hope he made this movie prayerfully. I hope he made it on his knees.
Read the book a few years ago. Absolute masterpiece. Scorsese will likely do a good job with it. I hope that there are some great Latin Mass scenes in the film. Who knows, maybe the film will even convert a few people in the Vatican to Catholicism. The Lord works in mysterious ways.
Greatest tagline -
‘Domine Iesu Christe, Filius Dei, miserere me peccatorem!
(Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!)
or, (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me, a sinner!)
This is known as the “Jesus Prayer.” It is the cry of the publican of Luke 18:13.
Children's Latin choir, 50+ years ago. A young cleric who was already all fired up by the new liturgical norms (the Great Deformation) openly disputed with our old Choirmaster, Mr. Allard, about the suitableness of teaching us young kids the old songs "which would never be used again".
"What is the point of teaching them 'Kyrie eleison'? They don't even understand what they're saying. Humph. You there." (I wish I could say it was me he called on, but it was not: it was one of the smart 8th graders.) "What does 'Kyrie eleison' mean?"
She paused for just a moment and then said, simply, "It means 'Miserere Domine.'
Ehe!
Thank you for reminding us of this timeless prayer, the Jesus Prayer. We can't get enough of it.
I hope it's not like Francis' mention of the heretic's, Walter Kasper, promotion of chuch-sanctioned adultery as "doing theology while kneeling".
"Yesterday, before falling asleep, though not to fall asleep, I read, or re-read, Cardinal Kasper’s remarks. I would like to thank him, because I found a deep theology, and serene thoughts in theology. It is nice to read serene theology. It did me well and I had an idea, and excuse me if I embarrass Your Eminence, but the idea is: this is called doing theology while kneeling. Thank you. Thank you.”
No, it’s not.
How do you know that? Especially, after stating, "It would be easy for Scorsese to blow it."
I said "No, it's not" to your suggestion that by "on his knees," I meant "Like Kasper."
I was not alluding to Kasper.
I was alluding to the fact that Francis is not very well known for his endorsement of orthodox views or people, e.g. Kasper and his “deep theology” of church-sanctioned adultery, or praising Emma Bonino, Italy’ foremost abortionist, a being one of that country’s “forgotten greats” or his plans to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Luther’s revolt.
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