Posted on 02/28/2005 1:28:36 PM PST by nickcarraway
Hollywood A-lister buys the rights to the book ‘Stealing from Angels'
Fittingly, just ten days after the death of Sr Lucia dos Santos, the last survivor to witness the appearances of the Virgin Mary at the Portuguese town of Fatima in 1917, Mel Gibson has bought the rights to the book ‘Stealing from Angels’.
Brian Dullaghan’s novel tells the story of a young Irish man who escapes a dreary life in his hometown only to slip into a life of major crime in New York. Everything changes when he meets Maria and he jumps ship again, this time to Maria’s hometown in Italy. However, blissful happiness does not follow and when the couple are connected to the murder of Pope John Paul and the third secret of Fatima, things really implode.
‘Stealing from Angels’ is a work of fiction that tells the tale of a man who shoulders a huge secret and trusts no one.
The third prophecy
Those familiar with the three prophesies revealed by the Virgin Mary at Fatima will be aware that the first two referred to the two World Wars and the third to the long kept secret that Sr Lucia ultimately revealed that foretold the 1981 attempt on Pope John Paul II’s life.
In 2000, when the Pope visited the shrine at Fatima, Cardinal Soldano, authorised to read a statement on behalf of the pontiff, described the prophecy: "the 'bishop clothed in white' makes his way with great effort toward the cross amid the corpses of those who were martyred. He too falls to the ground, apparently dead, under a burst of gunfire." Pope John Paul II credits the Madonna of Fatima with his survival following the assassination attempt by Turkish right-winger Mehmet Ali Agca in St Peter's Square.
‘Stealing from Angels’ has received rave reviews and is very popular in America, not least, in the same vein as The Da Vinci Code, because people can indulge their desire for church conspiracy theories – especially relating to the Catholic Church.
Mel Gibson’s interest will again stir up the controversy. Gibson is known to practice pre-Vatican II ‘traditional’ Catholicism and much was made amid ‘The Passion’ furore of his father’s Vatican conspiracy theories.
But let’s put this to one side. The film will not hit screens until 2006 and Gibson has proved himself an exceptional actor and director. He has also treated key figures in the Catholic hierarchy with respect and even sought their opinions ahead of the worldwide release of ‘The Passion of The Christ’.
Mel Gibson travelled to Fatima in September of 2003 to show the film to religious institutions. He visited Sr Lucia’s convent in Coimbra and managed to secure an agreement to show ‘The Passion’ to the sisters. Later, Gibson returned to Portugal and made another secret visit to the convent to meet with Sr Lucia.
One thing’s for sure; this film is destined to be a controversial box office blockbuster. But before the conspiracy theories get out of hand, not to mention individual reader interpretations, the author himself has the final say in an interview with The Tribune: “It’s a great story and that is that,” said Dullaghan.
Hollywood holds its breath…
I'm an Evangelical. My reaction is definitely skeptical. Also, I was wondering if most Catholics truly believe this kind of stuff.
In terms of planning to see the film, I probably won't, except to view it for reasons similar to why I went to see "The Day After Tomorrow".
I was hoping Mel would put the Resurrection to film since it is universally held Christian dogma.
However, it's neat that he will film the Fatima story b/c it will drive the Follywoodites up a tree.
How about because it might be a good movie? I'm not a Christian, but I thought POTC was a great movie. Are Evangelicals only supposed to enjoy movies if they are Theologically Correct?
Mel did indeed reach out to evangelicals. He specifically offered to pre-screen "The Passion" for various evangelical notables, and they pretty much universally commended both Mel and his movie. And it wasn't because they "are desperate to unite again with Rome," but because the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are central to all Christian teaching. The Catholics don't have a corner on the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Sorry; I can't let the general forum members read inaccurate info without setting the record straight. Canonically, the term schismatic would be better applied to the "faithful" Novus Ordo than to the traditional Catholics.
I do not think portraying Mary as having supernatural powers, or part of the Passion had anything to do with the Bible.
Mel Gibson is definetly on a mission - I applaud him for standing up for his Christianity in todays world - when Christians are at the top of the hate list. (Or is it conservative republicans, then Christians? Ha!) I am resentful he was not included more in the Academy Awards, but I believe the Academy was trying to be 'politically correct'. They sure as heck didn't want Michael, 'bleep bleep'Moore nominated, and I supposed the 'ying' of the 'yang' had to be discounted, too. Such a shame. Mel is one Hollywood figure I will stand behind ANYDAY!
Mel is going to delve into fiction this time!
I think that's bull, actually. This is a fascinating story, and people are interested in the Pope. Not to mention it being set against the backdrop of the meat-grinder of WWI... I don't think this story has really been done before either, and the Marian Apparition believers have never been more numerous. Throw in John Paul II, Reagan, communizm, a muzzl'em assassin, this is box office gold, IMO.
To Mel,
If you see this, please consider making a movie from one (or all) of Malachi Martin's books.
I request "Vatican" to be the first one you film.
Please?
Well, I think that's my point: that the essence of "The Passion" wasn't a particular "Roman Catholic belief," but was something all Christians could embrace. That's why he received evangelical Protestant support. I hadn't really noticed in the movie the portrayal of Mary having supernatural powers (now that I think of it, the scene where she senses the spot on the floor below which Jesus was being held is probably an example of this), but there was a lot that Mel put into the movie that was "extra-biblical," so to speak, but I figured that was artistic license, which any film maker has the right to exercise in order to fill-in detail that the Gospels don't provide. Much of the movie's extra-imagery was powerful, and didn't detract from the main story.
Yeah? Do you believe in the Baptism? How about Faith Healing? How about Name it and Claim it? Protestants have their own mystical faith traditions. Why knock somebody elses?
Why not an epic about Genesis?
Maybe for you, and that's fine. However, my prediction is such a movie would be bust, compared to "The Passion."
Hi Kimberly -- It was a bit silly watching the AA's last night (what little I saw) and seeing them lionizing little movies like the Aviator, and Million Dollar Baby because it would have been Politically Incorrect for them to mention the Elephant in the Living room, which was that POTC was the biggest and best movie of last year, if not of the decade. So typical of the libbers.
I don.t know why some have to see Christ twisting squirming and anguishing in Pain like a worm on a fish hook, do they reallly need this gore.
The Protestant mystical traditions you reference are relatively recent traditions, mainly among Pentecostals. They are not universal to all Protestants, and among many Protestants are just as controversial as this so-called Catholic mysticism.
Protestants, generally, are willing consider whatever can be supported by scripture.
Much of the extra-Biblical stuff was the prophecy of that nun, remember? And I thought that the part where Mary put her head on the floor was more a mothers sense than a supernatural one, not that a mothers intuition isn't supernatural.
We will see. I gotta go... hope I didn't sound angry! God bless.
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