Score one more for Mel!
Posted on 03/10/2005 7:06:00 AM PST by NYer
Madrid, Mar. 09, 2005 (CNA) - The Archdiocese of Madrid’s publication “Alpha and Omega” publised an article in its latest edition on the testimony of the actor who played Barrabas in Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ,” who says he experienced a profound conversion while making the movie.
Pedro Sarubbi, in an interview with the Italian daily Avvenire, said he had wanted to play St. Peter but Gibson “had already chosen the actors based on their resemblance to the different characters as portrayed in the paintings of Caravaggio and other masters.” “As Barrabas, Gibson told me to avoid looking at Jim Caviezel, who played Jesus, until the very scene in which we were to appear together. ‘Barrabas is like a ferocious dog,’ he told me, ‘but at one moment he becomes a puppy: when he meets the Son of God and is saved. I want your look to be that of somebody seeing Jesus for the first time’. I did as he said, and when our eyes met I felt a sort of surge. It was like I was really seeing Jesus. I had never experienced such a thing in all my years of acting,” he stated.
Sarubbi said “The Passion” “was not only a professional, but above all a human experience. I am not embarrassed to say that during the filming I had a conversion. All of the actors who took part changed a little bit after this experience, but I have learned much more from the film than from any conference.”
The actor said his spiritual search “began many years ago and took me around the world. I have done extensive anthropological research, as a man and as an actor. I have been instructed in the martial arts...I lived in a Tibetan monastery for six months with a vow of silence. I have practiced meditation in India, I have lived in the Amazon. I have reached the final goal of this search in Jesus.”
Now, he went on, “I do everything possible so that those eyes continue to be important for me. My family is first above all, and I also play a clown for orphaned children. On the other hand I have my work. I teach businessman how to act in public. I teach in various acting schools. I use what I call the warrior-priest-clown method. In life you have to be strong, honest, spiritual and funny.”
Although Sarubbi has traveled around the world, he is most at home on his farm on the outskirts of Milan, with his wife and four children, and dozens of animals.
Original story from Avvenire.
Score one more for Mel!
Wow.
The actor said his spiritual search “began many years ago and took me around the world. I have done extensive anthropological research, as a man and as an actor. I have been instructed in the martial arts...I lived in a Tibetan monastery for six months with a vow of silence. I have practiced meditation in India, I have lived in the Amazon. I have reached the final goal of this search in Jesus.”
So this conversion wasn't a whim.
Beautiful tribute to Mel and to the spiritual power of The Passion of the Christ.
**Sarubbi said “The Passion” “was not only a professional, but above all a human experience. I am not embarrassed to say that during the filming I had a conversion. **
Was this the actor who played Barnabas or Barrabas?
Guess I'kll have to re-read the article rather than just skim it. LOL!
Thanks, you took care of my question with the changes.
On Relevant Radio this morning they interviewed Father Bartunik (Sp?) who has just come out with a book titled, Inside the Passion. It takes a look at the behind the scenes work that took place during the filming of The Passion of the Christ.
Lots of amazing insights as to what went on with the film, and Mel's intent at different scenes.
The book was released a few weeks ago.
Conversion to what?
Book is a must-have.
Did you get a copy yet?
I plan on stopping by our local Catholic store on my way home from work to pick up my copy.
Have you heard of Relevant Radio?
Will check B&N for copies...... Relevant Radio b'casts from where?
A wonderul Catholic radio station that is slowly growing around the country.
Great programs include Morning Aire, Drew Marioni Show, and Father Caroppi, that is so charismatic, and he is also very conservative.
Drew Marioni is down in Florida this week, interviewing family members, priests, and lawyers connected with the Terri Shiavo Shindler case.
That only eliminates one possibility.
In response to your question, "Conversion to what?" it certainly appears his conversion was to Christianity.
Get real he is Christian now - probably Catholic because of the makeup of the people who made the movie.
Based on what? Was he baptized? Did he join the church?
The article doesn't say, and with all the folks running around today who claim to have "found Jesus" while at the same time denying the Christian faith, I didn't hear any resounding expression of true repentance and faith.
Is that plain enough?
One need not be baptized or join a church to be a Christian, so my conclusion was based on what he said. If you have some inside information as to what's really in his heart, then I guess you're entitled to make whatever assumption about his sincerity you like.
Thanks........nice resource.
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