Study Guide:
The Passion of the Christ
Lesson One: Christ's self-giving love and freedom in The Passion of the Christ
by Our Faith in Action
After seeing Christ's self-giving love in the movie The Passion, we are compelled to ask how
do we individually define love, and what is our society's view of love? Love is a word whose
meaning has been spun so weirdly in our time that it has in many
ways lost connection with the divine meaning. In 21st century
America, loving someone means making them feel good, emotionally
or physically. Feel good, but don't bind. The fundamental idea of
love binding a man and woman together for life is difficult work, so
in a culture that promotes self-gratification, we have chosen to cast
it aside.
We've broken it not because love is wrong, but because there is something we value more
than love- our personal freedom. Freedom has become our absolute good, the highest value
humanity strives after. If love binds one person to another, it limits personal freedom. See
the quandary?
Everyone knows Jesus is all about love, but all he does in The Passion is suffer. In the
Garden of Gethsemane, his anxiety and fear press him so intensely that he sweats blood. Is
that loving? Lashed by the whip, his flesh ripped by the torturer's cruel instruments, Christ
sags to his knees, blood spattering the pavement. Stupidly, insanely, he struggles to stand,
and freely chooses to do so-is that loving? The two torture specialists are driven demonic
by this display of courage and nobility, and they unleash all the fury their brawny muscles
and metal-tipped leather can inflict. How does this brutality relate to love?
Freedom Fulfilled through Love
Pope John Paul II teaches that freedom is not greater than love, but rather freedom is
fulfilled in self-giving love. Freedom is not man's absolute goal, love is. Freedom without love
is useless, like so many wheels free to roll anywhere; the wheels are useless without a
vehicle to harness them-love is that vehicle. Love is far greater then freedom, for a person
can be happy without freedom as long as he loves.
Freedom intensifies love, proves it genuine. That is where suffering plugs in. Because
genuine love must be freely given, love's intensity is seen by the amount of suffering it
bears-because everyone hates suffering and strives to avoid it. So if a person freely
chooses to suffer for someone else, for love, then that love is great. Suffering is a
thermometer, which shows love's temperature, the degree of its reality.
That is why watching The Passion moves us to admire and love Jesus Christ. He chose freely
to undergo his unfathomable suffering, which forever marks the zenith both of a man's love
for other men, and God's love for man. This is a love that is best defined as self-giving, as
St Paul writes: "He poured himself out for us." Viewed from the perspective that Christ's
Passion affords, our understanding of love and freedom changes radically. Instead of love
giving me something like enjoyment and fulfillment, I look to give of myself, to bring
fulfillment and joy to others by serving them, even if in serving others I endure suffering.
Love Transforms
Revolutionary- that is Christ's love. It ignites, breaks up and shakes up our lives. Look at the
individuals who were touched by Christ's love-they all bought a share in suffering, and
discovered love. Pilate's wife Claudia could not prevent Jesus' scourging; the only thing she
can do is offer Mary linen cloths with which to wipe her son's blood from the pavement. Her
sharing in Mary's own agony upon watching her son flayed alive, opens her to an act of love,
offering her friendship to Mary through a humble gesture. Simon of Cyrene's sharing in
carrying the cross opens him to understand the self-giving nature of Jesus' sacrifice. Simon
will not be crucified, is not beaten, but his closeness to Jesus Christ while carrying the
cross reveals to him Jesus' patience, humility and overpowering love for the very men who
kill him. Simon's world is blown to bits, for instead of avoiding suffering, he wants to take it
on in order to protect this man Jesus whom he has not known but has experienced.
Freedom's purpose is revealed in love motivating us to serve others. Suffering intensifies
and purifies love, makes it genuine, real, solid. And the ultimate experience of love IS Jesus
Christ, but he is a challenge, the rock against whom the waves of every generation crash and
are divided: some follow Christ along the path of self-giving love, others reject Him in the
hopes of discovering a self-fulfilling love. The reality of the resurrection shows us that if
we choose Christ's path of self-giving love, then we will find true peace and everlasting life.
Definitions
Freedom - the power, rooted in will and reason, to perform (or not) deliberate actions on
one's own responsibility.
Love - the theological virtue by which we love God above all else for his sake, and other
people as ourselves for love of God.
Suffering - experience of pain, distress, injury. Suffering with Christ is sharing in his
redemptive sacrifice of crucifixion.
Facilitator's Guide: Christ's self-giving love and freedom in The Passion of the Christ
2
The purpose of this unit is to:
Consider the value our culture places on personal freedom relative to self-giving love
Encourage contemplation of the meaning of self-giving love and how human freedom finds its
fulfillment in self-giving love
Help participants understand the value of freely choosing to suffer as an expression of
self-giving love
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for granting us the gift of our freedom and Christ's
example of self-giving love. We pray that strengthened with your grace, we will freely
choose to offer our lives in loving service to our fellow man.
Discussion Questions
1. One person commented after seeing the movie, "I forgot. I forgot how much Christ loves
me- individually, so much so that He suffered immensely to save me."
Did seeing the movie change your perspective on Christ's suffering for your salvation, and
the degree to which Christ loves you?
What can we do on a daily basis to remember Christ's sacrifice for us and his love for us?
(Potential discussion tips: contemplate Christ's suffering in daily prayer, especially through
the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary; make a point of remembering Christ's suffering for
us every time we have an opportunity to give of ourselves for another person)
2. What does the popular culture teach us about love? Let's discuss specific things can we
do in our daily lives to counter these images within our families, schools, and places of work.
Personal Reflections/Writing
1. Consider a time in our lives when someone else freely chose to sacrifice to help us. How
did this act of self-giving love affect us?
2. When suffering is imposed upon us, how do we approach our cross? Do we run away from
the cross? Do we remember how Jesus accepted the cross? Do we pick up the cross, and if
so, do we do it joyfully? Do we run toward the cross?
Resolution Ideas
1. The next time we have an opportunity to serve someone in a way that involves true
sacrifice, we will choose to do so with a joyful heart, remembering that it is an opportunity
to imitate Christ's self-giving love.
3
2. The next time suffering is imposed upon us, we will choose to accept our suffering with a
joyful heart, embracing it is an opportunity to freely offer our suffering in self-giving love
for the redemption of other's sins.
4
Lesson Two: Christ confronts evil in The Passion of The Christ
by Our Faith in Action
The passion of Christ - both the historical event and Mel Gibson´s film - begins with the
Agony in the Garden. In the film, the devil is watching
Christ as he prays, agonizing over the indescribable
suffering he is about to undergo to redeem humanity. From
beneath the devil´s foot emerges a snake that slithers over
to Christ, who is shedding tears and sweating blood. He
seems not to take note of the serpent until it is directly
beneath him; he then stands and crushes the serpent´s head
under his foot.
The crushing of the serpent´s head is but one way Christ
conquers evil. For a better understanding of this mystery
and the hope it gives us, let´s take a look at some of the
manifestations of evil in The Passion of the Christ and what
the characters´ interaction with evil shows us about
temptation, sin, death, and salvation.
Overcoming Temptation
The snake as a symbol tells much about temptation and evil. It is low, sneaky, and deadly,
lurking in shadows until it is time to strike. It does not roar, but hisses; temptation especially a first temptation to violate one´s innocence - is not a loud cry in the open but a
whisper in the shadows. If we let it, it can wrap around us, making escape all but impossible,
strangling us and cutting off feeling. To be the captive of the tempter is to dull one´s
senses, particularly the moral sense, one´s conscience.
So how does Christ deal with the temptor? He crushes it underfoot. He allows it to come
just close enough so he can kill it. Throughout the ages, the Church´s symbolic language has
assured us that Christ is not alone in this victory: his Blessed Mother in painting and
sculpture is almost always portrayed with a serpent underfoot. The sinless Virgin Mary is
party to her Son´s conquest over temptation and death.
These symbols are fruit for prayerful meditation: What temptations slither in our lives? Do
we try to resist temptation on our own? Or do we invite Christ into our lives, asking Him for
courage and resolve, with confidence in his victory over evil?
Maintaining Hope Amidst Suffering
Another striking manifestation of evil comes as Judas Iscariot faces what he has done. He
betrays Christ with a kiss but soon suffers deep regret. He tries to give back the thirty
pieces of silver and have Jesus freed, but it is too late; he cannot change the course of
5
destruction that he has set in motion. Overwhelmed by his sin and lacking faith and hope in
the mercy of God, Judas decides the only way to free himself is by suicide.
From one point of view, Jesus and Judas end up the same way: hanging dead on an old tree.
But Judas died at his own hand because he had no hope. He had betrayed his Lord and left
himself with nothing but anguish, regret, and despair. The despair is key, because it
signifies the total absence of hope.
Christ, on the other hand, suffers an even worse death than Judas except for this: he never
loses hope. He is hope. He, God, has decided to accept a brutal death as a way to change
forever the meaning of suffering and even death. By offering His suffering as payment for
our sins, Christ turns suffering into a means of salvation. By rising from the dead Christ
defeats the most radical of all evil - death itself. This radical transformation renders the
devil´s work meaninglessness if we will but "believe, take up the cross and follow" Christ by
uniting our suffering with the suffering of Christ.
In our lives, let us resolve to unite our suffering with the suffering of Christ, for the
redemption of our own sins and the sins of the world. And during those times when it
appears there is no hope, we can remember to place our hope, our confidence in Christ's
resurrection and His victory over evil.
Confronting Cruelty with Forgiveness
Another manifestation of evil in The Passion is the laughing cruelty of Christ's torturers. In
the face of evil imposed by others, Christ calls on us to " forgive them, they know not what
they are doing" (Luke 23:24). Christ is truly the king of mercy. The Passion teaches us that
if Christ can forgive others whom have inflicted horrible pain on him, can't we forgive those
that hurt us?
Confronting Cruelty with Humility
The mob calling for Christ's death is another manifestation of evil. Jesus had all of the
power of heaven and earth to stop the madness of the crowd, yet humbly chose to follow
the Father's will. His silence, his resolve to bear the cross, is the ultimate act of humility:
God-made-man choosing to suffer the most despicable of deaths.
How often in our lives do we become "part of the mob" out of peer pressure and the desire
to be accepted by a group, by saying or doing hurtful things to others? And when we are the
victims of hurtful comments and actions, do we imitate Christ by "forgiving those whom
have trespassed against us" and by approaching difficult situations with humility?
Evil will always exist in our fallen world. Christ is the model for how we as Christians should
confront evil with hope in the resurrection, forgiveness towards others that hurt us, and
humility in obeying God's will.
6
Facilitator's Guide: Christ Confronts Evil in The Passion of The Christ
The purpose of this unit is to:
· Encourage participants to follow Christ's example in confronting evil with hope in the
resurrection, forgiveness and humility.
· Contemplate what temptations we face in our lives.
· Encourage participants to unite our suffering with the suffering of Christ, for the
redemption of our own sins and the sins of the world.
Virtues Highlighted
Faith- the theological virtue by which we believe in God all that He has revealed to us, and
that the Holy Church proposes for our belief, because he is truth itself.
Hope- the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as
our happiness, placing our trust in Christ's promises and relying not on our own strength, but
on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Humility- the moral virtue that restrains the unruly desire for personal greatness. Humility
leads us to an orderly love of self-based on a true appreciation of our position with respect
to God and neighbors.
Prayer: Christ, as we face temptation and evil in our own lives, may our faith and hope in the
resurrection lead us to resist temptation and evil as You did.
Discussion Questions
1. Mel Gibson said in an EWTN interview: "That´s how the devil is, to me....It´s frightening
that it can be deception itself -- that it takes the form of something harmless, but there is
a ravenous beast underneath."
Discuss the status of our culture today:
What temptations does our culture promote, which may at first appear harmless, but in
reality cause great damage? Consider TV shows, movies, music, magazines, internet usage,
our dress, and our activities.
What are the virtues that we can focus on to resist some of these temptations?
Personal Reflection/Writing
1. Have there been times in our lives where we were part of a "mob psychology" in just going
along with the crowd, not standing up for what we know is right?
7
What was the root cause of our going along with the crowd? Fear? Wanting to be accepted?
Lack of moral courage to be counter cultural?
Was it out of laziness?
2. What situations in my life am I most vulnerable to this type of temptation? Standing up
for a person? Standing up for a belief? Standing up to defend my faith? What virtues can I
work on to rid myself of this weakness?
3. Christ deals with the temptor by crushing it underfoot. What temptations slither near my
foot? Do I crush them or let them take control? At these times of temptation, is my
immediate response one of asking for God's help and looking to Christ my inspiration and
hope in resisting the temptation?
4. When I fall to temptation, am I truly sorry for my sin and do I humbly seek God's mercy?
Resolution Ideas
1. Make a nightly examination of conscience considering each day what specific temptations
you faced, and whether you were successful in resisting them.
2. Make a commitment to identify someone who has harmed you in some way and forgive
them, both in your heart and through a personal approach.
3. The next time we face a difficult situation, pray for the virtue of hope, contemplating
the reality that by uniting our suffering with Christ, our suffering has redemptive value.
4. Resolve to go to confession on a more regular basis.
8
Lesson Three: Obedience to the Father in The Passion of the Christ
by Louis Judd
We like to think that we are really grown up when we can do our own thing. Jesus Christ
challenges that assumption. Obedience to God is where the
real power lies. It is a different kind of power: the power to
set men free.
"By his loving obedience to the Father, 'unto death, even
death on a cross' (Phil 2:8), Jesus fulfils the atoning mission
(cf. Is 53:10) of the suffering Servant, who will 'make many
righteous'; 'and he shall bear their iniquities' (Is 53:11; cf.
Rom 5:19)"
Obedience is not easy for us. It wasn't for Christ as a man
either. In Mel Gibson's film, The Passion of the Christ,
there are many moments in which Christ´s obedience to the
Father stands out. Let's talk about three especially
powerful ones.
Agony in Gethsemani
"Let this cup pass... not My will but Thine be done" (Lk 22:39-42)
The Gospel of Luke gives a detailed account of the Agony. In the dark, Jesus has his battle
about the apparent futility of the Passion.
First, what he is about to undergo seems useless because it is a suffering that human nature
automatically rejects; for no one likes the idea of pain. Christ knows he is about to go
through the worst type of pain that man can dream up for another man.
Second, Jesus's agony is increased because he realizes that his sacrifice would not work for
some souls- those who refuse to obey God and their conscience.
Finally, the gratuitous nature of the Passion makes it seem senseless. It could have
happened in another form. However, God wanted to show His love for us in this extreme
fashion and wanted Christ to give us the maximum example of obedience: "unto death, death
on a Cross" (Flp 2:8).
Back in the beginning of his public ministry, Jesus had been tempted by the devil in the
desert. (Lk 4: 13). Jesus had been victorious over the devil in the desert, and the Gospel
says that the devil had "departed from him until an opportune time". That opportune time is
now, when Jesus is to make His final decision to obey the Father to the last consequences.
9
That decision was made in prayer, as must our decisions. Here we find our Lord giving the
perfect example of how to live our lives. Prayer is not a superfluous addition. Prayer is
essential to human existence because we are creatures of God, in need of Him. We are not
doing God a favor when we pray, but we are receiving heavenly favors from Him when we
pray. This is called grace.
There was certainly the temptation of the devil for Jesus to abandon the idea of the Cross
and obedience. The movie shows this very well. Jesus overcomes the devil again because He
will obey God the Father. The devil always goes for disobedience.
The Scourging
"Father, my heart is ready" (Cf. Mt 27:26; Mk 15:15; Lk 23:16; Jn 19:1)
There are many moments to comment in this moving scene. First, Jesus does not resist when
they fasten Him to the pillar. He is not fighting against the Passion, because of His love for
us. He willingly accepts suffering to save us from eternal condemnation. He doesn´t scream
and kick, or cause a scandal while they literally rip Him apart with their diabolical
instruments of torture. It is horrible what my sins have done to Jesus.
There is an especially moving moment which meaningfully demonstrates Christ´s obedience.
After the first round of bruisings that they give Him with their switches, Jesus falls to the
floor. That is the way the body reacts. When they relent from that onslaught, He realizes
He is down and lifts Himself back up. "Father, my heart is ready", He says. Jesus knows
that this is the ransom for sin, and He is no sissy. Christ´s love for us is incalculable. "Why,
one will hardly die for a righteous man -- though perhaps for a good man one will dare even
to die. But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us"
(Rom 5: 7-8). Loving obedience and obedience for love, that is the mystery of the Christ´s
passion and death.
Christ´s Death on the Cross
"Father into Thy hands I commend My Spirit. (Lk 23:46).
Some perhaps surrealistic happenings during the crucifixion and death of Jesus are
depicted in The Passion. These are the attempts of an artist to show that all of creation
was trembling due to the fact that God, the Author of life itself coming as Man, was being
put to death by men. Though this happened in a specific place in the world, it was the sins of
all of us that crucified Jesus.
The devil was thinking (his mind so obscured by pride), that this was finally the moment of
his victory over Jesus and God. What a dreamer! Jesus, through His humility and obedience
was willfully winning our redemption.
Jesus knew he was winning, even though winning meant living all the pain and loneliness that
man feels in his soul when he sins. For this reason Christ quoted Scripture from that
10
excruciating position: "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me" (PS 22)? Then to fulfill
the Scripture said: "I thirst". He is obeying the Father, even through what was written
about Him in the ancient Scriptures (because inspired by God) was horrible and full of pain!
Jesus is able to recognize God´s will wherever it may come from.
Then He finally says the words the audience is awaiting Him to say: "Father into Thy hands
I commend My Spirit." By that time the tension is overwhelming. When will this torture
finish? You feel it is not soon enough; too weighty the expectation.
Jesus wanted it that way. He does not measure out grudgingly his love for us and for the
Father. He is not petty but magnanimous, because that is not the way his Father is. Jesus
shows the depth of true love. No fair mixing in egotism or personal pleasures. Love is
obedient and long-suffering. There is no valid substitute. Either it goes all the way to giving
one´s whole life, or it is not true love. Small pieces of the heart will never pump lifesupplying blood.
Definitions
Obedience- the virtue of submitting our will to the will of God.
Humility- the moral virtue that restrains the unruly desire for personal greatness. Humility
leads us to an orderly love of self based on a true appreciation of our position with respect
to God and neighbors; the virtue of being without pride.
Facilitator's Guide: Obedience to the Father in The Passion of the Christ
The purpose of this unit is:
To contemplate Jesus's obedience to the Father
To use His example as our model of submitting our will to God's will
Prayer: Lord, help us to realize that it is only in submitting our will to yours that we will only
truly be free. Give us the grace to rid ourselves of our pride.
Discussion Questions
1. Do you think that God's way of saving us (the Passion, death, and resurrection of Christ)
makes God still seem distant and uncaring about man? What do you think this way of saving
us shows about how much man is worth to God?
11
2. Do you think that God wants to force us to love and obey him? Does the Passion of Christ
force us to love God? How does it help us to love and obey God?
3. In what other moments of Christ´s life can we see His obedience? Why is obedience
important in the role of the Redeemer?
4. As a Christian, to whom should I be obedient? God? Our parents? Teachers? Boss?
Husband?
5. Like Jesus, are my decisions made in prayer?
Personal Reflections/Writing
1. What specific incidents in my life have I been disobedient? Is there a pattern in these?
Was it pride that kept me from being obedient? What concrete things can I do to root out
pride in me?
2. Write a page about the Christian virtue of obedience. Be sure to include some Scripture
passages. Cite example of saints living out obedience.
Resolution Ideas
Mediate on one of the Bible passages below. How does it speak to me and my life?
Biblical texts on obedience (see a concordance) essential passages: 1Sam 15:22; Jn 5:19;
8:29; Rm 5:19, Flp 2:8; Heb 5:8; 10:6.
12
Lesson Four: Mary, witness to suffering with love and faith in The Passion of
the Christ
by Our Faith in Action
In Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, we see Mary in a way that is very different from
Hollywood's traditional depiction. We are used to seeing Mary as beautiful, young, with a
warm smile, loving eyes, and of course a character born
without sin. In The Passion, Mary retains her sinless
character, her sweetness, her gentle manner, but she is no
longer the teenager who carried the Son of Man in her
womb.
She is nearing 50 years of age. She has the wrinkles of an
aging mother, the worry lines of one who knows the
suffering that is to come - but pleads in her heart that it
not be so. Her robe is dusty and stained with blood - the
blood of her own son. Physically this depiction of Mary is
very different for us. Emotionally, however, we may have
felt more connected to Mary, as the reality of how Mary
suffered in witnessing the suffering of her son speaks to
our lives in a more relevant and powerful way.
United with Mary through suffering
We all experience sadness through our own suffering, and have witnessed the suffering of
those close to us. In The Passion we see how Mary witnessed the terrible ordeals of her own
son being humiliated before the church elders, dragged before Pilate for judgment,
scourged nearly unto death, and finally nailed to a cross to die. We now realize the fullness
of Mary's humanity as we saw the intensity of her shock, disbelief and intense sorrow as
she remained with her son into his death.
The ordeal of Jesus' persecution and death are so horrific that nearly all of his followers
abandoned him, yet Mary, Mary Magdalene and his apostle John remained. What enabled
Mary to remain with Jesus and persevere through this suffering? How does the answer to
this question speak to our lives today? Mary's love for Jesus as his mother, and her faith
and hope in his divinity enabled her to endure the path to his death. And 2000 years later it
is this same love for our fellow man and faith in God that enable us to persevere through
any suffering the world may present.
Often when someone else is suffering, the best way we can help is in simply being with them,
and praying for them. We wish we could do more, yet often we cannot cure the illness or
remove the injustice that causes the suffering. In The Passion, Mary knew she couldn't stop
the torture and death of her son, yet her love for Jesus compelled her to remain with him
despite the suffering this caused her. For Mary, her suffering was so intense that she had
to be supported by Magdalene and the apostle John as she lingered between consciousness
and unconsciousness.
13
The intensity of both Mary's suffering and her love for her son are vividly portrayed in the
scene where Mary and John scurry through the narrow streets in an attempt to see Jesus.
Christ appears from behind the buildings ahead. His body weakened by scourging and the
crown of thorns; he bends under the weight of the cross and falls to the rocky street. Mary
stops short of the scene. She slumps on a doorstep, sighing in grief, immobilized by shock
and fear. She knows that her son is divine. She knows that this was to be his earthly fate.
But she remains a human mother watching her child suffer.
She is brought back to action by a flashback in her mind. It is an image of Jesus as a little
boy, falling and calling for his mother. Stirred by that memory, she runs to her son weighed
down by the cross and comforts him. Although Mary couldn't save Jesus from death, she
did everything that she could, and we can only imagine how much Mary's simple act of love
meant to Jesus in the midst of his suffering.
Mary as our model for witnessing suffering
Was Mary's ability to endure her son's death a story of the past, or does it in some way
speak to each of our lives today? The answer is definitively the latter- for all of us suffer
and witness suffering.
Each of us can resolve to imitate Mary in our own lives, by reaching out in love and
compassion to assist and comfort others whom are suffering. At times this can be relatively
easy, such as simply spending time with a friend whom is suffering with a problem and may
need someone to listen. At other times the witnessing of suffering may require much
greater effort, such as when a loved one is dying from a painful illness.
During the times when our suffering is most intense, we can remember Mary in The Passion.
Yes it can be hard, and at times we may feel as Mary did- that we can't go on. Yet Mary
teaches us that through our love for others, rooted in our love for God, and faith in the
resurrection and power of God's grace, we have the strength and courage to persevere
through any suffering the world presents.
Virtues Highlighted
Perseverance - trying hard and continuously despite hardships and obstacles
Love - the theological virtue by which we love God above all else for His sake, and other
people as ourselves for love of God.
Facilitator's Guide: Mary, witness to suffering with love and faith in The Passion of the
Christ
14
The purpose of this unit is to:
Help us to understand and imitate Mary as a model for witnessing suffering in our world
Foster hope that we can imitate Mary in witnessing the suffering of others through love for
others, faith and hope in the resurrection, and faith in God's grace
Foster hope that we can personally endure the most radical of suffering based on love for
God, faith and hope in the resurrection, and faith in God's grace
Help us to appreciate the power of simple acts of love in reaching out someone else who is
suffering
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the gift of Mary as our perfect mother and model for how we as
Christians witness suffering in our fallen world. Help us to remember Mary as our model as
she comforted others in need with loving compassion, and with faith in Your resurrection
and grace.
Discussion Questions
1. Mary, more than anyone else, knew what would happen to Jesus. She also had unflinching
faith in his resurrection. Why, then, did she still suffer so much during his trial and
passion?
2. Mary was able to stand at the cross while other fled. What gave her that strength?
3. We all have things in our life that don't turn out as we would like. What does Mary's
example teach us about coping with our disappointments/sufferings?
4. At the end of the movie Mary cradles Jesus in her arms, supporting him much like
Michelangelo's Pieta. Her eyes rise and look directly outward, directly at us. Her eyes seem
to ask: why?...how?...how could you? How did this scene affect you and how would we answer
these questions?
5. Communications technology enables us to become better informed of the suffering of
people throughout the world. At times the vastness of the world's problems may seem
overwhelming, and it is a natural tendency become desensitized. How does Mary's witnessing
to suffering speak to these issues?
6. With our nation at war, some American mothers have faced the loss of a son. How can
Mary's example be a comfort?
7. The 12 apostles had following Christ for three years. They had the benefit of seeing his
amazing miracles and listened to his teaching. Yet, when it would seem he needed them
most, why was John the only one to be found?
15
Contrast this with the actions of the apostles after the resurrection and receiving the Holy
Spirit through Pentecost. What does this tell us about the power of God's grace and the
Holy Spirit?
Personal Reflection/ Writing
A) Was there a disappointment in your life that you felt you simply could not endure? Was
there a time when it seemed that your closest friends, those you loved most, had abandoned
you? Write about such a time and how Mary could serve as a model for helping you to
persevere.
B) Write a personal prayer to Mary that you can use the next time you have an opportunity
to witness suffering.
Resolution Ideas
1. The sorrowful mysteries of the rosary give us a wonderful way to meditate on Christ's
suffering during his passion. Pray those mysteries, meditating on Mary during each of those
mysteries, where she was, what she was enduring.
2. Organize a group to pray at an abortion clinic. At these clinics the most innocent of life is
being taken, and here we have the opportunity to imitate Mary as a prayerful witness to
their suffering.
3. The United States has dozens of Marian shrines. A visit to one can be a wonderful way to
honor Our Lady and grow closer to her.
Resource Links
For a directory of Marian shrines: www.udayton.edu/mary/resources/shrines/us.html
For a listing of various Catholic shrines: www.catholicshrines.net
For an illustrated, detailed version of the sorrowful mysteries: www.rosarycenter.org/sorrow.htm
The University of Dayton's Mary Page has a wealth of resources about the Mother of Our
Lord: www.udayton.edu/mary/
16
Lesson Five: Pilate: What is truth? The Passion of the Christ
by Our Faith in Action
The Pontius Pilate of The Passion of the Christ is a more multi-dimensional man than
traditionally portrayed in film. Not just a mean-spirited bureaucrat, he is an all-too-human
proxy for modern man. Sadly, we may see a little of Pilate in ourselves.
A product of the Roman military, Pilate is a "resultsoriented" ruler who finds himself in a most uncomfortable
situation; he must determine Christ's fate.
Should he give the enemies of Christ the blood they
desire? Should he stand up for the rights of an innocent
man? A pragmatic man to whom everything is relative, he
simply does not know. His political skills face a moral
dilemma and come up wanting.
For Pilate, the ends justify the means. He wants to keep
peace, to prevent civil unrest. In his final analysis, the
death of an innocent man is an acceptable price to achieve
his goal.
Are there Pilates in our own time?
The film compels us to ask whether there are Pilates in our world today. We have all seen
and heard politicians say and do just about anything in the hope of getting votes. In the
2004 election cycle, some candidates have openly stated that their views will reflect the
wishes of the majority, even if those wishes run counter to their personal moral or religious
beliefs. Like Pilate, they hope to give the people what they want.
Corporate executives face the pressure of meeting shareholder expectations, and face the
personal temptation of throwing out ethics to maximize personal financial gain. Some have
given into these pressures and temptations by lying in financial statements, and in some
cases eliminating jobs with little consideration for the value and dignity every person
deserves.
A little Pilate in all of us?
In The Passion, Pilate is torn. He thinks Jesus is innocent. His wife, Claudia, tells him that
Jesus is a holy man and should not be punished. Jesus has many supporters, who will be
angry if he is harmed. On the other hand, the church leaders want Jesus to be crucified; if
they are not placated, Pilate might have a revolt on his hands. And a revolt would displease
Pilate's boss, Tiberius. How often in our lives do we place strategic objectives such as
17
power, money, or even the desire to be popular ahead of truth and doing what is morally
correct?
The Roman Governor doesn't turn to the law or a moral code of right or wrong to help him.
He sits and hangs his head, asking "what is truth?" He hasn't a clue.
Pilate truly is between a rock and a hard place. And without a sense of truth, he tries
everything he can think of to weasel out of a decision. He sends Christ to Herod; Herod
sends him back. He scourges him; the crowd asks for more. He offers to release him; the
crowd wants Barabbas freed. In our lives do we at times place too much importance on
pleasing others, instead of focusing on the truth and doing what is morally correct?
Pilate washes his hands, literally, of the affair. But he looks to be a broken man. Deep
within, he knows that he cannot escape his part in Jesus' fate. Washing his hands will not
bring him peace, will not erase the pain he feels, will not bring him closer to the definition
of truth.
He feels the emptiness we all feel when we make a decision without relying on the truth,
without determining what is right and sticking with it. Like Pilate, we can decide to make a
decision that seems to maintain the peace. But if it isn't based on the truth, can it really
give us peace in the long run?
Definition
Truth- John 18: 37 "For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear
witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice.
THE SPLENDOR OF TRUTH shines forth in the works of the Creator and, in a special way,
in man, created in the image and likeness of God (cf. Gen 1:26). Truth enlightens man´s
intelligence and shapes his freedom, leading him to know and love the Lord. Hence the
Psalmist prays: "Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord" (Ps 4:6). - Veritatis Splendor
Facilitator's Guide: Pilate: What is truth? The Passion of the Christ
The purpose of this unit is to:
Examine the evil and consequences of placing the desire to please others and to avoid
difficult decisions over morality.
Examine the evil and consequences of placing strategic interests such as power, money and
popularity over morality.
Challenge participants to use the above moral errors of Pilate as a basis for examining our
own lives, and our culture.
Raise awareness of the importance of objective truth.
18
Prayer: Lord, gives us the strength that Pilate lacked, the strength to seek your truth and
act in harmony with it. May we have the courage to do the right thing, even when it is not
the popular thing.
Discussion Questions
1. Pilate believes Christ is innocent, but still allows him to be tortured and killed. Why didn't
he release him?
2. Pilate tried to satisfy everyone. Did he satisfy anyone?
3. Pilate asks, "What is truth?" What does this suggest about his decision-making process?
4. We have witnessed major business scandals in the past several years and business schools
are increasingly concerned with teaching ethics. Are there parallels between Pilate and
modern corporate executives who have become embroiled in financial scandal?
5. At times we all find ourselves between "a rock and a hard place". Let's discuss
hypothetical and real-life scenarios where doing the right thing may be unpopular.
Personal Reflections/Writing
1. Pilate joins a very select group of named personages in the Nicene Creed: The Father, the
Holy Spirit, Christ, Mary - and Pontius Pilate. "For our sake he was crucified under Pontius
Pilate." He was one man, but was he in some ways a proxy for all men? Think about Pilate's
dilemma and how it led to his infamous role in history.
2. Review times in your life when you made a decision just to keep people happy.
Did it work out?
Would it have been better to simply play it straight?
What choice were you confronted with?
What was the motivation behind your decision?
What were the ethical dimensions of the choice? (why each option is right or wrong)
Resolution Ideas
1. I will meditate on an area of my life in which I have acted like Pilate, and take a concrete
measure to correct this weakness.
2. There are numerous university websites that offer articles and case studies on business
ethics. A reading of the history around cases such as Enron can give insight to the ultimate
results of executives not acting morally.
19
3. Do a biographical sketch on Pilate and what happened to him after his encounter with
Christ.
Resource Links
For biographical information about Pontius Pilate
www.newadvent.org/cathen/12083c.htm
Business Ethics magazine's site has numerous articles:
www.business-ethics.com/
Loyola Marymount University's Center for Ethics and Business has a wealth of information
about business ethics: www.ethicsandbusiness.org/
For the history and text of the Nicene Creed:
www.newadvent.org/cathen/11049a.htm
Please print, copy, email and distribute this study guide for all of your friends, family
members and associates.
Copyright February 10, 2004
Our Faith in Action is produced by Current Links in Education
1126 Dartmouth Rd. Flossmoor, Il 60422 708 922 1075
for more information email dkcortes@comcast.net
20
Our Faith in Action
The Program
Our Faith in Action is a current events and issues-based program comprised of monthly
lessons that helps junior high, high school and college students understand-- and inspire
them to live out-- the Catholic Faith and Christian virtues.
It is the new Catholic sister program of the secular program Civics in Action (
civicsinaction.org) Recently finishing a successful pilot of Our Faith in Action, the program
is now available for purchase for school year 04-05. Both Our Faith in Action and Civics in
Action are produced by Current Links in Education whose mission is to foster civics and
virtues in the youth of America. Please email inquires on either program to
dkcortes@comcast.net
Goals:
Understand the teachings of the Catholic faith
Critically analyze current events and issues of the world from the perspective of their faith
Critically analyze events and issues in their personal lives from the perspective of their
faith
Realize opportunities to live out their faith and Christian virtues by learning the stories of
others living out their faith, and through specific recommended activities
Realize the power of our faith and the virtues in helping them to live meaningful lives,
addressing the problems of the world, and building God's kingdom on earth.
Content: Lessons focus on the following topics:
Stories of individuals and groups living Christian virtues
Current events that have a religious dimension for Catholics such as the Partial Birth
Abortion Ban
Statements / writings from of the Holy Father
Catholic Catechism teachings that correspond to the topic
Highlights of Church Youth Gatherings.
Stories of saints.
Discussion questions, reflection/writing, recommended apostolic activities
21