MEL GIBSON VISITS
LUCIA OF FATIMA.
By Richard Salbato
It can finally be
told that Mel Gibson met and talked with Sister Lucia of Fatima at the Convent
in Coimbra, Portugal.
Sister Sophia,
Lucia, wife, Mel Gibson and Father Condor
During
lent of 2004 Mel Gibson's movie, "The Passion of Christ" was making
news all over the world. From our
knowledge of Carmelite Convents, we knew that the Carmelites could not leave
the convent and see the film, which we thought would be a great thing for
preparation for Good Friday and Easter.
But how could we get them the film since it was not yet out on DVD and
the convent in Coimbra does not have a TV, except for editing tapes taken of
important events in the convent and this is a very small TV.
Word
was sent out to make contact with Icon Productions or Mel Gibson to get a DVD
for the Convent in Coimbra during lent.
Thanks to a wonderful young girl in Porto, Portugal, Luciana Regadas,
who knew a volunteer worker for Icon Productions and Mel Gibson, named Lourdes Gutierrez, this contact
was made. Lourdes Gutierrez responded
the same day with the following.
Hi,
My name is Lourdes Gutierrez, I live in Florida,
Luciana Regadas sent me an email yesterday pertaining to "The Passion of
the Christ." To give you a little background I have been involved
with the movie since October in a volunteer capacity, I helped them put
together two screenings in the Miami, Florida area. Since then it has almost
become a full time job. Lucinda tells me that Sr. Lucia and her fellow sisters,
would like very much to see this movie. Please confirm this, and I promise to
do everything in my power to get this information to Mel Gibson, but I have to
be sure about the request. Actually when he came to Miami for our screening he
told me he had been to Fatima and had liked it very much.
Hoping to hear from you soon.
God Bless,
Lourdes Gutierrez
In other words, prove that the Convent wants to see
the film and then things can happen. We
went back to the convent for written confirmation but all but the Porter Nuns
were in Lent prayers and could not be contacted. One thing we knew was that we could also contact two other people
who could talk with the Mother Superior even if it was Lent, the Bishop and/or
Father Fr. Luis Kondor, Vice Postulator for the
cause of canonization of the Fátima seers.
We contacted Father Kondor, who contacted the Convent Mother Superior,
Celina.
Mel
Gibson had come to Fatima in September of 2003 to ask Our Lady for help in the film
and later Jim Caviezel (the actor who played Christ) came to show the film to
religious institutions to get their opinions of the movie. He even went to the Convent in Coimbra to
show the film but was refused because he insisted on going behind the cloister
which is not permitted.
Ninety
two emails back and forth later and many phone calls, a deal was set to show
the film to the nuns. This was
difficult because there was no DVDs yet and only 1 inch tapes, which require
special cameras and large pull down screens.
We even got approval for Mel Gibson to see Lucia in a private meeting,
but because Mel Gibson might be attacked as using Lucia to promote his film,
he, Mel Gibson, and not the convent insisted that such a visit would be
strictly secret.
In the end only Father Kondor, the convent and the
Icon Production crew knew of the date of showing the film. We knew the month but that was all. It must have cost Mel Gibson ten to twenty
thousand dollars to show this film to the convent because it took a full crew
of camera men, a speaker, extras, and of course Lourdes Gutierrez came to show everyone what
to do as she had make all the arrangements.
Mel Gibson later came into Portugal to promote the
Portuguese version of the film and then sneaked over to the Convent without
anyone knowing and met with Sister Lucia.
We were told not to print this or let anyone know unless the Convent or
Mel Gibson gave permission for it. This
did not come until after the film ran its course in the theaters and the DVD
ran its campaign in the stores.
Lucia shaking
hands with Mel Gibson
We came up with the idea of Mel Gibson seeing Lucia
for theological reasons, as she is very very pro Holy Father and we are not
sure about Mel Gibson's feelings on this subject and he never says one way or
the other. It seemed a good idea for
the two to meet. Such meetings are not
hard if you go through Father Kondor and give good reasons.
Mel
Gibson visited Lucia of Fatima at Carmel of Coimbra in July. The actor was
accompanied by his wife, Robin Moore and Fr. Luis Condor. According to Mother Celina, the actor and
his wife are wonderful and very humble people.
"He
is very outspoken and a person easily to be liked, and he answered all of our
questions about the movie. Some questions were asked by Sr. Lucy, who attended
the meeting which lasted for about an hour, was always very alert following the
conversation."
The
language conversation was held in English, which, according to Sr. Celina, "was
not a problem at all, since various nuns do speak and understand English
well."
Lucia behind grate, Mrs. Gibson, Mel and Father Condor.
What
the nuns or Lucia said about the movie is not known and may never be known
because statements by Lucia or for that matter any Carmelite nun throughout the
world are always sent through the bishop or the Holy Father first. Because of her power of influence Lucia must
be very careful what she says publicly.
Salbato
http://www.unitypublishing.com/Newsletter/GibsonLucia.htm
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