www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall DaVinci Code

Yes this is another thread about that ridiculous book and movie. I had someone close to me that is a protestant come up to me and say "see how those Catholics cover up the truth." I had to first of all count to 5 and calm down, then slowly explained that if, and this is a big if, the DaVinci Code and the bloodline of Jesus was true, it would impact all Christians and not just the Catholics. Then I tried to explain how it was all a hoax by some French guy in the 1950's. I also said that even if DaVinci did believe in a bloodline of Jesus and the Church's cover up then so what. Who is DaVinci in the grand scheme of things. He live like 1500 years after Jesus anyway. DaVinci's assumed 'little secret' is a joke and could never hurt the Church as a paranoid monk such as Martin Luther. So they just looked at me and said that I was a typical Catholic trying to defend the Church. I just shrugged my shoulders and said thanks for the compliment. I guess those are the people that the seed was sown but quickly snatched away by a bird!

I was thinking about something else regarding this fictional cover-up. If there was any truth whatsoever to Jesus being married wouldn't the Arians, who actually outnumbered the orthodox christians for a time, have presented this as evidence that Jesus was not divine? If there was something like that laying around and they didn't use it then chances are it wasn't there.

Heh heh.

Aside from the historical inaccuracy, I found the book to be no well written at all, and it is one of three books that I have ever picked up and not been able to finish...

I don't know if this link has been posted on any of the other threads about the book/movie, but the USCCB has put together a very good website to help the faithful respond to comments/questions about the "Code" --

http://jesusdecoded.com/introduction.php

Christ is Risen!

I was just reviewing some of the info releases from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, and the following website with articles has been set up regarding this book and movie.

GOA DaVinci Code Website [goarch.org]

I hope this of interest to those that are following this subject.

In the Risen Christ,
Father Anthony+

Bishop Savas is also giving a discussion about it. It is called 'The DaVinci Deception-the code cracked'.

He will be at my church on Tuesday May 23, if anyone is interested. There will be a paraclesis first, and dinner will also be served.

Alice

Dear acolyte,

As for the Arians, let's remember that although they denied the Divinity of Christ (in fact, there were Arian and Semi-Arians that were willing to accept an "almost God" approach to Christ, as did Wulfilas, bishop of the Arian Goths in his creed), the Arians WORSHIPPED Christ with Divine worship as the Word of God.

This is why modern movements such as JW's, Christadelphians, Unitarians and others that deny the Divinity of Christ CANNOT legitimately compare themselves to the Arians.

And, in fact, when the Arian heresy fell, many Arian local saints were adopted into the Catholic and Orthodox calendars.

We ourselves have St Nicetas and St Sabas the Goths, and St Artemius of Egypt as well as others.

Alex

The History Channel is running programs about the Da Vinci Code all week, and from what I've seen, they've been fairly good so far. While not being pro-Christian, last night's program at least made it clear that the Da Vinci Code is based on very wild speculation and has no basis in fact whatsoever. I read Holy Blood Holy Grail over 20 years ago, so this is nothing knew. Anyone who loses there faith over this movie, never had it to begin with.

Dear Lawrence,

Right on, Sir!

The problem is that there are many Catholics and Christians whose "faith" is so fragile that it can only take something like this book and the movie to push it over the edge.

The good thing is that, in the aftermath of this thing, the Church just may realize it has a crisis of poor spiritual training of the laity on its hands and it must do something about it.

If the movie grosses $500 million, which is what they are predicting, it will be largely due to CHRISTIAN dollars.

Christians can put this movie to bed, where it belongs, if they did not go to see it.

It would also teach Hollywood a lesson it won't soon forget.

The movie isn't out just yet and the world's Christians can destroy it by simply not going to see it.

Dollar votes count big in our democracy.

You are a very wise gentleman, has anyone ever told you that?

Alex

Maybe this is yet another opportuinity for Catholics and Orthodox to band together to defeat a common enemy.

Instead of countering the patently absurd claims of the Da Vinci Code, such as the secret of why the Mona Lisa is smerking, I thought I'd quote Leonardo's friend Giorgio Vasari regarding the skeptic's final days.

Finally having grown old, he remained ill many months, and feeling himself near death, asked to have himself dillegently informed of the teaching of the Catholic faith, and of the good way and holy Christian religion; and then, with many moans, he confessed and was penitent; and although he could not raise himself well on his feet, supporting himself on the arms of his friends and servants, he was pleased to take devoutly the most Holy Sacrament, out of his bed.

Modern historians question Vasari's veracity, but Leonardo's will does survive, and in it, he gives instructions for his burial in the church of St Florentin at Amboise; for the procession that will accompany his body 'from said place to the said church'; for the saying of three high masses and thirty low masses in his memory; for the distribution of 40 pounds of wax in thick candles to be placed in the churches where the masses were celebrated; and for the funeral itself, with 'sixty tapers to be carried by sixty poor men who shall be given money for carrying them'.

I like that last post. What goes around ...comes around. And it seems as though Da Vinci did. The Lord be praised for granting him repentance, even at such late hour. May we all be given the same opportunity. Not the same with Stalin, as reported by his daughter...which you can read elsewhere on line. mik

It was interesting that the day before the release of the movie, I received a call from the local newspaper. Usually a big sceptic when it comes to the press, I was pleasantly surprised at the article. They quoted me acurately.
I mentionted that I was not too overly concerned with the book or the movie, reminding the reporter that the Catholic Church had been in existence for over 2000 years, it had seen rulers, tyrants, cultures and nations come and go. It had experience the ridicule and persecution of atheist for centuries. And yet it stands as the only Divine Institution of the world.We have Christ word that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Stephanos I

Voyistinus Voskrese!

I'd like to throw in my four pennies worth by quoting his Grace Archbishop George Niederauer of Roman Archdiocese of San Francisco:

"The 'Da Vinci Code' - the book and probably the film - presents Catholics with one set of problems, and those are best dealt with by knowing the facts of our Church's faith and history. A broader challenge is an entertainment establishment that doesn't know very much about Catholicism, doesn't like what it thinks it knows, doesn't want to learn any more, and can't leave Catholic faith, practice and imagery alone".

What has really shocked me is how many of my fellow Catholics believe some of this rot. And some of them are ones who stood along side me in Catholic schools. Not only do those who oppose Catholicism try to weaken us, but those of our Catholic "siblings" don't know our Church and are led down these paths and weaken Catholics along the way. I realize, however, that many Roman Catholics have a hard time understanding that we Ruthenians are indeed part of the same Catholic Church. Hospodi Pomiluj!

Peace and all God's blessings,

Rick

[Linked Image]

That's funny!