ABOUT « THE DA VINCI CODE » (I)

For three years, Mr. Dan Brown with is best seller “The Da Vinci Code” is devastating the faith of many Christians throughout the World.

One week ago, my friend called me from Paris and told me what occurred during the birthday’s celebartion he attended.

An argument indeed, happenned between the guests about Mr. Dan Brown’s Book. While one of the guest was doing all his best to explain the book is a fiction and so he doesn’t believe in it, another replied, Mr. Dan Brown revealed what the Church hid from the world for 2000 years. So, she believes the story is true. And since she has read it she doesn’t go to Church anymore. The discussion was too heated that the birthday ‘s celebration was ended not as my friend hoped.

I suspect as much because this book is full of pieces that deal with the foundation of Christianity. What Mr. Dan Brown story is about? You should read the book. Nevertheless, I can give you a short summary.

According to the best know thriller, Jesus got married with Mary Magdalene and from their sexual relation, was bornt a girl. This child would be the ancestor of Clovis and the merovingians’ King. Behold the secret the Catholic Brotherhood and secret religious organisation – Prieuré de Sion part of this descendants – located nowadays in the Saint Supplice Church in France (Paris) must protect. Leonard de Vinci was a master of this group and was aware of the secret. The whole Church too. Therefore, Leonardo has disseminated in his painting with kinf od symbols this secret. Jacques Saunière the curator at the Museum of Louvre also aware of the secret is killed by a member of an influent secret organization in the Church – the Opus Dei – so that he can’t spread it to the people. The police officers found his body in a strange position and bla bla bla…Great thriller!

Unfortunately, what was a thriller and a fiction has been considered as true by million Cristians and other people.

Actually, never such crime happened in the Museum of Louvre history. The Rennes-Le-Chateau or Saint Supplice Church really exists in France but it has got no secret about an historic secret. In addition, the Prieuré de Sion didn’t exist during the crusade. Historians said, in that time, an abbey Notre Dame de Sion existed near Jerusalem but it was not a secret organization. The Opus Dei is really an institution of the Church that really exists. It’s a personal prelature, that’s mean connected directly to the Pope. It was created in 1928 by the spanish Saint Josemarìa Escrivà. We know them. It’s not a secret organization. You can visit them in Rome if you want and see the tomb of the founder in Via Bruno Buossi, 75. Or else you can go and see their new house in New York (Manathan). There again, Mr. Dan Brown looked something strange in the entrance of the building.

So, there are many errors[1] (theoligical and historic) in the story. Mr. Dan Brown built indeed a great “pizza story” by mixing true and false, historic and contemporary pieces.

A Russian, Mikhail Anikin, a “Leonardo da Vinci” expert in the Hermitage museum’s Western European art department and art historian has accused him of plagiarism just four days after a British Court rejected a similar claim, published the TIMES[2]. According to the newspaper, Dr. Anikin said “When I read the book, I was shocked at its poor quality and because it used my ideas (…) This book tells lies about the Church which upset me morally.” He said he would give Mr Brown one month to apologise and give up half his revenues from the book or he would take him to court in Russia and the US to seek all his earnings from the novel.

[1] Read here www.ignatius.com/books/davincihoax/

[2] Times of 12th of April

ABOUT "THE DA VINCI CODE" (II)

Mr. Dan Brown don’t worry about these accusations and critics. Even, he is glad to maintain the doubt in his readers.

I do believe from the scriptwriter that to create a great and lovely story we need some historic pieces and the autor must be imaginative to make it credible. Mr. Dan Brown, interested in cryptography, keys an codes did it very well but has falsified the facts. He is the author of numerous same bestselling novels. You may know his wife is an art historian and passionate for painting. Then Mr. Dan Brown has a good collaborator on his research and a great help during his work. He revealed himself in USA TODAY [1] that Blythe (his wife) “was deeply passionate about the sacred feminine” and it was her idea to include the holy bloodline theory, which contends that Jesus and Mary Magdalene married and had a child. After this book, he is ready to write a story about the hidden history of the US’s capital. Therefore, Mr. Dan Brown wrote his story by using his good background.

He succeeded because since today, his book is one of the most popular books of this decade. “The Da Vinci” Code has sold more than 40 million copies and been translated into 44 languages. FORBES MAGAZINE placed him at N°12 on their 2005 “Celebrity 100” list, and estimated his annual income at $76.5 million USD. Now, it is being adapted for film by Columbia Pictures.

Mr. Dan Brown succeeded because his novel drove several Christians, passionate of the sensational and the esotery, to turn away their faith. An most of them are looking forward to see the movie release expected for the 17th of may in France. Two day later, the 19th of may, the whole world will see the job done by the big Star of the cinema like the American Tom Hanks and the French Audrey Tautou.

That day might be painful for the entire Church because many Christians will leave their faith upon the seat of the movie theater. They will wonder in mass why they has chose Christian faith and they will reject Christ for ever.

They are WRONG, WRONG and WRONG.

[1] USA TODAY of 12th April

ABOUT « THE DA VINCI CODE » (III)

How can a fiction interfere in the faith of thousands and thousands Christians and destroy it? Actually, Mr. Dan Brown Story should drive them to seek more information about their Church rather than leave it. And nowadays, Christians must gather materials instead of drag their early and childish faith to practice Christianity.

John Paul II in his encyclical "Faith and Reason" wants us to do that: “The content of revelation can never debase the discoveries and legitimate autonomy of reason. Yet...reason on its part must never lose its capacity to question and to be questioned (…) It is an illusion to think that faith, tied to weak reasoning, might be more penetrating; on the contrary, faith then runs the grave risk of withering into myth or superstition”(Fides et Ratio, “Faith and Reason” )

Actually, all events like that must stimulate Christian to learn more about their Church. I remember when on the eve of Easter, the Geography Society published that Judas were operate by a remote control. And Jesus indeed dealed with him so that prophecy be fuffilled. Panic in some faithful.

Faith is not a joke or a nonsense. The Church don’t lie and have no interest to lie and True can’t be hidden. The “inspired readings” the Church adopted in the Second Century after Jesus Christ as the Word of the Lord is still true.

So I ask solemnly to the Christian who always have some doubt about their Church to gather information. Ask to your Pastor or other priest or a sister. They are ready to help you. Try to attend the advanced religion courses your parish is giving to parishioners. Surfing the Net, go to the Catholic websites or the Vatican one (http://www.vatican.va/). Then you will be a mature Christian and you shall respond before the attacks instead of lose one’s marbles by hearing somebody or a group who use pieces in the History to built his novel and confuse millions of people.

You may read the Jason Blair or Janet Cooke case to be aware how a probable story can be written and believed as a Gospel.

Behold! Easter is coming.

After Lent season, about 1.1 billion Catholics Christians will live in these days the Easter Sunday, the death and the resurrection of the Lord. Before reaching this Great festival, we have the Holy week (the Last week of Lent) that command us to commemorate the Passion of Christ.

Sunday, April 9 the Holy week begin with Palm Sunday. Jesus have a triumphant entry in Jerusalem but this entry becomes later a tragic event in which he is crucified over the Cross. He had power to save himself but he fulfilled the mission his Father gave him. He is not a coward. He faces the harm. We too, we shall face the hard period of our life instead of give in and sometimes commit suicide.

Thursday, April 13 is the Day in which the Lord took his last supper with his disciple and created the Eucharist, sign of the Father’s Love for Human being. During Mass, there is the Office of the washing of the feet. This shows, we have to love our neighbour as ourselves and serve them.

Friday, April 14 is Good Friday. Jesus died over the Cross for our salvation. That’s why we have to fast and mourn this Day to remain bound with God.

Saturday, April 15 will open Easter Sunday with the Vigil. The Lord is rising from the grave, Alleluia, Alleluia.

Moreover, we need a bit preparation to attend this Great Week. Our heart should be purified to be one with God. That’s why all parishes made some penance service.

“Uncommitted Christians”, remember, you are invited by the Church to clean your heart once a year and make the communion at Easter. Come on. You’re always be welcome in your home.