Reginald Clement S. Pondoc SThB1 Fr.

Jose Antonio Aureada, OP, SThD

De Deo Uno Et Trino August 29, 2019

LEAD QUESTIONS

1. Explain what you think is the story line of the film by citing 2 proofs in the
film? (3 sentences only) Note: Story line is that thread of thought (the main
hinge) around which the plots of the story evolve and revolve.

STORY LINE: The revelation of secrets in the past

2 Proofs: (1) I think the story evolves and revolves in the revelation of secrets in the past,
manifested in the disclosures of the true identity of Sophie Neveu and the possibility of
Jesus and Mary Magdalene as couples. (2) I think, as an audience, the interest flourished
when Sophie Neveu revealed to Robert Langdon that she is the granddaughter of Sauniẻre
but later on found out, that she was just adopted by him because she is the remaining living
descendant of Jesus. (3) Also, the enthusiasm prospered when the film shows how the Last
Supper of Leonardo da Vinci proves Jesus and Mary Magdalene as possible couples,
explained through the famous grail historian, Sir Leigh Teabing.

2. State briefly the role of the following characters (one liner only):

Jacques Sauniẻre: He is the curator of the Louvre who kept the secret about the Holy
Grail but later on, revealed in his dying minutes through series of symbols and codes.

Robert Langdon: He is a famous professor of religious iconography and symbology

who accompanies Sophie in finding the Holy Grail.

Silas: He is a follower of Opus Dei who tried to block Langdon and Sophie in solving the
mystery of Christ and Mary Magdalene, plus the exposition of the real meaning and
location of the Holy Grail.

Capt. Bezu Fache: He is a police detective who is trying to solve the murder of Jacques
Sauniẻre.

Bishop Manuel Aringarosa: He is the head of the Opus Dei who saved the life of Silas
and instructed to impede Langdon and Sophie in finding the secret revealed by Sauniẻre.

Sophie Neveu: She is a cryptographer who teams up with Langdon in transmitting the
important secret that Sauniẻre revealed in his dying minutes.

Sir Leigh Teabing: He is a well-known Grail historian, who reveals that the actual Holy
Grail is obviously determined in Leonardo da Vinci`s wall painting, The Last Supper.

3. Express what you think is the main theme of the film as a slogan. Support
your choice by finding 2 proofs in the film (3 sentences EACH only)
Reginald Clement S. Pondoc SThB1 Fr. Jose Antonio Aureada, OP, SThD
De Deo Uno Et Trino August 29, 2019

SLOGAN: The unveiling of a historical possibility leads to religious scarcity.

(1) First, the fact that Opus Dei tried to look for the Holy Grail by instructing
one of their followers to find it even if killing is involved, can be a proof.
(2) I believe that the religious Catholic group would not do that, just for the
sake of something that is not so important. (3) It must have a big purpose
especially for the benefits of saving their Catholic belief.
(1) Secondly, the fact that Mary Magdalene`s tomb is located in a place where
no one could hardly find it, attests that the unveiling of this possibility will
lead to religious scarcity. (2) If it is not a threat to a religious group which
is established for so many years, the tomb must not have been kept in a very
clandestine place. (3) There must be something that needs to be protected
of putting Mary Magdalene`s tomb in such area and for me, that is no other
than, to avoid religious scarcity.

4. How does the Last Supper of Leonardo da Vinci prove Jesus indeed got
married to Mary Magdalene? (3 sentences only)

 (1) The Last Supper of Leonardo Da Vinci proves that Jesus got married to
Mary Magdalene by promoting that the said woman was actually at the right
hand of Jesus which was recognized by Sophie in the movie. (2) In addition, it
was emphasized that the Holy Grail from the painting was actually missing. (3)
Leonardo da Vinci through his masterpiece, tries to underscore that the Holy
Grail was not a physical drinking cup, instead, it is the womb of Mary
Magdalene.

5. Finally, granted that Jesus Christ left a legacy of bloodline:

a. Explain two consequences of this allegation on Jesus Christ as the second person
of the Blessed Trinity.

FIRST CONSEQUENCE:
Granted that Jesus Christ left a legacy of bloodline, it would mean that Jesus as the
second person of the Blessed Trinity, which we believe that he is also a human, would
be more conspicuous. Why did I say so? This is because aside from the claim that Jesus
is fully divine, our belief that he is also fully human could probably mean that he might
have been confronted two such essential aspects of humanity like sexuality and
paternity. Jesus in the Gospels, depicted as certainly divine but also incarnated as man,
would be fractional if he did not encounter such essential aspects. Therefore, the
allegation that Jesus Christ left a legacy of bloodline would make our claim that he is
not only divine but also hundred percent man, more acceptable.

SECOND CONSEQUENCE:
Granted that Jesus Christ, being the second person in the Blessed Trinity, left a legacy
of bloodline, it would definitely mean that these persons who are connected to Christ
by the fact that Jesus is their great-great grandfather, deserve to be worshipped as how
Reginald Clement S. Pondoc SThB1 Fr. Jose Antonio Aureada, OP, SThD
De Deo Uno Et Trino August 29, 2019

we worship Christ. If Catholics used to kiss the relics of the saints and venerate them,
how much more those living descendants of Jesus? Therefore, if Jesus, the second
person in the Blessed Trinity, left a bloodline here on earth, I think human beings are
called to look for his offspring and adore them as how we adore Jesus. However,
bearing this in mind, the Blessed Trinity would not be anymore three, but it would be
thousands depending on the quantity of Jesus` progenies. Divinity is not
communicative. The mystery of the Trinity would be more enigmatic in this sense.

b. Explain the impact on your personal faith.

Honestly speaking, I already have encountered some comments from those college
friends of mine regarding the contents and theme of the movie. They said that one`s
faith will be moved and challenged by the facts it presents, while, some believed that
it may cause one to reject one`s personal belief to Jesus Christ especially if the faith is
not that strong. As I encounter the movie by my own, I can say that my personal faith
still remains adamant. The story of the movie makes sense because it presents events
that may have possibly happened in the past. The relationship of Jesus and Mary
Magdalene is possible to the extent that, both of them become companions and friends.
We all know that Jesus healed her from demon possession (Luke 8:1-3) and that could
possibly the start of their friendship. Also, if one notices, most of Jesus` disciples left
him out of fear during the most difficult and last moments of his life on earth but Mary
Magdalene was one of the few followers who stayed near him during his death, burial
and resurrection. With this in mind, one would probably think that they really had a
relationship and possibly bore a child. However, even though my mind insists that what
the movie is telling us is possible, I still believe that Jesus remains faithful to His words
as St. Paul writes “But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is
concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord.” (1 Corinthians
7:32) Jesus himself is clearly busy about the things of His Father, on which, he also
gives this invitation to His disciples to be like Him “Yet I wish that all men were even
as I myself am” (1 Corinthians 7:1). It follows that Jesus Himself was unmarried, since,
by just being such, that one can fully does the will of the Father.

Therefore, I would like to say that the movie was stimulating but my faith remains
firm and unyielding.