A serious, scene by scene, in-depth theological study of the Mel Gibson film The Passion of the Christ, Dr. Miller’s analysis not only focuses on the more obvious Marian, Eucharistic and Incarnational themes, but she also discusses and explains the more difficult images and gestures of the movie such as the demon child held by Satan, the donkey carcass behind Judas, the raven above the thief’s cross, etc. Written in a very reader-friendly style, the book also discusses the film’s depiction of the Jews and Romans from a theological and cultural perspective and examines the various sources of The Passion, notably theDolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Anne Catherine Emmerich. One chapter examines how the movie has changed people’s lives and an Appendix compares The Passion of the Christ to other movies about the life of Jesus.

“For the many devout Christians who were deeply moved by the film The Passion of the Christ, Dr. Monica Miller’s book will be an excellent guide to discussion. Her work is filled with serious questions, answers, and details about the film and its relationship to the traditional Christian theology on the sufferings and the death of Our Lord. If you were touched by the film, you will find this book enlightening and a source of much meditation.” Father Benedict J. Groeschel, CFR