True story sent to me recently by a Catholic sister.
Years ago a man took his family to Australia from New York State because of a job there. One of the family, a handsome young son, hoped he might eventually work with a circus or as an actor.
He started with a job in a shipyard. Walking home from work one day he was set on by five thugs demanding money. He fought back so they beat and kicked him, smashing his face in and leaving him for dead: the police who found him thought he was dead and sent him to the mortuary, but on the way one heard him gasp for air so he landed in hospital. One nurse remarked that he hadn't got a face anymore -each eye-socket was smashed, all his teeth gone, his nose just hung from his face, and his skull, arms and legs were fractured.
He spent over a year in hospital and emerged with a face that was disgusting to look at. Starting to look for work again, everyone turned him away because of the way he looked. Someone, even suggested that he join the circus freak-show as 'The Man Who Had No Face' and this he did for awhile. 5 years this went on, he was lonely, desperate, sometimes suicidal. He passed a church one day and looking for comfort went in, where he met the priest who took pity on him and took him to the rectory . The priest was impressed with him, so much so that he said he would do everything possible to help. The young man for his part promised to be a good Catholic and trust in God' s mercy to free him from his tortuous life.
So he went to Mass every day, thanking God for saving his life, and praying for grace to become the best person he could possibly be. A good friend of the priest was in fact the best plastic surgeon in Australia and they were so impressed by the young man's good humour and love of life, despite his terrible ordeal, that the surgeon offered to operate. This was a complete success and the young man emerged fully restored, married and had several children. He also became a success in an industry which would have been quite out of the question for him if, as he declares publicly, it had not been for the goodness of God and the love of those who cared for him. His name -Mel Gibson, who made the movie ‘The Man Without a Face’.
And also of course the film ‘The Passion of the Christ’ which might be described as an orgy of bloodletting and violence; 'sado-masochistic' some have said. Mel Gibson's own drama in early life and his zealous faith as a Christian certainly give some indication why the film was made in the way that it was. (violence is a characteristic element in many Mel Gibson films).
It needs to be noted that the film is not accurate according to the bible, as it claimed, containing as it does elements of Christian, especially Catholic, piety , which have grown up over the centuries and are precious and sacred to many worshipping Christians (Jesus falling three times carrying the cross, St. Veronica's wiping Jesus' bloodied face, the prominence of Mary throughout the Passion). That's O.K., it just needs to be said.
It is also hard for all Christians to accept that the Passion Story is not remembered history. The earliest account was written 30-40 years after the death of Jesus: the Passion stories were written in such a way to enhance the drama of worship amongst gatherings of Christians, and every detail in them can be traced back to the Old Testament. What happened was they were added in to appear as the fulfilment of prophecies. Furthermore they were written for ‘Followers of the Way’ who wanted to distance themselves from conservative Jews involved in the death of Jesus, so the accounts were bound to seem antisemitic (the film does nothing to alleviate this). Because of this Pilate is portrayed as a more sympathetic character whereas history records him as a murderer of unspeakable cruelty, a Saddam Hussein of his time.

Having said all that what is undeniable is that Jesus suffered an appalling, cruel death, as history records as fact, and the film takes you into the terrible agonies of such suffering and death by crucifixion. It also serves to remind us that such sick brutalities are still alive and well in our times. Routinely across the world people are tortured into unconsciousness, death; literal crucifixions and the whole unimaginable range constantly take place whilst the perpetrators look on and laugh. Sometimes we need to have such things 'in our face'. Whilst the Passion Story may not be remembered history, remembered fact, if you believe, as many do, Christians and non-Christians, that the spirit of a living, loving God is alive in every heart, then the flaying of living Christs is contemporary historical fact. And we allow it to continue through our indifference and lack of courage as we bin yet another cry for help.