Mel Gibson was a "brave heart" long before tackling The Passion of the Christ or purchasing the rights from Brian Dullaghan's book, Stealing From angels to make a 2006 film, centered on the Fatima story.
The Vatican is in a flap about the upcoming Stealing From angels with Vatican City posting a website message warning the faithful that all claims made by the book are rubbish.
Stealing From angels is a work of fiction.
But that's not why the Vatican should relax. It's Gibson's penchant for spreading a message of inspiration, a trademark of Icon Film productions.
In some ways Mel Gibson and the Catholic Church are working on the same mission: Reminding the masses about the after life.
When other Hollywood stars were talking about their latest tummy tucks, or which designer gown to wear to the academy awards, Gibson was talking to the entertainment press about his longtime belief in miracles, which he says have been a recurring theme of his life.
Gibson talked to the media about his often-repeated beliefs that mankind was created for the purpose of the afterlife. "This life is just a testing ground. It's not a popular view, I know. People will…say that I'm a sort of mindless robot who's using religion as a crutch to get through life. Well, I'm not a mindless robot, but I am using (religion) as a crutch to get through life."
Gibson is often quoted as saying that "tougher times make you stronger", something he still believes in.
"It's true that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Look at the experiences that some people have been through. Horrendous experiences, and if they come out the other side, they are different. They've changed, and in many ways they've had to adapt in ways that most of us haven't begun to comprehend about the nature of the human spirit and what you're capable of enduring."
Not everyone can be a successful movie star, a director or a pontiff.
Gibson believes "You're supposed to be where you end up somehow."
"I am a big believer in pre-ordination," he says. "I don't think there's a lot of happy coincidence. I think it appears to be that way and to us it is.
"But I don't think we are calling the shots. You are going to end up where you're going to end up."
Gibson was reported to have bought the rights to Stealing From angels only 10 days after the passing of Fatima's Sister Lucia, a death marking the end of an era that began in 1917.
Stealing From angels will not only immortalize on screen the life of the children of Fatima, but that of the beloved ailing Pope John Paul II, who survived a 1981 attempt on his life and openly credits the Fatima Madonna for his survival.
That's lighting the dark with Braveheart angels.
Canada Free Press founding editor Most recent by Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck. Judi can be reached at: judi@canadafreepress.com
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