In a letter to the Intl. Society for Excellence in Christian Film & Television, Mel Gibson wrote: “As you view the clips (of The Passion) that I’ve sent, I hope you’ll remember me and the film in your prayers, as you will be in mine.“ How wonderful to hear these words come from a mega Hollywood movie star and how majestically those prayers were answered! Sixth of eleven children, Mel Gibson was born in Peeksill, New York in 1956. His childhood years were spent on a farm in Mount Vision prior to moving to his mother’s native homeland of Australia. His first job upon leaving high school was in an orange juice bottling plant in Sydney. Mel Gibson’s sister persuaded him to join the National Institute of Dramatic Arts at the University of New South Wales where he suffered immobilizing stage fright. Later while touring with the South Australia Theatre Company he met Robyn Moore, a dental assistant. Mel and Robyn married in 1980 and today have seven children. Blockbuster hits like the Mad Max and Lethal Weapon movies took Mel Gibson to the top of the A-List Hollywood stars. This kind of success allowed him to pick and choose his projects, including playing Hamlet and turning down the “James Bond” role.
Mel Gibson never really took his celebrity status very seriously. After being voted “The Sexiest Man Alive”, he joked, "That implies there are a lot of dead guys who got more points than me". After being saturated in the Hollywood lifestyle for years, Mel Gibson says, “I got to a bad place. A really desperate place.” He turned from his demons within to his long buried faith. He read again the Gospels and meditated on the Stations of the Cross. Mr. Gibson says, “I got on my knees. I realized that His wounds could heal my wounds.” In 1988, Mel Gibson formed a company with Bruce Davey called Icon Productions through which Mr. Gibson made his directorial debut in Braveheart. On Ash Wednesday of 2004, Icon released The Passion of the Christ. Of this movie Mel Gibson says, “I just wanted to tell the truth; the truth from the inspired Word of God.” "This is a movie about love, faith, hope and forgiveness," Mr. Gibson said. "He (Jesus) died for all mankind. He suffered for all of us. It's time to get back to that basic message. The world has gone nuts. We could all use a little more love, faith, hope and forgiveness." Bill Hybels is the senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois. After a meeting with Mel Gibson, Rev. Hybels remarked, “If Mr. Gibson is not a believer, I have no idea who is.“ When The Passion of the Christ generated controversy and brought attacks against him personally, Mr. Gibson said, “This is all from the Enemy. He doesn’t want anyone seeing this movie.” Mel Gibson has a private Catholic chapel at his home in Malibu, California, at which the service is conducted every Sunday in Latin. His only daughter, Hannah is preparing to take up Holy Orders in the Catholic Church.
On several occasions, Mel Gibson has testified that the only way for forgiveness is through "the sacrificial blood offering and work of Jesus on the cross."
“It’s pretty simple to me. Jesus was God in human flesh . . . Born from the Virgin Mary, lived on this earth and died for your sins and mine.“ “He paid the penalty for our sins.”
