Q: The Movie Son of God has details that do not appear in the Gospels, e.g. Peter returning from the empty tomb and immediately celebrating the Eucharist. Is this allowed?

Sure. St. Ignatius in his Spiritual Exercises suggests the person making the retreat imagine Jesus appearing to his mother Mary. The Gospels don’t tell of this, but our imaginations can envision such an event happening.

Movie like Son of God are imaginative recreations of the central truths of the Gospels. God often works powerfully through our graced imaginations. Our love for and appreciation of who Jesus was, is and will be, is often powerfully influenced by imaginative works from Dante’s Divine Comedy to Jesus Christ Superstar.

Einstein once said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” Smart guy.