Of Love and Might (Part 1)
Note: This article consists of Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5 - beginning from PArt 1 (this one). The reason why I had to break it up is because of space limitations.)
“If might is right, then love has no place in the world. It may be so, it may be so. But I don't have the strength to live in a world like that, Rodrigo.”
The words of Father Gabriel to Rodrigo Mendoza as the latter wanted to renounce his vows as a priest, are still ringing in my ears while the intensity of the situation plays vividly in my mind.
Last Wednesday, I was very privileged to watch a movie that was an Oscar winner in 1987 besides being a nominee for several other awards. The Mission – regarded by many as one of the greatest Catholic-themed feature films ever made. I had only heard of the movie through one my little students who watched it recently, and I never expected to watch that touching movie just a few weeks later without personally seeking it. I watched the VCD together with the Young Adults cell members and every moment of the movie had my undivided attention.
The movie was so rich in memorable quotes that I made it a point to search for them online. In my search, I also came across a plot summary which gives a good overview of the movie, and would like to share it with you.
“The Mission is the story of how Spain and Portugal carved up Latin America in the eighteenth century. It is also the story of how the original spiritual intention of converting the heathen was subverted to commercial ends when the Jesuit missions in the rainforest were destroyed to allow commerce to take over. Jeremy Irons plays Gabriel, an idealistic Jesuit who has founded a Utopian community among the Indians of the rain forest. De Niro plays Mendoza, a former slaver and mercenary. Mendoza kills his brother in a fit of rage in a duel, and only Fr. Gabriel's guidance prevents his suicide. Gabriel brings Mendoza to work at his mission with the natives, and Mendoza finds peace and asks to become a priest. The church, under pressure, cedes the land to the Portuguese which will allow slavers in again. When it becomes apparent that the mission cannot survive, these two men take different approaches to the problem. Gabriel puts his faith in prayer and cannot believe that his new oppressors will attack the mission; Mendoza reverts to his old ways and forms some of the Indians into a guerilla group, this time fighting for the Lord. Neither of them is proved right. Both men are killed, the mission is overrun, and the Indians are massacred.” Dougan, pages 180-181(http://www.adherents.com/people)
“If might is right, then love has no place in the world. It may be so, it may be so. But I don't have the strength to live in a world like that, Rodrigo.”
The words of Father Gabriel to Rodrigo Mendoza as the latter wanted to renounce his vows as a priest, are still ringing in my ears while the intensity of the situation plays vividly in my mind.
Last Wednesday, I was very privileged to watch a movie that was an Oscar winner in 1987 besides being a nominee for several other awards. The Mission – regarded by many as one of the greatest Catholic-themed feature films ever made. I had only heard of the movie through one my little students who watched it recently, and I never expected to watch that touching movie just a few weeks later without personally seeking it. I watched the VCD together with the Young Adults cell members and every moment of the movie had my undivided attention.
The movie was so rich in memorable quotes that I made it a point to search for them online. In my search, I also came across a plot summary which gives a good overview of the movie, and would like to share it with you.
“The Mission is the story of how Spain and Portugal carved up Latin America in the eighteenth century. It is also the story of how the original spiritual intention of converting the heathen was subverted to commercial ends when the Jesuit missions in the rainforest were destroyed to allow commerce to take over. Jeremy Irons plays Gabriel, an idealistic Jesuit who has founded a Utopian community among the Indians of the rain forest. De Niro plays Mendoza, a former slaver and mercenary. Mendoza kills his brother in a fit of rage in a duel, and only Fr. Gabriel's guidance prevents his suicide. Gabriel brings Mendoza to work at his mission with the natives, and Mendoza finds peace and asks to become a priest. The church, under pressure, cedes the land to the Portuguese which will allow slavers in again. When it becomes apparent that the mission cannot survive, these two men take different approaches to the problem. Gabriel puts his faith in prayer and cannot believe that his new oppressors will attack the mission; Mendoza reverts to his old ways and forms some of the Indians into a guerilla group, this time fighting for the Lord. Neither of them is proved right. Both men are killed, the mission is overrun, and the Indians are massacred.” Dougan, pages 180-181(http://www.adherents.com/people)
posted by JJ at 8:35 PM
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