For Greater Glory
Released
on DVD
For
Greater Glory was
released on DVD this September 11. It
tells the story of the Cristiada, the armed resistance of Mexican Catholics
against government persecution in the 1920s.
The following is the movie review posted on this blog when the film was
in theaters.
The
movie begins with Mexican President Plutarco Calles announcing the “Calles
Law,” a series of measures aimed at restricting the freedom of the Church in
Mexico and people's ability to practice their Faith. The Church attempted to
have the restrictions lifted through political means, and the faithful launched
boycotts and petitions. Public services ceased on August 1, 1926, and the
Church's ministry in many ways went underground. As Catholics' civil
disobedience grew, the government responded with violent atrocities. Many
priests and lay people were brutally murdered.
By
January, 1927, people began fighting back militarily. These armed resistors
were called Cristeros, for their cry, “Viva Cristo Rey!” For Greater Glory
follows the Cristeros throughout the war with the government, focusing
particularly on a few major historical players.
The first is Enrique Gorostieta
Velarde, played by Andy Garcia, who became the leader of the Cristero army, and
for whom the battle for religious freedom became a quest for faith. Another is
Father Jose Reyes Vega, one of the few priests who took up arms in the
Cristiada, and one of the military leaders. Finally, Blessed Jose Sanchez del
Rio, a 14 year-old Cristero flag bearer, was eventually captured, tortured and
executed. He was beatified in 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI. Another character of
note is Anacleto Gonzalez Flores, played by Eduardo Verastegui, another
Blessed, head of the civilian wing of the resistance, who was also martyred.
Most
Americans are unaware of the persecution that happened in Mexico less than 100
years ago and the martyrs it produced, and For Greater Glory aims to
change that. Though the film rightly portrays the Cristeros as the “good guys,”
it gives a very fair historical treatment of the situation. For example,
although it is a ridiculous lie to claim simply, as I saw on one Web site
recently, that “atrocities occurred on both sides,” it is true that there were
instances in which these Christian soldiers did not fight with total Christian
virtue, and the film is not afraid to acknowledge that. And if anything it
leaves the viewer with a picture of the Mexican government's brutality that is
less graphic than history records.
As a
historical film, For Greater Glory is very good, and will successfully
raise awareness of what really happened in the Cristiada. It also raises
difficult questions about war in general. The Church never officially
sanctioned the Cristiada, though the pope did condemn the actions of President
Calles. And though the cause was just, the film demonstrates how difficult it
is, spiritually, to maintain one's virtue, even when fighting a just war. The
image of Father Vega taking up arms is certainly difficult from a Catholic
point of view.
As a
war movie, of course it is very violent, and there are portrayals of the
government's brutality. The martyrdom of Sanchez del Rio is particularly
difficult to watch, so sensitive movie-goers should be prepared.
The
film, of course, is also very timely. Here in the United States we are being
urged to prepare for peaceful civil disobedience to fight our own President's
brazen attacks on our religious liberties and basic freedoms. And in many
places around the world it is far worse. One can't help noticing the
similarities between 1920s Mexico and modern China, where the Church has had to
go underground, and baseless arrests, torture, and murder of innocent Catholics
are commonplace at the hands of the government. We would all do well to learn
the lessons of the Cristiada, and perhaps find inspiration from the suffering
of those brave men and women as we fight our own battles today.
May God grant us the Grace to
attain freedom and justice peacefully, and the fortitude to continue the fight.
Viva Cristo Rey!
