The Ideals of Catholicism in The Passion of The Christ and for Greater Glory

A review of both Dean Wright’s For Greater Glory and Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ reveals various themes related to Catholicism, especially as they relate to the virtues of dedication and power against oppression within For Greater Glory, as well as that of Passion of Christ’s numerous actions and beliefs of Jesus as an individual that himself reflects the ideals of Catholicism as a religion.

​One of the ways that Dean Wright’s film can be analyzed as one that relates to Catholic ideas is through analyzing the film as reflective of the virtue of religious dedication. Throughout the film, many individuals are seen as those who are dedicated to practicing their religion regardless of any consequences that may meet them should they continue to practice their religion. For instance, characters are seen throughout the film as suffering or perishing due to their desires to continue practicing Catholicism. The character of Father Christopher, for instance, is murdered by the Federales due to his continued practice of Catholicism (Wright). Such actions (and consequences) indicate that Father Christopher was indeed dedicated to practicing his Catholic faith. In a similar manner, the same is true of Jose Luis Sanchez, who witnesses Father Christopher’s murder and later follows in his footsteps to become another individual who continues to practice Catholicism regardless of the threats that face him should he continue to practice (Wright). In the case of Jose, he is captured, his captors torture him and attempt to force him to renounce his religion, and he is murdered when he refuses to do so (Wright). The character of Jose, then, also clearly continues to practice Catholicism regardless of the consequences that might meet him as a refusal to abandon his religion. These actions exhibit a sense of dedication to the religion, which is one of the traits and virtues that Catholicism asks its followers to have. Thus, the film and the devotion of its followers are reflective of these Catholic themes.

​Another of the Catholic themes that is visible in For Greater Glory is the ability of its followers to persist and survive against any oppression that exists against them. Such a theme can be seen in relation to the eventual closure of the film, particularly in relation to the religious freedoms that are eventually provided to the nation, as well as the actions of the Pope. These end results are similar to the ideas within Catholicism, indicating that the film is related to these outcomes and themes. For instance, Catholicism itself often faces oppression from those groups that are anti-Catholic; the fact that Catholicism itself has persisted and that it remains one of the most prominent Christian religions indicates that it has survived those struggles and almost gained power as a result. Even further, individuals within the religion itself, such as Jesus, have proven that it is not just possible but almost expected to do the same and to endure those same struggles and judgements. The story of the film, then, is similar. For example, the Catholic individuals within the religion have endured the attempted oppression and continued to survive despite the attempts to execute them throughout the film (Wright). Even further, the fact that the end of the film is followed by the restoration of religious freedom suggests that the Catholics’ struggles were not fruitless, and the eventual Pope’s recognition of Jose as an individual who suffered these religious-based crimes and murders indicates that the group did still possess some power over those oppressors. Overall, then, For Greater Glory does indeed reveal virtues of the power to persist over oppression, thus indicating a relation to the themes within the Catholic religion.

​One of the Catholic themes that is visible within Passion of the Christ is the overall devoted and compassionate way in which Jesus is shown acting for his followers and his believers. In these ways, the film reflects virtues of justice and even kindness. Overall, the film’s focus on the time leading up to Jesus’s suffering and dying on the cross can reveal his kindness and dedication to others, and even the justice that he believes he is performing through his selfless actions. For example, Jesus decides to willingly continue with his crucifixion not due to his faith in God or his knowledge that he may return in order to convey a message to his followers and to non-believers, but due to his underlying kindness: that he would be compassionate towards the suffering of others, that he may die for his sins, and that he wishes to commit to that death satisfied with the understanding that he would benefit all of his believers as a result of that crucifixion. This can be seen, for instance, when Jesus is shown covered in blood, sweat, and struggling to continue walking, but at which point he still conveys to a believer that he is “free to go on” (Gibson). This statement indicates that Jesus was exhibiting a kindness and compassion towards those other individuals despite the crucifixion that he was undergoing. Thus, the film, at least in this way, shows that virtue and connection to the Catholic faith.

​Another way that Passion of the Christ relates to the Christian faith and its themes is through the selflessness that Jesus reveals in his actions. As was previously mentioned, such behaviors are similar to the Catholic virtues of both justice and fortitude. Within Christianity, justice is understood to be a virtue that is related to the ways in which individuals connect to and established relationships to others, and that those just actions are related to gratitude for those other individuals. Within Catholicism, justice can be related to the way in which Jesus developed not just a group of followers, but also why he wished to gain a following and a set of believers: to ensure that they would be rewarded for their dedication to Jesus, Catholicism, and their overall belief in the messages and morals that he was conveying to them and building within their habits and actions. Such actions are seen within Gibson’s film in relation to the same stories and messages: that Jesus developed a following that believed in his ideas and messages, and those individuals were later rewarded for their devotion and their sins were lifted from their souls. Such gratitude for his followers can be seen when Jesus is shown accepting another crucified individual’s sins while they are on the cross, and when he reveals to the individual that he will exist with Jesus in paradise together (Gibson). Thus, the film reveals this virtue of justice in these ways. Finally, Gibson’s work also shows fortitude in a similar way, as Jesus’s suffering and the crucifixion itself is a way of showing both courage and the ability to endure that suffering as a means of achieving that justice; the brave way with which Jesus faced his crucifixion exhibited his resilience on behalf of Catholicism. With even this element, then, it is clear that Passion of the Christ as a film exhibits these virtues of justice, the ability to endure struggles, and fortitude.

​In a review of both Wright’s For Greater Glory and Gibson’s Passion of the Christ, it is clear that both films aim to exhibit some virtue and reflection of Christian beliefs, faith, and morals. Wright’s film focuses on the virtues of devotion and perseverance, exhibited through both the followers of Catholicism and the eventual survival of the religion. The passion of the Christ reveals virtues of kindness, justice, and fortitude, which are all made clear through the actions of Jesus himself throughout the film. In each of these ways, then, the films are indicative of the beliefs of the individuals who follow the religion, as well as those beings and higher powers that have contributed to such virtues, devotion, and faith.