Based on a true event in the Mexican history books in 1926 to June
1929. It was the struggle of the Mexican Catholics for religious
freedom, drastically taken away with force by the Mexican government. A
movement called Cristeros, rose up to defy the anti-religious strictures of the Mexican regime. "Viva Cristo Rey!" meaning "Long Live Christ the King" was the battle cry of the members of this movement.
Three years of battle against the heavy-handed
government filled with brutality and oppression against the Catholic
Church and her members in Mexico. The violence in this movie depicts
this cruelty, including the torture of the 14 year old boy.
Three priests and 10 laymen, including a 14 year old boy, Jose Sanchez del Rio, were beatified in 2005,
join a growing list of 20th-century Mexicans recognized by the Church,
including the 25 martyrs beatified by Pope John Paul II during his
trip to Mexico in 2000.
This movie, as violent and
intense as it was, should make every American, rather every human being,
stop and appreciate the freedoms we have to move about and enter any
religious building and worship as we see fit. It also should make every
human being take a step back and ponder how cruel we are to each other
beyond reason, beyond human, beyond comprehension! How horrific we have
been to each other throughout our history starting with Cain and Abel.
Is there a way we can stop this madness? Is there a way we can come to
our senses and learn to love, to do to others as we would have them do
to us?
My prayer tonight and every night from this day
forward will be for peace, agape love for our neighbor. That we treat
each other as we would want to be treated. That punishments fit the
crime, but love tenders the punishment. I know that there will never be
a utopia as long as we are human with a free will, but
basic
rights of worship should be one of those things that are called
untouchable by anyone, including the governments of countries. Those who
are centered around their God are more centered people, that is good
for society, good for each other, and possibly leading to being peaceful
people.
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