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The Mission Essay

Decent Essays

“The Mission” is a motion picture, directed by Roland Joffe in 1986, about a Jesuit mission that is threatened by greed and imperialism in the late 18th century in the Brazilian jungle. Father Gabriel, played by Jeremy Irons, climbs the mountains of Brazil to bring Christianity to the natives. He is successful and brings about a golden age among them. Mendoza, played by Robert De Niro, a slave trader, kills his brother, Felipe played by Aidan Quinn, in a fit of rage over a woman named Carlotta, played by Cherie Lunghi. Only Fr. Gabriel's leadership 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, gives the land up to the …show more content…

In this movie, that translates into, how the Portuguese only wanted to gain these lands for profit. Since natives lived there the Portuguese wanted to gain the land so they could trade slaves there. This was the whole reason Mendoza disregarded his vows and fought against the Portuguese. The other reason, imperialism, is the policy of extending a nation's authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and political domination over other nations. In this case, the Portuguese wanted to acquire the lands belonging to the natives because of economic reasons.

The major theme of this movie is represented in a quote. This quote is, “The church is the bride of Christ, she is also the cross on which he is daily crucified.” The Bride of Jesus Christ is not a what, it’s a who. She is the many membered body of Jesus Christ that is carrying on the Message sent to her from God, she is the Church. “For the marriage of the Lamb is come, And His wife hath made herself ready.” –Revelation 19:7, and “And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.”-Revelation 21:9, are two quotes from the Bible including the word “bride”, this bride referred to is the Church. When we say “it is the cross on which he is daily crucified,” to me seems to be talking about the Eucharist and mass. Everyday the

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