For Greater Glory: The Real History

A Cristero poster.

Those who have recently seen the new film “For Greater Glory” may be curious, as I was, about the historical background to the film.

The real President Plutarcio Calles.

Calles gives an eerie stiff-armed salute at his swearing-in.

Were things really as bad for Catholics in Mexico as the film suggests? Was it really so black and white? And were the Catholics really as devoted to their religion as all that?

Yes, yes, and yes. It really seems they were.

Cristero banner.

According to the respected French historian Jean Meyer, on whose book The Cristero Rebellion the film was based,

The real Ambassador Dwight W. Morrow--father of Anne Morrow Lindbergh.

“No prisoners were taken; civilians taken as hostages were murdered. Torture was systematic, and was used not only to obtain information but also to prolong suffering, and to oblige Catholics to renounce their faith... To be forced to walk on the flayed sloes of the feet, to be flayed, burned, have their bones broken, to be quartered alive, hung up by their thumbs, garrotted, electrocuted, scorched by blowlamps, racked, subjected to the torture of the boot and the water-torture, stretched out, dragged behind a horse – such was the fate of those who fell into the hands of the Federals.”

The Battle of Tepatitlan--a Cristero victory.

“Churches were desecrated by officers who rode into them on horseback, trampled the Host under the hoofs of their chargers, used the altars as dining tables and turned the building into a stable. Statues of saints were used for target practice, and those of the Virgin were undressed and the soldiers danced with them. The soldiers dressed up in the ecclesiastical vestments, and ate the consecrated Hosts and drank cafe au lait from the chalice.”

A band of Cristeros.

Among the Federales, rape was “systematic.”

Incredibly, some federal officers actually led their troops into battle with the war cry “Viva Satan!”

Catholic rebels hanging from telephone poles, just as in the film.

Was the martyrdom of young Jose Sanchez del Rio exaggerated? Apparently not. He really was offered the chance of clemency for renouncing his faith, and refused. He really was forced to watch the hanging of another Cristero in hopes of breaking his resolve. They really did cut the bottoms of his feet and then march him through the town. He really did draw a cross in the dirt, and kiss it, as he was dying.

The real General Gorostieta wearing his crucifix.

Retired general Enrique Gorostieta really did start out as an agnostic or atheist; he really did convert to Catholicism in the course of the war. He really did wear a crucifix on his chest.

Blessed Miguel Pro, spreading his arms at the moment of his execution.

It is precisely the most “over the top” elements of the film that turn out to be historically verifiable. As they say, truth is stranger than fiction. The critics cannot believe this is not made up.

Blessed Miguel Pro is given the coup de grace.