Anthony Hock

Junior Faith Mission Essay

Mr. Sciuto

November 5, 2006


Father Gabriel and Father Rodrigo: Men of faith


I believe that Father Rodrigo and Father Gabriel are very much men of faith. They were men of faith because their decisions that ultimately ended their lives were based out of faith. I believe that each of their decisions were based on different types of faith, but nonetheless they were both men of faith. In their own ways did they continue to be men of faith.
Father Rodrigo expressed his faith by staying to fight the Spanish. He put himself at risk for his faith, faith in what he thought was right and what he thought he must do. We learned that faith is a free human response. While, not trying to disprove the faith of Father Gabriel, I believe that Father Rodrigo shows faith because it is his own choice to fight. There are always alternatives to violence but he feels that now it is necessary and it is what he chooses. Faith is reasonable. Father Rodrigo chooses to fight because he believes it is worth the risk. He believes that it is worth dying for what he knows is right. If it was not worth the risk he would not place his faith in it. Although he fights and Father Gabriel does not, I am not trying to say that Gabriel should fight because it is worth the risk.
Perhaps, to Father Gabriel, it is not worth the risk because although having faith in what you believe is very noble he does not think it necessary to resort to violence. Father Gabriel expresses faith in a different way than Father Rodrigo. While they both are making decisions against the Church as a physical thing, to stay with the Natives, they both are putting their lives on the line. Father Gabriel simply just does not want violence so he holds a mass during the battle. We learned that faith is virtue, or general moral excellence. Father Gabriel's decision demonstrates faith in this way because so may say that violent in all senses is immoral. Father Gabriel is sticking to right moral thinking by not resorting to violence. Faith is also certain. We do not trust in things simply based on hope. For Father Gabriel, I believe there is some degree uncertainty at first on which decision he should make. Should he obey the church and leave or stay with the natives? He would not stay with only hope that he is doing the right thing. Although he may be told what he is doing by staying is wrong, he has enough faith is God to know that what he is doing is right.
There have been times in my life in I have been presented with certain situations and in those situations, I had a decision to make and violence was an alternative. Recently, I was attending a party and a friend of mine was being bothered by this boy whom she said was really "creepy," and would not leave her alone. I am almost certain that he was under the influence of alcohol because any attempt at conversing with him was out of the question. It got to a point in which my friend was very scared because this boy was becoming way out of line. Since I knew talking to him would not help I knew I had to do something else. Violence was the alternative. Nothing too radical but I felt that some intense pushing and shoving was necessary because my friend was indanger. My friend could not merely leave the party because her friend was her ride and would not leave yet. After I responded to the kid it became apparent to him that he needed to stop and the rest of the night I stayed with my friend and the guy did not bother her anymore. I am not trying to make myself out to be some sort of hero. This was not some selfish at to gain attention from the girl or anyone else. She is my friend and I felt that I needed to protect her.