Recently I read an interesting essay by Fr. Raymond de Souza, a regular contributor to the National Catholic Register. The title of the piece was “Spiritual Wisdom From ‘The Godfather.’” Many aspects of the Catholic faith appear in this epic tale about a family of brutal gangsters. The novel is great, and the movie is certainly fascinating and well-made, and it regularly appears near the top of “all-time best movie” lists. Personally, I watch the film at least once every three years or so, just because it’s so riveting.
After reading Fr. de Souza’s article, I’m really not sure there is any spiritual wisdom in the film, but I started to wonder what the heavenly perspective would be if that story really happened. If the Godfather saga actually occurred, here is how things might have played out before the Judgment Seat of God:
First, Luca Brasi is garroted to death while pretending he’s interested in going to work for Virgil Sollozzo. Moments later Brasi’s soul appears before God, who says, “During your life on earth, you were a faithless, unrepentant murderer. Therefore, you must spend eternity in the lonely torment of Hell.”
Soon afterward, Paulie Gatto is executed for setting up the failed hit on Vito Corleone, the Godfather. (This is the scene with my favorite line: “Leave the gun. Take the cannolis.”) Paulie’s soul appears before God, who says, “During your life on earth, you were a faithless, unrepentant murderer. Therefore, you must spend eternity in the lonely torment of Hell.”
A few days later, Virgil Sollozzo is shot to death by Michael Corleone in a quiet restaurant. The Turk’s soul appears before God, who says, “During your life on earth, you were a faithless, unrepentant murderer. Therefore, you must spend eternity in the lonely torment of Hell.”
A moment later, Police Captain Mark McCluskey also is shot by Michael, and his soul appears before God, who says, “During your life on earth, you were a faithless, unrepentant crooked cop. Therefore, you must spend eternity in the lonely torment of Hell.”
Sometime later, Santino “Sonny” Corleone is ambushed at a toll booth and riddled with bullets. His soul appears before God, who says, “During your life on earth, you were a faithless, unrepentant murderer. Therefore, you must spend eternity in the lonely torment of Hell.”
First, Luca Brasi is garroted to death while pretending he’s interested in going to work for Virgil Sollozzo. Moments later Brasi’s soul appears before God, who says, “During your life on earth, you were a faithless, unrepentant murderer. Therefore, you must spend eternity in the lonely torment of Hell.”
Soon afterward, Paulie Gatto is executed for setting up the failed hit on Vito Corleone, the Godfather. (This is the scene with my favorite line: “Leave the gun. Take the cannolis.”) Paulie’s soul appears before God, who says, “During your life on earth, you were a faithless, unrepentant murderer. Therefore, you must spend eternity in the lonely torment of Hell.”
A few days later, Virgil Sollozzo is shot to death by Michael Corleone in a quiet restaurant. The Turk’s soul appears before God, who says, “During your life on earth, you were a faithless, unrepentant murderer. Therefore, you must spend eternity in the lonely torment of Hell.”
A moment later, Police Captain Mark McCluskey also is shot by Michael, and his soul appears before God, who says, “During your life on earth, you were a faithless, unrepentant crooked cop. Therefore, you must spend eternity in the lonely torment of Hell.”
Sometime later, Santino “Sonny” Corleone is ambushed at a toll booth and riddled with bullets. His soul appears before God, who says, “During your life on earth, you were a faithless, unrepentant murderer. Therefore, you must spend eternity in the lonely torment of Hell.”
A few years after that, enjoying semi-retirement from the “family business,” Vito Corleone dies of a heart attack while tending to his tomato plants. His soul appears before God, who says, “During your life on earth, you were a faithless, unrepentant murderer. Therefore, you must spend eternity in the lonely torment of Hell.”
By the way, are you noticing a pattern here?
Not long after this, in quick succession, the following people die: Moe Greene (shot through the eye while laying on a massage table); Phillip Tattaglia (shot in a hotel room); Emilo Barzini (shot by Al Neri, who posed as a cop); Sal Tessio (killed for plotting Michael’s assassination); and Carlo Rizzi (garroted by Clemenza for setting up the hit on Sonny).
In each case, God repeats the same statement to the doomed souls. Then St. Peter turns to the Lord, shakes his head, and says, “What is it with these people? They all went to church and heard the Gospel message, but completely ignored it!”
From the perspective of Heaven, the compelling saga of the Corleone empire is anything but fascinating and riveting. It’s actually quite boring: many people are given the opportunity to embrace the love of God, but reject Him and instead follow their own twisted moral code. The result is a lot of violence and pain during their natural lives, and then eternal agony once their time on earth is over.
By the way, are you noticing a pattern here?
Not long after this, in quick succession, the following people die: Moe Greene (shot through the eye while laying on a massage table); Phillip Tattaglia (shot in a hotel room); Emilo Barzini (shot by Al Neri, who posed as a cop); Sal Tessio (killed for plotting Michael’s assassination); and Carlo Rizzi (garroted by Clemenza for setting up the hit on Sonny).
In each case, God repeats the same statement to the doomed souls. Then St. Peter turns to the Lord, shakes his head, and says, “What is it with these people? They all went to church and heard the Gospel message, but completely ignored it!”
From the perspective of Heaven, the compelling saga of the Corleone empire is anything but fascinating and riveting. It’s actually quite boring: many people are given the opportunity to embrace the love of God, but reject Him and instead follow their own twisted moral code. The result is a lot of violence and pain during their natural lives, and then eternal agony once their time on earth is over.
By the way, the real damning sin here is the lack of faith and repentance. Murder, of course, is a horrible sin, but it’s the result of a faithless life, which denies God as Creator and therefore has no respect for human life.
Well, I still think “The Godfather” is an entertaining movie. But I don’t think it offers much “spiritual wisdom.” If anything, it offers a spiritual warning. If we do not repent and believe the Good News, our eternal souls will be in jeopardy. After all, our heavenly Father makes us an offer we can’t, or at least shouldn’t, refuse.
Denying that god is the creator does not mean a person has no respect for human life. I'm an atheist and I highly value human life. We are all each other has and thus are all highly valuable---each person uniquely so---non believers are not the negative losers you present them as.
ReplyDeleteRuth O'Keefe
Ruth O'Keefe