The town of Corelone in Sicily is infamous for its link with the Italian Mafia. Not only did it feature in the Godfather movies, but it was recently home to Toto Riina, one of the Mafia’s most brutal bosses.
But the citizens of Corleone are working hard to build a positive reputation for their town. They are committed to building a "Mafia-free" life for their children. Part of the process for them is to reclaim their historical heroes. One is Fillip Latino who died in 1667. Latino is being canonised by the Roman Catholic church for his fight against oppression. He was a brilliant swordsman who defended the townsfolk from their Spanish rulers, but went on to renounce violence and become a Capuchin friar after cutting off the arm of an opponent. For the people of Corleone he is an inspirational example of the possibility of seeking a way beyond violence.
In the same way as the people of Corleone are looking back to historical figures to find inspiration for their reform, so we look back to Jesus as an example of the perfectly lived human life. Like the people of Corleone, we may struggle to live up to the example of our hero, but he points the way forward, inspiring us to become the human beings reflecting God’s image that we were created to be. And just as the people of Corleone seek to apply the example of Fillip Latino afresh to their situation, so we seek to apply the example of Christ’s life afresh to our situation.
Source: Scott Higgins. Information on Corleone reported in Sydney Morning
Herald June 2001
Applications: Jesus, Christ, imitation, example, impact, influence