Braveheart: Lessons in Courage and Freedom

Mel Gibson released a biopic about a Scottish Freedom Fighter named William Wallace. The movie was titled Braveheart. The title can teach us what it means to fight for freedom with courage.

The film is poised to win Oscars for Best Actor, Best Director, and Cinematography, respectively.

During the time of the scourge of the British and their dominance of the world in the 13th and 14th centuries, the movie does offer lessons that is applicable to our daily lives. Wallace shows us what being brave and free was all about.

Freedom and Sacrifice

Wallace can be correlated to a degree with Christ. Yet, when Christ did his ministry for three years, he didn’t raise an army to overthrow King Herod. Rather, he found 12 men and 72 disciples who would carry on his teachings. Many of whom would go on to lay down their lives for the Catholic Church.

Both of their sacrifices inspired others to fight for freedom. Christ’s followers would go on to obtain the rewards of heaven. Meanwhile, Wallace’s band of freedom fighters would carry in his legacy to make Scotland free from the British.

Leading by Example

Both Christ and Wallace led by example. They didn’t just drum up support. Instead, they put their beliefs into action. They both led with courage and integrity while sacrificing for the common good.

This calls us to stand firm in their faith, even when facing opposition and hardship.

Like Wallace’s fight for freedom against tyranny and oppression, Catholics fight to be free from sin when they look to the example of Christ dying for us on the cross.

While the film has some inaccuracies and a length of nearly three hours, it is worth watching. 8.5/10