Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather

Willa Cather’s novel “Death Comes for the Archbishop” is an elegantly written, powerful book about faith and perseverance set in the southwestern United States during the mid-1800s. It tells the story of Bishop Jean Marie Latour, a French Catholic priest, who is appointed bishop of the Archbishopric of Santa Fe. His mission is to establish the first permanent Catholic church in the region, a task that proves to be difficult and arduous due to the small number of Christians, the harsh landscape, and the divided loyalties of the Native American populations.

The novel opens as Bishop Latour travels to his new position in New Mexico, accompanied by his friend, the Argentine Vicar, Joseph Vaillant. The two men encounter a hostile and unfamiliar land, with formidable landscapes, and initially make little progress in establishing a Catholic presence in their new home. They are soon faced with the threat of the hostile Navajos, led by Chief Narbona. Despite the hostility of the Navajos, Bishop Latour manages to speak to them and makes them an ally, ensuring the safe passage of his mission team throughout the region.

He also knows that, in order to establish a Catholic mission, he will have to forge relationships with many different peoples, including the Mexicans and the Pueblo Indians. He does this by presenting himself with selfless acts of kindness, attending to the sick, the downtrodden, and the needy, and by offering prayer and spiritual guidance. He eventually meets the governor of Pueblo, and is granted permission to build a mission in Taos. His mission is welcomed by the local Vallejo family, who become his closest allies and aids in the task. They are instrumental in helping him to establish the first permanent Catholic church in the region.

Throughout the novel, Bishop Latour faces further challenges and obstacles, but his faith and strength carry him forward. In the end, Bishop Latour succeeds in his mission and, despite the difficult journey, finds peace and solace in his new home.

Cather’s beautiful and lyrical style creates an atmosphere of richness and detail. She takes the reader on an emotional journey, showing how belief and loyalty can be tested and tried, but ultimately how faith can be a powerful and unshakable force in one’s life. “Death Comes for the Archbishop” is a timeless classic and a beautiful story of faith, perseverance, and the endurance of the human spirit.