The protagonist of the book is the unnamed priest, known as the Whisky Priest. For eight years, he has been defying the government and carrying on with his priestly duties. He lives as a fugitive, trying to escape to safety. Each time he is about to escape, someone needs him and because of his basic goodness and sense of duty, he cannot refuse. He risks his life to help Luis' mother, the Indian child, Maria …showed first 75 words of 495 total…

…showed last 75 words of 495 total…rform his duties, as well as survive. With lots of time to ponder life, he begins to really understand the mystery of religion. Instead of focusing on himself and the attention he receives, the Priest starts to appreciate human nature. When people needed him to celebrate mass, to baptize people, and to say the last rites for the dying; he strongly believed it was his duty to help them, no matter the risk to himself.