Oscar Romero and the Communion of Saints: A Biography - Softcover

Wright, Scott

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1570758395 ISBN 13: 9781570758393

Publisher: Orbis Books, 2010

Synopsis

More than thirty years since his assassination in March, 1980, Archbishop Oscar Romero continues to serve as one of the great Christian witnesses of our time. Illustrated with more than 100 photographs, this biography tells his story, beginning with his humble origins and his early life as a relatively conservative priest and bishop. Only in the last three years of his life, with his consecration as archbishop of San Salvador, did he undergo an astonishing transformation--some have called it a conversion. Embracing the church's "option for the poor," Romero became a courageous voice for the voiceless, embarking on a path he knew would lead to his death.

This biography reveals both his humanity as well his extraordinary faith and courage. It offers a stunning portrait of the gospel challenge for our time.

About this title

About the Author

Scott Wright served as Director of the Religious Task Force on Central America. He is co-author of Oscar Romero: Reflections on His Life and Writings.

Octavio Duran, a Salvadoran Franciscan, served as Romero's personal photographer and accompanied him on many travels.

From Booklist

Unprecedentedly violent, the twentieth century abounded in Christian martyrs, none more memorable than Oscar Romero (1917–80), Catholic archbishop of the capital of El Salvador, killed by a still unidentified gunman while celebrating a memorial mass in the chapel of his chosen residence as archbishop, a cancer hospice. In this copiously illustrated tracing of his life, Wright eventually points out the parallels Salvadoran Catholics have found between Romero and Jesus, principally that the final ministry of each lasted three years and that each proclaimed the truth of the faith unto death. Despite his own humble origins, Romero had given little intimation that he would be the tireless advocate of the poor and oppressed against the wealthy and powerful that he became. Within weeks of his archiepiscopal ordination, the death-squad assassination of his Jesuit friend Rutilio Grande catalyzed his transformation from seemingly shy, punctilious church bureaucrat into quietly implacable champion of the maltreated poor. Rife with quotations and therefore resembling a documentary-film transcript more than a formal biography, this is a fine commemoration of an exemplary man. --Ray Olson

Edition details

• Publisher: Orbis Books
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1570758395
• ISBN 13: 9781570758393
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 162