Óscar Romero's Theological Vision - by Edgardo Colón-Emeric

About the Book

Colón-Emeric explores the life and theological vision of Archbishop and Saint Óscar Romero, one of the founders of liberation theology, which interprets Scripture through the plight of the poor.

Book Synopsis

This ambitious book examines Saint Oscar Romero's words to understand how his thoughts fit into the broader context of Catholic theology.

On March 24, 1980, Archbishop Óscar Romero was assassinated as he celebrated mass in El Salvador. He was canonized as a saint by Pope Francis on October 14, 2018. Edgardo Colón-Emeric explores the life and thought of Romero and his theological vision, which finds its focus in the mystery of the transfiguration.

Romero is now understood to be one of the founders of liberation theology, which interprets scripture through the plight of the poor. His theological vision is most succinctly expressed by his saying, "Gloria Dei, vivens pauper" "The glory of God is the poor who lives." God's glory was first revealed through Christ to a landless tenant farmer, a market woman, and an unemployed laborer, and they received the power to shine from the church to the world.

Colón-Emeric's study is an exercise in what Latino/a theologians call ressourcement from the margins, or a return to theological foundations. One of the first Latin American Church Fathers, Romero's theological vision is a sign of the emergence of Christianity in the Global South from "reflection" Church to "source" Church. The hope for this study is that scholars in the fields of theology, religious studies, and Latin American studies will be captivated by the doctrine of this humble pastor and inspired to think more clearly and act more decisively in solidarity with the poor.

Review Quotes

"Colón-Emeric is at the leading edge of both the best scholarship and the best pedagogy for grasping the entirety of Romero's witness. Colón-Emeric situates this liturgically driven vision of theology within the specificity of the celebration and the martyrdom in San Salvador. This particularizing and localizing of the theme makes this book even more universal and engaging. Everyone in the English-speaking world who is writing and thinking about the witness of Romero will need to read this book and will benefit greatly from that reading." --Peter Casarella, University of Notre Dame

"Edgardo Colón-Emeric's excellent book deserves its place within the new generation of Monsignor Óscar Romero studies. Instead of offering another biographical account of Romero's life, this monograph skillfully examines the contribution and legacy of Romero's theological vision. Colón-Emeric approaches both the traditional wellspring of Romero's theology and the oppressed reality that shaped his prophetic voice. One of the great strengths of the book is Colón-Emeric's careful consideration of Romero's homilies as a main source of new theological riches and insights. This well-written and carefully researched book is a must-read for all who are interested in Latin American theology and the vision of its saints." --Ernesto Valiente, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry

"In an engaging and convincing way, the case is made that in Saint Óscar Romero we have a pastor and a martyr, but also something much more, a father of the church, who gives us a new, rich, and challenging way to speak about God in our time." --Today's American Catholic

"Though the life and tragic murder of St. Óscar Romero have garnered much attention, his theology needs further exploration. Edgardo Colón-Emeric's fine study brings out the richness of Romero's thinking on themes such as Christ, salvation, the church, and Christian hope. Richly connecting this contemporary martyr and saint to the ancient richness of Christian theology, Colón-Emeric's book demonstrates how Romero's courageous defense of human rights sprang from a powerful theology of transfiguration." --Michael Lee, Fordham University

"The project is ambitious: synthesize the homiletic output of the saint, contextualize it in the crucible of El Salvador's suffering poor, and lift out the theological insights that are important new contributions in the advancement of the Gospel. At every stroke, the author gets it right, and the poetic form it often takes makes this an indispensable addition to the growing study of Romero's thought." --Catholic Library World

"Oscar Romero's Theological Vision . . . dissect[s] the saint's words to understand how his thoughts fit into the broader context of Catholic theology." --CatholicPhilly.com

"In one of the first books to investigate Romero's theology, Edgardo Colón-Emeric examines Romero's life and theological vision, which finds its focus in the mystery of the transfiguration... The hope for this study is that scholars in the fields of theology, religious studies, and Latin American studies will be captivated by the doctrine of this humble pastor and inspired to think more clearly and more decisively in solidarity with the poor." --Duke Divinity

"Throughout this remarkable book, the author takes us ever deeper into the theological development of the martyr bishop Saint Óscar Romero." --The Tablet

About the Author

Edgardo Colón-Emeric is dean of Duke Divinity School, as well as the Irene and William McCutchen Associate Professor of Reconciliation and Theology and director of the Center for Reconciliation. He is the author and co-author of a number of books, including The Saving Mysteries of Jesus Christ: A Christology in the Wesleyan Tradition.