Oscar Arnulfo Romero
(see also Liberation Theology: Latin America & El Salvador: Civil War)
Basics
Born in 1917 at Ciudad Barrios near Honduran border, son of a telegraph operater. Educated by Claretians & at diocesan seminary in San Salvador. Ordained in 1942, studied theology at Gregorian U. in Rome, returned to served as parish priest. Later bishop's secretary, rector of Cathedral & of Interdiocesan Seminary. Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of San Salvador in 1970; & Archbishop in February, 1977. Underwent profound conversion to prophetic stance during three years in that position. Murdered while celebrating Eucharist in chapel of the Divine Providence Cancer Hospital in San Salvador on March 24, 1980.
On the Web: Articles
On the Web: Specialized Sites
Monseñor Romero: Pastor, Profeta y Mártir de El Salvador. On this site you can listen to several of his homilies in Spanish.
In the Library: Articles
Berryman, Philip. "El Salvador: from evangelization to insurrection," in D.H. Levine (ed.) Religion & Political Conflict in Latin America (Chapel Hill: U. North Carolina, 1986), pp. 158-78.
Brockman, James R. "Oscar Romero: shepherd of the poor," Third World Quarterly 6,2 (1984):446-58.
Brown, Robert McAfee. "Oscar Romero: do not mourn, imitate," in M. Luke (ed.) Pilgrims & Seekers (Erie PA, 1995), pp. 19-22.
Cáceres Prendes, Jorge. "Political radicalization & popular pastoral practices in El Salvador, 1969-1985" [1982], in S. Mainwaring & A. Wilde (eds.) The Progressive Church in Latin America (Notre Dame IN: Notre Dame, 1989), pp. 103-48.
Cardenal, Rodolfo. "The martyrdom of the Salvadoran Church," in D. Keogh (ed.) Church & Politics in Latin America (London, 1990), pp. 225-46.
Krauss, Clifford. "Religious roots of rebellion in El Salvador," Nation (7/3/82):7-10.
Kumm, Bjorn. "El Salvador's rebel priests," Nation 227 (12/30/78):728-30.
Martín-Baró, Ignacio. "El liderazgo de Monseñor Romero (un análisis psico-social)," Estudios Centroamericanos 389 (3/81):151-72. The author, one of the six Jesuits later murdered on orders from School of the Americas graduates in the Salvadoran armed forces, was a close first-hand observer of Romero's prophetic ministry.
Montgomery, Tommie Sue. "The Church in the Salvadoran revolution," Latin American Perspectives 36 (win 83):62-87.
O'Malley, William J. "El Salvador: Rutilio Grande, SJ," in his Voice of Blood (Maryknoll NY: Orbis, 1980). Jesuit missionary priest whose martyrdom galvanized Oscar Romero into prophetic ministry that led to his own.
Quigley, Thomas E. "The Catholic Church in El Salvador," Cross Currents (sum 82):179-92.
Romero, Oscar. "The political dimension of Christian love," Commonweal 109 (3/26/82).
In the Library: Non-Fiction Books
Alas, Higinio. Monseñor Romero: Defensor de los derechos humanos (San José CR: CODEHUCA, 1994.
Antoine, Charles. Le sang des justes: Mgr. Romero, les jesuites et l'Amérique Latine (Paris: Desclee de Brouwer, 2000).
Brockman, James R. The Word Remains: A Life of Oscar Romero (Maryknoll NY: Orbis, 1982).
__________. Romero: A Life (Maryknoll NY: Orbis, 1989).
Campbell-Johnston, Michael & Jon Sobrino. Monseñor Romero: Westminster y Roma (San Salvador: Centro Monseñor Romero, 1998).
Cardenal, Rodolfo. Historia de una esperanza: vida de Rutilio Grande (San Salvador, 1987). Story of of the parish priest whose martyrdom galvanized Oscar Romero into the prophetic stance which led to his own.
Carranza, Salvador. Romero-Rutilio: vidas encontradas (San Salvador: UCA, 1992).
Cavada, Miguel (ed.) Monseñor Romero: su vida, su testimonio, y su palabra (San Salvador: Publicaciones Pastorales del Arzobispado, 1999).
Delgado, Jesús. Oscar A. Romero: Biografía (Madrid: Ediciones Paulinas, 1986).
__________ (ed.) Monseñor Romero: sus cartas personales, pensamientos y consejos (San Salvador: Archidiócesis de San Salvadro, 1995).
Dennis, Marie; Renny Golden & Scott Wright. Oscar Romero: Reflections on his Life & Writings (Maryknoll NY: Orbis, 2000).
Equipo de Educación Maíz. Monseñor Romero: el pueblo es mi profeta (San Salvador, 1994).
Erdozain, Plácido. Archbishop Romero: Martyr of El Salvador (trans. John McFadden & Ruth Warner; Maryknoll NY: Orbis, 1980). Author an Augustinian priest who worked closely with Romero.
Greenan, Thomas. El pensamiento teológico-pastoral en las homilías de Monseñor Romero (San Salvador: Arzobispado, 1998).
Hayes, Michael A. & David Tombs (eds.) Truth & Memory: The Church & Human Rights in El Salvador & Guatemala (Leominster: Gracewing, 2001).
Keogh, Dermot. Romero: El Salvador's Martyr: A Study of the Tragedy of El Salvador (Dublin: Dominican, 1981).
López Vigil, María. Piezas para un retrato (San Salvador: UCA, 1993; English trans. by Kathy Ogle; Oscar Romero: Memories in Mosaic; Washington: EPICA, 2000).
Martín-Baró, Ignacio SJ. Monseñor: una voz para un pueblo pisoteado. Oscar Arnulfo Romero (San Francisco CA: Casa El Salvador "Farabundo Martí", 1981).
Miranda M., Pedro N. Itinerario político de monseñor Romero: la represión en El Salvador (Caracas: Ateneo de Caracas, 1980).
Mora R., Arnoldo (ed.) Monseñor Romero, selección y notas de... (San José, 1981).
Peterson, Anna L. Martyrdom & the Politics of Religion: Progressive Catholicism in El Salvador's Civil War (Albany, 1996).
Romero, Oscar. The Violence of Love: The Pastoral Wisdom of Archbishop Oscar Romero (ed. James R. Brockman; San Francisco, 1988).
__________. La voz de los sin voz: la palabra viva de Monseñor Oscar Arnulfo Romero (San Salvador: UCA, 1980; English trans. Voice of the Voiceless: The Four Pastoral Letters & Other Statements; Maryknoll NY: Orbis, 1985).
__________. Monseñor Oscar Arnulfo Romero: su diario desde el 31 de marzo de 1978 hasta jueves 20 de marzo de 1980 (San Salvador: Arzobispado, 1990; English version Archbishop Oscar Romero: A Shepherd's Diary (trans. Irene B. Hodgson; Cincinnati OH: St. Anthony Messenger, 1993).
Siman, José Jorge. The Impact of Monsignor Romero on the Churches of El Salvador & the US (Washington: Wilson Center, 1983).
Sobrino, Jon SJ. Monseñor Romero: verdadero profeta (Managua: Centro Antonio Valdivieso, 1981).
__________ (ed.) Romero, Martyr for Liberation: The Last Two Homilies of Archbishop Romero of San Salvador (London: Catholic Institute for International Relations, 1982).
__________. Monseñor Romero (San Salvador: UCA, 1989).
__________. Archbishop Romero: Memories & Reflections (Maryknoll NY: Orbis, 1990).
__________. La espiritualidad de Monseñor Romero: sentir con la Iglesia, primer retiro ecuménico (San Salvador: Fundación Monseñor Romero, 2000).
Stull, Bradford T. Religious Dialectics of Pain & Imagination (Albany: SUNY, 1994).
Swedish, Margaret. Oscar Arnulfo Romero: Prophet to the Americas (Washington: Religious Task Force on Central America & Mexico, 1995).
Weiner, Robert. A Decade of Failed Promises: The Investigation of Archbishop Romero's Murder (NY: Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, 1990).
In the Library: Fiction
Bencastro, Mario. Disparo en la catedral (México: Diana, 1990; English trans. by Susan Giersbach Rascón, A Shot in the Cathedral; Houston: Arte Público, 1996). Novel on the assassination of Oscar Romero.
Benítez, Sandra. The Weight of All Things (NY: Hyperion, 2000).
Rovinski, Samuel. El martirio del pastor (San José CR: Universidad Centroamericana, 1983).
Valero Iglesias, Luis Fernando. Monseñor: la voz (Barcelona: PPU, 1993).
In the Library: For Young Readers
In the Library: Poetry
In the Library: Drama
Morton, Carlos. The Savior (Studio City CA: Players, 1993).
Patricca, Nicholas A. The Fifth Sun: A Play in One Act (Woodstock IL: Dramatic, 1992).
In the Library: Photography
CD & Audio
Film & Video:
"Battle for El Salvador" [1985], by WGBH Boston, 60m. From Films International.
"Romero" [1990], dir. John Duigan, 105m. In video stores.
"Truth or Consequences: El Salvador" [1993], by Globalvision with Thirteen-WNET, 27m. From Global Communications Foundation.