On February 14, 2015, Pope Francis announced the beatification of Salvadoran martyr Archbishop Óscar Romero who was murdered while presiding at Mass in 1980. Three years before his murder, Rutilio Grande, Jesuit priest and friend of the Archbishop, was also murdered for the same offense--speaking up for the poor and vulnerable.Until this book, the stories about these men have grown elusive and vague. Now, Salvadoran native Ana María Pineda once again catapults these martyrs into our collective consciences through a story that is both significantly personal and painstakingly researched during multiple trips to her homeland where she discovered surprising facts very "close to home."

Rutilio Grande, SJ, was the first Jesuit to be assassinated in El Salvador. He was killed on March 12, 1977, for having done the works that Jesus commands with regard to one's neighbor as a priest in the Roman Catholic Church. This volume of his writings and homilies illustrates how he applied the social and ecclesial teachings of the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) in his ministry with the poor and marginalized of El Salvador. His use of the social sciences to understand the problems in his context, his prophetic denunciation of power and wealth, and his ministry to empower laypeople to lead their faith communities all speak to the Holy Spirit working through the courage of a true servant leader.

Who is Oscar Romero, assassinated in 1980 while saying mass, beatified by Pope Francis in 2015, a man Latin Americans already claim as Saint Romero of America? This biography, a Romero primer, sets out to answer this question for the general public ages fifteen up--readers who may know little about El Salvador, Romero's homeland, or the Roman Catholic Church. Based on interviews with some of Romero's seminary mates and siblings, this title reveals not-yet-published information to fill gaps in Romero's first twenty-five years of life. One chapter explores the archbishop's surprising relationship with "misguided" young adults. The author takes painstaking effort to convey the context in which this old-school cleric emerged as an audacious voice of the voiceless. That he did so is remarkable; Vatican officials named him archbishop confident he would remain silent, rein in activism, and ruffle no status-quo feathers. How and why Romero defied expectations ranks among the most compelling faith stories of the late twentieth century. Jose Inocencio Alas honors this work with a foreword. A former priest and colleague of Romero who narrowly survived abduction and torture by El Salvador's notorious National Guard, Alas has exclaimed, "I hope just about everyone in the world reads this book."

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.

This Little Black Book is your companion for Lent 2015. It’s an old-fashioned “vade mecum” (pronounced vahday maykum). That’s Latin for “travel with me” and was used to describe a book that was a constant companion – perhaps a condensed book of prayers for traveling priests, or a handbook for quick reference – something you could take with you anywhere. The right-hand pages walk through Luke’s passion narrative, a few verses at a time, with explanations and reflections along the way. It’s an ancient way of praying the Scriptures – called lectio divina. The left-hand page has a variety of quotes, information, and timely thoughts. Treat it like a buffet table from which you can take what you like. (If pressed for time, go directly to the right-hand page and spend your time there.) On Sundays and on various left-hand pages, we’ll especially call to mind the poor this Lenten season, remembering Pope Francis’ words that “(a)mong our tasks as witnesses to the love of Christ is that of giving a voice to the cry of the poor.” We won’t start reading the Gospels until Ash Wednesday. But we’ll start the six-minute program on Sunday, February 15 (the Sunday before Ash Wednesday), which will give us three days to get ready for Lent.

2019 marked notable anniversaries for two of the most widely recognised icons of the philosophy of nonviolence, representing seventy years since the birth of Dr Martin Luther King Jr and the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi. Both brought significant, constructive, and far-reaching social and political change to the world. This volume offers an innovative perspective, placing them, their beliefs and theories within the chronology of the tradition of nonviolence, beginning with Lev Nikolaevicz Tolstoy and encompassing the likes of Óscar Romero, Nelson Mandela, Abdul Ghaffar Khan, and Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan. This collection of essays explores diverse understandings of the concepts of nonviolence in a philosophical and religious context. It also highlights the application of the techniques of nonviolence in the 21st century.