Abstract
Thirty-five years after he was assassinated while celebrating mass in El Salvador, Archbishop Oscar Romero was beatified on May 23, 2015 by Pope Francis. While many are familiar with the ways he spoke out against poverty, social injustice, and human rights violations, fewer understand the spirituality and formative influences behind his prophetic challenges. In particular, the murder of his friend Rutilio Grande, SJ, in 1977—only weeks after Romero was named Archbishop—significantly impacted him, and after his death, Romero hung a large drawing of Grande at the entrance to his bedroom. On entering, it reminded Romero of Grande’s commitment to God, and on leaving, it reminded him of his commitment to the people of God.
Pineda brings both of these lives together in a powerful reflection on their lives, their struggles, and their journey with God. After exploring their early years, priestly call, ministry experience, and spirituality, she examines the ways the power of the Word gave them strength to denounce the injustices of their times, to announce the good news of liberation, and to lay down their lives in love for the people they served.
P. is herself an El Salvadoran immigrant, an extended blood relative of Grande, and associate professor at Santa Clara University. Her writing artfully transforms archival research into spiritual reflection oriented towards social transformation. What emerges are portraits of two human beings, who—despite their now exalted, martyred status—were in reality broken and fragile. Amidst various scruples, self-doubts, and psychological crises, they entrusted their lives to God’s hands, who accomplished his purposes in them through the mystery of the cross. Not only does their own suffering lead them to a greater identification with the poor and helpless, but P. also highlights the mysterious ways God’s power works through human weakness. In her words, “Their martyrdom is memorable for the frail humanness that struggled toward it. . . . Ultimately the beauty in Romero’s and Grande’s lives is the fact that they were ordinary men subject to diverse and sometimes contradictory life forces, who consistently gave their best efforts to live out the Christian life” (152).