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Romero: A Life
"Let my death, if it is accepted by God, be for my people's liberation and as a witness of hope in the future...A bishop will die, but God's church, which is the people, will never perish." -- Oscar Romero
More than twenty-five years have passed since Oscar Romero, the prophetic archbishop of San Salvador, was assassinated while celebrating Mass. In death he joined tens of thousands of his fellow Salvadorans, killed in the conflict that engulfed his small Central American nation. Since then, his reputation and significance have only today the very name Romero invokes the church's costly option for the poor, the gospel challenge to confront injustice, the Christian call to discipleship in a world of conflict, and a new face of holiness for our time. First published in 1989, James Brockman's biography remains the definitive portrait of the modern hero and martyr who became "a voice of the voiceless."
More than twenty-five years have passed since Oscar Romero, the prophetic archbishop of San Salvador, was assassinated while celebrating Mass. In death he joined tens of thousands of his fellow Salvadorans, killed in the conflict that engulfed his small Central American nation. Since then, his reputation and significance have only today the very name Romero invokes the church's costly option for the poor, the gospel challenge to confront injustice, the Christian call to discipleship in a world of conflict, and a new face of holiness for our time. First published in 1989, James Brockman's biography remains the definitive portrait of the modern hero and martyr who became "a voice of the voiceless."
283 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1982
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 16, 2020
Going into this with virtually zero knowledge of the man or the context of his life forced me to really concentrate while reading. The circumstances in which Oscar Romero lived, ministered, and died were exceptionally complex. Brockman did a good job illustrating those complexities, which included Church infighting as well as the difficult pastoral and political situation in El Salvador. The structure of the book is generally by time periods, but there is enough jumping back and forth between periods that you have to pay close attention in order to stay oriented.
It's easy to see why Romero is a hero of Catholicism, and just as easy to see why some, even in the Church, considered (consider?) him a thorn in their side. He had to walk a difficult line between being part of the problem by ignoring it, which would have been contrary to the Gospel, and politicizing the faith, which would corrupt the Gospel.
One thing that struck me over and over again was the way the Church grew exponentially, including vocations, during this time. In the U.S., conservative Catholics frequently point to liberalization as the reason for a drop in vocations. The opposite was clearly the case in El Salvador during Romero's tenure.
It's easy to see why Romero is a hero of Catholicism, and just as easy to see why some, even in the Church, considered (consider?) him a thorn in their side. He had to walk a difficult line between being part of the problem by ignoring it, which would have been contrary to the Gospel, and politicizing the faith, which would corrupt the Gospel.
One thing that struck me over and over again was the way the Church grew exponentially, including vocations, during this time. In the U.S., conservative Catholics frequently point to liberalization as the reason for a drop in vocations. The opposite was clearly the case in El Salvador during Romero's tenure.
December 11, 2023
Full of facts and plenty of behind-the-scenes knowledge about discussions among church leaders in El Salvador. I can see how this is an essential Romero biography.
Unfortunately, it sacrifices narrative for the sake of including lots of smaller stories. It also could have used more context for people that are new to internal church power dynamics. Lots of people who appear to be Romero's subordinates did things to undermine him, and it's hard to understand how they got away with it.
I had been hoping for an introduction to liberation theology. I got the introduction that I wanted, but the book was not a friendly way to get there. For context on what Romero was doing, the book referred to events at Vatican II (which I knew about), Medellin (which was new to me), and the encyclical Populorum Progressio (also new). The encyclical seems especially important for context, but it wasn't mentioned until almost halfway through the book. Since the events of the book start in 1977 and the encyclical was published in 1967, it should have shown up sooner.
Of course, Romero's life and work is inspiring, so if people are interested in him and this is the best book they can find, go for it. But I wouldn't recommend starting here if you can avoid it. There is probably a larger history which puts Romero into context within liberation theology. I'd suggest starting there.
Unfortunately, it sacrifices narrative for the sake of including lots of smaller stories. It also could have used more context for people that are new to internal church power dynamics. Lots of people who appear to be Romero's subordinates did things to undermine him, and it's hard to understand how they got away with it.
I had been hoping for an introduction to liberation theology. I got the introduction that I wanted, but the book was not a friendly way to get there. For context on what Romero was doing, the book referred to events at Vatican II (which I knew about), Medellin (which was new to me), and the encyclical Populorum Progressio (also new). The encyclical seems especially important for context, but it wasn't mentioned until almost halfway through the book. Since the events of the book start in 1977 and the encyclical was published in 1967, it should have shown up sooner.
Of course, Romero's life and work is inspiring, so if people are interested in him and this is the best book they can find, go for it. But I wouldn't recommend starting here if you can avoid it. There is probably a larger history which puts Romero into context within liberation theology. I'd suggest starting there.
June 4, 2022
What a wise, brave, powerful, and loving man. The book itself was long, kind of repetitive, and sometimes boring...but Oscar Romero. Wow. So inspiring.
"I am a shepherd who, with his people, has begun to learn a beautiful and difficult truth: our Christian faith requires that we submerge ourselves in the world."
"There can be no church unity if we ignore the world in which we live."
"...The expectation of a new earth must not weaken but rather stimulate our concern for cultivating this one." -Vatican II
"I am a shepherd who, with his people, has begun to learn a beautiful and difficult truth: our Christian faith requires that we submerge ourselves in the world."
"There can be no church unity if we ignore the world in which we live."
"...The expectation of a new earth must not weaken but rather stimulate our concern for cultivating this one." -Vatican II
November 5, 2019
Outstanding biography of a fasctinating person who lived in an interesting place and time. The author does an excellent job of describing many aspects of Romero as both a person, a priest and a Bishop. My only criticism is that the book is very biased, which was not a distraction but it would have been helpful to have a more balanced perspective and more contextual information about the antagonistic others in the book.
January 15, 2025
Romeo is such an inspiring figure. I was rather disappointed in this book. It was dry and repetitive. I think it should have focused more on the person Romero rather than so many snippets of speeches.
Read
February 22, 2025There was a lot of detail but worth the read.
April 19, 2010
An extremely thorough and personal biography of Archbishop Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador until his assassination in 1980.
The book gives detailed coverage to Romero's life before becoming Archbishop and is all the more authoritative because of it. The explanation of why Romero was such a disappointing choice to many as Archbishop in 1977 is outlined through his earlier work in the Salvadoran church and this makes the description of his growing 'conversion' to the ideas of the Vatican II and Medellin conferences after his appointment all the more informative.
The text is often heavy with the descriptions of church and Vatican procedure and often quotes are lengthy. This occasionally makes passages hard going for the reader. To balance this, Brockman does offer regular illumination and concise analysis that make the incredible detail bearable.
What surprised me most about the book was the way I came to a greater degree of admiration for Romero and his work. I have no religious affiliation but the way in which Romero lived his life with utter scrupulousness and conviction towards the Gospel was inspiring. I knew the basic outline of his life story but I found the detail offered here an excellent provider of a context and personal insight into his thoughts and feelings.
Famously, Romero had to confront the repression of the security and military forces of El Salvador, the hostility of the Salvadoran elite, and right-wing press. What this book does very well is illuminate that he also faced huge difficulties from within his own church hierarchy and from the Vatican nunciate. It clearly shows that Romero maintained a position that, although sympathetic to the plight of the poor and oppressed in 1970s El Salvador, it also condemned the growing recourse to violence of the various left-wing groups in the country.
This book dispels numerous myths that still, sadly, exist today amongst the elite in El Salvador about Romero - I know because I teach in the country. By the use of Romero's own letters and homilies Brockman paints a picture of an impressive man of God who paid the ultimate price for his conviction. It would be well read by those who still profess inaccurate and unfounded opinions of a giant of Central American 20th Century religion and history.
The book gives detailed coverage to Romero's life before becoming Archbishop and is all the more authoritative because of it. The explanation of why Romero was such a disappointing choice to many as Archbishop in 1977 is outlined through his earlier work in the Salvadoran church and this makes the description of his growing 'conversion' to the ideas of the Vatican II and Medellin conferences after his appointment all the more informative.
The text is often heavy with the descriptions of church and Vatican procedure and often quotes are lengthy. This occasionally makes passages hard going for the reader. To balance this, Brockman does offer regular illumination and concise analysis that make the incredible detail bearable.
What surprised me most about the book was the way I came to a greater degree of admiration for Romero and his work. I have no religious affiliation but the way in which Romero lived his life with utter scrupulousness and conviction towards the Gospel was inspiring. I knew the basic outline of his life story but I found the detail offered here an excellent provider of a context and personal insight into his thoughts and feelings.
Famously, Romero had to confront the repression of the security and military forces of El Salvador, the hostility of the Salvadoran elite, and right-wing press. What this book does very well is illuminate that he also faced huge difficulties from within his own church hierarchy and from the Vatican nunciate. It clearly shows that Romero maintained a position that, although sympathetic to the plight of the poor and oppressed in 1970s El Salvador, it also condemned the growing recourse to violence of the various left-wing groups in the country.
This book dispels numerous myths that still, sadly, exist today amongst the elite in El Salvador about Romero - I know because I teach in the country. By the use of Romero's own letters and homilies Brockman paints a picture of an impressive man of God who paid the ultimate price for his conviction. It would be well read by those who still profess inaccurate and unfounded opinions of a giant of Central American 20th Century religion and history.
October 6, 2016
Archbishop Oscar Romero is an incredibly inspiring Christian leader. He lived the gospel and, as a result, encountered powerful opposition from both the government and his own church bureaucracy. It is heartbreaking that his love for his people, his longing to relieve poverty, oppression, and social injustice was loudly dismissed as Marxist. It is also discouraging to see that El Salvador still struggles with many of the same issues more than 35 years after Romero's assassination.
Brockman's biography is incredibly detailed, but it does not flow very smoothly. It is written more like a chronology than a history. Nevertheless, it offers a great deal of insight into the situation and struggle that Romero faced as archbishop.
Quotes:
"Commenting on the definition of peace that the church gives, peace is a product of justice... Justice is not enough, love is also necessary. The love that makes us feel that we are brothers and sisters is properly what makes for true peace. Peace is the product of justice and love."
"As long as the church preaches an eternal salvation without involving itself in the real problems of our world, the church is respected and praised and is even given privileges. But if it is faithful to its mission of pointing out the sin that puts many in misery, and if it proclaims the hope of a more just and human world, then it is persecuted and slandered and called subversive and communist."
Romero told a reporter two weeks before his death:
"I have often been threatened with death. I must tell you, as a Christian, I do not believe in death without resurrection. If I am killed, I shall arise in the Salvadoran people.
As a shepherd, I am obliged by divine mandate to give my life for those I love--for all Salvadorans, even for those who may be going to kill me.
Let my death, if it is accepted by God, be for my people's liberation and as a witness of hope in the future.
If they succeed in killing me, I pardon and bless those who do it. Would, indeed, that they might be convinced that they will waste their time. A bishop will die, but God's church, which is the people, will never perish."
Brockman's biography is incredibly detailed, but it does not flow very smoothly. It is written more like a chronology than a history. Nevertheless, it offers a great deal of insight into the situation and struggle that Romero faced as archbishop.
Quotes:
"Commenting on the definition of peace that the church gives, peace is a product of justice... Justice is not enough, love is also necessary. The love that makes us feel that we are brothers and sisters is properly what makes for true peace. Peace is the product of justice and love."
"As long as the church preaches an eternal salvation without involving itself in the real problems of our world, the church is respected and praised and is even given privileges. But if it is faithful to its mission of pointing out the sin that puts many in misery, and if it proclaims the hope of a more just and human world, then it is persecuted and slandered and called subversive and communist."
Romero told a reporter two weeks before his death:
"I have often been threatened with death. I must tell you, as a Christian, I do not believe in death without resurrection. If I am killed, I shall arise in the Salvadoran people.
As a shepherd, I am obliged by divine mandate to give my life for those I love--for all Salvadorans, even for those who may be going to kill me.
Let my death, if it is accepted by God, be for my people's liberation and as a witness of hope in the future.
If they succeed in killing me, I pardon and bless those who do it. Would, indeed, that they might be convinced that they will waste their time. A bishop will die, but God's church, which is the people, will never perish."
November 22, 2010
This is a really dreadful book about a really interesting person. Part of it is that it contains soooo much about the Catholic church's workings, and so much of it depends upon my knowledge of the recent 20th century history of the church. It assumes knowledge of Vatican II, for instance, with which my only acquaintance is the book itself, which scarcely talks about what it actually is. You also have to know terms like "nunciature," or for that matter, nuncio.
You could say the book is intended for a Catholic audience, and that may be the case. But I think it's fairly poorly written in at least one respect: he'll be describing a period of Romero's life, he starts talking about a portentous sermon he delivers, and the topic of the sermon will be some terrible event where peasants are murdered. He details the event as almost a postscript to the sermon rather than as the event that precipitated the sermon (and really, the book honors his social justice work, and that work only came about as a result of these events).
You could say the book is intended for a Catholic audience, and that may be the case. But I think it's fairly poorly written in at least one respect: he'll be describing a period of Romero's life, he starts talking about a portentous sermon he delivers, and the topic of the sermon will be some terrible event where peasants are murdered. He details the event as almost a postscript to the sermon rather than as the event that precipitated the sermon (and really, the book honors his social justice work, and that work only came about as a result of these events).
January 20, 2013
This book tells the remarkable and inspiring story of this true Martyr of God and shepherd to the flock entrusted to him. Romero took a daring stand against the brutal repression of the people in his country by the government and the general chaos of violence which engulfed El Salvador in bloodshed for many years. Because of his adherence to the Gospel of Christ, he made many enemies of those people who chose a different path than peace and love which included an oppressive rightist government, leftist rebels, and a divided Church in El Salvador with near "open warfare" in the bishops' conference. He refused to bow to the pressures and remained faithful to the Gospel and gave voice to the poor campesinos of his country who were mired in poverty and little freedom. Romero's story was truly an inspiration to me and he remains one of the great modern-day saints like Dorothy Day and Mother Teresa.
November 5, 2012
I'd actually read this book before, so only skimmed it this time. This is an important story but I doubt that this is the best book on the subject. Short shrift is given to Romero as a person and the formation of his views. Brockman basically presents us with a fairly detailed reportage of the last three years of Romero's life but with little perspective or reflection. If you don't know the story of this brave man of God and the atrocities that were being committed by the U.S.-backed government in El Salvador in the late 70s, then you should read this book. If you already know the basics, look elsewhere for a more nuanced treatment of the material.
February 8, 2008
the book reads a little like propaganda, so I'm not sure the four is even justified. Still, it is one of the few testaments we have of this remarkable saint's life.
November 21, 2008
One of the most moving books I have ever read. It starts with a lot of detail, but moves onto the unfolding if his provocative life.
July 30, 2009
not a great read, but a great story about a great man.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews