Monsignor Romero

Monsignor Romero: A Bishop for the Third Millennium is a collection of a series of speeches given in honor of the late archbishop by distinguished visitors to Notre Dame. Shortly before his assassination, Archbishop Romero told an interviewer, "I have to say, as a Christian, that I don’t believe in death without resurrection. If they kill me, I will rise again in the Salvadoran people." Using a wealth of detailed information about his life and work, the prelates, priests, human rights advocates, civic leaders, and Latin Americanists who have contributed to this volume show how Romero has fulfilled this prophecy.

As the title implies, this book examines Romero’s role as a model bishop for the new millennium. It places particular emphasis on his commitment to human rights, his innovative implementation of the option for the poor, his dedication to the Church, and his views of the role of the laity. It is also an inspirational account of Romero’s deep and abiding faith that seemingly insoluble problems can be resolved by following the Spirit. An introduction by Fr. Pelton and an afterword by Juan Méndez, Director of the Notre Dame Center for Civil and Human Rights, round out the collection.

This diverse and rich assortment of lectures substantially adds to our historical and theological understanding of one of the most important Christian figures of the twentieth century. It will be of significant value to anyone interested in the life of this remarkable man.