Voice of the Voiceless: The Four Pastoral Letters and Other Statements [Paperback]

Oscar Romero (Author), Michael J. Walsh (Translator)

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Spanish

Product Details

• Paperback: 202 pages
• Publisher: Orbis Books; First Edition edition (February 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0883445255
• ISBN-13: 978-0883445259
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #605,679 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #44 in Books > History > Americas > Central America > El Salvador

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ARCHBISHOP ROMERO'S OFFICIAL STATEMENTS PLUS HIS LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT DEMANDING AN END TO MILITARY INVOLVEMENT, ETC., March 25, 2007

By 

C. Scanlon "least helpful reviewer" (among us humans) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Voice of the Voiceless: The Four Pastoral Letters and Other Statements (Paperback)

This substantial book, published by the great Catholic publishing
house Orbis Books, is perhaps the most important book within the Romero penumbra, as it contains his written treatises most intended for wide public distribution ex cathedra, and thus presents some of his most developed, detailed and formal theological, ecclesial and political explanations.

This thick book therefore collects official statements by the Catholic martyr Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero who was sacrificed immediately after his homily in a hospital chapel March 24, 1980. In fact this collection ends with that final intimate homily, which, in such an small setting not intended for broadcast as were his Sunday homilies, spoke most personally of the anniversary of the death of a friend's mother, and her strong example of faith in action, rather than, for example, the strong address he had given at Mass in the Cathedral the previous Sunday, ordering the Salvadoran National Guard to stop killing. The Archbishop nevertheless mentions shortly before his own assassination the total self-sacrifice our Faith calls for, as seen again eight months later in El Salvador with the martyrdom of four American churchwomen.

The lengthy introductions by Reverend Fathers Ignacio Martin-Baro and Jon Sobrino, both Jesuit theologians and university professors, provide ample sociological, political, historical and theological context for the life and words of Archbishop Romero. Both introductions are comprehensive and academic studies, complete with footnotes.

My only frustration in fact throughout this book, as one who is trilingual, lies in the choices in translation, with the necessary compromises which come with any translation, but that is often more a matter of taste, as this translation proves more than adequate for understanding. The writings themselves are lucid, objective (as noted in another review here), and complete, and more than fulfill their duty of introducing us to the totality of the Archbishop. The discussion by Father Martin-Baro is very revealing of all aspects of the Archbishop and his spiritual significance and development, and is itself poignant as we now realize this Reverend Father himself would be sacrificed by the same earthly powers in December of 1989 along with several of his companions.

The Four Pastoral Letters discuss themes of the Resurrecting Church, the Church as the Body of Christ at work in history, The Church at work with the people, and the Church's mission within the National Crisis, and the NAtional Security State whic sacrifices people, their rights and their lives for the interests of a powerful few. Clearly and independently from the mystery of the martyrdom of Archbishop Romero, these four documents have much to tell us today therefore about our own present situation, about ecclesiology and the prophetic obligation and mission of the Church in the modern world, and they more than merit our close reading now as we struggle still as an oppressed and a pilgrim Catholic Church in America.

The remaining four official and public statements, not counting the final intimate sermon reviewed above, include an address at Georgetown University, a pastoral message to the National Council of Churches, an address in Belgium's Louvain University regarding the Church's preferential option for the poor, and the letter to the President demanding an end to all military involvement, which was killing his most vulnerable people and priests.

In its entirety this book demands to be read well by American Catholics today as we contemplate our meaning and mission in the world and our nation today. We can find no stronger, more theologically orthodox, more courageous, more holy and brilliant a voice than this, silenced far too soon. Hear him now. Hear what the Holy Spirit tells God's people today.

5 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Objective Monsenor Romero biography, May 13, 2006

By 

A. Bk Reder - See all my reviews

This review is from: Voice of the Voiceless: The Four Pastoral Letters and Other Statements (Paperback)

In summary, I ordered this book for a leadership class (MBA class) in order to discuss a leader and his particular leadership style and what I could learn. To reiterate, this is not a leadership book, but you can extrapolate a leadership style. In fact, it's a good book balancing the political, social-economic situation of EL Salvador during his tenure as Archbishop and the theological letters he wrote. But if you have little knowledge of theology, this book can prove challenging.
Actuall, the introductory essays provide enough background and summary of the theological letters to make purchasing this book worthwhile.
Overall, I learned enough of him, through his own letters and background provided by the introductory essay writers, to make up my own opinion on the matter, instead of listening to the same rhetoric that has permeated his work and legacy.