Romero: Pastor, Prophet, Martyr and Saint

Course Summary

The e-seminar is a basic introduction into the life, ministry and select Pastoral Letters of St. Archbishop Oscar Romero.

Successful completion of this course earns 1.5 CEU's.

General Course Objectives

• Understand and explain the social, economic and political context that led to the prophetic rise of Romero
• Understand Romero’s response to the situation in El Salvador that made him a voice for the poor
• Identify significant theological, ecclesiological, spiritual and social justice elements expressed in Romero’s Pastoral Letters and Homilies
• Identify how we can carry on the prophetic action and witness inspired by Romero in our own times and communities

Course Materials

• No books required. All readings are online.

Course Structure and Highlights

• Week 1: Romero’s Prophetic Calling
  • Understand the nature of “national crisis” that evolved during Romero’s episcopate and ultimately led to his prophetic rise and martyrdom
  • Understand how Romero’s prophetic response to the national crisis convinced the oligarchy it had to silence the man it once favored to become archbishop.
  • Understand how Vatican II, Paul VI’s exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi and the Latin American Bishop Conferences Medellin statement, and Catholic social teaching in general, served as the doctrinal foundation for Romero’s prophetic witness
• Week 2: Romero’s Ecclesiology: The Mission of the Church in the World
  • Understand Romero’s ecclesiology of the Church in light of Vatican II
  • Understand Romero’s application of his ecclesiology and the Catholic Social Teachings to El Salvador’s national crisis
  • Understand the significance of Romero’s views on repentance, conversion and liberation for his prophetic response to the national crisis.
• Week 3: Carrying on Romero’s Prophetic Witness
  • Identify organizations in your local context that are carrying on Romero’s prophetic witness by demonstrating the preferential option for the poor and opposing “institutional violence.”
  • Identify the connection between Christian faith, spirituality and prophetic witness in light of Romero’s ministry and martyrdom
  • Identify contemporary situations of social injustice within your community, culture, or Church that cry out for prophetic witness from Christians and people of good will today.

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