i L Liberation and Theology I Si Pedro Casaldaliga and Jose Maria Vigil Foreword by ERTiESTO CARDEMAL Epilogue by GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ Liberation and Theology Series Editorial Committee Pedro Casalddliga Leonardo Boff, Sergio Torres, Gustavo Gutierrez, Jos6 Comblin, Ronaldo Mufioz, Enrique Dussel, Jose Maria Vigil Jos6 Oscar Beozzo, Pedro Trigo, Ivone Gebara, Jon Sobrino, Virgil Elizondo, Juan Luis Segundo Ecumenical Consultant THE SPIRITUALITY Julio de Santa Ana Titles in the Series OF Introducing Liberation Theology by Leonardo Boff and Clodovis Boff (Vol. 1) LIBERATION Trinity and Society by Leonardo Boff (Vol. 2) Ethics and Community by Enrique Dussel (Vol. 3) With a Foreword by The Holy Spirit and Liberation by Jos6 Comblin (Vol. 4) ERNESTO CARDENAL The Memory of the Christian People and an Epilogue by by Eduardo Hoornaert (Vol. 5) GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ The Bible, the Church and the Poor by Jorge Pixley and Clodovis Boff (Vol. 6) Mary, Mother of God, Mother of the Poor Translated from the Spanish by by Ivone Gebara and Maria Clara Bingemer (Vol. 7) Being Human: A Christian Anthropology Paul Burns and Francis McDonagh by Jos6 Comblin (Vol. 8) Moral Theology: Dead Ends and Ways Forward by AntSnio Moser and Bernardino Leers (Vol. 9) Creation and History by Pedro Trigo (Vol. 10) The God of Christians by Ronaldo Mufioz (Vol. 11) The Spirituality of Liberation by Pedro Casald&iga and Jos6 Marfa Vigil (Vol. 12) "... this is... a series which both illuminates Latin American realities and provokes thought about the relevance to the rest of the world of a theology which springs very powerfully out of these realities—out of the people's suffering and out of a still vibrant faith." —David L. Edwards, The Church Times BURNS & OATES First published in this translation in Great Britain 1994 by BURNS & OATES, Liberation and Theology Wellwood, North Farm Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3DR Series and in the United States of America by Orbis Books, Maryknoll, New York 10545 In the years since its emergence in Latin America, liberation theology has challenged the church to a renewal of faith lived Published originally in Nicaragua by Editorial Envio, Managua, in solidarity with the poor and oppressed. The effects of this under the title Espiritualidad de la Liberacidn theology have spread throughout the world, inspiring in many Original edition © CESEP—Sao Paulo and Ediciones Paulinas, Christians a deeper life of faith and commitment, but for others 1993 arousing fears and concerns. Its proponents have insisted that liberation theology is not English translation © Burns & Oates/Search Press Limited, a sub-topic of theology but really a new way of doing theology. 1994 The Liberation and Theology Series is an effort to test that All rights reserved. No part of diis book may be reproduced in any claim by addressing the full spectrum of Christian faith from form, by print, photoprint, microfilm, microfiche, mechanical record­ the perspective of the poor. ing, photocopying, translation, or any other means, known or as yet Thus, volumes in the Series are devoted to such topics as unknown, or stored in an information retrieval system, without written God, the Trinity, the Bible, Creation, Mary, and so forth. But permission obtained beforehand from Burns & Oates Limited. the Series also explores topics seldom addressed by traditional ISBN 0 86012 215 8 theology, though vital to Christian life—aspects of politics, culture, the role of women, the status of ethnic minorities. All these are examined in the light of faith lived in a context of oppression and liberation. The work of theologians, pastoral agents and social scien­ tists from all over Latin America, and supported by some 140 bishops, the Liberation and Theology Series is the most ambitious and creative theological project ever undertaken in the Americas. Addressed to the universal church, these volumes will be essential reading for all those interested in the challenge of faith in the modern world. They will be especially welcomed by all who are committed to the cause of the poor, by those engaged in the struggle for a new society, by all those seeking to establish a more solid link between faith and politics, prayer and action. "This is a most enterprising series which should enable those of us who live in the West to listen to what the liberation theologians themselves have to say. It may well open the eyes Typeset by Search Press Ltd of Western Christians to the need for liberation in the First Printed and Bound in Great Britain by Hartnolls Limited, Bodmin, Cornwall. World as well." —The Expository Times Contents Abbreviations and Short Forms ix Foreword by Ernesto Cardenal xi Preface xiii Prologue: Questions on the Ascent and Descent of Mount Carmel by Pedro Casalddliga xv Introduction: Spirit and Spirituality 1 PART ONE THE SPIRIT OF LIBERATION A Passion for Reality 17 Ethical Indignation 21 Joy and Festival 27 Hospitality and Openness 31 An Option for the People 3 5 Purposive Action 41 In Contemplation " 44 Solidarity 46 Radical Faithfulness 50 Everyday Faithfulness 55 PART TWO THE LIBERATNG SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRIST Going Back to the Historical Jesus 61 The Christian God 67 The Trinity 73 "Reign-Focus" 77 Incarnation 85 Following Jesus 93 Contemplateves in Liberation 102 viii Contents Prayer Life 116 Prophecy 124 Putting Love into Practice 130 The Option for the Poor 137 Abbreviations and Short Forms Cross/Conflict/Martyrdom 144 Penance and Liberation 155 Macro-Ecumenism 165 AA Apostolicam Actuositatem. Vatican II, Decree Political Holiness 174 on the Apostolate of the Laity A New Way of Being Church 181 AG Ad Gentes. Vatican II, Decree on the Church's Everyday faithfulness 192 Missionary Activity The Easter Hope 197 CD Christus Dominus. Vatican II, Decree on the The Seven Marks of the New People 200 Bishops' Pastoral Office in the Church Constants of the Spirituality of Liberation 203 DH Dignitatis Humanae. Vatican II, Declaration on Religious Freedom Epilogue: Destination Known by Gustavo Gutierrez 208 EN Evangelii Nuntiandi. Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Paul VI Notes 219 GS Gaudiumet Spes. Vatican II, Pastoral Constitu­ Select Bibliography 234 tion on the Church in the Modern World Index LG Lumen Gentium. Vatican II, Dogmatic Constitu­ 239 tion on the Church Medellfn Second General Conference of Latin American Bishops, held in Medellfn, Colombia, in 1968. Translations of the final documents are in vol. 2 of The Church in the Present-day Transforma­ tion of Latin America. Washington, D.C.: USCC, 1970. Part also in A. T. Hennelly, ed., Liberation Theology: A Documentary History. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 1990 NAe Nostra Aetate. Vatican II, Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions OT Optatam Totius. Vatican II, Decree on Priestly Formation PL Patrologie Cursus Completus, Series Latina. Ed. J. P. Migne. Paris, 1844-55 PO Presbyterorum Ordinis. Vatican II, Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests Puebla Third General Conference of Latin American X Abbreviations and Short Forms Bishops, held in Puebla, Mexico, in 1979. Translation of the "Final Document" in J. Eagleson and P. Scharper, eds, Puebla and Beyond. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 1980; Foreword also in Puebla: Evangelization at Present and in the Future of Latin America. Washington, D.C.: NCCB; Slough: St Paul Publications; London: The theology of liberation had to produce a spirituality of CIIR, 1980. liberation. In effect it has done so. This is the subject of this RLT Revista Latinoamericana de Teologia. San book. Salvador This is, as one might have expected, a new spirituality, RM Redemptoris Missio. Encyclical Letter of Pope different from the traditional spirituality in which we older John Paul II people were brought up. It is also a specifically Latin-Ameri­ Santo Fourth General Conference of Latin American can spirituality. Like the church itself, it is no less universal for Domingo Bishops, held in Santo Domingo in October 1992. being local. And it is a realist and not a theoretical spirituality. Translation of the final documents in Santo This spirituality is radically different from that of those who Domingo: Conclusions. Washington, D.C.: close their eyes to society and politics: that is, to the poor, to USCC; London: CAFOD and CIIR, 1993 the ever-widening abyss betwen rich and poor. This means that SRS Sollicitudo Rei Socialis. Encyclical Letter of it is different from the bourgeois spirituality of the rich and the ' Pope John Paul II ruling classes—though these also contain poor, blind led by ST St Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae blind guides, poor people who also shut their eyes, to poverty, UR Unitatis Redintegratio. Vatican II, Decree on and to themselves. Ecumenism This spirituality says radical things, and the reader will find them in this book: such as that the poor are the only sacrament for salvation. And that people are divided not into believers and unbelievers, but according to their attitude to the poor. I maintain that theology of liberation means the same as theology of revolution. And therefore this is a spirituality of revolution—understanding revolution in a far more transcend­ ent sense than the late October Revolution. It is also—and why not say so?—a spirituality of socialism. Or, in other words, the spirituality of a universal Utopia. It is, too, a political spirituality. It was Gandhi who said that those who believe that religion has nothing to do with politics have no idea of what religion is. This is a spirituality of consecration to the poor, conversion - to the poor—a class option. It is a practical spirituality, uniting contemplation and action. A militant spirituality, not in a party sense, but militant Xll Foreword for the Reign of God. It is closely tied to Jesus, but to the authentic Jesus: historical and political, not the abstract, ma­ nipulated, betrayed Jesus, in whose name peoplehave preached what he most opposed.