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Blood and Ink LK_A.indd 1 4/25/2014 10:58:07 AM LK_A.indd 2 4/25/2014 10:58:07 AM Blood and Ink IGNACIO ELLACURÍA, JON SOBRINO, AND THE JESUIT MARTYRS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL AMERICA Robert Lassalle-Klein with a Foreword by Jon Sobrino LK_A.indd 3 4/25/2014 10:58:07 AM Founded in 1970, Orbis Books endeavors to publish works that enlighten the mind, nourish the spirit, and challenge the conscience. The publishing arm of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, Orbis seeks to explore the global dimensions of the Christian faith and mission, to invite dialogue with diverse cultures and religious traditions, and to serve the cause of reconciliation and peace. The books published reflect the views of their authors and do not represent the official position of the Maryknoll Society. To learn more about Maryknoll and Orbis Books, please visit our website at www.mary- knollsociety.org. Copyright © 2014 by Robert Lassalle-Klein Published by Orbis Books, Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0302. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any informa- tion storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. Queries regarding rights and permissions should be addressed to: Orbis Books, P.O. Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0302. Manufactured in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Lassalle-Klein, Robert Anthony. Blood and ink : Ignacio Ellacuría, Jon Sobrino, and the Jesuit martyrs of the University of Central America / Robert Lassalle-Klein. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-62698-063-1 (pbk.) 1. Ellacuría, Ignacio. 2. Sobrino, Jon. 3. El Salvador—Politics and government—1979-1992. 4. El Salvador—Politics and government—1944-1979. 5. Jesuits—Political activity—El Salvador—History—20th century. 6. Victims of state sponsored terrorism—El Salvador—Biography. 7. Martyrs—El Salvador—Biography. 8. Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas—History—20th century. 9. Liberation theology—El Salvador—History—20th century. 10. Poverty—El Salvador—Religious aspects—History—20th century. I. Title. F1488.3.L37 2014 972.8405'2—dc23 2013049379 LK_A.indd 4 4/25/2014 10:58:09 AM For Kate, Rosie, and Peter, who grew up with this story; for Lynn, who embraced its meaning for our lives together; and for the UCA martyrs, whose faith, hope, and love for the crucified people of El Salvador are a blessing for those who receive it LK_A.indd 5 4/25/2014 10:58:09 AM LK_A.indd 6 4/25/2014 10:58:09 AM Presentation Rodolfo Cardenal, S.J. Blood and Ink is the story of the martyrs of the University of Central America “José Simeón Cañas” of San Salvador (UCA) interpreted as a sign of the mysteri- ous presence of God in human history. In Robert Lassalle-Klein’s telling, God has visited El Salvador in the UCA martyrs, Monseñor Romero, and various other martyrs. The memory of the UCA martyrs finally confronts the American reader with God’s appearance there. This is a complex story whose point of departure is the historical reality of El Salvador, which includes Washington’s military intervention in Central Amer- ica, the role of the church in Latin America, the theology of liberation, and the Society of Jesus. As the reader delves into this rich historical material he or she discovers why the UCA martyrs were killed and what they died for. This is the story of six Jesuits and two Salvadoran women, mother and daugh- ter, told with respect and admiration, inspired by lives willingly dedicated to the liberation of a people. The fact that this occurred at a Jesuit university raises interesting questions. For how could a university, without ceasing to be what it is, be inserted at the historical crossroads of the Salvadoran people and, led by its commitment to justice, help to realize salvation in history? The spirituality of the Society of Jesus and the theology of Jon Sobrino and Ignacio Ellacuría offer answers to these questions. But going beyond these theoretical formulations Lassalle-Klein emphasizes the encounter of these six Jesuits with the suffering of the Salvadoran people and with the Risen One. These encounters, which in reality comprise a single encounter with the cruci- fied people of El Salvador, marked the lives and thought of these Jesuits. This is not a depressing story, however, for beyond the tragedy the reader perceives the hope of the resurrection of the Christ of God, which alone provides a non- illusory meaning to history. In the end, then, the question arises as to whether the follower of Jesus today is not also called to help take down from their crosses the crucified peoples of history. Rodolfo Cardenal, S.J. is the former vice-rector for social outreach at the University of Central America in San Salvador. He and Jon Sobrino, S.J., were the two surviving members of the UCA Jesuit community. LK_A.indd 7 4/25/2014 10:58:09 AM LK_A.indd 8 4/25/2014 10:58:10 AM Contents Foreword: With Hope and Gratitude by Jon Sobrino xiii Acknowledgments xv Introduction: “It’s Them or Us!” xvii PART I AWAKENING TO GOD IN THE HISTORICAL REALITY OF THE PEOPLE OF EL SALVADOR: ARCHBisHOP ROmeRO’S PROPHECY AND THE BIRTH OF A NEW KIND OF UNIVERsiTY 1. Grasping the Historical Reality of El Salvador (1965-1969): From Development to the Option for the Poor 3 Discontent with the Unfulfilled Promises of Development 4 The Latin American Church Charts Its Own Path: A Deafening Cry 14 The Conversion of the Central American Jesuits to the Preferential Option for the Poor 23 2. Taking Responsibility for the Historical Reality of El Salvador (1969-1979): From the Option for the Poor to the UCA Coup 53 Toward a University That Serves Its People: The Presidency of Fr. Luis Achaerandio (1969-1974) and the Speech to the Inter-American Bank 56 Consolidating the New Idea of the University: The Presidency of Dr. Román Mayorga (1975-1979) 85 The Church in Defense of Civil Society 101 3. Transforming the Historical Reality of El Salvador (1979-1989): From the Agency of the Elite to the Heart of the People 121 Battle for the Soul of Civil Society: State-Sponsored Violence versus the Voice of Prophecy 121 Gradual Emergence of a New Kind of Christian University 157 Role of the UCA in the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Salvadoran Civil Society 167 Conclusion 180 ix LK_A.indd 9 4/25/2014 10:58:11 AM x Contents PART II DOING THEOLOGY WITH THE CRUCIFieD PEOPLE AND THOse WHO LOVE THem: IGNACIO ELLACURÍA’S FUNDAmeNTAL THEOLOGY Introduction 185 4. The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius: Latin America’s Retreat Master, Miguel Elizondo, S.J. 188 A Daring Challenge 190 Theologian of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius 195 5. Ellacuría’s Philosophy of Historical Reality: Xavier Zubiri’s Sentient Intelligence and Neuroscience 201 Mentor and Student 201 Zubiri’s Critique of the Evasion of Reality in the West 204 Free to Get Real: Sentient Intelligence and the Primacy of Reality 212 Ellacuría’s Christian (or Theological) Historical Realism: Innovations 219 6. Gloria Dei, Vivens Pauper: Archbishop Oscar Romero 228 “In Santiago de María I Ran into Suffering” (1970-1977) 230 Monseñor Romero: Sent by God to Save His People (1977-1980) 243 7. Mysterium Salutis: Karl Rahner 253 Studies with the Great Theologian of the Council 254 Historical Reality and Holy Mystery 257 The Crucified People: Scandal and Sign of Salvation 273 Conclusion 284 PART III BEARING THE SpiRIT TO A SUFFERING WORLD: THE CONTEXTUAL CHRisTOLOGY OF JON SOBRINO AND IGNACIO ELLACURÍA Introduction 285 8. Mysterium Liberationis: The Christian Historical Realism of Ignacio Ellacuría 289 Introduction: Liberation and the Historicity of Salvation 289 History and Salvation: Two Aspects of a Larger Whole 291 Salvation History Is a Salvation in History 293 The Historical Reality of Jesus 301 Historical Soteriology and the Crucified People 303 LK_A.indd 10 4/25/2014 10:58:11 AM Contents xi 9. Analogatum Princeps of the Historical Reality of Jesus: The Crucified People of El Salvador 309 Introduction 309 The Historical Reality of Jesus as Starting Point for Latin American “Saving History” Christology 313 “Rising Up” from the Historical Reality of Jesus to the Christ of Faith 324 “Raising Up” Living Signs to the Resurrection: “An Act Proper to God Himself” 333 Conclusion 335 CONCLUsiON: LIVING SIGNS OF THE ResURRECTION: THE TRINITARIAN SpiRITUALITY OF THE UCA MARTYRS Where Have We Been? 337 Whom Did They See? 340 Their Christological Spirituality: Recognizing Jesus in the Crucified People 342 Companions of Jesus: Bearers of Jesus’ Holy Spirit to the People of El Salvador 346 An Easter Event: Sacrament of the Mystery of God Transforming the Historical Reality of the Americas 354 Index 358 LK_A.indd 11 4/25/2014 10:58:11 AM LK_A.indd 12 4/25/2014 10:58:11 AM Foreword With Hope and Gratitude Jon Sobrino This brief foreword will not attempt to introduce the contents of this book, which I think is magnificent. It is rather a word to encourage the reader, espe- cially those who are younger, to live in a way that humanizes us all. We have more than enough expectations and false promises today, but hope is not plentiful.
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