Oscar Romero: Memories in Mosaic

Rating:
Summary: Memories of Romero Form A Mosaic
Review: Memories in Mosaic is one of those titles that perfectly fits the subject. This book is not a conventional biography of Oscar Romero, the archbishop of San Salvador who was assassinated in 1980. Rather, it is a recollection of his life as told to Maria Lopez Vigil by those who were closest to him in those three years of ministry as archbishop, as well as family members and long-time friends. Taken together, these memories from dozens of people form a mosaic - Romero seen through the eyes of those who knew him, worked with him, and saw him in his role as pastor of an embattled flock.

Many of the people interviewed were themselves in danger of assassination or "disappearance" during those desperate years when the government of El Salvador turned on its citizens, backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. That comes through in the memories, tinged not just with sadness, but with fear.

At the same time, the book sparkles with liveliness. Romero seems the unlikeliest of martyrs. Firmly on the side of the government at the outset of his appointment as archbishop, he was quickly swayed by the murder of his good friend, Rutilio Grande, a Jesuit priest who had acted as master of ceremonies during the solemn Mass at which Romero was elevated to archbishop. Shortly thereafter, the outspoken "Tilo," as he was called, was assassinated while driving a car loaded with parishioners. His passengers suffered the same fate.

Reading the recollections of those who surrounded Romero at the time, the archbishop's grief is palpable. And that incident set him on the road to questioning why Salvadorans were being murdered under the cover of darkness, their bodies turning up at roadsides each morning.

The book draws to its inevitable conclusion. It is clear from the recollections that Romero expected and accepted his coming martyrdom. It is also clear, however, that he was not courting martyrdom, that he was not bent on self-destruction. Rather, he was a man with a taste for good food, the occasional racy joke, and a deep, abiding love of his country.

Before he died, Romero predicted that he would rise again in the hearts of the people of El Salvador. Reading this book, it is obvious that this prophecy has been fulfilled.

Rating:
Summary: Oscar Romero
Review: Oscar Romero: Memories in Mosaic is a collection of thousands of hours of interviews with people who knew Archbishop Romero throughout his life. Snippits of these interviews are then pulled together to provide a chronological biography of Romero's life. This style provides insight into both the life of Oscar Romero and to the life and struggles of the El Salvadoran people. One is transported into the violent years of the 70s and 80s in El Salvador and into the sentiments of the people living through those dark hours. Surprisingly one is left with overwhelming hope because of the strength and faith of Archbishop Romero and the Salvadoran people. Archbishop Romero could have continued in a comfortable life-style blind to the suffering around him. But instead at the age of 60 he chose solidarity with the Salvadoran people. Maria Lopez Vigil skillfully captures the power of this transformation in her writing and Kathy Ogle skillfully recreates this language and sentiment into the English language.

Rating:
Summary: Oscar Romero
Review: Oscar Romero: Memories in Mosaic is a collection of thousands of hours of interviews with people who knew Archbishop Romero throughout his life. Snippits of these interviews are then pulled together to provide a chronological biography of Romero's life. This style provides insight into both the life of Oscar Romero and to the life and struggles of the El Salvadoran people. One is transported into the violent years of the 70s and 80s in El Salvador and into the sentiments of the people living through those dark hours. Surprisingly one is left with overwhelming hope because of the strength and faith of Archbishop Romero and the Salvadoran people. Archbishop Romero could have continued in a comfortable life-style blind to the suffering around him. But instead at the age of 60 he chose solidarity with the Salvadoran people. Maria Lopez Vigil skillfully captures the power of this transformation in her writing and Kathy Ogle skillfully recreates this language and sentiment into the English language.