A Grammar of Justice

Overview

On the 25th Anniversary of his death, reflections on the legacy of a Jesuit theologian and martyr.

November 2014 marks the 25th anniversary of the massacre of the Jesuit community of the University of Central America in San Salvador, including the rector, Fr. Ignacio Ellacuria. Since then, Ellacuria has achieved an international reputation as one of the most brilliant contributors to liberation theology and one of the most important Jesuits of the post-conciliar era. The title of this collection alludes to the "grammar of assent," Cardinal Newman's argument for the role of faith in countering the "debilitating rationalism" of his age. In a similar way, Ellacuria envisions a "grammar of justice" as a response to postmodern apathy.

Along with Ellacuria's classic essay, "Utopia and Propheticism from Latin America," this volume includes original essays by an international team of scholars, among them Gustavo Gutierrez and Jon Sobrino.

J. Matthew Ashley is associate professor of theology and chair of the department of theology at the University of Notre Dame. He is the author of Ignatius and the Theologians.

Kevin F. Burke, S.J., is associate professor of theology, Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara. He is the author of The Ground Beneaththe Cross: The Theology of Ignacio Ellacuria.

Rodolfo Cardenal, S.J., is one of the two surviving members of the UCA Jesuit Community in San Salvador.