Virgilio Elizondo

Overview

"Do you want to see, understand and appreciate Jesus today? I cannot think of a better way than to enter into the lives of those who are living similar experiences and struggles today, those living in the 'Galilees' of today's world, those living in the margins and crossroads."

Virgilio Elizondo (1935-2016) has been widely acclaimed as the founder of U.S. Latino theology. But first and foremost he was a pastor who perceived in his people's daily struggles the universal human quest for a sense of worth and belonging. God's response to these longings is Jesus of Galilee, who shows us the way to reject the world's rejection and oppose its destructive forces.

Elizondo's work is more than just critical thinking about faith. It is a spiritual discernment that examines the human condition, judges it in light of the Gospels, and acts to transform whatever obscures our innate beauty as creatures made in God's image. In these writings, Elizondo reflects on the personal journey behind his theology; on Jesus, Mary and Guadalupe; on the problem of sin and suffering; and on the way of discipleship.

Timothy Matovina is professor of theology at Notre Dame, where he is also director of the Cushwa Center for the Study of American Catholicism. He is co-author of San Fernando Cathedral, co-editor of Presente! and editor of Beyond Borders: Writings of Virgilio Elizondo.