Political Holiness: A Spirituality of Liberation

National Catholic Reporter, March 24, 1995 by William C. Graham

Guardini knew that the human task was to tackle the "incredible inertia of the actual." That task is well-considered in Political Holiness: A Spirituality of Liberation, by Bishop Pedro Casaldaliga of Sao Felix, Brazil, and Claretian Fr. Jose-Maria Vigil (Orbis Books, 224 pages, $16.95 paperback). It includes a preface by Ernesto Cardenal and an epilogue by Gustavo Gutierrez. This book is to be a guide for travelers along the path that is Jesus, the way, truth and life.

The authors see pastoral work and celebration as giving themselves to grace and to fellow human beings, experiencing what is proclaimed, bearing witness to the mystery they celebrate.

Cardenal, in his preface, maintains that theology of liberation means the same as theology of revolution, and this spirituality of revolution means consecration to the poor militant for the reign of God.

Here is the key, I think to the authors' insights: "Tell me how you live out an ordinary day, any day, and I will tell you if your dream of tomorrow is worth anything."