Monsenor Romero: Memories in Mosaic, by Maria Lopez Vigil. Orbis Press, 2013.

Calling this book a Mosaic is very appropriate for it is a series of many stories and remembrances of the man Romero as told by friends who knew him best and witnessed to many facets of his life and death.

This book is divided into two main sections: Romero #1 who lived his life in fear of the aristocracy and the rich in El Salvador; Romero #2 who championed the poor and downtrodden in the face of danger from the government and the rich. During the time between the two Romero's, Monsenor witnessed the massacre of his good friend, Father Rutillio Grande. This was the turning point in Romero's  life, and the time in which he often asked for guidance and wisdom from the poor; he trusted their insights and changed from being in league with the rich to becoming the champion of the poor and the voice for the disadvantaged.

Romero #2 will appeal to most Christian readers, as they watch the transformation of a timid and selfish bishop become a saintly bishop, willing to risk his life for his poor. Although he was frequently harassed and warned of death squads seeking his life, Romero never ran from danger. His whole concern became the welfare of the campesinos. One of his main concerns was to offer Mass for those who had been murdered.

But his enemies were relentless in seeking the bishop and were intent on silencing his voice on the radio of El Salvador. His friends eagerly awaited his Sunday sermons and recorded as many as they could. After his last Sunday homily at a Mass he was offering for some deceased victims, he was murdered at the altar.

The fearless man of God spoke this shortly before his death: "If one day, they took our radio station way from us, closed the newspaper or didn't let us speak; if they killed all our priests; then each one of you will have to be a microphone for God."

"A bishop will die, but the Church of God, which is the people, will never perish."

- Thanks to Sr. Irene Hartman OP for this review.



St. Veronica Giuliani (1660-1727): July 10

Veronica's desire to be like Christ crucified was answered with the stigmata.

Veronica was born in Mercatelli, Italy. It is said that when her mother Benedetta was dying she called her five daughters to her bedside and entrusted each of them to one of the five wounds of Jesus. Veronica was entrusted to the wound below Christ's heart.

At the age of 17, Veronica joined the Poor Clares directed by the Capuchins. Her father had wanted her to marry, but she convinced him to allow her to become a nun. In her first years in the monastery, she worked in the kitchen, infirmary and sacristy and also served as portress. At the age of 34, she was made novice mistress, a position she held for 22 years. When she was 37, Veronica received the stigmata. Life was not the same after that.

Church authorities in Rome wanted to test Veronica's authenticity and so conducted an investigation. She lost the office of novice mistress temporarily and was not allowed to attend Mass except on Sundays or holy days. Through all of this Veronica did not become bitter, and the investigation eventually restored her as novice mistress.

Though she protested against it, at the age of 56 she was elected abbess, an office she held for 11 years until her death. Veronica was very devoted to the Eucharist and to the Sacred Heart. She offered her sufferings for the missions. Veronica was canonized in 1839.