Rodolfo Cardenal SJ

The Archbishop Romero Trust is extremely grateful to Fr Rodolfo Cardenal SJ, UCA Editores in El Salvador and the Institute of Jesuit Sources at Boston College for giving us permission to make available on our website the full text of Vida, Pasión y Muerte del Jesuita Rutilio Grande in both the original Spanish of Fr Rodolfo Cardenal SJ and the English translation by Fr Joseph Owens SJ.

In this authoritative biography of Blessed Rutilio Grande, SJ (1928–1977), Jesuit historian Rodolfo Cardenal offers a portrait of the priest whose life and martyrdom shaped Archbishop Óscar Romero. As Pope Francis once remarked, “the great miracle of Rutilio Grande was Archbishop Romero.”

Through personal experience, meticulous research, and documentation prepared for Grande's beatification cause, Cardenal reveals how Grande’s Jesuit vocation became a living response to violence and injustice in El Salvador. His life of prophetic courage and solidarity with the poor speaks powerfully to the Church’s mission today.

Click either book cover to open the PDF. The text is available as read only and may NOT be downloaded, printed or copied in any other way. The English version is available for purchase directly from the Institute of Jesuit Sources through this link.

As we approach the important anniversary year of Blessed Rutilio in 2027 we strongly encourage you to buy your own personal copy and give to others as a gift!