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From sickbed to theological giant: How did Gutierrez find the true meaning of life in suffering?
Gustavo Gutiérrez-Merino Díaz was born in Lima, Peru on June 8, 1928 until his death on October 22, 2024. He was a renowned philosopher, Catholic theologian and Dominican friar, one of the founders of liberation theology in Latin America. His book "A Theology of Liberation" is hailed as an important cornerstone of the theology. Throughout his life, Gutierrez experienced severe physical pain and challenges. These hardships not only shaped his character, but also became an important foundation for his theological thinking.
Gutierrez once said: "I come from a continent where 60% of the population lives in poverty." This sentence expresses the core of his theological thinking: the reality of poverty must be understood.
When he was young, Gutierrez suffered from osteomyelitis, which forced him to rely on a wheelchair for six years. He viewed this difficult time as an opportunity for personal growth and deeply appreciated the support of his family and friends. In the process, he developed a belief in hope, which became one of the pillars of his later theological thought.
The beginning of the theological journey
Gutierrez initially studied medicine at the Universidad Nacional de San Marcos, pursuing a major in psychology. However, while studying medicine, he gradually became aware of his calling to the priesthood. He later studied theology at Rudin Seminary in Belgium and Lyon in France, where he was influenced by many contemporary theologians, including Henri de Lubac and Karl Lahan. These experiences not only enriched his knowledge, but also made him understand the importance of the contemporary church's integration with the world.
Gutierrez believes: "Liberation theology must not only understand poverty in the Bible, but also discover God's call from poverty."
In 1968, at the "Toward a Liberation Theology" conference in Himbot, Gutierrez began to explore his theological thinking in depth and developed his concept of "options that prioritize care for the poor." He believes that the church should focus on those who need help the most.
The establishment of liberation theology
After returning to Peru, Gutierrez devoted himself to planning his liberation theology. He stressed that Latin American theology must reflect the reality of local society and must fight against the social inequality structures that create poverty. In his works, he mentions the duality of poverty: on the one hand, it is the "state of ugly" and on the other hand, it is the "spiritual childishness".
He advocated: "The ultimate redemption of mankind is not only God's grace, but also the result of human care and struggle for each other."
For Gutierrez, the core question of theology is: How to make the poor feel God’s love for them? He strives to find answers and uses it to promote the actions of ordinary believers.
The integration of theory and practice
Gutierrez's liberation theology is not only a series of theoretical concepts, but also a specific social movement. In the process of fighting poverty, he emphasized the liberation at three levels: political, psychological and theological levels. He believes that these levels are mutually reinforcing and must be advanced together. He argued that only social revolution can eliminate the current state of poverty and achieve true justice and peace.
He said: "Only by completely changing the social status quo and allowing the exploited classes to take power can we move towards socialism and achieve true liberation."
These claims by Gutierrez sparked fierce debate, especially among the church's top brass. His position was constrained by the Holy See, but he always adhered to his ideas.
Legacy and Inspiration
On October 22, 2024, Gutierrez died of pneumonia at the age of 96. His death attracted worldwide attention, with many reflecting on his lifetime contributions and impact. Pope Francis praised him as "a man who persisted in his faith in silence and had courage in difficult situations." At his funeral, people from all backgrounds and cultures paid tribute to this theological giant and thanked him for his voice for Latin America's poor.
Gutierrez's life proved that even in difficult circumstances, the true meaning of life can still be found. Faced with the growing gap between rich and poor and the challenges of social justice in today's society, how should we think about personal responsibilities and actions towards those trapped in poverty?
