Leonardo Boff is recognised as one of the most outspoken, controversial, and eloquent advocates of Roman-Catholic liberation theology. His controversial writings put him at odds with the Vatican and ultimately led to his resignation from the priesthood. He was born in Concórdia, Santa Catarina, in Brazil on the 14th of December 1938. He received primary and secondary education in Santa Catarina, Paraná, and São Paulo. He studied Philosophy and Theology, and joined the Order of the Franciscan Friars Minor in 1959 and received his doctorate in Philosophy and Theology from the University of Munich, Germany, in 1970. Boff was the professor of Systematic and Ecumenical Theology at the Franciscan Theological Institute in Petrópolis for 22 years. He also served as a professor of Theology and Spirituality at a variety of prestigious universities in not only Brazil, but the rest of the world. In addition to this he was also a visiting professor at Lisbon, Salamanca, Harvard, Basel, and Heidelberg – all predominant universities in diverse countries.
He presently lives in Rio de Janeiro, has a daughter and five sons, and three grandchildren. He is the author of more than sixty books in the areas of Spirituality, Mysticism, Anthropology, Philosophy and Theology. Most of his works have been translated into main and modern languages.
Leonardo Boff lives by the belief and principles of Liberation Theology – a political movement in Roman Catholic theology, which interprets the teachings of Jesus Christ in association with liberation from prejudiced political, financial, or social conditions. The Peruvian priest Gustavo Gutiérrez, who wrote the book A Theology of Liberation – a book which brought Third World theology to the attention of the rest ...
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...and endurance through moderation, thus living by these virtues.
Leonardo Boff is an important theologian for all Christians, both Protestants and Catholics. His firm persistence on theology and his active support for the rights of the poor and excluded is inspiring. He is both diligent and patient, and demonstrates being fully human to the extent of his ability. I believe that Leonardo Boff can be seen as an icon in regards to not only Catholicism, but also in the beliefs and principles of Liberation Theology.
Works Cited
Leonardo Boff Biography, retrieved 29 Apr 2014
Liberation Theology, retrieved 29 Apr 2014
Robert McAfee Brown, Leonardo Boff: Theologian for All Christians, retrieved 13 May 2013,
Wright, theologians in Barth and Calvin, and a practical theologian in Gustavo Gutierrez. I was first introduced to Gutierrez in my systematic theology course at Princeton Theological Seminary. Gutierrez primarily cares for God’s interaction with the poor and expresses how the Church needs give a preferential option for the least of society, just as Christ has given a preferential option for the world. I believe God spoke through Gutierrez’ writings to remind me that I am here on this earth to be light for the Gospel and to show the love of Jesus
Gustavo Gutierrez was born in Lima, Peru in 1928. Since his nationality is mixed people called him a mestizo, which also meant that he was not given the same opportunities as most people due to economic standing. With this kind of upbringing led to his theological thinking and theology. As a young child Gutierrez was diagnosed with osteomylitis, which affects the bones, causing him to be bed bound for six years. Having this medical problem at a young age encourage him to study medicine. During his time in school he started to learn more about himself, which led to him changing schools to peruse seminary and become a priest. Gustavo was proving himself in seminary and was chosen for his graduate theological studies to study in Europe. In 1959 he was ordained and sent back to Peru. Upon his return he became aware of the poverty and oppression of his people and this realization launched his crusade. He began questioning the church reading about history and scripture through the eyes of the people who were all around in his country of poverty. He became very involved with the people of Peru and he formed friendships with priest and theologians who were also questioning the catholic church of Latin America. After all the studying he had done in his graduate program in Europe, he started to leave the theology he was taught and began adopting a new theology called Liberation Theology.
Furthermore, the renewal and rejuvenation of the Catholic Church makes Pope John a major reformer of the 20th century and a significantly large influencer during his time. He made universal and worldwide impacts to religious adherents by reforming and revitalizing the Christian traditions through achieving ressourcement, aggiornamento. In addition, his passion for unity amongst Christian faiths and interfaith dialogue, world peace and economic justice also furthered his impact not only within the Catholic Church but also in other Christian denominations. Moreover, in the short time of Pope John’s authority and power within the Catholic Church, the contributions and achievements he made had a substantially large impact to the Christian traditions as he brought the Catholic Church into the modern era,
Independently, as one grows in age, their actions should make a daily reflection to God. In “A Theology of Liberation,” Gutierrez avers that, "The present life is considered to be a test: one’s actions are judged and assessed in relation to the transcendent end. The perspective here is moralistic, and the spirituality is one of flight from this world...
The Story of Christianity is a very informative summation; a continuation of Volume 1 which covered the beginning of the church up to the Protestant Reformation, while Vol. 2 dealt with the Protestant Reformation up to more modern time period. This author delivers a more comprehensive and deeper look into the development of Christianity, which includes particular events which had transpired throughout the world; particularly how Christianity has expanded into Central and South America. Gonzalez opens up this book with the “Call for Reformation,” where he shares with his readers the need for reform; the papacy had started to decline and was corrupt, in addition to the Great Schism, which had further weakened the papacy (p.8). The author explains how the church was not the only issue but that the church’s teachings were off track as well, seeing that the people had deviated from...
Lema, K., & Delaney, D. H. (2014). Three Pathways into the Theological Mind of Pope Francis. Nova Et Vetera (English Edition), 12(1), 25-56.
The ultimate promise of Christianity is undoubtedly the access to God. In contemporary times, we call that participation in the divine life. St. Gregory Palamas, the, “Light of Orthodoxy,” is honored on the Second Sunday of Great Lent. St. Gregory lived from 1296-1359 AD as the Archbishop of Thessalonica. Gregory asserted that the prophets in fact had greater knowledge of God, because they had actually seen or heard God himself. Palamas is recognized as a Saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Byzantine Catholic Churches that are in communion with Rome revere him in the liturgy, and Pope John Paul II has been repeatedly cited as a great theological writer as well as a saint. Palamas’ works proposes to us an in-depth mystical theology of God and His grace, inspiring us to a deeper personal relationship and union with God. Therefore, ‘theology in the highest sense is not knowledge of God but possession of God’.
Michael Servetus was born in 1511 and died in 1553, he was a Spanish theologian and was very
Known to be granted the second stigmata, Francis de Assisi was a well-known man that “captured the imagination of his contemporaries by presenting to them poverty, chastity, and obedience with purity and strength of a radical testimony (SCTJM).” His evangelical life was spent preaching to everyone about the love of God. With his background and teachings, Francis left the respectably wealthy society he lived in to one that renounced riches for simplicity and love for God.
Most everyone knows of, or at least has heard, of Da Vinci. He was a man ahead of his time, a great scientist as well as artist, and although he may h...
Leonardo da Vinci was the first artist to define many different artistic movements. He was also known for creating new ideas and inventions that are now used practically. Also because of his cleverness, he was often called a universal genius (Summers) showing how smart he was. Way back in those Renaissance times, he was known for painter, sculptor, architect, engineer, scientist, mathematician, inventor, anatomist, botanist, musician, and a writer, but recently he is mostly known as an artist and his talents. Although years have been past after the Renaissance, da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper” remain as the best piece ever painted!
There are many popular artists in the world well known for their style in paintings and artwork. One well-known artist, which is very appealing, is Leonardo Da Vinci. He was one of the best creators and artist. He was born in Vinci, Italy just outside Florence in 1452 on April 15 and then later died at age 67 in Amboise, France, in the year of 1519 May 2. His mother was a peasant woman and his father was a notary. His father took custody of him shortly after his birth, while his mother married someone else. With all the children added up from his two birth parents were a total of 17 half sisters and brothers. Leonardo has long been looked upon as the archetypal Renaissance Man (Richter.) Leonardo Da Vinci was described as a man with “great personal appeal, kindness, and generosity.” He was generally well loved by his contemporaries.
He then wrote three passages in the time as a professor. He then went back to Paris and received his masters in theology. He taught from the Bible and in his last three years taught to Peter Lombard’s Sentences, https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=2530.
Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most special, famous artists of all time. He painted the famous Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. He is an inspiration to all artists around the world. He was born in Italy on April 15th, 1542, and died on May 12, 1519. He makes about 15 paintings per year, which can be a lot for an artist. He was also an architect and inventor. His paintings were museums best features, and they were quite a sight to see. Madeleine L’engle chose Leonardo da Vinci because he isn’t someone to forget, and he is an inspiring figure.
He started a new era of art and showed artists that there were other ways to capture their subjects. Not only as an artist, but also as an inventor and writer, Da Vinci was able to shape history. His other works include “The Last Supper,” “Madonna of the Carnation,” “Virgin of the Rocks,” and “The Virgin and Child with St Anne and St John the Baptist.” ("Leonardo Da Vinci." Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Encyclopedia Britannica. Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica, 2014. Credo Reference. Web. 22 Sep 2015.) Many think that Leonardo Da Vinci, and his work, will continue to influence lives for generations to come for a long