Book Launch carried out at Boston College, MA, on Oct 12th.

Social Justice and the Sacred. Exploring the thought of St. Alberto Hurtado SJ

Recently published in the United States by Saint Joseph’s University Press (2021). It’s a vast contribution edited by our Dear friends from Hogar de Cristo: Fernanda Soza, Scott FitzGibbon, and John Gavin SJ.

When we think about the most inspirational and influential people from the 20th century in Chile, undoubtedly, the figure of Alberto Hurtado is always present; multitasking and hyper, he made outstanding contributions in multiple fields. He left us a massive legacy of love and advances on social justice works that go beyond Chilean borders, with views on this field ahead of its time, valid today and beyond.

The editors state, “Alberto Hurtado is relatively unknown outside of his native Chile and Latin America.” Happily, it had a positive turn in 2018 with the first publication translated to English in the United States of the book “Moral Social,” edited by Fernanda and Scott. The launched edition “Social Morality” was organized at an international conference at Boston College.

This new book “Social Justice and the Sacred” is the fruit and conclusions of topics discussed in that conference.

An excellent Job, thank you, Fernanda, Scott, and John,

HOGAR DE CRISTO USA

EXTRACT: Comment about the book:

Social Justice and the Sacred: Exploring the Thought of St. Alberto Hurtado, S.J., “Examines the life and writings of Hurtado from a variety of perspectives, and this provides a rich understanding of who he was and how his thought took shape and evolved. The diversity of views and disciplines represented, as well as the thematic foci—moral theology, rights, the family home, social change and reform, deification, his relationship to other theologians and thinkers of the 20th century, etc.—make for a thorough overview of this hugely important figure in Chilean history, both within and beyond the Catholic church. This is the first book of which I am aware in English which examines Hurtado and his thought in such a fruitful variety of ways.” Matthew Carnes, S.J. Georgetown University

EXTRACT from the Book: “Introduction. The Life of St. Alberto Hurtado S.J.

“Several essays in this volume, drawing upon a variety of archival sources, go into greater detail regarding the biography and times of St. Alberto Hurtado. This abbreviated presentation and timeline will provide the reader with a basic overview of this short but extremely fruitful life”.

EXTRACT from the Book “The Present Volume”

“St. Alberto Hurtado, S.J., is relatively unknown outside of his native Chile and Latin America. Fortunately, that has begun to change. 2018 saw the first publication of one of Hurtado’s works, Moral Social (Social Morality), in English. The translators and editors of the book, Scott FitzGibbon, and Fernanda Soza, marked the significant event by organizing an international congress at Boston College, “Catholic Thought in the Era of Pope Francis: Roots in the Work of St. Alberto Hurtado.” October 22-23, 2018). This volume now offers the fruits of that gathering, the first collection of scholarly essays on the Chilean Jesuit in English. The editors hope that this book will lead many to study this remarkable saint who united social justice and the sacred.”

More information is available at: https://www.sjupress.com/pages/books/89/john-gavin-scott-fitzgibbon-s-j-fernanda-soza/social-justice-and-the-sacred-exploring-the-thought-of-st-alberto-hurtado-s-j