Dr. Gilberto Cavazos-González, OFM is a Tejano, a Friar Minor (Franciscan) and Full Professor of the Theological Study of Christian Spirituality. Gilberto taught for 15 years at the Catholic Theological Union before moving to Rome to work in Educational Technology at the Franciscan school, the Pontifical University Antonianum. He was also a translator/interpreter for the OFM General Curia.
While in Rome, Gilberto continued to be a member of the Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality and the Foro di Profesori di Teologia Spirituale in Italia. As such he and a team of three other professors organized an International Congress on methods and approaches to the study of Christian spirituality and spiritual theology in 2019. Along with another professor, he is currently editing the Acta of 2019 International Congress for the study of spirituality.
In March of 2020 he became the pontifically appointed Secretary of the Pontificia Academia Mariana Internationalis (PAMI). In June of 2022 Pope Francisco freed him from his position with PAMI so that he could return to CTU as Professor Spirituality, the John Duns Scotus Chair of Franciscan Spirituality and Director of CTU’s Certificate in Franciscan Spirituality
Friar Gilberto presents regularly in Spanish, Italian and English on Christian spirituality and spiritual growth for contemporary Christians. He organizes and preaches retreats and workshops for the Franciscan family, especially focusing on the five pillars of Franciscan Spirituality. Finally, he continues his work with various parishes and schools of leadership in Hispanic/Latin@ spirituality and ministry.
As past president of the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States and as a member of the Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality, he continues to pursue his research and writing in the area of Latin@ and Franciscan Spirituality. He is currently working on a book on the Marian Spirituality of Sor Juana de la Cruz Vasquez Gutierrez, a Spanish Franciscan sister who was a mystic, a pastor and a preacher to royalty, prelates, nuns and her parishioners in the early 1500s.
To read his past articles please visit his Academic page.
Gilberto Cavazos-González, OFM
Achievements
Más allá de la devoción: Vida espiritual, justicia y liberación cristianas. Navarra España: Editorial Verbo Divino, 2014.
Beyond Piety: The Christian Spiritual Life, Justice and Liberation. Eugene OR: Wipf & Stock, 2010.
Book Chapters
“The Study of Spirituality,” Orlando O. Espín, ed., The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Latino/a Theology, Oxford, UK: Wiley Blackwell, 2015, 421-438.
“La Mobilidad Espiritual: Un Método Latino/a para el estudio de la Espiritualidad Cristiana.” Geraldo De Mori y Pedro A. Ribeiro de Oliveira, eds., Mobilidade religiosa: linguagens, juventude, polític, Sao Paulo, Brasil: Paulinas 2012, 189-202.
“Spirituality.” Miguel A. De La Torre, ed. Hispanic American Religious Cultures, vol. 2. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO 2009, 749-760.
Journal Articles
“Enlace Keynote: The Theological Study of Christian Spirituality” in Mysterion. Rivista di ricerca in teologia spirituale, anno 12 numero 2 (2019) 469-478.
“Piñata Spirituality: A Reflection on The Evangelical Mobility of the Spiritual Classics” Spiritus: A Journal of Christian Spirituality 16.2A (Fall 2016) 1-13.
“Il metodo socio-spirituale per lo studio dei classici spirituali,” Mysterion. Rivista di ricerca in teologia spirituale, anno 8 numero 2 (Autunno 2015), 206-216.
“Bebida de Salvación: Spirituality Studies and Latina/o Theology” in Journal of Hispanic/Latino Theology (November 2011) No pages. Online: http://latinotheology.org/2011/Spirituality-Studies-Latino-Theology.
“Revisiting Spiritual Classics” in New Theology Review (2008).
“La Cotidianidad Divina: A Latin@ Method of Spirituality” in Journal of Hispanic/Latino Theology (September 2007). No pages. Online: http://www.latinotheology.org/ 2008/latinoa_ method_spirituality.
“The Spirituality of Study” New Theology Review vol. 20 (2007) 70-77.
“The Five Pillars of Liberation Spirituality” New Theology Review vol. 18 (2005) 82-85.
Popular Media
“Spiritual Theology or Spirituality Studies,” Teaching Document in preparation of the of 2019 Joint Conference of the Society of Christian Spirituality (SSCS) and the Forum dei Professori di Teologia Spirituale in Italia (FPTSI). Self published in Academia.Edu. https: //www.academia.edu/36367976/Spiritual_Theology_or_Spirituality_Studies.
“Liberating Christian Spirituality” Conference for the LA Religious Education Conference. March 2019.
“Liberando a espiritualidad cristiana” para la La Religious Education Conference. March 2019.
“Ite Missa Est: On the connection of liturgy and Justice” (4 DVD)s: Webinar for the Archdiocese of Chicago. (Chicago IL, 5, 12, 19, & 26 September 2013).
Notable Lectures/Presentations
10 June 2020: “The Study of Christian Spirituality” Online Mentoring session for ACHTUS
28 September 2019: Enlace Keynote to conclude the International Congress on the Study of Spiritual Spirituality and Theology (Roma: Pontificia Universidad Antonianum).
19 September 2015: “Il metodo socio-spirituale per lo studio dei classici spirituali,” per il IV Forum nazionale di docenti di teologia spirituale in Italia (Roma: Pontificia Università Gregoriana).
23 March 2019: “Liberando a espiritualidad cristiana” para la La Religious Education Conference.
24 March 2019: “Liberating Christian Spirituality” Conference for the LA Religious Education Conference.
27 May 2013: Lecture on Spirituality Studies for Professors and Students of Tartu University (Pontificia Università Antonianum).
11 July 2012: “Mobilidad temporal y cultural de los clasicos de la espiritualidad cristiana usando el metodo socio-espiritual para el estudio de la espiritualidad” para el Congresso Anual de SOTER: Sociedade de Teologia e Ciências da Religião (Bel Horizonte, Brazil).
Il Santo Francesco: 28 tavole sulla vita di San Francesco (Roma: Ed. Art’Ufficina, 2015). Coauthored with Dr. Luigi Miranda and the artist Mathieu Vignon.
Greater than a Mother’s Love: The Spirituality of Francis and Clare of Assisi. Scranton PA: University of Scranton Press, 2010.
Greater than a Mother’s Love: Kinship in the Spirituality of Francis and Clare of Assisi. Pars Dissertationis. Facultas Theologiae – Sectio Spiritualitas Thesis ad Lauream 383. Romae: Pontificium Athenaeum Antonianum, 2001.
Book Translations
Poor Clare Federation of Assisi and Sardegna: Clare of Assisi. A Life Takes Form. Iter storico. Forth coming from Edizioni Messaggero Padova.
Marco Bartoli, The Nudity of St. Francis: Historical Reflections on the Stripping of the Poverello of Assisi, (St. Bonaventure NY: Franciscan Institute Press 2020)
Sergiusz M. Bałdyga, The San Damiano Cross (Assisi: Edizioni Porziuncola 2005).
Journal Articles
“Francis, Clare and the Ecumenical Spirit of Assisi.” One in Christ Vol 46 (2012) No pages. Online: http://www.oneinchrist.org.uk/2.html
“True Joy is not Always Perfect” in New Theology Review Vol. 23 (2010), 78-80.
“Discernment with a Little Help from Francis and Clare” in Horizon: Journal of the National Religious Vocation Conference Vol 34 (Fall 2008).
“Liberation Spirituality and the Process of Canonization for St. Clare of Assisi” Cord 52 (July/August 2002) 142-152.
Notable Lectures/Presentations
3 June 2023: Introduction to the Spirituality of Francis and Clare of Assisi for the RSCJ international formation session – (Rome)
22 February 2020: “Santa María. Imagen y semjanza del Padre de las misericordias” conferencia para la La Religious Education Conference.
21 February 2020: “Saint Mary: In the Image and Likeness of the Father of Mercies” conference for the LA Religious Education Conference.
4 December 2022: Guest Lecture on Franciscan Spirituality for Undergraduates in New York.
1 September 2019: Lecture on the Spirituality of St. Clare for the SFO (Chicago: St. Peter’s in the Loop)
3 July 2019: Workshop on the Spirituality of Francis and Clare of Assisi (Rome: Australian Catholic University)
3 May 2019: L’immagine di Santa Maria nei sermoni della Santa Juana de la Cruz Vasquez (Roma: Pontificia Academia Mariana Internationalis)
10 September 2017: Lecture. “Who is Francis of Assisi?” (Brooklyn, NY: St. Francis of Assisi – St. Blaise Parish).
11-15 April 2016: “Life and Spirituality of Francis and Clare of Assisi” for the Most Rev. Dr. Antje Jackelén, Archbishop of Uppsala and the Lutheran Bishop’s Conference of Sweden (Assisi). With Dr. Lluis Oviedo, OFM.
31 October 2012 “Francis and Clare of Assisi” (Chicago, IL: St James Church).
7 October 2012: “A Return to Clare and Liberation:” On the occasion of my promotion to Full Professor of Spirituality
18 April 2012: Keynote Reflection: “Francis, Clare and the Ecumenical Spirit of Assisi” for the Conference Assisi 2012. Where We Dwell in Common: Pathways for Dialogue in the 21st Century (Assisi, PG).
Zaccaria Negroni, Guglielmo Grassi: Life and Works (Rome: Piccole Discepole di Gesù Cristo General Curia, 2019)
Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap. Loving the Church: Scriptural Meditations for the Papal Household (Cincinnati: Servant Books 2005). With Amanda Quantz.
Popular Media
5, 12, 19 & 26 September 2013: Webinars: Ite Missa Est: On the connection of liturgy and Justice for the Archdiocese of Chicago. (Chicago, IL: Pastoral Center Recording Studio).
Interview for Great Books: Dante’s Inferno narrated by Christian Slater aired in 2001 on the History Channel http://qnqn.rguhq.club/XIcPSv9LXtY/Great_Books_INFERNO _Dante_/playvideo.html
Notable Lectures/Presentations
4 Marzo 2021: “Maria modello di preghiera” per il corso Maria modello di fede per i cristiani e musulmani della Pontificia Academia Mariana Internationalis.
22 March 2019: Conference: Liberating Christian Spirituality (Los Angeles Religious Education Conference).
21 March 2019: Conference: Liberando la espiritualidad cristiana (Los Angeles Religious Education Conference).
9 July and 6 Aug 2014: Introduction to my book “Beyond Piety” for St. James Book Club (Chicago, IL: St. James Church).
Formation and Ongoing Education
3 June 2022: Introduction to the Spirituality of Francis and Clare of Assisi for the Perpetual Vow Preparation Program of the Religious of the Sacred Heart (Rome).
27 March – 1 April, 2022: Guide to Franciscan Shrines for Priests’ Retreat of the Pontifical North American College Ongoing Formation/Sabbatical Program
20-22 August, 2021: Greater than a Mother’s Love. A blended retreat on the maternal-fraternal tension of Franciscan life for Secular Franciscans and Poor Clares through the Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center of the Austin Diocese.
Primavera 2019: “Introduzione alla spiritualità cristiana” Corso Online (Pontificia Academia Mariana Internazionale).
17 November 2019: Workshop on creating Pilgrimage websites for Franciscan Pilgrimage Program directors (Scottsdale AZ).
31 August, 2018: Justicia y espiritualidad (Phoenix AZ: Escuela Crosier de dirección espiritual).
Semestre primaveral 2017: “Introducción a la espiritualidad cristiana” Online Course (Pontificia Università Antonianum).
Semestre de otoño 2016: “Introduzione alla spiritualità cristiana” Online Course (Pontificia Università Antonianum).
Semestre primaveral 2016: “Introducción a la espiritualidad cristiana” Online Course (Pontificia Università Antonianum).
Semestre primaveral 2016: “Introduction to Christian Spirituality” Online Course (Pontificia Università Antonianum).
Semestre de otoño 2015: “Introduzione alla spiritualità cristiana” Online Course (Pontificia Università Antonianum).
Semestre de otoño 2015: “Introducción a la espiritualidad cristiana” Blended Course (face to face and online) for the Instituto de Liderazgo Pastoral (Chicago, IL).
Semestre de otoño 2014: “Introducción a la espiritualidad cristiana” for Lay Ministry Certification by the Instituto de Liderazgo Pastoral (Chicago, IL).
Religious and Spiritual Exercises
1-10 April, 2023: Assisted with Holy Week Pilgrimage with Sacred Heart Seminary to Madrid and Toledo Spain with Raul Gomez
7 March 2023: “Lenten Practices” Parish Mission talk for Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Chicago
18 March 2023: Lenten Day of Recollection for Secular Franciscans (Mundelein, IL)
14-16 March 2023: Misión Cuaresmal for Santa Maria del Popolo Parish in Mundelein
27 December 2022-5 January 2023: Lourdes High School Student’s Franciscan Pilgrimage (Rome, Greccio and Assisi). With Robert Gardner.
4 December 2022: “Advent Expectation” for the Holy Name Cathedral young adult group Chicago
15-25 May 2022: Pilgrimage to Rome, Greccio and Assisi for Professors and Administrators of the Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities for the Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs
10 August 2019: SFO Day of Recollection on the Spirituality of Francis and Clare (Washington, DC)
4-5 July 2019: Pilgrimage to Assisi for the Australian Catholic University
27 December 2018 – 5 January 2018: Lourdes High School Student’s Franciscan Pilgrimage (Rome, Greccio and Assisi). With Robert Gardner.
27 May -8 June 2018: Pilgrimage to Rome, Greccio and Assisi for the Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs
25 May -8 June 2017: Pilgrimage to Rome, Greccio and Assisi for the Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs
20 October 2017: Guided visit. “Spirituality of Santa Scala and San Giovanni al Laterano” for pilgrims from the Diocese of Brownsville, TX (Roma).
2 September 2017: Lecture. “Los Sacramentos en la Iglesia Catolica” para el retiro de hombres de la Iglesia de St. John en Joliet. (Plano, IL: La Salle Manor).
26 August 2017: Lecture. “Los Sacramentos en la Iglesia Catolica” para el retiro de mujeres de la Iglesia de St. John en Joliet. (Plano, IL: La Salle Manor).
19 August 2017: Day of Recollection. “Getting to know yourself: Introduction to the Ennea-Prosopa (9 traits of the soul)” (San Benito, TX: St. Joseph’s Church).
7 August 2017: Lecture. “Spirituality of St. Clare” (Chicago, IL: St. Peter’s in the Loop).
27 December 2016 – 5 January 2017: Lourdes High School Student’s Franciscan Pilgrimage (Rome, Greccio and Assisi). With Rev Will Thompson and Robert Gardner.
3-15 June 2016: Pilgrimage to Rome, Greccio and Assisi for the Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs. With Sr. Ann Kenyon, OSF.
21-22 May 2016: Pilgrimage to Assisi and La Verna for Singaporean Benefactors to the Order of Friars Minor. With the Most Rev. Michael Perry, OFM (general Minister).
18-19 March 2016: Workshop: “Conocete a tu mism@ con el enea-prosopa (los 9 puntos del alma)” (Pontificia Università Antonianum).
4-5 March 2016: Workshop: “Conosci te stess@ con la ennea-prosopa (i 9 punti dell’anima)” (Pontificia Università Antonianum).
17-18 April 2015: “Conosci te stess@ con la ennea-prosopa (i 9 punti dell’anima)” (Pontificia Università Antonianum).
27 December 2014 – 5 January 2015: Lourdes High School Student’s Franciscan Pilgrimage for the Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs (Rome, Greccio and Assisi). With Dr. Ramona Miller, OSF, Rev Will Thompson and Robert Gardner.
8 November 2014: Eneagrama y el crecimiento espritual para el Aspirantado Diaconal (Mundelein, IL: Instituto de Liderazgo Pastoral).
23-26 March 2014: Parish Mission: “Clare of Assisi: Mirror of Liberation” (Staten Island, NY: Church of St Clare).
9-10 November 2013: Eneagrama y el crecimiento espritual para el Aspirantado Diaconal (Mundelein, IL: Instituto de Liderazgo Pastoral).
21-28 October 2013: Novena de San Judas Tadeo (Chicago, IL: National Shrine of St. Jude).
20 October 2013: Spiritual Formation Conference (Libertyville IL: St. Joseph Church)
1-3 July 2013: Retreat: Hispanic Spirituality for Clergy (San Alfonso Redemptorist Retreat House, Long Branch, NJ) Via a series of hour long talks over the phone (I got sick and could not fly to New Jersey).
17-21 June 2013: Retreat: Liberation Spirituality for the clergy of the Diocese of Joliet (Mundelien, IL: Cardinal Stritch Retreat House).
“Rooted in Discipleship, enviados en mission” in The National Catholic Council for Hispanic Ministry (November 2010). No pages. Online: http://www.ncchm.org/619349.ihtml.
“La Salvadora Kenotica in US Film and Television” in Journal of Hispanic/Latino Theology (February 2009). No pages. Online: http://www.latinotheology.org/2009 /la_salvadora_kenotica.
“Cara y Corazón (Face and Heart): Toward a U.S. Latino Spirituality of Inculturation” New Theology Review vol 17 (2004) 46-55.
“Cara y Corazón. Raíces religiosas en un mexicoamericano” Critica LIII, 901 (January 2003) 52-53.
Popular Media
“Hispanic Catholics” for Religion and Ethics: Newsweekly aired 26 November 2008 on PBS. Online: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2008/11/26/friar-gilberto-cavazos-gonzalez-on-hispanic-catholics/1483/
Notable Lectures/Presentations
22 September 2018: Guadalupe and Latino/a Identity for St. Mary’s University (Chicago IL: Mexican Fine Arts Museum).
26 June 2011: “Pan de vida y bebida de salvación: Latino/a Spirituality for Hispanic Ministry.” Opening Address for the Hispanic Summer Program of the Hispanic Theological Initiative (Mundelein Seminary: Mundelein, IL).
7 June 2011: “Bebida de salvación: Spirituality Studies and Latina/o Theology.” Presidential Address to ACHTUS Colloquium (San José, CA).
16 February 2011: Pastoral Ministry: From Multicultural to Intercultural (Part 2) for Ministers from the Archdiocese of Chicago, and the Dioceses of Joliet and Gary. (Catholic Theological Union) With Drs. Carmen Nanko-Fernández and Vanessa White.
26 September 2010: Concluding Keynote “The Sequela Christi of Hispanic Ministry” for NCCHM’s Raices y Alas 2010 (Chicago, IL).
3 February 2010: Pastoral Ministry: From Multicultural to Intercultural for Ministers from the Archdiocese of Chicago, and the Dioceses of Joliet and Gary. (Catholic Theological Union) With Dr. Carmen Nanko-Fernández and Jaime Bascuñan.
Tradiciones of Our Faith: Resource of Intercultural Dialogue. Chicago: World Library Publications, 2012. ILBA – June 2014
Book Chapters
“Virgin Mary.” Miguel A. De La Torre, ed. Hispanic American Religious Cultures, vol. 2. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO 2009, 567-576.
“Popular Religion.” Miguel A. De La Torre, ed. Hispanic American Religious Cultures, vol. 2. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO 2009, 713-726.
“Pilgrimage.” Miguel A. De La Torre, ed. Hispanic American Religious Cultures, vol. 2. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO 2009, 436-440.
Sidebars: Retablos (p.8); Cursillo (p.97); Tres Reyes Magos (p.265); Tejano/as (p.291); Juan Diego (p.343); Virgen de Guadalupe (p.358) Miguel A. De La Torre, ed. Hispanic American Religious Cultures, vol. 1. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO 2009.
Sidebars: Flor y Canto (p.404); “Ometeotl” (p.406-407); Tonantzin (p.407);Posadas (p.457); Martin de Porres (p.521); Rosa de Lima (p. 523); San Judas Tadeo (p. 523); Coatlaxopeuh (p.570); Santos Patrones (p. 683); Promesas (p.714). Miguel A. De La Torre, ed. Hispanic American Religious Cultures, vol. 2. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO 2009.
“Tradiciones de Nuestra Fe” in Bulletin Building Blocks, 2008-2009. Michael E. Novak [Ed.] (Franklin Pk, IL: World Library Publications 2008).
“Tradiciones de Nuestra Fe” in Bulletin Building Blocks, 2007-2008 Michael E. Novak and Eduardo Rivera [Eds] (Franklin Pk, IL: World Library Publications 2007).
“Tradiciones de Nuestra Fe” in Bulletin Building Blocks, 2006-2007 Michael E. Novak and Eduardo Rivera [Eds] ((Franklin Pk, IL: World Library Publications 2006).
“Tradiciones de Nuestra Fe” in Bulletin Building Blocks, 2005-2006 Michael E. Novak and Eduardo Rivera [Eds] ((Franklin Pk, IL: World Library Publications 2005).
Journal Articles
“Living the Stations of the Cross,” Pastoral Liturgy¸ (January/February 2015), 9-10.
“Pastorcitos del Monte Venid” Catolico (5 December 2004).
“Away in a Manger” Preach (Nov/Dec 2004) 20-22.
“Shedding Light on the New Mysteries” U.S. Catholic 68 (October 2003).
“Whom will you welcome this Christmas?” U.S. Catholic 67 (December 2002) 12-15.
Notable Lectures/Presentations
25 September. 2021: Zoom Conference: “Espiritualidad catequetica: Avanzando con fe, esperanza y caridad” for the PENTA Regional Congress of LA: A New Beginning.
23 April 2020: “Espiritualidad Pascual: La paz este con ustedes” for Liturgy Tranining Publications Online. With Nelly Lorenzo.
4 December 2013: “Símbolos de la Virgen de Guadalupe de Tepeyac” (Chicago, IL: St. Anthony Church).
1 August 2012: Theology on Tap: “Soy espiritual y religioso” (Highwood, IL: St. James Church).
25 July, 2012: Theology on Tap: “Soy espiritual y religioso” (Chicago, IL: St. Donatus).
15 October 2011: “El Señor nos llama a ser libres!” for Archdiosese of Boise Anual Convocation (Boise. IO).
15 October 2011: “Hagase en mi segun tu Palabra” for Archdiosese of Boise Anual Convocation (Boise. IO).
5-8 June 2011: Organized and Presided over the ACHTUS annual colloquium entitled: “Pan de vida: Eucharistic Liturgy, Piety and Justice” (San José, CA).