In other words, those that killed Romero did not do so because he was a political agitator, a rebel, or an ideologue. They killed him because they hated his faith — a faith rooted in his identification with the poor and oppressed of his country, El Salvador. It is significant because it means that to hate and kill someone because he or she challenges those in power who oppress the poor, is to hate the Catholic faith.
We joined him in speaking out against the repression perpetrated by the government of his country and the US military aid that supported it. Not everyone knows that Romero was assassinated in the act of celebrating the mass. At our Ontario regional assembly, Fr. Thomas Rosica CSB, shared a beautiful reflection which bears repeating on this sacred day,.
It only apparently dies. If it were not to die, it would remain a solitary grain. Oscar Romero is buried in the cathedral of San Salvador where he preached justice and defended the faith fearlessly, with boldness and courage.
The spirituality and faith behind his struggle for life flows from his belief in the God of the living who enters into human history to destroy the forces of death and allow the forces of life to heal, reconcile, and lift up those who walk in the valley of death. The murder of archbishop Oscar Romero — by a bullet to the chest as he said mass at the altar — was not just a personal attack on a man who was a thorn in the side of El Salvador's corrupt ruling elite. It was the murder of an icon: a man who was prepared to "speak truth to power"; a bishop who stood side by side with the poor and the oppressed.
Far from being a "revolutionary", Oscar Romero was a quiet, mild-mannered soul whose faith compelled him to speak out for the people who couldn't. When he took office as the archbishop of San Salvador in , violence and murder were claiming the lives of 3, people each month. In the words of one witness: "The streets were flooded with blood. What was an archbishop to do about such brutality? Most of the senior clergy had remained tight-lipped out of fear or out of complicity.
But Romero quickly became a "bishop of the people", demanding answers for the mounting deaths, visiting the poorest and most oppressed in far-flung communities, and bravely speaking out against what the poor told him was happening. It was a dangerous task, and one for which he paid the ultimate price.
Every Sunday his sermon was broadcast by radio. The whole country listened. Download the timeline of Romero's life to use in your school or parish. Thousands came to the funeral. The army fired into the crowd. The civil war in El Salvador continued until On 15 March, the new president of El Salvador announced that his government would be inspired by Romero and the "option for the poor" choosing to put the most vulnerable people first.
Pope Francis sent a letter, which was read out during the beatification ceremony, saying all those who hold Archbishop Romero "as a friend in faith, who invoke him in as protector and intercessor, who admire him, should find in him strength and energy to build the kingdom of God". A number of special events took place throughout the year, across the world, in his honour. Pope Francis approved a miracle attributed to Oscar Romero, meaning he could be canonised.
His canonisation took place on 14 October in Rome. He continues to inspire our work today. Oscar was shot dead at the altar while he was saying Mass at 6. He gave his life speaking out for the poor, needy and suffering. His actions remain an inspiration to millions across the World who work for justice, peace and reconciliation.
Archbishop Romero was one of one of the most remarkable figures of the 20th Century, who deserves to be remembered alongside the likes of Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Theresa as a peacemaker who sacrificed his life standing up to injustice.
The world today desperately needs more figures like Romero — leaders with the courage, faith and love to stand up for the poor against injustice. Romero is, in particular, an inspirational figure to hundreds of millions of Catholics around the world. He reminded us that Christ is found in people living in poverty, and that we cannot ignore the suffering of our brothers and sisters in need.
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