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Two days ago, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints formally declared that Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero was assassinated as a martyr for the faith on March 24th, 1980. \u00a0It is now a matter of time until he is declared \u201cblessed\u201d by the Church. \u00a0Misunderstood by many during his lifetime and throughout these past thirty-five years after his death, Romero truly is a modern prophet and martyr.<\/div>\n
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Romero was a simple man in love with the people he served. \u00a0He\u2019d often say to his flock, \u201cit is easy to be the pastor of a people like you.\u201d \u00a0He was painted by his government as a communist. \u00a0Leftist rebels perceived him as a traitor because he would not go along with them. \u00a0Even John Paul II became suspicious of his work and words, so he called Romero to Rome to explain himself, but John Paul II eventually supported Romero without reserve. \u00a0In 1983 John Paul visited Romero\u2019s tomb despite opposition from the Salvadorian government and high ranking church officials. \u00a0The Pope described Romero as \u201ca zealous and venerated pastor who tried to stop violence. I ask that his memory be always respected, and let no ideological interest try to distort his sacrifice as a pastor given over to his flock.\u201d<\/div>\n
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On March 24th, 1980, Archbishop Romero was celebrating a memorial Mass at the chapel of the hospital where he lived. \u00a0After preaching, the archbishop moved towards the center of the\u00a0sanctuary to prepare the altar. \u00a0He no longer allowed others to assist him at the altar for fear of his future murderer\u00a0accidentally\u00a0shooting the wrong person. \u00a0From the back seat of a car that had parked at the door of the church while the driver pretended to check on the tires, a sharpshooter shot Archbishop Romero right in the heart. \u00a0He collapsed and died instantly. \u00a0Women soaked up his blood with their veils and handkerchiefs.\u00a0Listen to Romero preaching on the eucharist, the shot at the 47th second and the people\u2019s reaction by clicking here<\/a>.<\/div>\n
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Romero\u2019s alb with blood<\/div>\n
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A few days later, moments before his funeral Mass began at the main square of the city, the same government that ordered the archbishop\u2019s death began shooting at the assembled crowd. \u00a0Forty people died at the square which quickly turned into a war zone as many dropped dead and injured while running towards the inside of the cathedral for refuge.<\/div>\n
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The archbishop\u2019s vicar general, Monsignor Urioste (pictured below), tells that Romero feared a violent death, yet he persevered preaching the Gospel in a country at war. \u00a0He stood up against a government that oppressed its people and killed thousands of innocent civilians. \u00a0Monsignor Urioste states that Archbishop Romero often said it was difficult to be a \u2018man of the magisterium\u2019 because it was not easy to be always consistent in the proclamation of the Gospel. \u00a0Romero firmly believed he had to accept and live out the wholeness of the teachings of the Church, including standing up against oppression and injustice.<\/div>\n
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The Sunday before his death, Romero preached his death sentence at Mass in the cathedral. \u00a0He made a direct appeal to soldiers to stop the killing their own people. \u00a0He knew it was dangerous because the government could accuse him of treason. \u00a0For the government and military, Romero had gone too far. \u00a0Here are his last public (and very passionate) words from the very end of his homily:<\/div>\n
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\u201cI would like to make a special appeal to the men of the army, and specifically to the ranks of the National Guard, the police and the military. Brothers, you come from our own people.\u00a0You are killing your own brother peasants when any human order to kill must be subordinate to the law of God which says, \u201cThou shalt not kill.\u201d<\/b>\u00a0No soldier is obliged to obey an order contrary to the law of God. No one has to obey an immoral law.\u00a0It is high time you recovered your consciences and obeyed your consciences rather than a sinful order. The church, the defender of the rights of God, of the law of God, of human dignity, of the person, cannot remain silent before such an abomination.\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n
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\u201cWe want the government to face the fact that reforms are valueless if they are to be carried out at the cost of so much blood. In the name of God, in the name of this suffering people whose cries rise to heaven more loudly each day,\u00a0I implore you, I beg you, I order you in the name of God: stop the repression. <\/b>[to hear Romero say this line on recordings gives you goose bumps]<\/div>\n
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\u201cThe church preaches your liberation just as we have studied it in the holy Bible today. It is a liberation that has, above all else, respect for the dignity of the person, hope for humanity\u2019s common good, and the transcendence that looks before all to God and only from God derives its hope and its strength.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Oscar Romero, martyr, pray for us!<\/div>\n
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Archbishop Romero\u2019s simple room at the Divina Providencia Hospital<\/div>\n