Oscar Romero: A Man of Faith

"It helps now and then to step back and take the long view"--Archbishop Oscar Romero



In 1917, Archbishop Oscar Romero was born in Ciudad Barrios, San Salvador. From an early age, he felt a calling to God and entered a seminary in San Miguel at the age of 13. He received a Jesuit education at the national seminary in 1937, instilling in him a radicalism that would later prove invaluable to the people of San Salvador. However, when Romero became Archbishop in 1977, he had a reputation as a conservative bookworm that disapproved of the radical “liberation theology” which tried to help the poor and weaken power of the corrupt government.

On March 12, 1977, Father Rutilio Grande, a radical Jesuit and friend of Romero, was assassinated by a Salvadoran death squad. This murder sparked a fire in Oscar that began his change as a shepherd to the poor. He began to publicly criticize the government and its social injustices. Romero had previously been like any other clergy member, in the sense that he was subject to censorship by the government; however, after the assassination of Fr. Grande, he began to speak openly about the government, thus taking Rutilio’s place as the leader of the poor. He began to commit himself more to the poor and downtrodden as well as try to stop civil rights abuses although the government and press criticized him constantly for becoming to political.

Romero had asked for international intervention in the genocidal war in El Salvador, but the Salvadoran bishops no longer supported him and isolated him as a revolutionary. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for his efforts as he began to speak out even more and thus gain international attention. All Romero could do was offer spiritual and emotional support and strength to the people; he couldn't end the violence that continued without an end in sight.

Romero knew that he would most likely die if he continued to speak about the government in such a manner. Yet he fought for what he believed was right and necessary so that the people of San Salvador would have better lives. On March 23,1980, Romero made a radio broadcast that challenged the army to refuse to carry out orders that were “contrary to the will of God”—he was asking the army to stand up against the corruption and injustices of the government. The next day, Archbishop Romero was assassinated as he said Mass in a small chapel.

Archbishop Romero fully believed in what he was fighting for and was prepared to die for his people—the Church. He was a man of great faith in God, in his people, and in his beliefs. The assassination of Fr. Grande was the turning point in Romero’s life; he then recognized the need for change in El Salvador as the violence was thrown right in his face. From then on, he would fight relentlessly for the people’s rights and justice for the persecuted. Archbishop Romero imitated Christ as a martyr and supporter of the poor, thus setting an example for all people everywhere.


Sources

Wikipedia biography

Oscar Romero: Bishop of the Poor by Renny Golden

The Story of a Martyr from El Salvador named Oscar Romero by Mary Ball

20th Century Martyrs, Westminster Abbey


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