Today was an amazing day. Today was a Holy day. I know you’re thinking, what Easter Monday? Last week was Holy Week. La Semana Santa down here. But today was the 28th anniversary of the martyrdom and resurrection of Archbishop Oscar Romero.
Oscar Romero was known as a reserved and conservative man and for these reasons he was chosen to be the Archbishop of San Salvador in 1977. This was an incredibly tumultuous time in Salvadoran history. The poor were incredibly marginalized socially, politically and economically and were starting to organize for their rights. As they tried to speak out they were violently repressed by their government. Thousands of people were being murdered by death squads, “disappeared” and massacred. As Oscar Romero became Archbishop he was transformed by what he saw and by the assassination of his friend, fellow Roman Catholic priest, Rutilio Grande. He began to speak up for the rights of the people, he was the voice for the voiceless. He rejected wealth and elegant living conditions and lived in solidarity with the poor. No one was too humble or poor to deserve his attention. His weekly sermons were broadcast over the radio and listened to all across the country. Romero knew his life was in danger, he could have fled, but he stayed. He continued to preach, lo
ve and give hope. Weeks before his death he said "If they kill me, I shall arise in the Salvadoran people.” Here, it is not referred to as the anniversary of his assassination, but the anniversary of his martyrdom and resurrection. He did rise up in the Salvadoran people they fought a long and bloody twelve year civil war for their human rights (1980-1992). La lucha sigue. The struggle continues. The spirit of Oscar Romero is alive in the Salvadoran people.
This is an excerpt from his last sermon before he was assassinated while celebrating Mass:
I would like to appeal in a special way to the men of the army, and in particular to the troops of the National Guard, the Police, and the garrisons. Brothers, you belong to our own people. You kill your own brother peasants; and in the face of an order to kill that is given by a man, the law of God should prevail that says: Do not kill! No soldier is obliged to obey an order counter to the law of God. No one has to comply with an immoral law. It is time now that you recover your conscience and obey its dictates rather than the command of sin. The Church, defender of the rights of God, of the law of God, of the dignity of the human person, cannot remain silent before so much abomination.
We want the government to seriously consider that reforms mean nothing when they come bathed in so much blood. Therefore, in the name of God, and in the name of this long-suffering people, whose laments rise to heaven every day more tumultuous, I beseech you, I beg you, I command you in the name of God: Cease the repression!
Romero gave hope to the people. He loved them, he valued them. In circumstances that can be described by no other word than impossible he gave people hope. He spoke out regardless of personal cost. He was killed and resurrected in the people. I have so many things I want to tell you this month. So much has happened, I’ve seen, done, and learned so much. I didn’t know what to include in this update, my sister told me “tell them what is most important.” Today, what is most important is that you understand a little bit about one of the most important people in history.
Today, we went on a pilgrimage with a delegation from the states to the Hospital were Romero lived with the cancer patients. When I walked into the Chapel where he was shot, I got the chills for five minutes. They wouldn’t go away. We saw his small apartment, his bed, his pajamas. I held my nephew and we looked at the vestments he was wearing when he was killed, stained with his blood. In the glass I saw my nephew reflected. Reflected in Romero’s robes. Hope and new life being reflected in sacrifice and death of a man that so loved the people he gave his life for them.
Daily, I feel humbled to work with, be in the presence of, and be in communion with people like these. These people who are Romero resurrected. People who have suffered tragedies and losses beyond what we can imagine. People who live a 2 hour walk from the nearest paved road or market, but who can speak eloquently on politics, history, development and the economic situation. People, women and men, who were children and young adults (from age 11) who raised up arms and fought for their basic human rights.
In the face of overwhelming challenges, rising food costs, gang violence, corruption, we continue. We continue to stand up to injustice. We continue to speak the truth. The struggle continues. And that is the hope. That is Romero resurrected in the people.
Friends, thank you for reading my history lesson. It was really important for me today to share this with you. March has been a busy month, the garden projects are coming along, we’ve had four different delegations from the states, I got to visit a women’s prison and an orphanage, and I turned 24.
Thanks for sharing this journey with me.
