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 In 1977 El Salvador's capital city, San Salvador, needed a new Archbishop. But at the same time El Salvador was dangerously unstable and the communist revolution of its neighboring country, Nicaragua, put global attention on the small country. The Vatican responded by appointing a low-profile, orthodox, academic bishop of a small diocese, Oscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez. |
Archbishop Romero, known often by the more familiar Spanish title “Monseñor”, was drawn into the country-side by his friends, priests serving in small towns and villages throughout the country. Through these priest and other trusted friends he realized that the violence was growing in frequency, the numbers killed, and the innocence of the victims. When his good friend, Fr. Rutilio Grande, SJ, was killed on March 12, 1977, along with a small boy and an old man, he spoke out. He denied the government's allegation that Grande had been an agitator. Rather, he declared that Grande had been a pastor, defending and serving his poor and vulnerable parish. |
Monseñor Romero's Sunday homilies at the Cathedral of San Salvador were broadcast nationally by radio. In villages without electricity they used car batteries to listen. His sermons named those killed or threatened with death. He chastised all perpetrators of violence. He put the suffering of the people and the moral guidance of the Church before any political ideology. He opened a human right's investigation office of the Archdiocese that was independent of outside pressure to cover-up crimes. And he travelled the country, comforting people and bringing them the presence of the Church, sacraments, and assurance that their suffering was the concern of the Church. |
In his sermon on Sunday, March 23, 1980, he denounced the violence in his strongest terms, yet. The next morning, while saying mass at a small chapel, and army truck pulled-up to the door. A marksman fired a single shot into his chest and Monseñor Romero died instantly. Journalists present took pictures that circled the globe. |
The civil war truly began at that moment with increased killings without fear of reprisal. On December 2, 190, four North American churchwomen were also murdered by the army. By November 15, 1989, when six Jesuit priests and their housekeeper and her daughter were killed by the army, over 70,000 people had been killed. A cease-fire began in 1990 and UN-brokered peace accords were signed in 1992. |
Monseñor Romero’s legacy of courage, peace, and compassion lives on in the many institutions, missions, and hearts of the Salvadoran people that he inspired – and still inspires. |
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Scenes from his life, L->R:
Archbishop of San Salvador, 1977-1980
Sunday homilies radio-broadcast nationally defended the poor
Joyful pastor of the poor
Faithful and orthodox son of the Church
Murdered by army marksman Mon. morning while saying mass
Mourned by Pope John Paul II at his tomb in San Salvador
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Romero Quotes
-- given in the midst of fear, repression, and terrorism
that eventually took his life on March 24, 1980 |
“We must not seek the child Jesus in the pretty figures of our Christmas cribs. We must seek him among the undernourished children who have gone to bed at night with nothing to eat, among the poor newsboys who will sleep covered with newspapers in doorways.” --December 24, 1979
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"When we speak for the poor, please note that we do not take sides with one social class. What we do is invite all social classes, rich and poor, without distinction, saying to everyone let us take seriously the cause of the poor as though it were our own."
- Monseñor Romero, 9/9/1979 |
"Let us not develop an education that creates in the mind of the student a hope of becoming rich and having the power to dominate. Let us form in the heart of a child and young person the idea of loving, of preparing oneself to serve and giving oneself to others."
--January 22, 1978 |
“ If we are worth anything, it is not because we have more money or more talent, or more human qualities. Insofar as we are worth anything, it is because we are grafted on to Christ's life, his cross and resurrection. That is a person's measure. “ -- March 4, 1979 |
“I have frequently been threatened with death. I must say that, as a Christian, I do not believe in death but in the resurrection. If they kill me, I shall rise again in the Salvadoran people." -- 1977 |
"I'd like to make an appeal in a special way to the men in the army. Brothers, each one of you is one of us. We are the same People. The farmers and peasants that you kill are your own brothers and sisters. When you hear the words of a man telling you to kill, think instead in the words of God, "Thou shalt not kill!" No soldier is obliged to obey an order contrary to the Law of God. In His name and in the name of our tormented people who have suffered so much, and whose laments cry out to heaven: I implore you! I beg you! I order you! Stop the repression!" --March 23, 1980 , the day before his murder |
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