Vol. XVIII x No. 2

FEBRUARY 2006

VOCATION

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CALENDAR FOR THE RECOLLECTIONS AND SEARCH –IN WORKSHOPS 2006-2007

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May 2-9: Making decisions (Pre-postulancy retreat)

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2007

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Archbishop Romero

A model of faith

By Fr. Marnecio Coralde Cuarteros

Comboni Missionary

Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, was murdered because he had the faith, the generosity and the courage to be the "voice of the voiceless." He is dead but, in El Salvador and all over Latin America, he is alive in the hearts of people because he dared to speak firmly against injustice, violence and the violation of human rights. He is a model for all of us to emulate.

When the martyr of faith and courage, OSCAR ARNULFO ROMERO (1917-1980), was made Archbishop of San Salvador (El Salvador), the country"s upper class was delighted. However, the activist clergy of the archdiocese was disappointed. Well known for his piety and conservatism, it came as a surprise to many that, in three short years, he came to be known as the "voice of the voiceless" or, as one of the theologians called him, "the Gospel of El Salvador."

Something happened which changed him. A few weeks after his consecration, he found himself officiating at the funeral of his friend, Rutilio Grande, a Jesuit priest of the archdiocese, who was assassinated as a result of his commitment to social justice. Romero was deeply shaken by this event as well as by the frenzy of violence happening in El Salvador.

From a once timid and ordinary cleric, Romero underwent a deep transformation and surprised his new friends when he became a fearless and outspoken champion of justice. His weekly sermons, broadcasted by radio throughout the country, denounced violations of human rights, showing the realities of the day at the light of the Gospel. His increasing public role as the conscience of the nation earned him not only the bitter anger of the country′s elite, but also the resentment of many of his conservative fellow bishops. Some even said that Romero was talking like a subversive.

The Church in El Salvador was not the first to suffer from the actions of persecutors who called themselves Christians. Their victims did not die simply for clinging to the faith but, like Jesus, for clinging to the poor. This insight marked a new theological depth in Romero′s message. For him, the Church′s option for the poor was not just a matter of pastoral priorities, it was a defining characteristic of Christian faith. He once wrote: "A church that does not unite itself to the poor in order to denounce from the place of the poor the injustice committed against them is not truly the church of Jesus Christ." He also said: "On this point, there is no possible neutrality. We either serve the life of Salvadorians or we are accomplices in their death... We either believe in a God of life or we serve the idols of death."

Thou shall not kill

Once his course was set, Romero followed his path with courageous consistency. Privately, he acknowledged his fears and loneliness, especially the pain he felt from the opposition of fellow bishops and the apparent distrust of Rome. He was often accused of subordinating the gospel to politics. He drew strength and courage from the poor peasants who embraced him with affection and understanding. He said: "With these people, it is not hard to be a good shepherd."

Social conditions in El Salvador worsened, which led to a full-scale civil war. In the midst of all this, he appealed directly to the military to stop the repression and the killings, citing God′s commandment: "Thou shall not kill.′

The next day, March 24, 1980, as he was saying Mass in the Hospital la Divina Providencia, a single rifle bullet shot from the back of the chapel struck his heart and he died within minutes. Romero was immediately acclaimed, by the people of El Salvador and by the poor throughout Latin America, as a true martyr and saint.

Two weeks before his assassination, he said: "Martyrdom is a great gift from God that I do not believe I have earned. But if God accepts the sacrifice of my life then may my blood be the seed of liberty, and a sign of the hope that will soon become a reality... A bishop will die but the Church of God, the people, will never die... If they kill me, I shall rise again in the Salvadorian people."

A personal challenge

Let the life of Oscar Romero inspire and instill in each of us the value of courage, the generosity of responding to God′s call and a heart that suffers with the poor and the underprivileged. Let his life be a personal challenge and inspiration to young people, priests and missionaries to serve others cheerfully.

The value of courage can give us the strength and perseverance in responding to God′s call. We allow the gift of God to help us not to be fearful but to act with generosity. Every person open to truth, justice and goodness can come to recognize the natural law written in the heart, the sacred value of every person. "Kindness and truth shall meet, justice and peace shall kiss."

The life of Bishop Oscar Romero teaches us how to give ourselves, to give life to others; to proclaim to others the living Gospel with constant faithfulness, crying out for justice on their behalf. Our generous response to God′s call, the generosity that makes us fight for social justice, can be the bridge that will allow communities to leave behind the path of war, discord and domination and find the way that leads to peace, solidarity and freedom. Everyone who is being called to whatever vocation in life is a sign of hope if he speaks out for those who have no voice, for the weak, the oppressed and the defenseless because he is being called to condemn crimes and attacks against human life and its integrity.

We are called to have a heart that cares for the poor. Mission should be a matter of concern for all Christians. It is meant to serve humankind by unveiling God′s love. Our proclamation of Christ to others must be inspired by our faith in God, the faith that can make us courageous like Bishop Oscar Romero.

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