Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Martyrdom of Oscar Romero

Martyrdom of Oscar Romero

Last updated on: March 24, 2023 at 4:39 pm by Father Pablo Migone

Martyrdom of Oscar Romero 2023-03-24T16:39:00-05:00 Father Pablo Migone

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

On a day like today in 1980, Archbishop Romero of San Salvador was celebrating Mass at the chapel of the hospital where he lived. After preaching, the archbishop moved towards the center of the sanctuary to prepare the altar, he no longer allowed others to help him at the altar for fear of his future murderer accidentally shooting the wrong person. From 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. He collapsed and died instantly. Women soaked up his blood with their veils and handkerchiefs. Listen to Romero preaching, the shot and the people’s reaction by clicking here.

Romero’s alb with blood

A few days later, moments before his funeral Mass began at the main square of the city, the same government that ordered the archbishop’s death began shooting at the assembled crowd. Forty 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.

The archbishop’s vicar general, Monsignor Urioste (pictured below), tells that Romero feared a violent death, yet he persevered preaching the Gospel in a country at war. He stood up against a government that oppressed its people and killed thousands of innocent civilians. Monsignor Urioste states that Archbishop Romero often said it was difficult to be a ‘man of the magisterium’ because it was not easy to be always consistent in the proclamation of the Gospel. Romero firmly believed he had to accept and live out the wholeness of the teachings of the Church, including standing up against oppression and injustice.

Romero was a simple man in love with the people he served. He’d often say to his flock, “it is easy to be the pastor of a people like you.” He was painted by his government as a communist. Leftist rebels perceived him as a traitor because he would not go along with them. Even 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. In 1983 John Paul visited Romero’s tomb despite opposition from the Salvadorian government and high ranking church officials. The Pope described Romero as “a 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.”

The Sunday before his death, Romero preached his death sentence at Mass in the cathedral. He made a direct appeal to soldiers to stop the killing their own people. He knew it was dangerous because the government could accuse him of treason. For the government and military, Romero had gone too far. Here are his last public (and very passionate) words from the very end of his homily:

“I 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. You are killing your own brother peasants when any human order to kill must be subordinate to the law of God which says, “Thou shalt not kill.” No soldier is obliged to obey an order contrary to the law of God. No one has to obey an immoral law. It 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.

“We 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, I implore you, I beg you, I order you in the name of God: stop the repression. [to hear Romero say this line on recordings gives you goose bumps]

“The church preaches your liberation just as we have studied it in 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’s common good, and the transcendence that looks before all to God and only from God derives its hope and its strength.”

Servant of God Oscar Romero, pray for us!

Archbishop Romero’s simple room at the Divina Providencia Hospital

The archbishop’s typewriter and tape recorder where he recorded his audio diary

Archbishop Romero’s tomb at the cathedral of San Salvador

Archbishop Romero’s name on the wall with names of the 75,000 civilians killed during the war in El Salvador

History and Religion

Uncategorized

Previous Post

March 23, 2013

Pray for Kidnapped Priest Friend

Next Post

March 26, 2013 Pope will not go to Apostolic Palace

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Article Catholic Lima Christmas Commentary History Homily Immigration martyrs Meditation Pope Reflection Saint Story Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 January 2010 June 2009 September 2008 August 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How did Jesus respond when accused of eating with sinners?

Select your answer to see how you score.

"I am hungry" "I came to call sinners to repentance" "I have no friends" "Don't call me teacher"