Saint Óscar Romero “Voice of the Voiceless” in El Salvador

Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez, known as Saint Oscar Romero, was a Salvadoran Roman Catholic archbishop who became a powerful voice for the voiceless during El Salvador’s tumultuous years leading to its civil war.

Born on August 15, 1917, in Ciudad Barrios, El Salvador, Romero’s early life was marked by a devout commitment to his faith.

He was schooled at home with a private tutor for most of his education while his father taught him carpentry. Academics rarely led to employment in poverty-stricken El Salvador, and Oscar’s father wanted him to have a trade.

However, Oscar felt called to study for the priesthood. He was ordained a priest in 1942 and served in various pastoral roles. He was a parish priest, rector of the minor seminary, and eventually Secretary to the Conference of Bishops in El Salvador.

Father Romero was ordained a Bishop in 1970 and was elevated to Archbishop of San Salvador in 1977. The timing coincided with a period of escalating violence and social injustice in El Salvador.

The assassination of his close friend, Father Rutilio Grande, a priest deeply involved in advocating for the rural poor, profoundly impacted Romero. This event marked a turning point in his ministry.

Courageous Defender of the Poor

Romero’s weekly homilies, broadcast nationwide, became a platform for denouncing the oppression of the poor and the human rights abuses committed by the military government and right-wing death squads.

He fearlessly spoke out against injustice, calling for an end to the violence and advocating for the rights of the marginalized. He openly denounced the government for persecuting Catholics who were serving the poor.

His unwavering commitment to the Gospel and his courageous defense of the poor earned him the love and respect of many but also the hatred of those who benefited from the oppression of the poor and the religious communities. He received numerous death threats, but he remained steadfast in his mission.

On March 24, 1980, while celebrating Mass in the chapel of the Hospital of Divine Providence, Romero was assassinated by a single gunshot. His martyrdom sparked international outrage and brought global attention to the plight of the Salvadoran people.

In recognition of his unwavering faith and his commitment to justice, Pope Francis canonized Oscar Romero as a saint on October 14, 2018. Saint Oscar Romero’s legacy continues to inspire people worldwide to stand up for justice and defend the dignity of all human beings.

His feast day is March 24.

Prayer to St. Óscar Romero

Heavenly Father, like St. Óscar Romero, inspire us to be courageous enough to speak out on behalf of those who face injustice, no matter the cost. Inspire us to be of service to the church, especially in helping the poor and needy. May the courage of St. Óscar Romero inspire us to work with integrity for an end to violence and poverty. Amen

Saint Oscar, pray for us!

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Here’s more about the relationship of Pope St. John Paul II and St. Óscar Romero from The Catholic Thing: Understanding JPII and Oscar Romero