with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come

. . . with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come. 

Last Week in Rome,   Pope Francis will canonize Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador, in addition to Pope Paul VI.

Selected as archbishop of San Salvador in 1977,  Romero served during a time of intense political turbulence and religious persecution. Through his homilies, radio sermons, and newspaper articles,  Romero became the voice of his country’s conscience.   Constantly referring to the message of the gospel, he condemned the violence and corruption that plagued his country.

Countless threats against his life didn’t deter Romero. In one homily, he said, “You can tell the people that if they succeed in killing me,  I forgive and bless those who do it. Hopefully, they will realize they are wasting their time.   A bishop will die, but the Church of God, which is the people, will never perish.” On March 24, 1980, as he was saying Mass, a lone gunman stood at the door of the chapel and fired. Romero, who was standing at the altar, was shot in the heart and died on the spot.

In his letter announcing Romero’s canonization, Pope Francis wrote,  “In the beautiful land of Central America, bathed by the Pacific Ocean, the Lord granted his Church a zealous bishop who, loving God and serving brothers and sisters, became the image of Christ the Good Shepherd.   In times of difficult coexistence, Archbishop Romero knew how to lead, defend and protect his flock. . . . And at the moment of his death, while he celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of love and reconciliation, he received the grace to identify himself fully with the One who gave his life for his sheep.”

Oscar Romero lived out the Scripture (Mark 10:30).   He chose God’s wisdom over the wealth and comfort of the world.   He proclaimed the word of God in a way that cut people to the heart.   And he gave everything to the poor of El Salvador.   May his witness move all of us to answer the cry of the poor and downtrodden.

Word Among Us