By St. Oscar Romero of El Salvador, pray for us !
On 24 March, the church honours one of the most significant leaders of recent times, Msgr. Oscar Romero of El Salvador, who bravely denounced the violence and inhumanity wrought by the civil war and social repression in his country in the 1970s. His prophetic words and actions led to his martyrdom in 1980, which led to his canonisation in 2018.
In honour of Saint Oscar Romero’s feast day (24 March) and the 40th anniversary of his death, Pax Christi International offers the following words
Spanish version below
Saint Oscar Romero, 40 years later!
On March 24 we celebrate the memory of Saint Oscar Romero, Saint Romero of America, pastor and martyr. His homilies are still meaningful, as a meditation on the Word of God, listening to the cry of the people for justice. His prophetic denunciation of repression, of structural injustice, resonated throughout the world; at the same time, his words are a consoling presence, encouraging and reassuring people, and continue to be seeds and food on our shared journey towards a more just, more equitable society. With Don Pedro Casaldáliga, today we pray and sing:
” The people made you a Saint…
The poor taught you to read the Good News.
As a brother wounded by so much Sister Death,
You knew how to weep, alone, in the Garden.
You knew how to be afraid, like a man in combat.
Yet you knew how to freely make your word a call to attention!
And you knew how to drink from the double chalice
of the altar and the people,
with one single hand consecrated to service.
… Saint Romero of America, our pastor and martyr:
No one will silence your final homily!”
Translation of Casaldáliga poem by Richard Renshaw and Katharine Gordon
San Romero, 40 años después!
El 24 de marzo celebramos la memoria de San Óscar Romero, San Romero de América, pastor y mártir. Sus homilías siguen vigentes, como meditación de la Palabra de Dios, escuchando el clamor del Pueblo por justicia. Su denuncia profética de la represión, de la injusticia estructural resonaron en el mundo entero; al mismo tiempo, su presencia consoladora, animando, alegrando a su Pueblo, sigue siendo semilla y alimento en el caminar colectivo hacia una sociedad más justa, más equitativa. Con Don Pedro Casaldáliga, hoy oramos y cantamos!
El Pueblo te hizo santo…
Los pobres te enseñaron a leer el Evangelio.
Como un hermano herido
por tanta muerte hermana,
tú sabías llorar solo en el Huerto.
Sabías tener miedo, como un hombre en combate.
Pero sabías dar a tu palabra libre,
su timbre de campana!
Y supiste beber el doble cáliz
del altar y del Pueblo
con una sola mano consagrada al Servicio.
…San Romero de América,
pastor y mártir nuestro:
nadie hará callar tu última Homilía!
