An Óscar

Oscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdamez was born in a small village in El Salvador in 1917. Ordained priest, he was known as a quiet and unassuming pastor.

By 1977, amidst the political and social turmoil suffered by his country,

he was therefore seen as a neutral choice to be its Archbishop.

Courageously, however, he began to speak out against violence and his homilies supported the demands of the poor for economic and social justice.

He refused to be silenced, and continued to preach even under threat of assassination.

“I must tell you, as a Christian, I do not believe in death without resurrection.

If I am killed, I shall arise in the Salvadoran people”. Óscar Romero

“A Church that doesn’t provoke any crisis, that doesn’t unsettle.

A word of God that doesn’t get under any one’s skin,

that doesn’t touch the real sin of society around us, what Gospel is that!?

Christ's Gospel is courageous, news of Him who came to transform." - Óscar Romero

On 24th March 1980, whilst presiding at Mass, Archbishop Romero was assassinated by a gunman. He has since been widely regarded as a martyr for the faith. 

The canonisation of Óscar Romero took place on 14 October 2018 in Rome,

at a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis.

Almighty God, you called your servant Óscar Romero

to be a voice for the voiceless poor,

and to give his life as a seed of freedom and a sign of hope:

Grant that, inspired by his sacrifice

and the example of the martyrs of El Salvador,

we may without fear or favour witness to your Word who is Life,

even Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,

be praise and glory now and for ever. Amen.

"The Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,

the oil of joy instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." - Isaiah 61.