Posted by In the heart of El Salvador, a small country with a tumultuous history, on Sunday, the 14th of October 2018, a voice for truth and justice will be officially canonized as a saint. Archbishop Oscar Romero, an unwavering champion for the voiceless, a thorn in the side of the powerful, was murdered in 1980 for his fearless advocacy. His life was a testament to a profound question: What is the value of truth if it is not lived?
As we reflect on Romero’s life and sacrifice, we are reminded of his unwavering commitment to the Word of God. To him, the ‘Light of Christ’ was not a mere flicker but a radiant flame that defied the darkness. His canonization as a saint prompts us to ask ourselves, what does the voice of truth say to us in our respective corners of the world?
Who do we speak up for? Whose voices do we amplify? In what ways do we challenge the consensus of privilege and work towards justice? Have we ever truly experienced poverty, marginalization, and the pain of having less? Can we empathize with those who endure the frigid cold of doorways in bitter winter nights, the agony of addiction, the nightmare of domestic violence, or the hopelessness of homelessness? Have we ever been outraged by the societal norms that allow such suffering, and what have we done about it?
These are not easy questions to confront. Pope Francis recognized Romero as a martyr, murdered at the altar by those who feared the truth. Romero’s faith was a testament to a love that couldn’t be silenced in the face of the brutal injustices that plagued the poor and their advocates.
Oscar Romero proclaimed, “We have never preached violence, except the violence of love, which left Christ nailed to a cross, the violence that we must each do to ourselves to overcome our selfishness and such cruel inequalities among us.” In a world marked by increasing polarization and cruel inequalities, the ‘Light of Christ’ radiates from Oscar Romero’s life and death. It calls upon each of us to embrace the commandment: “Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15: 12 – 13)
As we honour the legacy of Saint Oscar Romero, his story becomes a beacon of hope, reminding us of the profound difference one person’s unwavering commitment to truth and justice can make. May his canonization inspire us all to follow in his footsteps and let the ‘Light of Christ’ shine through our actions and convictions.
By Fr. Michael Reddan SVD (Updated by Fr. Nico Lobo Ratu SVD).
SVD IBP 