Oscar Romero was a martyr of the church. He spoke out against all that was evil in his country. His friend was shot as a message to back down, but he never did. He excommunicated the murders. He cancelled all masses except for one in front of the cathedral. He spoke the truth no matter what the cost to himself. In 1978, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize (it was given that year to Mother Teresa). He was given an honorary Doctorate from Louvain University in Belgium.
The day before his death, he he called out, in his sermon, to all soldiers, as children of God, to stop carrying out the government's acts of oppression.
On March 24th, 1980, while raising the chalice at the end of the Eucharistic rite, his blood joined that of his brother Jesus on the altar of heaven. Even in death, he was opposed by those who love darkness over light. His funeral was marked with gunfire and a smoke bomb. Of the 250,000 that attended his funeral, forty people lost their lives
Romero is not only honored in Catholicism but also in other Christian denominations. The picture above shows statues at Westminster Abbey. There Romero stands next to Martin Luther King as one of the 20th century's most important martyrs.
A church that suffers no persecution but enjoys the privileges and support of the things of the earth - beware! - is not the true church of Jesus Christ. A preaching that does not point out sin is not the preaching of the gospel. A preaching that makes sinners feel good, so that they are secured in their sinful state, betrays the gospel's call.
-Oscar Romero
