Archbishop Vincent Nichols has celebrated a Mass in honour of Archbishop Oscar Romero in Westminster Cathedral to mark the 30th anniversary of the matryrdom of the former Archbishop of San Salvador.
In his homily, Archbishop Nichols said:
'Oscar Romero was a preacher of astonishing clarity and power. As we recall his life and his death, let us listen again to his words. These are words addressed to us as we travel through these last days of Lent.'
'These are words that he would wish us to take to heart for they spring from the depth of his own spiritual journey, one which all of us must travel. They were spoken on the 23 March 1980, the day before he was killed:'
‘How easy it is to denounce structural injustice, institutionalised violence, social sin! And it is true, this sin is everywhere, but where are the roots of this social sin? In the heart of every human being. Present-day society is a sort of anonymous world in which no one is willing to admit guilt, and everyone is responsible. We are all sinners, and we have all contributed to this massive crime and violence in our country. Salvation begins with the human person, with human dignity, with saving every person from sin. And in this Lent this is God’s call: Be converted!’
Death of Archbishop Romero
On 24 March 1980 Oscar Romero, the Archbishop of San Salvador in Central America, was shot dead whilst celebrating Mass. He paid the ultimate price for having preached the Christian Gospel, speaking out on behalf of the poor in his native El Salvador, a country then split by civil war and governed by a regime that clung to power through military force.
Since his death, millions of Christians have recognised Romero as a modern-day martyr.
Pope John Paul II prayed at Romero’s tomb, and Pope Benedict XVI has said it is his hope that the Servant of God will soon be beatified.
The Mass at Westminster Cathedral was sponsored by CAFOD, Pax Christi, Progressio, Westminster Justice and Peace Commission, and the Archbishop Romero Trust.
