CAFOD CAF7261 Saint Oscar Romero Shrine User Guide
- August 30, 2024
- CAFOD
Table of Contents
CAFOD CAF7261 Saint Oscar Romero Shrine
Saint Oscar Romero, defender of the poor, and prophet of peace, guides and inspires us to work for justice and reconciliation with wisdom and compassion in witness to our faith in Jesus Christ. Amen Saint Oscar Romero, pray for us. Saint Oscar Romero, remembered at this shrine still challenges anyone brave enough to listen.
WHAT CAN I DO NEXT?
- Speak up for justice around the world. Go to: cafod.org.uk/TakeAction to find out more.
- Find out more about Romero at cafod.org.uk/AboutRomero
- Watch a short video about Romero’s life, with original footage of the saint cafod.org.uk/ALifeForGod
- There is a Spanish version of this leaflet available online at cafod.org.uk/RomeroEspanol
THE SOUTHWARK ROMERO CROSS
The Southwark Romero Cross was designed by Fernando Llort, a friend of Oscar
Romero. It was installed in the Cathedral on 28 September 2013. The cross is
decorated in Llort’s distinctive style which has become symbolic of El
Salvador. This Salvadoran interpretation of familiar Christian symbols reminds
us that Christians are called to live and share the Gospel within their own
culture, society, and context.
The landscape in the background of the cross represents El Salvador’s mountains and volcanoes. And, instead of the familiar motif of a blade of wheat often used in illustrations of the Eucharist, Llort has used a stalk of maize, the main crop in Romero’s native land. The cross has two faces, ‘The Cross of Ministry’ – with images of the miracle of the Feeding of the Five Thousand and the Last Supper—and ‘The Cross of Resurrection’. The Church is God’s people. Romero’s motto was, “To feel (‘be at one with’) the Church”. It is written in Spanish at the foot of the cross.
Pause to reflect
What images might feature on a cross reflecting my own culture, society, and context?
WHO WAS ROMERO?
Oscar Romero was Archbishop of San Salvador, the capital city of El Salvador,
from 1977 to 1980. At the time, ‘campesinos’ (poor land workers) throughout El
Salvador were being oppressed, driven from their land, tortured, or killed by
the minority extremely rich, supported by the military.
Priests supporting the people were also a target. Soon after Romero was appointed Archbishop, his friend Father Rutilio Grande was murdered along with two companions. Romero was greatly affected and denounced the murder. Romero soon became known as ‘the voice of the voiceless’ and called others to “be God’s microphone”, speaking up for truth. In his sermons and via his radio station, he broadcast each week’s atrocities against the campesinos and called for justice and an end to the violence. When Romero’s radio station was destroyed to silence him, CAFOD helped rebuild it.
Pause to reflect
Against which injustices am I being called to ‘be God’s microphone’?
THE RELICS
Inside the cross are two relics. The first is Romero’s ‘zucchetto’ or skull cap, similar to that worn daily by bishops around the world. The other is a small, bloodstained fragment of a garment worn by Romero when he died. The relics are a tangible link to Oscar Romero. They remind us that he was an ordinary person like us – called to be a saint, just as we too are called to sainthood.
Pause to reflect
How am I pursuing my calling to sainthood?
MARTYRDOM AND CANONISATION
Romero bravely continued his work despite receiving death threats. But on 24 March 1980, while saying Mass, he was shot and killed. Romero said, “If I am killed, I will rise in the Salvadoran people”. Pope Francis canonized Romero in 2018. Saint Oscar Romero, his life is held up as an example that challenges people, not only in El Salvador but around the world, to speak up for justice and truth.
Pause to reflect
Which countries need my prayers today?
References
- cafod.org.uk/AboutRomero
- cafod.org.uk/ALifeForGod
- cafod.org.uk/RomeroEspanol
- cafod.org.uk/TakeAction