Archbishop Oscar Romero (August 15, 1917-March 24, 1980)

Archbishop Oscar Romero was murdered while offering Mass on March 24, 1980 in San Salvador, El Salvador. He had become a genuine pastoral leader, outspoken on behalf of people in poverty, those surviving injustice, torture and violence. Last Sunday, October 14, Pope Francis named him a saint in the Roman Catholic Church.

I have been praying for his intercession since I was ordained a priest in 1983. He died at 62, the age I am at present. I have found great consolation from his life and martyrdom. My insights are mostly impressions of him as the years have gone by. However, I find in Oscar the beauty of conversion. From love, God called him as an unlikely leader to minister among people living in great fear.

On February 23, 1977, Oscar Romero was appointed Archbishop of San Salvador. On March 12, 1977, Rutilio Grande, a Jesuit priest and personal friend of Romero who had organized people in poverty, was assassinated. The death of his friend while trying to give voice to the poor greatly affected Oscar. This priest’s death compelled Romero to put his own faith into action, working among the oppressed and voiceless. Even though he had suffered from scrupulosity, his life now was being broken open for the benefit of others. The Jesuit priest’s death was never completely solved and this deepened Oscar’s quest for justice and peace.

The Holy Spirit compelled Archbishop Romero into becoming a spokesperson for justice. He was timid, with a complicated personality. Conversion happened in this man. He used his academic background and growing faith to find an authentic voice against hatred and war. Oscar Romero found his voice bending down to listen to the voices of people struggling to survive. His people were tormented by injustice, lack of food, torture and a lack of hope. His heart softened, his eyes were opened and his work became collecting the cries of the poor into a voice of liberation and freedom. He believed God would work miracles while they all carried the cross for a better life

His own spirituality centered on the Cross of Christ. He slowly understood that what he had learned from his scholarship was to be lived in the world. Suffering became a tool for him to find his faith and the mercy of God. He began to live out his real life of faith only in the closing years of his life. Romero lived the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. This way of following Jesus became the reason for his canonization. I pray that we all may find such dignity.

Oscar Romero wrote in his journal on February 4, 1943, “In recent days the Lord has inspired in me a great desire for holiness. I have been thinking of how far a soul can ascend if it lets itself be possessed entirely by God.” Oscar’s soul found God and allowed him to work beyond his expertise for the good of so many people. In his life, I find great inspiration and hope that the Lord Jesus is at work among us all, especially the broken and marginalized.

Blessings,

Fr. Ron

“Oscar Romero” Painting by: Rev. Ronald Patrick Raab, CSC 2018

PRAYER:

God of wisdom and justice,

As we celebrate the life of Saint Oscar Romero,

Open our ears to hear your whispers of love,

Open our eyes to the needs of people in poverty,

Open our mouths to speak for those shamed by hatred,

Open our hands to work for the real needs of people.

Help us let go of what we think is our security,

Help us act on behalf of people without power,

Help us engage the tragedies and hardships of outcasts,

Help us believe that faith in action brings liberation.

We ask this in the name of Jesus, our peace and salvation.

Saint Oscar Romero, pray for us.

Archbishop Oscar Romero (August 15, 1917-March 24, 1980)

Archbishop Oscar Romero was murdered while offering Mass on March 24, 1980 in San Salvador, El Salvador. He had become a genuine pastoral leader, outspoken on behalf of people in poverty, those surviving injustice, torture and violence. On Sunday October 14, 2018, Pope Francis will name him a saint in the Roman Catholic Church.

I have been praying for his intercession since I was ordained a priest in 1983. He died at 62, the age I am at present. I have found great consolation from his life and martyrdom. My insights are mostly impressions of him as the years have gone by. However, I find in Oscar the beauty of conversion. God called him from love as an unlikely leader to minister among people living in great fear.

On February 23, 1977, Oscar Romero was appointed Archbishop of San Salvador. On March 12, 1977, Rutilio Grande, a Jesuit priest and personal friend of Romero who had organized people in poverty, was assassinated. The death of his friend while trying to give voice to the poor greatly affected Oscar. This priest’s death compelled Romero to put his own faith into action, working among the oppressed and voiceless. Even though he had suffered from scrupulosity, his life now was being broken open for the benefit of others. The Jesuit priest’s death was never completely solved and this deepened Oscar’s quest for justice and peace.

The Holy Spirit compelled Archbishop Romero into becoming a spokesperson for justice. He was timid, with a complicated personality. Conversion happened in this man. He used his academic background and growing faith to find an authentic voice against hatred and war. Oscar Romero found his voice bending down to listen to the voices of people struggling to survive. His people were tormented by injustice, lack of food, torture and a lack of hope. His heart softened, his eyes were opened and his work became collecting the cries of the poor into a voice of liberation and freedom. He believed God would work miracles while they all carried the cross for a better life

His own spirituality centered on the Cross of Christ. He slowly understood that what he had learned from his scholarship was to be lived in the world. Suffering became a tool for him to find his faith and the mercy of God. He began to live out his real life of faith only in the closing years of his life. Romero lived the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. This way of following Jesus became the reason for his canonization. I pray that we all may find such dignity.

Oscar Romero wrote in his journal on February 4 1943, “In recent days the Lord has inspired in me a great desire for holiness. I have been thinking of how far a soul can ascend if it lets itself be possessed entirely by God.” Oscar’s soul found God and allowed him to work beyond his expertise for the good of so many people. In his life, I find great inspiration and hope that the Lord Jesus is at work among us all, especially the broken and marginalized.

Read the article and view the photos from Notre Dame Magazine on the restoration of Sacred Heart Church, HERE

“In the sight of the angels…” Painting by: Ronald Raab, CSC

O God,

In the sight of the angels, I will sing your praises.

O God,

Send forth your angels

So we may sort through the realities of abuse in our Church,

So we may seek union in our racial divides,

So we may learn how hungry the poor really are,

So we may not scapegoat the powerless,

So we may seek justice among those who seek entry in our nation,

So we may teach our children how to believe in you,

So we may not divide with our tongues,

So we may learn how to listen to the marginalized,

So we may speak the truth of our lives,

So we may heal our wounded cities,

So we may show others that love is possible.

O God,

In the sight of the angels, I will sing your praises.

Text: Ronald Raab, CSC

Cover art by: Rev. Ronald Raab, CSC

Dear Followers of Jesus,

There is a new statue in Sacred Heart Church. The new bronze statue is an image of Saint André Bessette. The statue came from the artistic hands of Rev. Anthony Lauck, CSC who died in 2001. Fr. Lauck was a priest and artist at the University of Notre Dame. I considered him a spiritual and visual mentor when I was in college. Copies of this statue are located in many of our Holy Cross institutions. I am so proud to have this art welcome folks through the doors of Sacred Heart Church. André’s hands extend down to welcome the weary and unfortunate.

Saint André Bessette is important to this community for many reasons. Not only was he the very first religious to be canonized, but also his relic is in the new altar at Sacred Heart. I also painted an image of Saint André that hangs in the main enterance and that image was published in AIM Magazine a couple of years ago.

Saint André was illiterate and his ministry as a porter drew the attention of many people. He became a healer in Montreal. He ministered at the door for over forty years. His ministry was to welcome people but in that position his faith drew others to Saint Joseph and his healing potential. He lived a very simple life. He believed that small things would lead him to God. This belief led him to receive over 600 people a day. He slept only an hour or two and spent the night praying for the people whom he had met during the day. Many people were cured of their ailments and diseases.

Saint André died January 6, 1937 and over one million people came to his funeral in Montreal during that snowy winter. His reputation extended throughout Canada and the United States. His legacy of simplicity, hospitality and healing forms our ministry and lives as members of the Congregation of Holy Cross.

A Prayer for Healing to Saint André Bessette

Saint André,

I come to you in prayer for healing. (…state your need…)

You were no stranger to illness.

You were an orphan and homeless.

You questioned your strength and place in life.

You were illiterate and your body was weak.

You received thousands of people at the door.

I come before you today in need.

Pray that I might be restored to health in body, mind and soul.

With Saint Joseph as my guide,

Strengthen my faith and give me peace,

That I might accept God’s will for me,

No matter the outcome.

Amen

Saint André Bessette, pray for us.