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“There are many things that can only be seen through eyes that have cried.”
on empathy, on change, and becoming Saint Romero
Sunday, October 14, marks the elevation to sainthood of Oscar Romero. If you are unfamiliar with his story, Romero was elevated to archbishop of San Salvador in 1977, a move that reportedly pleased the ruling class of that country. At the time Romero had a reputation for following the rules, of being relatively conservative in a country where there was great turmoil between the wealthy and the poor.
Early in his tenure, one of his priests who had been working among the poor of that country was killed. This priest had been creating “self-reliance” groups among the poor there. This murder became a turning point for Romero, leading Romero to commit himself to the cause of the poor in San Salvador.
He preached openly about God’s care for the poor, much to the dismay of the wealthy upper class of that country. This culminated in 1980 in the assassination of Archbishop Romero, as he celebrated mass. He died on the altar that day.
So what changed in a man who was known to follow the rules, to not cause trouble? What turned Romero into someone who stood up to the powerful, siding with the powerless?
Romero once said, “There are many things that…
