Bishop Oscar Romero
Bob and Penny Lord
Published by Bob and Penny Lord at Smashwords
Copyright 2011 Bob and Penny Lord
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Bishop Oscar Romero
The story of Oscar Romero is one of transformation, from one born of poverty, to one living comfortably within the system, to one determined to change the system. The story of Oscar Romero is one of conversion, of Paul on the road to Damascus, of a man who was blinded, and whose eyes were opened by the Lord, to see his brothers and sisters in agony and misery. The story of Oscar Romero is one of a man who committed his life to right wrongs to his flock, or die trying. The story of Oscar Romero is one of a Martyr for Christ. The story of Oscar Romero is an affirmation of the power and mercy of God.
A boy from the poor side of town Oscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdamez was born on the Feast of The Assumption of Our Lady, August 15, 1917, in Barrios, a small, mountainous village high above sea level, in El Salvador, Central America. His father, Santos Romero and his mother Guadalupe de Jesus Galdamez, were not what you would call very religious people. The Church, and its rules were not uppermost in their minds. Proof of that is that the child Oscar wasn't even baptized until he was two years old. His father had to be given Marriage instructions before he and his fiancee could be married in the Church. And if that's not enough, the father, Santos, admitted to at least one illegitimate child, the fruit of a wild youth.
Santos Romero was a Postal worker. Little Oscar, as well as his four other brothers and one sister, used to play at the post office. They sent telegraphs, and helped deliver mail. It was a very casual village. Rules were not strictly adhered to. It sounds like a good, solid, secure job. Don't be taken in. It was a small village. There wasn't that much mail. The pay was poor. There was no security. Everything was tenuous in those days. Who knew if Santos would have a job the next day. Sounds much like the United States of the 90's. To supplement the family income, Santos grew coffee and cacao on acreage which his wife inherited from her side of the family. And still, they lived an extremely modest life. But so did everyone else in Barrios. There was no electricity, hot water or inside plumbing. The children had to sleep together in beds. Nobody had his or her own room.
From an early age, it was obvious that Oscar was cut from a unique cloth, not typical of the Romero family. His father taught him all his prayers. He seemed to sense something special in Oscar, that the other children did not possess. After Santos' death, Oscar wrote his reflections of his father. One part of their life together, in particular, touched him greatly. He wrote of that time:
"Only the memories remain, memories of childhood - how you would pace the bedroom floor as my child's understanding memorized the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Creed, the Hail Holy Queen, the commandments that your fatherly lips taught me.
"I still see you one night waiting for us to return with Mother from our trip to San Miguel, waiting with a toy for each of us made with your own hands."
Oscar was different from his brothers and sister, more serious, more spiritual. He began his education at a local school, which went up to the third grade. Then he continued with a private instructor until he was twelve. We don't know if this was the norm for the Romero family, if all the children had educations until they were in their teens, or if it was just Oscar because he showed such a proficiency for learning.
Whatever the case, when Oscar wanted to go beyond this phase of his education, the father balked. He was against more learning, getting that much education. What good was it going to do them? He made Oscar enter into an apprenticeship as a carpenter. This had to be a great disappointment for the young Oscar, but he obeyed his parents. He didn't just go into the apprentice program, he threw himself into it with all he had. He still went to church every day after work, to spend time with the Lord. We can see a yearning for the religious life surfacing early in Oscar's life. The Lord had touched him, and he would never be the same.
A major event took place in 1930, when Oscar was thirteen, which sealed his vocation. Fr. Monroy, Priest from the town, returned from studies in Rome, where he had been ordained. He was coming home to celebrate his first Mass. On hand for the festive occasion was the vicar general of the Diocese. Oscar was prodded to talk to him about his vocation. It took a lot of courage for Oscar to even mention it to the vicar-general, but he was spurred on by a local man, the town mayor. The vicar-general suggested Oscar attend the Minor Seminary at San Miguel, the seat of the Diocese.
A small conflict arose with Oscar's father. He was opposed to his son leaving their town. The minor seminary in San Miguel was not that far away, but by horseback, it took seven hours. We have to believe that either Oscar's mother, or the Priests had a great deal of influence on Santos, because Oscar finally received permission to go to the seminary.
Seminary life was exciting for Oscar. He missed not being with his family, but it was as if he belonged at the seminary in San Miguel; it was a completely different life from what he had known in the mountain town of Barrios. It was a new world for him. He had been powerfully inspired by the Lord; the direction of his life was set. He wrote a beautiful poem while he was in the minor seminary: