March 24, 1980: On the Anniversary of the Assassination of St. Oscar Romero, Martyr

A Letter Written & Signed by Archbishop Oscar Romero
& Translation

Oscar A Romero
Archbishop of
San Salvador, El Salvador, C. A.
(Seminario San Jose de la Montana)

                               San Salvador 18 de Noviembre/77. 

Dear Senor Rainey: 

First of all I want to congratulate you for the interest you take in collecting autographed photographs of representatives of the church in various countries.  It is a way of making history through photographs, which contributes to the history of the Church in our times.

            It is with great pleasure that I send you my autographed photograph for your collection.

            Also with this I send you a publication about some homilies (preaching) of mine, so that you know broadly my way of thinking.

                          May the Lord grant you many blessings.

                                        Affectionately in Christ

                                        Oscar A. Romero, Archbishop

The Words of Oscar Romero*

It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.

The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,

it is even beyond our vision.

We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction

of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work.

Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying

that the kingdom always lies beyond us.

No statement says all that could be said.

No prayer fully expresses our faith.

No confession brings perfection.

No pastoral visit brings wholeness.

No program accomplishes the church’s mission.

No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about.

We plant the seeds that one day will grow.

We water seeds already planted,

knowing that they hold future promise.

We lay foundations that will need further development.

We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.

We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation

in realizing that. This enables us to do something,

and to do it very well. It may be incomplete,

but it is a beginning, a step along the way,

an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.

We may never see the end results, but that is the difference

between the master builder and the worker. 

We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.

We are prophets of a future not our own.

Amen.

*The quote above, though attributed to Archbishop Romero was originally written by the late Ken Untener who became the much-loved bishop of Saginaw, Michigan.  He wrote it  while he was the vicar general of his diocese for a speech given by his  bishop.  The quote  came to be associated with Archbishop Romero—a gift, so to speak, from one bishop to another.

Bishop Ken Untener

Bishop Untener died in March of 2004.  He was 66 years old.

 Oscar Romero was murdered in El Salvador on March 24, 1980, while presiding at Mass.  His efforts to assist the poor and to speak out against social injustice, poverty and the assassinations occuring in his country cost him his life.  He was 62 years old.  Our Holy Father, Francis, declared him a martyr, paving the way for his canonization held in October 2018.

Saint Oscar  Romero, pray for us!