Why Is Oscar Romero Important

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Archbishop Oscar Romero is a significant person in the history of El Salvador and the Roman Catholic Church. We all know him for his tremendous generosity for the poor and standing up for what he believed in. Oscar spoke about peace and right for the poor and that is why he doesn't go unnoticed. Oscar began his work when he had his epiphany, which changed everything in his life. In the end of his life, Oscar passed away as a martyr as he was shot while presiding over a Mass. We should all take him up as an example to improve ourselves and others. Oscar Romero was born on August 15, 1917 in the city of Ciudad Barrios to Santos Romero and Guadalupe de Jesus Galdamez. Oscar was the youngest out of his siblings, who were Gustavo, Zaida, Romulo, Mamerto, Arnoldo, and Gaspar. At age 13, his father had apprenticed Oscar in carpentry, but he …show more content…

Oscar supported Junta, but the persecution of the poor and the Church continued. In February 1980, Oscar wrote a letter to U.S. President Jimmy Carter to preclude military support to the regime and pleaded, "We are fed up with weapons and bullets" because it was used to repress his people. It was ignored, but as a result of Oscar's efforts, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize which also gave him enemies. Unfortunately, Archbishop Oscar Romero was shot while celebrating Mass at a small chapel by an assassin. Oscar had foreseen the danger of assassination, but he courageously accepted his martyrdom and stated, "As a Christian, I do not believe in death without resurrection. If they kill me, I shall rise again in the Salvadoran people." On March 30, 1980, the archbishop was buried in Metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Savior and more than 250,000 mourners attended the ceremony. It shows that the people of El Salvador had adored and appreciated the works of Archbishop Oscar Romero in aiding poverty and social