March Drinking Companion

This month I want to write about a saint, I plan to further understand next month when I’m in El Salvador, St. Oscar Romero. Like all things in our modern society, agendas can muddy the understanding of someone’s life. We see this with Pope Francis, if you do not read his words verbatim from a Vatican news source, they’re often twisted for the angle of that media source, wherever it lands on the spectrum. St. Oscar Romero experiences similar aspects. It’s often said he believed in liberation theology, which like socialism is a confusion of Catholic social teaching. This was anything but true, as he was very orthodox in his teaching and this would offend those on the left side of the spectrum. However, he like Pope Francis spoke about caring for the poor and marginalized, which eventually led to his assassination in the middle of celebrating the Mystical Meal of the Eucharist, by the militant right of his country.

St. Oscar Romero embodied what it meant to be Catholic. The goal is to be universal and include everyone, with every teaching of uncompromising truth. I say this quote over and over, that I got from a Facebook meme, “If your conservative friends say you’re liberal, and your liberal friends say you’re conservative, you’re probably Catholic.” This is what Catholic social teaching is about, no human being or creation is left out, it’s all to be respected, in the order of natural law, from natural conception, to natural death. When we start to pick and choose what we like, it always ends up leaving something, or more so, someone without hope. It’s a very challenging concept, like the pro-life argument. We have to believe in the Resurrection of Jesus, if we know that God can take the worst situation and make new life of it, how much more can he do for an innocent child that was conceived in a challenging situation, or even more radical, the changing of the heart of a convicted murderer (i.e. Blessed Alessandro Seranelli or Memhet Ali Agca)

These are the pressing challenges that St. Oscar Romero confronted, and eventually gave his life as a witness to. He spoke up for the poor which always makes those in charge uncomfortable since this can range from the poor in spirit, to the poor in material needs. Too often we pigeon hole people into agendas, which then become a way of dividing us, and in the case of El Salvador led to a civil war that continues to present it’s challenges to this day. I should also note, his orthodoxy challenges those on the other side of poverty, that it’s a call to reform one’s life, and turn back to God’s grace. In doing so, our society will radically transform when our moral compass aligns with that of God’s design in natural law. We see this in life and nature, the more we act like gods and destroy it, the more dark and dirty our world becomes.

In close I would like to share a couple reflections I’ve had over the years. Is it better to give a man a fish and he eat for a day, or teach a man to fish so he eats for life? Is one more free when they are controlled by their emotions/passions or more free when they control their emotions/passions? Is it possible we have the resources we need, but all too often squander them? What are you doing individually to be a solution.

If everyone just did their part, we would see a radically different society. Unfortunately everyone wants achieve fame with their accomplishments, instead of achieving the fullness of their destiny no matter how big or small. St. Therese of Lisieux is always a great reminder, she died unknown to the world doing little ways, only to now be known by millions after her death. St. Andre Bessett as well, he just answered the door like a good servant. He dies circa 1930 and 1 million people show up to his funeral.

Here is a prayer I wrote and printed for a holy card for St. Oscar that I will take to his tomb next month.

St. Oscar Romero, please pray that we as a society, may end the culture of death.

Pray for us that we may recognize the human dignity in every person from natural conception, to natural death.

Inspire us to be witnesses of true peace and justice, which is found in Eucharistic gathering with the Lord Jesus Christ.

May we, like you, lay down our lives for the good of others in the name of Christian love and sacrifice.