Through the Year with Oscar Romero: Daily Meditations

Through these excerpts from Oscar Romero's homilies the translator paints a strong picture of the martyred Archbishop of San Salvador. As the introductory material explains, Romero was gunned down while celebrating Mass on March 24, 1980. His execution was clearly ordered by government forces, known for silencing anyone demanding an end to corruption and injustice. In just a few pages of introduction we learn a good bit about Romero's faith and courage, highlighted in the 365 excerpts that follow. Each meditation is accompanied only by a descriptive title and references for the readings on the day the homily was preached. And each provides much food for reflection. On Sunday Mass, for example, Romero said, "I have to dethrone all the idols that want to take God's place in my heart or in my people...the idols that separate men from God. Sunday has to be for us the alliance with the Lord that is renewed." And of martyrs, he said, "It would be sad in a country where there are such horrible assassinations occurring if we could not also count priests among the victims."