The Holy Spirit and Romero

Veni, Pater Pauperum…

Come, Father of the Poor…

Sequence for Pentecost Sunday

Some might be surprised that the Pentecost sequence invokes the Holy Spirit as Father of the Poor.

How can this be?

The Spirit is the Comforter – and comforts the poor in their sorrows and pain.

The Spirit is the advocate, the Paraclete – who advocates for the poor in the face of injustice.

The Spirit gives the People of God the gift of Courage – so that the poor and their advocates witness to the justice of the Reign of God.

The Spirit is the force of Initiative in the lives of God’s people, renewing the Church – so that the Church be truly “a poor Church and a Church for the Poor,” as Pope Francis as said.

The Spirit is continually be poured on the People of God, the Church, so that it may live the mission of Jesus, to be Good News for the Poor.

But I was surprised yesterday when the Pope’s Apostolic Letter announcing the beatification of the martyr Archbishop Oscar Romero called him “Pater pauperum,” “Father of the Poor.”

Romero who lived the Spirit of Jesus shows us how the Spirit walks on earth.

Romero was a comforter of the poor, accompanying those who family members were killed or disappeared.

Romero was an advocate for the poor, the voice of the voiceless, speaking out often, especially in his Sunday homilies, to denounce the injustice being done to the poor.

Romero gave people courage by his words and by his presence, as well as by listening to those whom the powers held in contempt – the poor, those struggling for justice.

Romero was a force that renewed the Church of El Salvador in his time – and that hopefully will renew the Church today, opening us up to the initiatives of the Reign of God.

Romero witnessed to the mission of Christ, especially by his option for the poor and marginalized, in the name of Christ.

With Romero, the Spirit of Jesus breathes among us.

A friend of mine, Jaime Vidal, in a reply on a Facebook post, reminded me that the Pentecost sequence includes much that shows us how the Spirit breathes among us and how Romero showed us we can let the Spirit blow through us.

...to the point we let the Spirit into us, we become what He is -- pater pauperum [father of the poor], consolator optime [the best comforter], in fletu solatium [solace in the midst of tears]... and we flecte quod est rigidum [bend what is rigid], fove quod est frigidum [fire up what is cold], rege quod est devium [correct what goes off course]… May [Romero’s] glorification on the feast lead many more to open their hearts wide and let that same Spirit in, and become like Oscar, and one with the Spirit.

I can think of no better prayer today than this

Holy Spirit, make us one with you
as you are one with the blessed martyr Oscar Arnulfo Romero.

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This post can also be found on Walk the Way.

Romero, Father of the Poor

Today I witnessed the official beatification of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero, martyred at the altar on March 24, 1980.

Enormous crowds (more than 250,000), amazing energy, and a renewal of commitment for the poor.

I took part in the vigil which overflowed with youthful energy. 

The Mass for the beatification in the morning was a little more solemn – but still filled with a joyful grace that at times brought me to tears.

 The statement of beatification declared that this act was in response to the sensus fidelium, the sense of the faithful, and in fulfillment of the hopes of many believers. But the description of Romero was forthright and surprising:

bishop and martyr, pastor according to the heart of Christ, evangelizer and father of the poor, heroic witness of the Reign of God, a Reign of justice, fraternity, and peace.

Tomorrow is the feast of Pentecost. In the Pentecost Sequence the Holy Spirit is invoked as the Father of the Poor.

Some of us wondered why the Vigil of Pentecost was chosen as the date for Romero’s beatification. Could it be that Pope Francis sees Romero as a manifestation of the Holy Spirit?

Cardinal Ángelo Amato, the pope’s delegate, echoing a thought that the martyred Jesuit, Ignacio Ellacuría, once made, stated that 

With Romero, Jesus walked with his people.

Romero reflected the Trinity in his life of love, solidarity, and advocacy for the poor, showing forth the Spirit of Jesus.

But I believed that we witnessed a sign of God's confirmation of Romero's holiness.

After the reading of the decree, a relic of Romero was brought forth – the shirt he wore when he was martyred.

Then the official image was unveiled.

But almost at the very moment we saw the image, several of us looked up into the sky and saw the sun surrounded by a rainbow ring.

The ring remained for about 45 minutes – until the beginning of the Eucharistic prayer.

Was this a sign? God shining a halo on his beloved martyr, Oscar.