Prayer:Prayer to St. Oscar Romero

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Stored: Prayer to St. Oscar Romero

Prayer to St. Oscar Romero
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Added on 2026-08-13

Saint Oscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez (1917–1980), Archbishop of San Salvador, is venerated throughout the Catholic world as a martyr of justice and a defender of the poorest members of society. Canonized by Pope Francis on October 14, 2018, alongside Pope Paul VI, Romero stands as a towering witness to the Gospel call to serve the marginalized and to speak truth in the face of oppression. His assassination on March 24, 1980, while celebrating Mass at a small hospital chapel, transformed him into an enduring symbol of pastoral courage.

Prayers seeking the intercession of St. Oscar Romero have circulated among Catholic communities, social justice organizations, and Latin American faith movements since shortly after his death. Long before his formal beatification in 2015 and canonization in 2018, the faithful—especially in El Salvador, Central America, and among communities working with the poor—composed and recited prayers invoking his name, confident in his holiness. Today such prayers are found in parish prayer books, diocesan liturgies, and social justice ministries around the world.

This prayer calls upon the intercession of St. Oscar Romero, asking him to obtain from God the graces of courage, justice, and compassionate service, virtues that defined his earthly ministry and his ultimate sacrifice.

The Prayer

Saint Oscar Romero, shepherd and martyr, you gave your life in service to the poor and the oppressed, and you were taken from this earth as you offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Intercede for us before the throne of God. Obtain for us the grace to stand boldly for justice and truth, to defend the dignity of every human person, and to serve the poor with courageous and faithful hearts.

May your example inspire us to build a world more worthy of God's children, and may your prayers carry our needs before the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

History and Background

Oscar Romero was born on August 15, 1917, in Ciudad Barrios, El Salvador. Ordained a priest in 1942 and consecrated a bishop in 1970, he became Archbishop of San Salvador in 1977. Initially regarded as a conservative and cautious churchman, Romero underwent a profound transformation following the assassination of his close friend, Jesuit Father Rutilio Grande, SJ, in March 1977. Witnessing the systematic violence inflicted upon priests, catechists, and ordinary campesinos by the military government of El Salvador, Romero became an increasingly outspoken advocate for the poor and for human rights.

He used his weekly Sunday homilies, broadcast by radio across El Salvador and beyond, to denounce violence, call for accountability, and proclaim the liberating power of the Gospel. His voice became a lifeline for millions living under fear. On the evening of March 24, 1980, Romero was shot through the heart by a sniper while elevating the chalice at the offertory of Mass in the chapel of the Hospital de la Divina Providencia. His martyrdom was widely understood as a direct consequence of his prophetic witness.

Pope John Paul II visited his tomb in 1983, and Pope Francis, who had long venerated Romero, moved his cause forward decisively. He was beatified on May 23, 2015, in San Salvador, and canonized on October 14, 2018, in Rome. His feast day is March 24, the anniversary of his martyrdom. In 2018, Pope Francis also designated this date as the International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims.

Devotional prayers addressed to St. Oscar Romero have grown organically from the grassroots Catholic communities, known as comunidades de base (base ecclesial communities), that he championed during his lifetime. These prayers draw upon the themes of his ministry: the preferential option for the poor, human dignity, pastoral courage, and prophetic witness against injustice.

How to Pray / Devotional Use

The Prayer to St. Oscar Romero may be prayed individually or communally and is especially fitting in the following contexts:

  • Personal devotion: The prayer may be recited daily, particularly by those engaged in works of justice, social service, healthcare, or pastoral ministry among marginalized communities.
  • Feast Day observance: On March 24, the anniversary of his martyrdom and his liturgical feast, parishes and social justice groups frequently gather to pray this prayer as part of a commemoration of his life and witness.
  • Before acts of public witness: Those engaged in advocacy, peaceful protest, or public testimony on behalf of the poor and vulnerable may invoke St. Oscar Romero's intercession for courage and clarity of speech.
  • Parish prayer groups and justice ministries: Organizations such as Catholic Relief Services, Pax Christi, and parish social justice committees often incorporate this prayer into their gatherings, particularly during Lent, when Romero's feast day falls.
  • Liturgy of the Hours: The prayer may be incorporated into Morning or Evening Prayer as a closing intercession, particularly on his feast day or during the Easter Triduum.
  • School and university communities: Catholic educational institutions, especially those with a Jesuit or social justice charism, use this prayer to open meetings, classes, and community service programs.

When praying this prayer, it is traditional to briefly recall the words of Romero himself, particularly his famous statement: *"If they kill me, I shall rise again in the Salvadoran people."* This reflection can deepen one's meditation on martyrdom, resurrection hope, and solidarity with the suffering.

See Also

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