The Saintly Sixteen continues with this year's early Cinderella, Lucy, taking on another modern martyr, Oscar Romero. Lucy made it this far by upsetting John the Baptist while Oscar Romero trounced Elizabeth Ann Seton. Will the "eyes" have it or will the assassinated archbishop carry the day?
In an emotional match-up (get used to it) yesterday, Jonathan Daniels bested Janani Luwum. He'll go on to face the winner of Martin Luther King, Jr. vs. Frances Perkins in the Elate Eight.
Despite the effects of Lent Madness Withdrawal (LMW) we all might need some time to catch our collective breath this weekend before a full week of Saintly Sixteen match-ups.
Oscar Romero
Oscar Romero, Roman Catholic archbishop in El Salvador, used his position to advocate for the rights of the oppressed, and for his advocacy, was assassinated while saying mass in 1980.
Archbishop Romero was orthodox to the core; he even went to Opus Dei for spiritual direction. To his mind, giving voice to the voiceless was advocating for the Church in its truest sense:
You and I and all of us are worth very much because we are creatures of God...and so the church values human beings and contends for their rights, for their freedom, for their dignity. That is an authentic church endeavor. While human rights are violated,...while there are tortures, the church considers itself persecuted, it feels troubled, because the church...cannot tolerate that an image of God be trampled by persons that become brutalized by trampling on others. The church wants to make that image beautiful.
Sadly, his fellow bishops and the Vatican hierarchy did not agree. When he had an audience with Pope John Paul II, Archbishop Romero used the opportunity to present the pope with a list of the names of the desparacidos that he had gathered, and urged the pope’s immediate intervention. But due to his continued, and fruitless, lobbying of the Vatican, by March 24, 1980, the pope had signed the order to replace him as archbishop. He never got the chance -- Romero was assassinated that evening[1].
Romero’s preaching, because it was broadcast throughout the country, was a powerful persuasive tool in the bloody civil war, and Romero took full advantage of it. In his last Sunday sermon, he directly addressed the members of the death squads:
Brothers, you came from our own people. You are killing your own brother peasants when any human order to kill must be subordinate to the law of God which says, 'Thou shalt not kill'. No soldier is obliged to obey an order contrary to the law of God. ...it is high time you recovered your consciences and obeyed your consciences rather than a sinful order. The church, the defender of the rights of God, of the law of God, of human dignity, of the person, cannot remain silent before such an abomination. ... In the name of God, in the name of this suffering people whose cries rise to heaven more loudly each day, I implore you -- I beg you -- I order you -- in the name of God: stop the repression.
Until the end, Romero thought martyrdom was a fate too honorable for him; “If God accepts the sacrifice of my life, may my death be for the freedom of my people. A bishop will die, but the Church of God, which is the people, will never perish. I do not believe in death without resurrection. If they kill me, I will rise again in the people of El Salvador."
[1] National Catholic Reporter, (http://ncronline.org/blogs/road-peace/romeros-resurrection)
Lucy
It's great that this round features quirks and legends, since much of what we know about Lucy is legendary. Aside from the important fact that she suffered martyrdom (during the Diocletian persecution of Christians in the 4th-century) after distributing her dowry to the poor, little is known of her life. She has always been a very popular saint, appealing to Lutherans, Roman Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and Anglicans alike. Major feasts for Lucy abound, from Sweden to Italy to Omaha, Nebraska, plus she has an island in the Lesser Antilles named after her.
Legend has it that Lucy’s eyes were torn out, either by her own self or by her torturers, but God supplied her with new eyes. Thus, she is often portrayed holding a platter with a pair of eyes on it, and she is the patron saint of the blind and those with eye diseases.
Another legend explains why in Scandinavia Lucy carries a tray of coffee and saffron buns shaped like cats with raisin eyes (lussekatter): during a 19th-century famine, a glowing Lucy arrived in a Swedish village by boat, bringing food to the starving residents. She wears the crown of lighted candles so that her hands are free to distribute nourishment to the hungry as she represents the Light of Christ in the world.
A similar 16th-century legend comes from her hometown of Syracuse, Sicily, where she appeared in the harbor, wearing her halo of candles, directing a flotilla of ships delivering wheat to famished Sicilians on her feast day (December 13). The people were so hungry that they simply boiled the wheat, rather than taking time to grind it into flour, hence the eating of wheat berries (cuccia) on St. Lucy’s day in Sicily.
Not many saints have their own soundtrack. Lucy inspired the traditional Neapolitan song “Santa Lucia” which Elvis Presley liked so much that he recorded it on his album “Elvis for Everyone” AND sang it in his movie “Viva Las Vegas.” It was also sung by Barney on “The Andy Griffith Show,” by the Robot and Will Robinson on “Lost in Space,” as well as featured in a Tom & Jerry cartoon, an episode of “Hogan’s Heroes,” and The Marx Brothers movie “A Night at the Opera.”
In all seriousness, though, Lucy’s steadfastness in her faith despite the violence done to her and her selfless generosity to the poor and hungry have inspired people in all times and places (see her photo here with Baby Jesus). With this plethora of stories (and more but I’m going over the word count!), it is clear that there are many reasons why Lucy is so universally beloved. I invite our dear readers to add theirs in the comments below.
-- Penny Nash
Vote!
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101 comments on “Oscar Romero vs. Lucy”
I belong to the same "Old Swedes" church already mentioned and I've done every conceivable task through 8 3-day Lucia Fests. I've been to Central America and have met people who knew Archbishop Romero. Lucy and the Archbishop are both incredible people. But John the Baptist was also an incredible person as was Mother Seton. And I did vote against Jesus' grandma, as someone expressed it. I'll go with Lucy ... but I'm nearly sure she won't win.
My vote goes to Oscar Romero but this is difficult since my name is Lucia and living in Sweden for many years added celebration to the name. However, Romero continues to witness for justice both in the face of brutality and in opposition to authorities who side with the institution rather than the people. Romero Presente
¡Romero presente! For me, it was not even a struggle to determine my vote. Romero's commitment to being la voz de los/las sin voz, speaking out against the fratricidal war and repression in his country still is an example of someone whose heart was broken, consequently set on fire and who became a prophet. A popular song about Romero says, 'Prophets, you cannot silence them.' Romero's tomb still is a place where el pueblo prays, weeps and sings. His voice still speaks and we, el pueblo, are to be God's microphones and continue to proclaim the gospel message of justice. For me, Romero is such an important figure that I cannot treat today's vote as a game. ¡Presente!
Right there with you, Lee. San Oscar Romero de las Americas is a saint who lives today in the hearts of so many across Latin America and the world. A voice for those without voice.
For those concerned about his conservative past (which was how he got the post of Archbishop) -- this is part of the story: he changed. Heartbroken and shocked by the murder of his dear friend, Fr. Rutilio Grande, along with two others, by paramilitary forces in 1977, he listened intently to the stories people brought to him of their imprisoned, tortured, disappeared and murdered family members. Then he used the means he had -- the cathedral pulpit, the Catholic radio station, the Archdiocesan human rights office, his access to the world press the Church beyond El Salvador -- to amplify their voices and to call for justice. He was a deeply prayerful man who carried the suffering of his people, even unto death.
Oscar Romero, Presente!
Gracias... and in this case, I really do not think that this is a popularity contest... how can on e say that having seen how deeply San Romero touches people's hearts, not just in El Salvador, not just in Central America, but around the world? Rome will never beatify him, we know that, but he already is a saint in the people's hearts.
I love it, too! Thanks for sharing this!
Woof, woof -- and thank you very much!
What a beautiful image! Starting from one exemplar of holiness, one shining beacon of light, that lights another, then the two candles light two more, and on and on until we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses! The playback in reverse may be an even greater blessing than the bracket.
Aleathia - So far, this is the funniest mental picture I’ve had all day. Thank you.
And "Eye love Lucy"
Disappointed that Lucy wasn't by Charles Shultz, otherwise she would have had my vote. 🙂
On International Women's Day, I'm going with Lucy.
Me, too! On International Women's Day I am voting for Lucy. I love that the tradition said that she wore a crown of candles so that her hands would be free to distribute food to the poor.
So glad to see the legend of Lucia saving all of Sweden from starvation included.
I was hoping Lucy would have a better showing after her impressive victory in the first round. I stuck with her today out of respect for my Scandinavian heritage and her wonderful legend if bringing light to a dark world. However, Archbishop Romero's witness is worthy of the win. I was especially impressed that he stood in opposition to the Vatican and upheld what he knew to be right!
Oscar Romero is especially remarkable in that he was born and raised in his country's privileges aristocracy. He was appointed bishop during times of political conflict because he was considered to be a "safe" choice, one who would most certainly not rock the boat or take up for the poor and disenfranchised. Instead he became deeply convicted by their plight and stood and spoke up bravely on their behalf, continuing to do so under threat of his life. Which it cost.
Lucy has been one of my favorites but wrapped up in so much legend and lore, its hard to distinguish the facts from fiction. This can be the case with many of the stories of the martyrs. I love all the folklore around Saint Lucy but I will have to go with Oscar Romero. He certainly can boast of no romantic miracles, doesn't appear as harbor traffic director in the middle of the night to allow access for wheat shipments to a city under siege but he spoke for the voiceless, stood up and spoke up for the voiceless, the poor, the weak...and for this he sacrificed his life. If that's not Christlike and a martyr then I don't know what is.
Both tugged at our collective heart-strings. Hope got the family vote today and decided on Lucy!
Loved loved LOVED Penny Nash's writeup, but alas, Oscar Romero is more real to me.
El Salvadoran history of that period was so grim, but Archbishop Romero's witness still speaks today. He got my vote.
Is recency a factor in today's vote? Many of us remember Oscar Romero's death; none of us remember Lucy's - unless Shirley MacLaine is voting. I voted for Lucy in solidarity with and commemoration of the untold numbers of women marginalized, victimized, abused, raped, and murdered over the centuries. Is the death of a woman less offensive because it is less well known?
Another heavy Lenten week. Need a little light. Voting for St. Lucy.
Thought the write up on Lucy was a bit trivialized, for shame! Have always loved Lucy and on All Saints Dress-Up Day there was invariably someone glamorously dressed in old curtains carrying a plate of olives...St Lucy of course. Voted for Oscar, Lucy has not been helping out with dry eye syndrome or my eye doctor sufficiently enough these days.
Archbishop Romero, the Boff Brothers and priest friends from South America-- Liberation theologians, all. They were my role models growing up. Proudly casting my vote for Oscar Romero.
Megan, love the write-up, and totally Romero presente! My almost birthday saint and despite the hokey film someone who has so informed my priesthood.
Just a slight Spanish correction: desaparecidos.
Well, Romero actually existed, which has to count for something.
However, a member of our church asked us to do a Saint Lucia celebration in traditional Norwegian style in memory of his wife who was from that region.
Seeing that young blond girl in the procession with candles in her hair was a choke-up moment, and even today, years after, it still brings a strong emotional response.
I voted for the Bishop, but not without a thought of the beauty of the myth of Santa Lucia.
Very tough choice as I'm of the Scandinavian persuasion. But in the end Oscar gets my vote.