Reflection by Archbishop Pedro Casaldaliga

Romero, not yet beatified but still a saint to many, reflects Archbishop Pedro Casaldaliga.

Celebrating the Anniversary of our Saint Romero of the Americas is to celebrate a testimony that fills us with prophecy. It is to, uncompromisingly, take on the cause for which our Saint Romero is a martyr.

He was a great witness, following the greatest witness, the faithful witness, Jesus. The blood of martyrs is the cup from which we all, men and women, can and must drink. Always and in all circumstances the memory of martyrdom is a subversive memory.

Thirty years have passed since that full Eucharist in the Hospital Chapel. That day our saint wrote to us: "We believe in the victory of the resurrection. And often said, prophesying a new era, "if I die I will rise again in the Salvadoran people. " And with all the ambiguities of history unfolding our Saint Romero is being resurrected in El Salvador, in Our America, in the World.

Everything is grace, everything is Easter, if we risk all to enter into the mystery of the shared supper, the cross and the resurrection.

Archbishop Pedro Casaldaliga

This Anniversary must renew in all of us, men and women, a hope – lucid,

critical but invincible. "Everything is grace, everything is Easter, if we risk all to enter into the mystery of the shared supper, the cross and the resurrection.

Saint Romero teaches us and "asks from us" that we live a complete spirituality, a holiness as much spiritual as political. In everyday life and in greater matters of justice and peace, "with the poor of the earth" within the family, in the street, at work, in the popular movement and in everyday pastoral work.

He waits for us in the daily struggle against that kind of monstrous tidal wave that is neoliberal capitalism, against the all-encompassing market, against rampant consumerism. The Brazilian Fraternity Campaign which is ecumenical this year, reminds us of the strong words of Jesus: "You cannot serve two masters, God and money ".

Responding to those in Society and in the Church who tried to demoralise Liberation Theology, the path of the poor in community, this new way of being church, our pastor and martyr replied: "There is an 'atheism' closer and more dangerous to our Church: the atheism of capitalism when material goods are set up as idols and take the place of God."

Those faithful to the signs of the times, such as Romero, who recognise the faces of the poor and their urgent social and pastoral needs must highlight, at this Anniversary, the greater causes

, some of them true paradigms: Ecumenism and macro-ecumenism, in religious dialogue and in universal Koinonia – communion; The rights of migrants against segregation laws; Solidarity and inter-solidarity; The huge ecological cause.(In fact our Latin

Always and increasingly, when the challenges become greater, we will live out the option for the poor, hope

American agenda this year is dedicated to the ecological problem, with the challenging title: " Save ourselves with the Planet):The integration of Our America; The campaigns for a lasting peace, denouncing the growing militarism and weapons proliferation. Always encouraging changes in the Church, with the active involvement of the laity as advocated by Saint Dominic and equality of women in church ministries. The challenge of everyday violence, especially in youth, manipulated by the alienating media and the worldwide drug epidemic.

Always and increasingly, when the challenges become greater, we will live out the option for the poor, hope "against hope". In following Jesus,the Kingdom within. Our coherence will act as the best canonization of "Saint Romero of America, Shepherd and Martyr ".