The Eucharist: Archbishop Oscar Romero

The Eucharist commits us to live for the lives of others. It is our duty as Christians to save the poor and needy. The Roman Catholic Church has strong beliefs in the Eucharist, and as seen in the movie, Romero, the Eucharist is also the source and summit of our lives; it transforms us to care for our neighbors. Archbishop Oscar Romero lived a life that showcased the Eucharist as the source and summit; he transformed himself into living a life in the service of others.

The Catholic Church is based around the Eucharist. It is the rock of our faith. The Eucharist is the Sacrament that makes the death and Resurrection of Christ present in Mass. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1323) states that the Eucharist is “a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet ‘in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.’” Even though Christ is not physically with us during mass, he is

present in the Eucharist. This presence, “is a substantial presence by which Christ, God and man, makes himself wholly and entirely present” (CCC, 1374). The Eucharist gives us life and strengthens our union with Jesus Christ. John 15:15 reads, “I have called you friends,” and “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1396) simply states, “The Eucharist makes the Church.”
Romero’s actions depicted the Eucharist as both the high point and the base of what Catholics believe is vital to our faith. Worldwide, Mass is celebrated every Sunday. Yet in Aguilares, it is very difficult to hold services due to the many people trying to receive communion and worship God at the same time. The soldiers do not like big gatherings and want people to disassemble. During one particular service, soldiers opened fire during Communion and killed many innocent people who were just simply trying to build their faith. Oscar Romero did not back down, but continued to hold Mass on Sunday since it served as a source of strength and unity for the Salvadorian people. They needed someone, and that someone is God. As seen in the movie, Romero, a Salvadorian soldier shot the tabernacle holding the body of Christ in front of Romero. Oscar stormed toward the tabernacle and began picking up the Eucharist. Monsignor picked up the life of Jesus. The next day, he took back the Church, and turned the Church back into the worshiping place of the Lord building a sanctuary for the people of Aguilares.
The Eucharist is a source of brother and sisterhood in the Church and transforms us to live for the lives of others.

As Jesus said in John 13:33-34, “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” We are called by God to serve and love others no matter what social rank they are. As said in the Nicene Creed, we are to be, “One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.” Romero also tried to accomplish this goal. He wanted to hold one Mass in the Cathedral rather than in three separate churches. He wanted to unify the people and bring together one community under one God, one Church, one Mass, and one Eucharist, regardless of social ranking. Romero felt that poor or rich, naked or clothed; everyone was entitled to God and to be a part of his Kingdom. According to Mr. Weir, “all people have a God-shaped hole in their hearts” that needs to be

filled.
Through the Catholic beliefs and the actions of Archbishop Oscar Romero, we can see the power of the Eucharist. It helps us follow in the footsteps of Christ so that we may join him in communion in eternal life. Father Romero showed that the Eucharist is the summit and high point of our faith and that it truly transforms us to actively help our brothers and sisters. When we participate in Christ’s dying and rising as a community, we share in the love that Jesus gave to us all.