The Jesuit Martyrs of El Salvador and Archbishop Oscar Romero

Mr Fanger visits Mission Santa Clara to talk about the six Jesuit priests and two women staff members who were killed in El Salvador in 1989 for speaking out and defending “the least of these” in their country. I’m honor of their martyrdom, eight white crosses bearing their names are permanently displayed in the entrance to the Mission Santa Clara. For Santa Clara University students who pass by the Mission on their way to class each day, these crosses are a reminded to the witness to justice and faith that these brave men and women bore during their life and death.

The mural of Oscar Romero in the Mission District of San Francisco honors the bravery and wisdom of another important martyr from El Salvador. Romero was assassinated in the middle of Mass and died for putting his faith into action in defending the vulnerable people of his country, El Salvador. These examples of martyrdom inspire us as people of faith to courageously defend our beliefs and strive to put our faith into action, especially as we follow Jesus’ message to us: to help “the least of these.”