“I now have the idea that just like how they build churches on the martyrs’ graves, the word of the martyrs will be just as mighty.” (Remy, 5th grade)
The spirit of the martyrs is growing among the students at Sacred Heart School, a bilingual Catholic elementary school in Washington, D.C. Every year we celebrate Mass in honor of St. Óscar Romero. With the recent beatification of four more Salvadoran martyrs, the Church offers us new examples of holiness.
Teaching children about martyrs and the reality of injustice that leads to their deaths is a huge challenge. As the school’s director of religious education, I collaborated with our classroom teachers to offer Zoom lessons about St. Óscar Romero and the new Salvadoran blesseds.
On March 12, 1977, Blessed Nelson Lemus was a 16-year-old 7th grader when he was martyred on his way to Mass along with his family’s beloved friend and pastor, Jesuit Father Rutilio Grande, and the church’s sacristan, Manuel Solórzano. Father Grande had been targeted for his prophetic accompaniment of Salvadorans suffering from poverty and injustice. The deaths of Father Grande, Manuel and Nelson helped to transform the new Archbishop Romero into an outspoken advocate for his people, the voice of the voiceless.
Blessed Nelson’s life offers an example of youthful holiness. Countless interviews with Nelson’s oldest sister, Dinora, recount his life. Nelson enjoyed his studies. He regularly attended church and read the Bible. He always offered to help people and liked to carry their belongings. Nelson was a protective older brother who loved his younger siblings. Dinora recalls a favorite memory of playing with Nelson in the courtyard. She and her sisters cooked, and Nelson made pretend money from olive leaves to “buy” their food.
Our students’ questions poured in. Did Nelson’s little sisters understand what happened to him? Why would they kill those people for practicing their faith? Is this why people came to the United States?
We answered their questions as best we could. At the end of the lesson, students were asked to offer one new idea about they had learned. Their responses remind me of what Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children…” (Matthew 18:3)
Here is a portion of the 5th grade’s Zoom chat, edited for spelling.
- “The martyrs still be on God’s side.” (Andres)
- “That the voice of these people just got louder because of the deaths of these people.” (Charlie and Raquel)
- “That Oscar Romero was a part of this loud voice.” (James)
- “That dying for your faith makes people respect you even more.” (Henry)
- “That the faith of these people helped them throughout these tough times.” (Joshua)
- “The way these people helped others’ lives is great to show kindness in life.” (Diana)
- “I learned…that no matter what people will still fight for their rights” (Jaqueline)
- “I now have the idea that just like how they build churches on the martyrs’ graves, the word of the martyrs will be just as mighty.” (Remy)
- “That the martyrs are a big part of the church!!” (Raquel)
- “Their spirits to this day will be happy because we are celebrating their history, and we will not forget their history.” (Isabella)
- “[W]e could keep them as an example.” (Otoniel)
- [Commenting to his classmate] “Remy, that was deep.” (Charlie)
- [Commenting to his classmate] “No kidding” (Joshua)
- “What I learned is that Oscar Romero completely changed his life after the assault of the martyrs.” (James)
- “I learned that people are taking something that is sad to make you think that there are good things about it as well.” (Sammy)
- [Responding to James’ comment] “Assault. One of our English [spelling] words.” (Charlie)
- [Hand clap emoji] (Isabella)
- [Responding to Charlie’s last comment] “I was going to say death but…” (James)
- “We must not back down when people threaten you because of your faith.” (Remy)
Our younger students enjoyed the enchanting cartoon drawings of the martyrs shared by the Archdiocese of San Salvador. “St. Romero died for us,” remarked a 2nd grader, beginning to understand how the martyrs help lead us to our Savior. A few of our 8th graders crafted creative works of art to offer at our school’s Salvadoran Martyrs’ Mass, celebrated on March 11.
Our students also learned about the beatification Mass celebrated in San Salvador on Jan. 22, 2022, for Nelson, Manuel, Father Grande, and Franciscan missionary Father Cosme Spessotto. Our students were impressed that the youth volunteers who served as ushers spent much of the three-hour Mass standing. “My legs would have broken,” remarked one of our students.
This sacrifice of life, living one’s duties and faith, day by day, is the spirit of martyrdom described by Pope Francis. Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chávez of El Salvador, in his homily at the beatification Mass, explained how the new martyrs represent all the anonymous martyrs and a renewed hope for a more just El Salvador.
We at Sacred Heart School invite everyone to learn the lives of these martyrs, to invite their spirit into your life and faith. Saint Óscar Romero and Blesseds Rutilio, Nelson, Manuel, and Cosme, pray for us.
(Cinnamon Sarver is the director of religious education at Sacred Heart School in Washington, D.C., and member of the same parish.)
Sources:
https://www.americamagazine.org/issue/pope-francis-recalls-slander-blessed-oscar-romero
https://www.vaticannews.va/es/iglesia/news/2022-01/el-salvador-cardenal-rosa-chavez-misa-beatificacion-martires-paz.html
