We arrive in the land of the martyrs... Bienvenidos El Salvador! Upon arriving yesterday, I could already feel that in some way this land was holy.  Upon praying that first night at the Jesuit retreat house, where we were staying, I meditated that it must be the blood soaked ground which whispers of holiness and a fight for what is right. We gathered in the gorgeous chapel which overlooks all of San Salvador to end our night. I tried to the best of my ability to relay the immensity of our presence in this place and reminded them of the call we have all received to be His hands, His feet, His eyes and His voice. As I retired to my room, a cross hung above my bed... a cross with Archbishop Romero... my hero... tomorrow would be like no other. We woke early and prayed in the chapel and shared in breakfast before we headed out to the University of Central America, UCA for short. Upon arrival, we were escorted into the Oscar Romero Center which outlines the struggle for freedom outlined through the lives and examples of the martyrs. I watched the faces of our young men to see how they would react and take in the reality of the Salvadoran people. They were transfixed and moved as the stared at the artifacts and personal belonging of Padre Rutillio Grande, SJ, Archbishop Oscar Romero and the Jesuit martyrs of the UCA. I prayed that the boys for but a moment put themselves in the shoes of these martyrs and relive and experience what a selfless sacrifice is. In Toledo and now here in El Salvador I asked the boys a question over and over, "Is there anything in your life that you would say is worth dying for..." I looked deep into the boys faces as they looked at the images of my fallen Jesuit brothers who were murdered at the UCA and stood in the garden where their bodies laid the morning they were discovered and began to see a softening of eyes and an opening of hearts to what it means to believe in something so much that your life is a gift worth giving. This realization on their part only added to the power of traveling to Romero's house and place of assassination. We knelt in prayer in the chapel where a driver 30+ years ago drove up to the door and fired a single shot that silenced once and for all the prophetic Monsignor Romero. We prayed an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be to honor this amazing man. Personally for me this moment will forever remain in my heart. As I shared with the group later that night, Romero has served as a primary example of selfless love... a type of love deserving of a full life commitment to God. When I was a Junior just as they are, I heard, read and watched the Romero story and in the far recesses of my heart heard God's call to the priesthood. It was his passion, his voice, his example that gave me some of the same to follow a priestly life. There I was standing at the very altar where Romero laid down his life. With tears in my eyes I recommitted myself to my priestly call and kissed the altar in respect as Archbishop Romero had done so many times before. Thank you Monsignor for your example to me and the young men. We then drove to a park which lists the names of all 60,000 + people of El Salvador who had given their lives in the civil war. The memorial is very similar to the Vietnam Memorial in DC. It was moving to see the boys walk along the wall and trace their fingers over the names of those who died. Many found Fr. Grande and Romero and in a silent prayer traced out their names. It was a beautiful scene and moment. We then traveled to the Cathedral where Romero is buried. In our reflection that night, it seemed this was the place which most moved our students. The dark cool basement and the impressive tomb seemed to silence the boys and put a solemnity to all that they had experienced in the day. As one student reflected looking at a cross, "Romero and Jesus both died for a cause... Jesus died for all of us... That is just unbelievable and makes me moved like never before on what my faith means". The immensity and sacredness of the Cathedral moved us all. We then lightened the mood by traveling to a market where the young men for the first time met the Salvadoran people face to face. They bartered, haggled, and laughed as they communicated and bought trinkets and souvenirs. We returned to the retreat center for a delicious traditional meal of Papusas and lively conversation. After dinner, we gathered in a circle and relived the day. We discussed the issues of poverty, injustice, and martyrdom and shared the powerful moments of the day. I was so moved, proud and impressed with the boys sharing their experiences and perspectives. Numerous young men shared of the powerful moments of faith that they experienced through the examples of the Salvadoran people. It was so cool to see how close God was to so many of them. To wrap up our day we again gathered in the chapel where we had begun our day and prayed a traditional Catholic prayer known as the litany of Saints. The boys heard the stories of the martyrs and prayed for their intercession. The guys lit candles which illuminated their faces and illuminated all of our hearts on the events, moments and memories of the day. To end my reflection of El Salvador, I think the name fits so beautifully for this land. The Savior is so present here. I stood in Romero's little house which he once occupied and looked at his glasses which now sit on display. I reflected on all that has been seen through those lenses and prayed that I too could have such a glance of love Romero did so many years ago. May we all place Romero's glasses upon our eyes to see, care and love the oppressed as they are... children of God! Prayers from the land of the Martyrs!!! Br. L, SJ