Born on a farm in Oklahoma in 1935, Stanley Rother entered the seminary after high school. It took him two seminaries and eight years, but he was finally ordained in 1963 and served in parishes in Oklahoma City for five years until he felt a strong call to be a missionary.
In 1968, he left for Guatemala. In addition to his regular priestly activities, he helped with various agricultural projects thanks to his knowledge of farming. He learned Spanish and the native Mayan language, in which he said Mass and helped translate the New Testament. During the 7.5 magnitude earthquake in 1976, he worked tirelessly in relief efforts, caring for families, the dead, and the injured. At the same time, civil war broke out, and priests and church leaders began to disappear. Fr. Rother’s name was on the list, and despite being recalled to Oklahoma, he wrote, “The shepherd cannot run at the first sight of danger,” and he continued to minister to his flock.
On July 28, 1981, three men broke into the rectory, and while Fr. Rother fought back, allowing others in the rectory to escape, he was shot and killed. His body was returned to Oklahoma, except for his heart, which was entombed in the altar of the church where he celebrated Mass. He was declared a martyr and beatified in 2017.
A film is being released in theaters nationwide this week, Aug 25 through 27: American Martyr, the Stanley Rother Story, which includes anecdotes from his parishioners and family, as well as information on his cause for canonization. His dedication to his adopted people inspires us all.
