it's official: the first U.S. martyr is from Oklahoma!

Even though I knew it was coming, I was overwhelmed with joy when the public announcement came from Rome that Father Stanley Rother has been approved for beatification.

This makes the Okarche native the first martyr from the United States, as well as the first priest from the U.S. AND the first male born in the U.S. to be approved for beatification!

You’ve heard me talk about him before. 

Father Stanley Rother was an Oklahoma priest who served for 13 years as a missionary pastor for the Oklahoma mission in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala. In 1981, he was shot and killed in the rectory of the parish mission.

As the author of the first published biography of Father Stanley, I have been busy since the announcement answering questions and interviews about the Oklahoma martyr. 

In a very real way, however, it’s not about the book—and it’s not about me. It is such a privilege for me to be the one that helps spread Father Stanley’s beautiful story! 

I firmly believe that Father Stanley’s martyrdom is a much-needed witness for our Church today, a reminder that we are all called to holiness in our ordinary lives, and that holy men and women come from ordinary places like Okarche, Oklahoma!  

Here are the links to a few of the news sources I’ve been working with, and that you may enjoy:

The New York Times

Catholic News Service

Aleteia

Catholic News Agency

My favorite radio interview so far took place in the NPR studio at KOSU with renowned journalist Gerry Bonds.  Drop by the show’s website any time to listen to our discussion on writing and Father Stanley Rother -- The Living Room with Gerry Bonds.

Ps. To purchase a copy of my book, 

"The Shepherd Who Didn't Run," 

click here!

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Perhaps you feel like me, a bit perplexed that we are already roughly half way through Advent?

I am here to remind you that we still have time!  And to help you out, I am giving away – through the generosity of Magnificat Magazine – two free codes to Magnificat’s Advent App.

Just drop me a message here, on Facebook or via Twitter letting me know that you're interested—and I will randomly pick two lucky winners!

Small Mercies Miércoles: I'm grateful for... the work of my hands

I have been on hermit mode, trying to bring together the research, reading, interviews, of the past year and a half into a full, coherent draft of my book project. 

As you may recall, I’ve been working on the biography of Oklahoma martyr Father Stanley Rother who was murdered in Guatemala in 1981.  Here are some links with information--see here and here, including an article I wrote a few years ago, published in Our Sunday Visitor.

To some it may look like a tornado hit my office—but in spite of the piles, it’s organized chaos, at least for now. 

This is holy work.

It’s truly an honor to be in “conversation” with someone who was so clearly a lover of Jesus. Father Stan’s dedication and faithfulness to the people of Santiago Atitlán was a sacrifice of love, and to the people there, there is no need for an official process… Father Stanley Rother (Padre Apla's in their native Tzutujil language) is already their saint, interceding on their behalf!

So today, I am specifically grateful for…  the work of my hands.

I am spoiled. I get to work at home, in my slippers, writing the story of someone who inspires, challenges and provokes me to live radically for Jesus. 

And I must add, I am deeply grateful to my husband, who has for years not only offered me “patronage” (akin to the Renaissance tradition) so that I can carry out this ministry -- but even more importantly… brings me flowers, cooks dinner and sweeps the floor… so that I can stay focused when I’m in hermit mode!

Please pray for me? And do join me in praying for the canonization process of Servant of God Stanley Francis Rother.

Heavenly Father,

source of all holiness,

in every generation you raise up

men and women heroic in love and service. 

You have blessed your Church

with the life of Stanley Rother,

priest, missionary, and martyr. 

Through his prayer, his preaching,

his presence, and his pastoral love,

you revealed Your love and Your presence

with us as Shepherd. 

If it be your will,

may he be proclaimed

by the universal church

as martyr and saint,

living now in your presence

and interceding for us all. 

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

when does a saint become a saint?

I love the many photos of Father Stan with children

baptizing parishioner at Santiago Atitlán parish

Since my post yesterday, remembering the anniversary of Father Stanley Rother’s martyrdom, I’ve been thinking about how the ordinary work and devotion of one person can, truly, change and affect an entire community—and beyond.

Officially, the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City has presented Father Stan’s cause for canonization to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome, making him a Servant of God.

But in reality, the people of Santiago Atitlán are not waiting for an official declaration. They already affirm Padre Apla’s (Francis in their native Tz’utujil language) a saint—their saint, and they come to him daily asking for his help and intercession, much as they did during the 13 years that he served them as their priest.

Father Stan’s death, like his life, is simply one more outward sign of his deep and abiding holy love for them.

“He was a courageous missionary, who in spite of the violence that surrounded him, did not leave his flock. He is a great example for me, someone who gave his life for the People of God,” told me Sister Ambrosia, a member of the Hermanas Misioneras de la Eucaristía, Missionary Sisters of the Eucharist, who remembers and survived the years of violent social unrest in Guatemala.

“I can’t tell you how much I admire him. He could have returned to his country, but instead he remained with his people here. He represents Jesus,” Sister Ambrosia emphasized, “who gave His life for all of us. All of Guatemala already knows that he is a saint.”

Father Stan visits with a parishioner

Present day Santiago Atitlán parishioner at Memorial Mass for Padre Apla's

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note: check out Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul Coakley's column (July 28, 2011) on Father Stanley Rother, reprinted here.

2 noteworthy anniversaries: Father Rother and my Michelle & Conor

At 1:30 am on July 28, 1981, three Spanish-speaking Ladino men (non indigenous) snuck into the rectory of Santiago Apostol (St. James) church in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala.  They immediately went to the priest’s room, but he wasn’t there. They then seized and battered the 19-year-old brother of the associate pastor, whispering to the terrified young man that they would kill him if he did not take them directly to the pastor.

He led the attackers downstairs, knocked at the door of a utility room, and called out, “Father, they are looking for you.” Aware of the threat to the young man, Father Stanley Rother opened the door and let in his killers.

The young man fled, hearing Rother cry out moments later, “Kill me here!” There was a shot. Then another. Then silence.

46-year-old Oklahoma priest Stanley Francis Rother was one of 13 priests—and the first American priest—slain during Guatemala’s 36-year-guerrilla war, a tragedy that claimed an estimated 140,000 lives. On that fateful day in July, troops also killed 13 townspeople and wounded 24 others in this isolated village on the shores of the majestic Lake Atitlán.

No one has ever been prosecuted for his killing.

Writing a biography of Servant of God Stanley Rother is my current book project.  I’ve blogged about his story a few times, like here and here.

As we remember Father Stan’s death 32 years ago today, please join the Church of Oklahoma in praying that he be declared a saint by the universal Church.

Prayer for Father Stanley Rother’s cause for canonization:

Heavenly Father,source of all holiness,in every generation you raise upmen and women heroic in love and service. You have blessed your Churchwith the life of Stanley Rother,priest, missionary, and martyr.Through his prayer, his preaching,his presence, and his pastoral love,you revealed Your love and Your presencewith us as Shepherd. If it be Your will,may he be proclaimedby the universal Church 

as martyr and saint,living now in your presenceand interceding for us all.We ask this through Christ our Lord.Amen

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Today is also the FIRST anniversary of my youngest daughter Michelle & her Conor. Please join me in saying a prayer for this young couple? They're beautiful inside and out!