“The shepherd cannot run at the first sign of danger.
Pray for us that we may be a sign of the love of Christ for
our people, that our presence among them will fortify them to
endure these sufferings in preparation for the coming of the Kingdom.”
~Father Stanley Rother,
from his Christmas letter to Oklahoma Catholics,
months before his martyrdom
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Speaking to a plaza full of people in front of the Parroquia de Santiago Apóstol at the 35th anniversary of Blessed Stanley Rother’s martyrdom, Monseñor Gonzalo de Villa y Vásquez, S.J., then-Bishop of Sololá y Chimaltenango (now Archbishop-elect of Santiago de Guatemala) repeated over and over the word pronto at every reference he made regarding Father Rother's canonization.
He is honored and remembered, but above all, he is their priest, Padre Apla’s, the shepherd who didn’t run away from danger, who stood faithfully and lovingly with his suffering people.
[Hablando sobre Padre Apla’s]… su martirio se inscribe literalmente en las palabras de Jesús… dar la vida por sus amigos, por su pueblo, por aquellos a quienes se les confió su cuidado…
[Asi como el año pasado honramos a Monseñor Oscar Romero como martir]… hoy, igualmente, aquí en Atitlán en el recuerdo aparecide la vida y la memoria de Stanley Rother, Apla’s… pedimos a Dios que pronto llegue el día en que la iglesia reconozca oficialmente su martirio…
[al regresar a Atitlán] podemos decir que Apla’s humanamente selló su muerte trágica. Con ojos de fé… sabemos y proclamamos que esa muerte trágica y cruel abrió para el la vida eternal…
por eso hoy celebramos con alegría esta misa, y por ello damos gracias a Dios por el recuerdo y el ejemplo de este sacerdote ejemplar… y pedimos para que pronto no solo lo recordemos, sino que lo tengamos como intercessor.
¡Que así sea!
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[Speaking about Father Stanley’s death]… his martyrdom is a literal manifestation of Jesus’ words… to give his life for his friends, for his people, those who were entrusted to his care.
[Referring to Oscar Romero’s canonization last year] … today, in the same way, here in Atitlán, we honor and recall the life and memory of Stanley Rother, Apla’s… we petition to God that the day will soon arrive when the universal Church officially recognizes Father Stanley’s martyrdom.
[With his return to Atitlán] we can say that in human terms Father Stanley sealed his tragic death. With eyes of faith we know and proclaim that his tragic and heartbreaking death opened for him the doors to eternal life.
That is why today we celebrate with joy this Mass, and why we give thanks to God for the example and the memory of this exemplary priest… and we ask that soon we can not only remember him, but also have him as intercessor on our behalf.
May it be so!
[my un-official translation of Archbishop Gonzalo de Villa y Vásquez’ homily]
July 28, 2016
Padre Francisco – Padre Apla’s -- Father Stanley Francis Rother:
the young parish priest who put aside his fears, courageously agreeing to serve the People of God in Oklahoma’s mission in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala.
Father Stanley, the man who struggled to pass Latin and learn Spanish, yet succeded in learning the challenging Mayan language of his Tz’utujil parishioners.
Father Stanley, the farmer from Okarche, Oklahoma, who believed plowing the fields standing next to his Tz’utujil farmers was part of his vocation as a minister of God’s love.
Father Stanley, the shepherd who chose to face death rather than abandon his flock—the shepherd who didn’t run.
And, finally, Father Stanley Rother, already the first martyr from the United States, and the first priest from the U.S. to be declared a Blessed.
Yes, may we not only remember this exemplary priest, but may we also be able to have him as saint and intercessor on our behalf – and may it happen, ¡muy pronto!
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Want to learn more about Blessed Stanley Rother?
Check out my biography of our Oklahoma martyr, and SOON, available also in Spanish!
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