He is the first U.S.-born martyr to be declared Blessed by the Church
Read the full Blessed Stanley Rother novena on the novena page. You can also learn more about novenas here.
Who Was Blessed Stanley Rother?
Blessed Stanley Rother is an American priest and martyr from Oklahoma, who ministered to the Mayan descendants in Guatemala. He learned their native language and translated the New Testament into it. He is the first U.S.-born martyr to be declared Blessed by the Church. Pray this novena for the indigenous peoples and for courage to give your life for Christ.
Stanley Francis Rother was born on March 27, 1935, in Okarche, Oklahoma, to Franz and Gertrude Rother, devout Catholic farmers of German descent. Growing up on the family farm, young Stanley developed a strong work ethic and practical skills that would later serve him well in his missionary work. Though he struggled academically during his seminary studies—particularly with Latin—his determination and faith carried him through to ordination as a priest for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City-Tulsa on May 25, 1963.
In 1968, Father Rother volunteered for the Oklahoma mission serving the Tz’utujil Maya people in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala. There, he immersed himself completely in the life of the community, learning both Spanish and the difficult Tz’utujil language, eventually becoming one of the few able to translate the New Testament into Tz’utujil. He worked tirelessly to improve agricultural methods, establish a small hospital, and develop educational opportunities while serving the spiritual needs of his parishioners.
The late 1970s brought increasing political violence to Guatemala as the country descended into civil war. Indigenous communities like Santiago Atitlán became targets of government forces who suspected them of supporting guerrilla fighters. As someone who stood with the local people, Father Rother’s name appeared on a death list. Despite the clear danger, when urged to leave by his archbishop, he famously replied, “The shepherd cannot run at the first sign of danger.”
After a brief return to Oklahoma in early 1981, Father Rother chose to go back to his parish for Holy Week, knowing the risks. On July 28, 1981, three masked men broke into the rectory and murdered him. His parishioners, who had come to love “Padre A’plas” (Francis in Tz’utujil), insisted his heart remain buried in Guatemala while his body was returned to Oklahoma for burial. On September 23, 2017, Stanley Rother was beatified in Oklahoma City—the first U.S.-born Catholic martyr and priest to be recognized as “Blessed” by the Catholic Church.