A Saintly and Blessed Place- Part II

 My friends, due to some construction outside of the house, the wifi has not been the greatest, which prevented my previous post ‘Part I’ to not be published when I desired it. As my former professor at seminary would say, ‘Technology is the ontology of modernity’!

Anyway, I would like to share with you ‘Part II’ of this short post series with an introduction to Blessed Stanley Rother!

As mentioned previously, Santo Hermano Pedro Bentancour was a Saint of the poor and sick in Antigua, and an example of what it means to live out our Baptismal Priesthood- not just through fundraising or a share in our own surplus of our material wealth- but through the sharing in of Christ’s own poverty at Bethlehem when He humbled himself to take on our own weak and ‘poor’ human nature. Santo Hermano Pedro showed us that our own wealth comes from our own poverty as human beings, and by giving of ourselves, we share the greatest gift of wealth that we have- nothing material or words of ‘inspiration’- but ourselves and our love for others.

Now, I would like to share with you a little bit about a man who is close to me as a Priest and my formation in the Seminary- Bl. Stanley Rother. 

Bl. Stanley Rother was born in Okarchie, OK in 1935. He was, like any ordinary, child one who attended school, did chores at home, and helped support his family in whatever way he could. When he was age and desired to become a Priest, he was accepted by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and attended Seminary at Assumption Seminary in San Antonio Texas. Having struggled with his Seminary academics, he was dismissed from Assumption Seminary. However, His Bishop had absolute faith that Stanley Rother was to become a Priest, after seeing his Pastoral Zeal and love for Christ. His Bishop then sent him to Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg Maryland (my Alma Mater- that’s why he is a big deal in the life of any Seminarian and Priest that comes from the Mount!

It was here where, he continued to struggle with his Academics, but with the assistance of the Seminary Formation Team, Faculty, and Staff, as well as his own perseverance, he was ordained a Priest in May 1963. He served in his Diocese for 5 years. He then desired, with the inquiry of his Bishop, to serve in the Diocese Mission Parish in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. The Parish and the town was home to the native tribe of the Tz’utujil, descendants of the Mayans. Although Stanley Rother struggled with academics, especially in Latin, he was able to learn the native language of Spanish and Tz’utujil. He celebrated Mass and translated the Bible in their language. 

Fr. Stanley Rother was a man of the people. He saw their poverty, and much like Santo Hermano Pedro, entered into their poverty and livelihood. He ate with them, he learned form them, he educated them, he ministered to the sick and the dying, and helped on their farms (using his farmers skills from his youth) by assisting them in growing and collecting crops and introducing them to an irrigation system. Fr. Stanley Rother was loved by the people in Atitlan

However, during his ministry in Guatemala, the country was going through a time of civil war. The Catholic Church faced many challenges with a number of their people being killed and lives threatened. During the conflict, Fr. Rother’s name was put on a death list for his outspoken character and defense of the sanctity of human life. He returned home with the request of his Bishop. After a few months of being back in Oklahoma, his ‘shepherds heart’ longed to be with the people of Guatemala, especially during this period of time.

He returned to Mount St. Mary’s to seek guidance from our Lady, and came to the conclusion that ‘the shepherd cannot run’. By his request to his Bishop, he returned to Atitlan to be with the people. He knew he needed to be with them in their pain and suffering. He was their leader- he was their shepherd. He knew he needed to give his life for them, and after a few months of returning, three men broke into the rectory in the middle of the night. Knowing he was not going down without a fight, Fr. Rother for his life and was eventually executed on July 28, 1981 in his room.

The people of Atitlan mourned the loss of their shepherd. When his body was to be sent back to Oklahoma, the people requested that his heart- the physical heart- be kept with them, where it is enshrined in the Church of Santiago in Atitlan to this day.

Pope Francis approved his Cause for Beatification in 2016 as a Priest and Martyr for the faith. 

What we need to recognize is the heart of a Priest, a Shepherds Heart. Bl Rother was a Priest who was willing to give his life for his people. He imitated Christ through his example following that of the Good Shepherd. May we pray that all Priests may have a ‘shepherds heart’- a heart that is willing to be given for the service of the people they serve, showing them love, care, and being that imitation of Christ, the Good shepherd, that they need. May we also pray for new vocations to the Priesthood, that those who become Priests may have a shepherds heart, like that of Bl. Stanley Rother, who’s love for Christ is radiated in order for all people to touch the rays of the divine love of Christ. 

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