Your Community
Fr. Rother’s story resonates with a great many people for a variety of reasons:
Catholics Looking for Role Models
Today many Catholics are tired of hearing again and again of clergy who have betrayed the trust of the innocent and failed to be good leaders. Fr. Stan’s story is not, and should not be a “template” for every religious person. Every flock, every individual’s talents, and every time and place provide their own unique demands as well as opportunities. But the uniting characteristic is the unyielding requirement for discipline, hard work, and self-sacrifice. As believers we demand nothing less. When we are led by men and women who face this challenge with faith and energy, we will respond with the same.
Pray to Fr. Stan. Ask his intercession in healing the lives of those affected. Ask his blessing on your clergy, his guidance and inspiration. Ask that the disillusioned may find trust once again through his example.
Struggling Students
Fr. Stan was never a gifted student. He was asked to leave the Seminary due to struggles in Latin and Theology. His motivation to achieve what he sought never left him however. He sought tutoring and additional chances to learn, experience service and to prove himself. His community helped him. Ultimately he prevailed and “made the grade”! So can you. He who struggled in Latin mastered a spoken tongue very few non-indigenous people had been able to. He proved himself. So can you.
Pray to Fr. Stan. Ask his intercession in illuminating learning for you, in finding mentors to help you!
Supporters of Indigenous Peoples
Fr. Stan faced an extremely difficult political and societal situation upon his arrival in Guatemala. Cultural differences between communities, social classes, and various institutions caused extreme friction. It wasn’t always easy to understand the best way to be of service. He had to be flexible and learn quickly! His path required humility, patience, and perseverance. He was often sick and seldom enjoyed abundant resources. But he succeeded in helping his mission progress in miraculous ways. So can you - follow his lead in humility, hard work, and openness to learning.
Pray to Fr. Stan. Ask his intercession to bring you the opportunities you need to grow, to learn, and to practice patience and humility. Ask him to show you the soul of your community and not just where it needs help, but how.
Those Wanting To Serve
Fr. Stan felt a strong vocation for the Priesthood. He was discouraged many times but fought hard to find his way and serve his parish and thus contribute to the work of the Church. He never gave up hope. We shouldn’t either. Someone, or some group of people somewhere need us. We are worthy. Today literally thousands of people have been touched by the ways Fr. Stan gave of himself. With god’s blessing, none of us will be required to sacrifice our lives as he did; but his example can guide us nonetheless.
Pray to Fr. Stan. Ask his intercession to help you find the right way to serve, for the strength and determination to fulfill your promise to a chosen community.
Former and Present Clergy
Whether you are now or ever have been a member of the clergy, in any religion, you know about the challenges of religious life. Living in community is difficult. Being challenged to find god’s will in your ministry is difficult. Vows are difficult. At times the issues faced by your flock are too long-lasting, too well-established, and too difficult for you to overcome. It often seems as if you are not making a difference or touching lives. Stan wasn’t a “perfect” priest - but he succeeded in touching the lives of those he served.
Pray to Fr. Stan. Ask his intercession in leading you to a genuine, useful, and meaningful contribution to your flock.
Members of the Central American Community
Regardless of whether you are from Santiago Atitlán, or anywhere in Guatemala, or Central America…. or anywhere else… If you belong to any marginalized group struggling for political, societal, or financial equity, you understand the community which Fr. Stan served. Let his example serve as inspiration to your community as well. You are never entirely alone, and increasingly it is men and women like Fr. Stan, from around the world as well as already inside your communities, who will make a difference.
Pray to Fr. Stan. Ask his intercession in showing your community the path through injustice, improvement, and mutual support. Ask Fr. Stan to motivate others to do God’s will.
Those Affected by Violence or Post Traumatic Stress
As the violence reached Fr. Stan’s community, he helped the people cope when they barely could. He recovered the bodies of murdered parishioners. He witnessed kidnappings, consoled the grieving, and continually sought the just and priestly path in the midst of it all. He had an important duty every day, to himself, to god, and the Church. As the situation worsened, he knew he would be killed, but he continued each day in spite of the stress and fear and trauma of the violence around him. These are the kind of experiences first responders and other uniformed men and women experience. This is the path of those who sacrifice; at times it scars us inside our hearts as well as upon our bodies. Fr. Stan was no different. And like many men and women who lead dangerous lives of service, Fr. Stan sacrificed his life for his community.
Pray to Fr. Stan. Ask his intercession in giving you calm, forgiveness if you request it, and giving you hope to carry on. Ask him to salve the wounds of the injured and to protect the innocent. Ask him to protect you.
Americans Who are Proud of Fr. Stanley Rother
In recent years, the USA has become most well-known for our military adventures overseas, the often dysfunctional nature of our politics, and the sometimes superficial nature of our popular culture. The Stanley Rother Project recognizes that politics, military decisions, and popular culture should most justly be debated and discussed elsewhere. At the same time, it is valuable to celebrate Fr. Stanley Rother - an American “Export” of peace, genuine love, personal fortitude and sacrifice; in short, a laudable strength of character. Stanley Rother is the first native-born American to be declared a Martyr of the Church and Beatified.
Pray to Fr. Stan. Ask his intercession to inspire the United States of America with his example and remind us that we are not finished interacting with the world around us, and that we can do so in his example.