Stanley Rother

1935-1981 20th century Feast day: July 28

The shepherd who does not flee: staying with one's own when danger comes.

Who was Stanley Rother?

The son of Oklahoma farmers, he was dismissed from seminary for his struggles with Latin, then ordained all the same. A missionary among the Tz'utujil of Guatemala, he learned their language and translated the Scriptures for them. When the civil war began to target priests, he returned briefly to the United States, then chose to go back to his people, where he was murdered in his mission in 1981.

In their own words

The shepherd cannot run at the first sign of danger.

Christmas letter, 1980

Pray for us that we might be a sign of the love of Christ for our people.

Christmas letter, 1980