American Martyr: The Stanley Rother Story

Karen Estep reviews the new documentary from the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and Lampstand Story Company about Blessed Standley Rother.

Like so many other missionaries before him, Father Stanley went into the Third World and they cracked open his heart. (American Martyr)

This is one of the last quotes of the documentary about Blessed Stanley Rother, and probably the quote that sums up the entire film. I truly feel blessed to have had the opportunity to preview this film, because three minutes into the film I was hooked. This documentary is a beautiful story about a humble priest, a soon-to-be saint, who truly lived out his faith daily and is an example we should follow. When the movie ended, through a couple of tears, I remember thinking, “Wow, just wow!”

God’s Plans

To be perfectly honest, I knew very little about Father Stanley before watching American Martyr. I knew he was from Oklahoma, I knew he lived in Guatemala, and I knew he was martyred. Truly, that was the extent of my knowledge before watching this film. I am glad I did watch this documentary, though, because not only did I learn so much about Father Stanley Rother, but I also learned so much about our amazing God as well.

I am always fascinated about hearing people’s life journeys and going back to reflect on how God had a part of every single thing happening in a person’s life. Father Stanley Rother’s life is evidence of how God had an amazing plan for Father Stanley from the time he was born.

Father Stanley was born into a farming family in rural Oklahoma. This is important because later in life he helped the Guatemalan community that he shepherded implement new farming techniques that helped them create better lives for themselves. Father Stanley went to seminary, but was asked to leave because he struggled learning Latin. His bishop believed in him so much that Father Stanley was accepted into another seminary and then ordained a priest in 1963. This is truly amazing, because Father Stanley learned how to speak Spanish fluently while also learning one of the many native Guatemalan languages. He was so fluent in this particular native language that he ended up helping them to create a written version of their language and he helped translate parts of the New Testament for them!

He was from a small community in Oklahoma and was surrounded by family and friends. He then went on to live in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala, and he viewed this small community as his family and friends. So much so, that even when the Archbishop asked Father Stanley not to return to Guatemala during the Guatemalan civil war, Father Stanley went back anyway because he considered them his people. Not only did God have this amazing plan for Father Stanley’s life but God walked with him as well, from day one until the end.

Movie Magic

As I stated earlier, three minutes into this documentary and I was hooked. This movie is engaging for a multitude of reasons. A lot of the people that we interviewed for the film actually knew Father Stanley in real personal ways. His cousins were interviewed and I loved the stories they told of Father Stanley as a young boy. Many of his former parishioners from Guatemala are in the film and share stories of how Father Stanley was not a man of just words but truly a man of action.

The filmmakers also do a great job of letting the people they interviewed show their very raw emotions. At times, each person speaks about Father Stanley with true joy expressed in their faces, and other times you can almost feel the tangible grief they still feel even after all these years. I smiled and cried along with them while thinking, “Gosh, to truly live like Jesus, the way Father Stanley must have because all these people saw him live like Jesus — that is the ultimate goal.”

Tissues while watching this movie are a must, and please know that the joy on the interviewees’ faces will outweigh all the tears.

An Example of Walking Like Jesus

After watching this film, I now have a new Blessed to add to my saint squad. After watching this film, I also now have new items on my bucket list. The high school where I work offers a mission trip every summer to the same region that Father Stanley lived, worked, and prayed for his people. It is my goal to go next summer, to experience the beauty of Guatemala, see where this future saint truly lived like Jesus, and experience the true, humbling joy that the people of Santiago Atitlán have to share.

I bought a Tiny Saints version of Blessed Stanley Rother and added it to my keychain Rosary that I take everywhere with me. I use it as a reminder to pray for more priests, especially more priests to follow the example of Blessed Stanley Rother, a great example of how to walk like Jesus.

American Martyr will be in theaters August 25 and 26. Get tickets and information at RotherDoc.com.

Listen to a recent episode of the Catholic Momcast about this upcoming film!

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Copyright 2026 Karen Estep
Images: copyright 2026 Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and Lampstand Story Company, all rights reserved.