Stanley Rother: Episode One
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What is the premise of Stanley Rother: Gospel Plow and why is this story sensitive?
The story of Blessed Stanley Rother includes discussion of government persecution and torture. If you're listening with younger ears, you may want to screen these episodes first. Thank you for listening. 1959, America. On a humble family farm in central Oklahoma, a young man rejected from his true calling wonders what life has in store for him. When a new opportunity arises, he jumps at it and begins a heroic journey to places far from the fields of Okarchi. This is the story of Stanley Rother.
The Saints, Adventures of Faith and Courage. Stanley Roether. Episode one, Gospel Plow. Listen to all the episodes and discover new shows at thesaintspodcast.com.
Stanley!
Stan! Stan! Phone!
It's the bishop. Oklahoma City's bishop. Thanks, Dad. Must be important if Bishop Reed himself is calling you after... after... You can say it, Dad.
Son... I need to fix that door. Hello? Hello?
Stan, I came as soon as I heard.
Betty Mae, you came all the way from Wichita to hug your big brother? Or do you just miss milking the cows with me?
This is serious. Turn off the radio, please. This letter is horrible! Betty, it's okay. It's not okay. Dear Bishop Reed, I deeply regret to inform you that we have asked Mr. Stanley Rother to discontinue his studies for the priesthood. This young man has continually had difficulty in his classwork. He has failed moral theology and dogmatic theology.
I did have to repeat a year.
We feel it is unjust to him and the diocese to allow him to continue.
Would you grab me another bucket, please?
Therefore, we have advised him to leave. And he seemed quite aware of the fact that he lacks intellectual ability to continue on to the priesthood. Here.
Thanks.
You did so well in high school. I don't understand.
It was the Latin. Atta girl.
You'd make a wonderful priest in any language. If you shouldn't be a priest, then I shouldn't be a nun. I should just hand in my habit.
My sister. Sister Marita. But always sweet, Betty Mae, to me.
You don't even seem upset.
Yeah, well, it's hard. No emotions yet.
Nothing?
Well, one thing, Betty. I still feel called to be a priest.
Dad said Bishop Reed called yesterday.
He did. He invited me to his house to talk. Hey, let's go inside and have some of Mother's cinnamon rolls.
Good evening, Bishop Reed. Come in, Stanley. Thank you for seeing me. Come, come, sit. I'm so embarrassed, Bishop. Oh, don't be.
I've only ever wanted to be a priest. Well, Stanley, I secured a spot for you at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Monsignor Mulcahy, the rector, also teaches Latin and has agreed to tutor you privately. You start in the fall.
Oklahoma plates. You must be the new guy. Harry Flynn, fourth year. Stan Rother. That's some grip you have. I'm a farmer from Okarchi. Jor's can do that. Well, by your grip, I know you're strong. I'd say you're about 5'11". Can you catch a football? I can. Echo Field, tomorrow during recreation. Flynn's Flyers play the Nature Boys. You're on Flynn's Flyers. Team's named after you? Someday. I'll be rector here. You watch.
Monsignor Mulcahy. Stanley Rother.
Ah, Mr. Rother. Welcome, welcome. You would think the rector's office would be tidy. Let me clear this mess. Sit, young man. Make yourself comfortable. Thank you. Before we get started on the Latin, I have something I want to discuss. Here it is. Your formation file. Oh. From what I see, at your previous seminary, you were taken advantage of for your farm skills and your many trade skills.
The rector needed me. I did what I was told.
Says here you were given full charge of the grounds, of a book bindery, and of all the trots and machinery.
I did the work gladly.
You're a farm boy, handy with tools. But it interfered with your studies. You are a seminarian first, Stanley. Don't take on too many jobs or overdo the extracurricular activities. My good friend Monsignor Phillips asked if you would help him finish the stone wall at the grotto. You know. It's the oldest reproduction in America of Our Lady of Lord's Grotto in France.
I would love to help with that, and landscaping as well.
I told him, only after you've done your assignments and attend our Latin tutoring sessions, you can help.
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