What treasure did Stanley Rother, the first American martyr, leave his beloved Guatemalans?
From Matters of Soul Importance with Roxane Salonen by Roxane Salonen
March 20, 2026 · 1h 13m · Episode 63
About this episode
The episode features an interview with Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda discussing the legacy of Blessed Stanley Rother and his impact on the Guatemalan community.
Our guest today, Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda, was born in Cuba and grew up in Puerto Rico. She is a freelance writer and the author of several books, most notably, the award-winning, "The Shepherd Who Didn't Run: Blessed Stanley Rother, Martyr from Oklahoma," and was recently named "Promoter of the Cause for Blessed Stanley Rother." Maria and her husband, Michael, live in Oklahoma City and have four adult children and 15 grandchildren. SHOW NOTES: Maria's latest book, "The Shepherd Who Didn't Run: Blessed Stanley Rother, Martyr from Oklahoma": https://www.amazon.com/Shepherd-Who-Didnt-Run-Oklahoma/dp/1681924560/ref Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine website: https://rothershrine.org/ An Ordinary Martyr: The Life and Death of Blessed Stanley Rother video: https://youtu.be/hsOvNtoZVzc?si=GE8pTGqHgLxc3A4b Maria's first book, "Their Faith Has Touched Us: The Legacies of Three Young Oklahoma City Bombing Victims": https://www.amazon.com/Their-Faith-Has-Touched-Us/dp/158051023X Article for CatholicMom.com by Roxane after her summer 2025 visit to Oklahoma City and the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine: https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/blessed-stanley-rother-a-shepherd-worth-knowing
People in this episode
Host: Roxane Salonen
Guest: Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda
Topics covered
- martyrdom
- Christianity
- Guatemala
- Stanley Rother
- faith
- legacy
Keywords
- Stanley Rother
- martyr
- Guatemala
- faith
- Christianity
- Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda
- Oklahoma
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine
Books & works: The Shepherd Who Didn't Run: Blessed Stanley Rother, Martyr from Oklahoma, Their Faith Has Touched Us: The Legacies of Three Young Oklahoma City Bombing Victims
Places: Cuba, Puerto Rico, Oklahoma City
More episodes of Matters of Soul Importance with Roxane Salonen
- Why couldn't I, a biological woman, be a man? · June 5, 2026 · 51 min
- What does hope in suffering look like? · May 29, 2026 · 1h 11m
- Should minors be able to access abortion? · May 15, 2026 · 1h 31m
- Can I talk to Jesus in the grocery line? · May 1, 2026 · 1h 4m
- Where is God in the cross of infertility? · April 17, 2026 · 1h 14m
- Can sexual trauma be healed? · April 3, 2026 · 1h 22m
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Matters of Soul Importance with Roxane Salonen podcast page.