The cause for canonization of Father Stanley Francis Rother will be officially begin October 5, 2007.
At 7 p.m on October 5, 2007, Archbishop Eusebius Beltran will celebrate Mass at Holy Trinity Church, Fr. Rother's home parish in Okarche Oklahoma. Immediately afterwards he will commission the Canonizaton Committee for the Cause of Saitnhood for Reverend Stanley Francis Rother.
More details on the Archdiocese of OKC's Fr. Stanley Rother page and here.
This is an important step in a long process. Here is the prayer approved by Archbishop Beltran for Fr. Rother's cause:
Heavenly Father,
source of all holiness,
in every generation you raise up
men and women heroic in love and service.
You have blessed your Church
with the life of Stanley Rother,
priest, missionary, and martyr.
Through his prayer, his preaching,
his presence, and his pastoral love,
you revealed Your love and Your presence
with us as Shepherd.
If it be Your will,
may he be proclaimed
by the universal church
as martyr and saint,
living now in your presence
and interceding for us all.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen